The summary
| If you want | Choose | Starting price seen |
|---|---|---|
| To do everything on foot, restaurants, market | Central Ubud | from about 29 USD a night (small hotel according to a guide) |
| Calm and valley views, with a shuttle | Campuhan and Sanggingan side | from about 145 to 306 USD a night (hotels according to a guide) |
| A luxury hotel, a villa with a pool | Highlands north of Ubud | from about 596 USD a night (villa with private pool according to a guide) |
In central Ubud
The centre is the simplest choice for a first visit: art market, monkey forest, restaurants and dance shows on foot. A guest quoted in one guide notes that the centre is noisier, and that a place further out can mean a 15-minute drive to reach town. Small hotels start low here: one example quoted by a guide is about 29 USD a night. For the atmosphere, read Ubud.
Campuhan and Sanggingan: the valley
West of the centre, the Campuhan valley offers quiet hotels with views, and the Campuhan walk is next door. One guide names COMO Uma Ubud (Sanggingan, above the Tjampuhan valley, free shuttle to town) from about 306 USD a night, and Alaya Resort Ubud from about 145 USD a night. These are starting prices that depend on the date.
The highlands to the north: luxury and villas
North of the centre, in the highlands, there are luxury hotels where you sleep in peace: Viceroy Bali is quoted by one guide from about 596 USD a night for a villa with a private pool, with a free shuttle to the centre, a few minutes by car. A stay here means organising your outings: see private driver in Bali. For a pool and luxury setting without sleeping there, see Cretya Ubud.
How to choose
- Your stay is short (1 to 2 nights): take the centre, so you lose no time on the road.
- You stay 4 nights or more, or travel as a couple: a valley or the highlands with a shuttle, a scooter (see scooter rental in Bali) or a driver.
- You want to see the rice fields, temples and waterfalls around: compare the tours in Ubud in one day: which tour to choose.
Booking
Book early for July to September and for the holidays. Read recent reviews on noise, the real distance from the centre and the state of the access roads. Check whether the price includes breakfast, the shuttle and taxes. A comparison-site guide advises booking about 47 days ahead for the best rates (general advice, not specific to Ubud). If you hesitate between several areas of the island, see where to stay in Bali, and for the arrival, from the airport to Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak.
