If you want to see the real Bali, stay at the Tegal Sari.

Located about an hour's drive from the airport, it is just outside Ubud in the cultural center of Bali.

I stayed here for three nights in January 2008, then proceeded on to stay 3 nights at the Ritz Carlton in Bali. Before the first day at the Ritz was over, I hated it so much I was ready to go back to the Tegal Sari in Ubud. There is simply no comparison. The Ritz sux. The Tegal Sari rules.

The staff at the Tegal Sari is genuinely friendly, and they go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. I do have to say the rooms are not the nicest I have stayed in (they are fine, just don't expect a 5-star hotel room - you are on a rice field, so expect a few bugs from time to time), but the experience and people are what make it special. The view from most of the rooms overlooks a rice field, and you can easily walk into Ubud for food and shopping. The staff will also drop you off and pick you up anywhere in Ubud at no charge, on your schedule.

The Tegal Sari also owns a spa which is a short 3-minute drive away (they take you there), which is also very good and inexpensive ($10 or less per hour massage).

The prices in the mini bar in your room are reasonable (40 cents for a coke or $1 for a beer for example), and they will do your laundry for you (I had 5 shirts, 3 pants and many pairs of underwear washed and the charge was about $2.00 total).

You can eat at Tegal Sari, or several restaurants are within walking distance (or they will drop you off and pick you up). You can eat dinner for under $10 a person, including drinks and dessert.

One of the best restaurants on the island (some say in all of the region) is also nearby in Ubud. You get what amounts to an eight course dinner of fine dining in a garden restaurant for about $50. The restaurant is called Mosaic, and I recommend you give it a try if you want to splurge.

You can rent a scooter or bike from the hotel to explore the area around Ubud if you want, go rafting or visit nearby crafts villages. There are also nightly Balinese dances (several to choose from each night) you can go to as well. If you need to call home, you can call anywhere in the world with their phone from your room for about $1/minute, billed to your room.

Breakfast is included, which they serve in their small restaurant or will bring to your room at no charge.

If you are looking to party or sit in your room and watch TV, this hotel is not for you. If you want a true Bali experience hosted by one of the nicest hotel staffs in the world, then book your stay at the Tegal Sari now.

I recommend Tegal Sari with all my heart. We stayed in super deluxe #21. We started our Bali holliday with 3 nights i Dec and ended it with 3 nights before travelling home. The atmosphere is incredible. The staff is very friendly and service minded - and it comes naturally! The food is great. We also used the hotel transportation service when we went to Pemuteran and when we returned from Tejakula two weeks later. The driver brought us to places we otherwise not would have seen.

We hope to come back some time!

I stayed here for 3 nights from 4-7 Jan 2008. Stayed in room 12, which is a super deluxe. It was everything that I imagined and exactly what everyone had written about on the trip advisor.
Very good value for money. Good room, although I hear the newer rooms, 20, 22 and 24 are even nicer.
The staff are exceptionally friendly, Muning at reservations is very good at her job and all the staff are happy and smiling and they cant do enough to please you.
I have no complaints. My friend also came and stayed in room 10 and she said it was a fantastic experience too.
Will definately return.

I stayed at the Tegal Sari for 4 nights with my boyfriend in room 10, a super deluxe room. The room was beautiful with a big wooden balcony looking out over the paddy fields, and no other rooms overlooked the room or balcony so it was very private and felt very secluded. The bedroom had huge glass windows on 2 sides. Our bathroom had a huge bath and a fantastic shower with a pebble floor.
However, the best thing about the Tegal Sari is the staff. They are so friendly and helpful, driving us into town whenever we asked, providing excellent reccommendations for local restaurants and best of all, bringing our delicious breakfast to our balcony each morning.
The hotel has a small but lovely pool (and provides pool towels), and an open air weights room, small library, internet access and restauarant (food was excellent!) but my favourite thing was the Spa. The spa is 5 mins drive away (of course they drive you there and pick you up after). My hour long massage cost about £4 and was devine, with a choice of oils, whole body and head and scalp massage and followed by an amazing shower and herbal tea.
I was incredibly sad to leave the Tegal Sari as it was such a beautiful and relaxing place to stay. I can not reccomend it hioghly enough.