Alila Ubud Review: The Bali I Had Imagined, Bugs and All

Summary Alila Ubud is a great pick if you want a hotel that feels like the Bali you imagined and is genuinely integrated with nature. It is not the best choice if your version of luxury means renovated rooms, Western-style interiors and complete isolation from bugs. This was my first trip to Bali and my first time in Ubud. I stayed for five nights in summer 2023, and at the $90 per night all-in rate I paid, the value was supremely good. The whole property has dark stone facades and a more traditional feel. Everything is supremely green, and the hotel never felt like a corporate property that had simply been stuck in a jungle. I loved the airy pavilion’s bamboo ceiling and orchid-topped coffee table. Location The location was good. Trips to the main town took around 25 minutes. The hotel offered a shuttle, which we occasionally used going into town. We generally took Grab back to the hotel. The property overlooks the jungle valley, although I could not actually see the river. Walking around at night, hearing the nature surrounding the hotel and seeing fireflies was incredible. Jungle valley I could make out pitched-roof buildings across the densely forested valley. There were also a significant number of monkeys around the property. We saw little gangs of monkeys fighting with each other several times, which was definitely a cool sight, but I would avoid making eye contact and otherwise ignore them. Monkeys on property Monkeys roamed the grounds regularly; I gave them space and avoided eye contact. I caught a troop crossing the rounded-stone wall in the golden evening light. Arrival & service We arrived in the evening, and check-in was smooth. Staff gave us welcome drinks and cool towels before showing us to the room. Evening check-in was smooth, with welcome drinks and cool towels before the room tour. Most of my other interactions were with the breakfast and poolside restaurant teams. Nothing specific stood out as exceptional or disappointing, but service was very good, warm and welcoming. Room I booked a base 1 King room and received a confirmed one-category upgrade through Hyatt Privé to a 1 King Deluxe at booking. The base King rooms were on the second floor, while my Deluxe room was on a lower floor with a small courtyard, chairs and an outdoor bathtub. The outdoor tub was legitimately nice. The patio faced toward the jungle, but it sat far enough back that I would not call the view particularly notable. The patio faced the jungle, though the setback meant no particularly notable view. Courtyard bathroom The courtyard tub was a legitimately nice perk of the confirmed Deluxe upgrade. The room was cozy but large enough for five nights. There was not a ton of storage or seating, and the finishes felt fairly dated and in need of renovation. The room Traditional charm aside, the room finishes felt dated and due for renovation. Cozy rather than expansive, with limited storage and seating for five nights. The older, more traditional design did have some charm, so the finishes alone did not bother me much. The bigger problem was that small gaps around the doors allowed insects into the room. We encountered insects roughly once a day, including several spiders, and checking the room before bed became something we did. We asked housekeeping to spray after the first day, which helped but did not entirely eliminate the problem. There was no major noise at night beyond the sounds of nature. If you want to close the door and feel completely separated from the environment outside, this room does not provide that experience. Food & drink Breakfast was the food standout. It was partly à la carte and partly buffet, with a small but high-quality spread. Breakfast Breakfast was the standout: a small, high-quality hybrid of buffet and à la carte. Breakfast came with Hyatt Privé, though Globalist status already covered it. I filled a basket with croissants, a chocolate muffin, and white and dark bread. I ate dinner at the property a few times as well. It was good and definitely passed the bar, especially for the price, but it was not mind-blowingly good. Dinner Dinner was good rather than mind-blowing, but very fairly priced. Pool, spa & gym The infinity pool overlooking the valley was one of the best parts of the hotel. Swimming in it or seeing the view from breakfast was incredible, and I did not find it difficult to get a lounger or remember the pool feeling particularly crowded. Infinity pool The infinity pool overlooking the valley was one of the stay's most memorable features. There was no hot tub. The pool temperature was appropriate for the Bali weather, but as someone who prefers very warm water, I would have liked a hotter place to relax. The Hyatt Privé package included two massages, and both were great. I would definitely consider paying separately for one. Our treatment room had matching massage beds and foot-soaking basins. I especially liked being able to schedule a massage at 8 PM. Leaving sleepy and relaxed, then walking through the jungle and seeing fireflies, was a very cool way to end the night. Candlelit walks after an 8 PM massage, with fireflies and jungle sounds, were unforgettable. The gym was basic and located in the basement. It was functional, but aesthetically it was not a facility I would particularly recommend. The basement gym was functional but basic, not a facility I'd seek out. Value and Hyatt status I paid $90 per night all-in through Hyatt Privé. The rate included breakfast, two massages and the confirmed upgrade from a base 1 King room to a 1 King Deluxe, making it a very, very competitive deal. Breakfast duplicated a benefit I already had as a World of Hyatt Globalist, but the massages and confirmed room upgrade provided real additional value. At this price, I cannot make many value complaints even with the dated room and insects. I did make a big blunder when booking. Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards were available to apply, but I was newer to high-end travel and decided to preserve mine for higher-category Hyatt hotels. The hotel sold out of suites before my stay, and I think having one would have improved the experience substantially. The hotel was genuinely sold out and was not withholding an available upgrade. Globalists could technically receive standard-suite upgrades here when I stayed, but the property has since become excluded from complimentary Globalist upgrades to standard suites. That is disappointing because a suite was potentially one of the biggest sources of value at this hotel. I received no other useful Globalist benefits beyond what the Privé rate already provided. We did not use late checkout because we left very early for Uluwatu on our departure day. Bottom line If it is your first time in Ubud and you want good value surrounded by natural beauty, Alila Ubud is a pretty good pick. Book it for the absurdly beautiful pool, the jungle atmosphere, the fireflies and the feeling that the hotel is part of its environment rather than separated from it. I would not choose it if you want a more traditional full-comfort luxury hotel with renovated rooms and a room fully sealed from nature. The same closeness to the jungle that makes the property memorable also means insects, wildlife and less separation from the outdoors. I would consider coming back, especially at the right Hyatt Privé rate. Ubud has so many hotels I have not tried that I would probably choose somewhere new first, but I still really enjoyed this stay.