Wooden Lake House, Bedugul

As soon as you step into the villa, it's hard to believe you are in Bali. Leave behind the super-hip hotels and crowds of the south or the buzz of Ubud and savor a few nights just to breathe cool, mountain air in a chalet that feels like Europe.

We stayed 2 nights in the villa with 2 young kids (age 2, 7) who ran around the huge garden all day and drank hot cocoa on the porch overlooking the mountains and lake. The villa has 3 bedrooms and two large indoor sitting areas -- in addition to an amazing yard and outdoor patio -- a great getaway for a family or group of friends. It is tucked away in the hills of Bedugul, neighboring a mix of other chalets/villas, some abandoned, others restored. The overall effect is that of a secret getaway.

The villa itself is in very good condition, although don't expect "luxury" as it has wear and tear from the mountain air, which is to be expected (and is, quite frankly, part of its charm). The guest book signed by other guests leaves great tips and advice for what to do in the area. The villa manager is helpful in arranging anything (even helping to start the wood stove if you can't figure it out!) and helps arrange a driver, which is needed.

My one feedback is that it would do good to air out the rooms before guests arrive as they are quite stuffy/dusty upon arrival. It also would help to stock more toiletries/towels and staples for the kitchen as supplies are hard to come by. At the time of our visit they were building a new villa just above -- the noise didn't bother us as our kids woke early anyway, but if you are sensitive, check with villa manager about it.

Be prepared to pack warm clothes as the nights and mornings are cold (even with the wood stove burning) -- a welcome change from the beaches and other areas of Bali. Amenities around the villa are limited -- but that is the point. Be sure to stock up on groceries somewhere else if you want to cook (the local market has produce but is limited on other staples). Nearby restaurants are mixed in terms of food - but great for kids, especially with playgrounds and lots of space to run and climb.

If you want to breathe fresh, cool air in a gorgeous setting, this is your place. I would recommend at least 2 nights.

Our family stayed here for 6 days and loved every minute. Paul was great to deal with and the local staff looked after us well. If you are looking for the party atmosphere of Kuta then Bedugul is not for you. But if you want peace and quiet in a beautiful setting then you can end your search here.

I stayed in the Bedugal Chalet in Dec 2010 with my wife and her family. It was perfect ; clean, very comfortable, great views, close to local shops. We walked from the Chalet and had the most amazing walks down to the lake. Really there is nothing I can fault about it.

I have just returned to Perth from a one week stay in this cabin in Bedugul. We had a wonderful time there. The weather was so much cooler than the coastal areas of Bali and there were virtually no tourists in the area. The accomodation was fabulous and beautifully appointed. Ketut and Kadek (our gardener and cleaner) were both helpful and friendly, as were all of the other locals we met along the way. I would highly recommend this cabin to anyone looking for a relaxing break in nice accomodation with great views while within easy access to other great places. The only recommendation I would make is to organise car hire before you arrive (you need an IDL) and perhaps shop for some groceries before you arrive at the cabin. We hired a car and I found the driving easy - not stressful at all.

nous avons reçu un acceuil chaleureux par Kiki qui venait d'avoir eu un accident avec sa voiture et avait malgré tout réussi à etre à l'heure au rendez vous avec de belles fleurs et une corbeille de fruit. Nous remercions également Ketut et sa femme pour leur gentillesse, ils nous ont cocooner pour les repas (ramenés du café Lempuna). Vous devez prévoir un vehicule pour la journée car vous êtes isolés mais comme c'est bon!!! Les fraise sont excellentes et les enfants ont adoré le Bali Tree Top

Bref le séjour fut presque trop court

merci à tous