Bali Rent-a-Pool
Bust A Move are posts focused on what Tyler and Megan are thinking and learning before, during and after their move to another country.
The Best Places to Pool Hop in Ubud, Bali
Since we’re currently full-time travelers (read: unemployed) we have planned this trip on a shoestring budget. In Bali, you can easily live on a few dollars a day, or splurge for a luxury experience and spend hundreds, if not thousands, getting the royal treatment. If you’re skipping the frills like us, you can still dip your toes (pun intended) in the luxury lifestyle without going broke.
We found our original homestay on Airbnb. After Airbnb fees it came in at a whopping $16 a day, however there was no pool. I felt like a pool was a necessity for Ubud, a landlocked town with scorching heat, so I insisted that we shop around for alternative lodging once we settled in. In Ubud, there are countless homestays, most of which don’t have a website, so you have to discover them by foot, you can read more about searching for a homestay here. But, we quickly realized that we were going to either sacrifice the quality of the room for a pool, or go over budget, so we stayed at our pool-free, but otherwise amazing homestay.
The Balinese are masters of the side-hustle, so I figured the homestay owners or hotel managers would probably be more than happy to accept a few bucks for use of their pool. I began asking around, and sure enough most places will allow you to dive in for as little as $2 a day. To find a homestay with a pool, simply look to see if “swimming pool” is listed on their sign after “hot shower and wifi.” There are some pretty amazing pools tucked away in these homestays. Homestays don’t have an office, so you just walk in and someone will show you around and answer your questions.
One homestay we found with a nice pool is, Ubud View Bungalows, for rp. 50k ($3.75) you get pool access and a soft drink. I can’t vouch for the soft drink, but I checked out the pool and it looked like a decent option.
Another homestay option with easy access in the center of Ubud is Gaya Tribune Bungalows. Entry is $2.50, and you can also get a massage or meal right at the pool.
The homestays are going to be much more lax, and cheaper when it comes to pool use, but there are some fancy resorts which will allow you into their dreamy pools for a daily fee. Here’s a few we’ve discovered:
Jungle Fish is a luxury resort that charges between $400-800 USD per night for a room, but for $7.50 (towel and lounger included) you can spend a full day at their pool, take in the cliff side view, soak up their fast wifi. There’s a restaurant and a bathroom, so frankly, there’s no reason to leave all day.
The Grand Sunti Ubud- A four-star hotel, located 5 minutes from the city center. $6 with towel included.
Alilia Ubud -- An infinity pool perched over the Ayuga river and voted one of the world’s best swimming pools. The pool is accessible when the hotel is not at capacity. If there is space open, then you’re permitted with a minimum spend of rp. 750k on food and beverage (about $56 USD).
And-- If you’re Oprah and really want to splurge on a luxury pool, you can visit the
Hanging Gardens named “The World’s Best Swimming Pool” by Conde Nast Traveller. To use the pool, you’re required to buy a package which includes all day access to their grounds, a three-course lunch - or- an hour massage, which will set you back $185 USD.
Last up on the list is the work/swim combo, which is for those digital nomads needing to juggle work with their pool time. Outpost co-working space has a pool available for members. Drop in for a daily rate of $12 and take a dip between sending emails.
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