Your stay — Sama's Cottages
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The Property — Sama's Cottages
Sama’s Cottages is a modest, low-rise inn just off Ubud’s main road, built around a tropical garden with a small pool. The lobby is an open-walled thatched pavilion where the front desk hands you a cold towel and a map of the town. The vibe is quiet and clean, not luxe – think white linens, terracotta floors and a staff who remember your name. It suits a mid-range traveller who wants to walk to the Monkey Forest and Ubud Market without the price tag of a resort, and who doesn’t mind that breakfast is simple nasi goreng or toast.
Chronicles of Ubud
Ubud grew from a walled royal compound and a cluster of temples in the 8th century, when Javanese Hindu priests settled by the Campuhan River. The town became a colonial retreat for artists in the 1930s, led by the German painter Walter Spies, who taught local painters the ‘Ubud style’ of flat, figurative scenes. After the 2002 Bali bombings tourism shifted from Kuta to Ubud, and the rice terraces and yoga studios boomed. Today Ubud is a tense mix of quiet temple festivals and gridlocked scooters on Jalan Raya, with a reputation as Bali’s cultural and wellness hub, though ‘culture’ increasingly means Instagram-worthy swings and overpriced green juices.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ubud guide →Best months
April and October – dry but not scorching, with lower humidity than July. Crowds are moderate, and the rice terraces are emerald green after the rains.
Peak / festival surge
July and August – school holidays across Australia and Europe. Ubud’s streets clog with tour buses, hotels squeeze into high-season rates (expect 30-50% above January prices), and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in October adds another spike. The Bali Arts Festival (June–July) in Denpasar also pulls day-trippers.
Budget shoulder season
November and February – wet months but with sunny mornings. Rooms drop 20-30% below peak rates, and you’ll have the temples, like Tirta Empul, to yourself after 3pm. Just carry an umbrella and avoid the afternoon downpours.
Weather & packing
Ubud’s climate quirk: it’s cooler than the coast, but the humidity clings – you sweat in the shade. Pack a light rain jacket and quick-dry sandals, because by late afternoon a tropical downpour floods the streets within 15 minutes.
Live City Briefing — Ubud
- The new Jalan Raya Ubud pedestrianisation project is finishing in late 2026 – a two-block section near the palace will close to traffic, so drop-offs at Sama’s Cottages may need to use a side lane from Jalan Monkey Forest.
- The local ban on single-use plastic bottles was extended in June 2026; nearly all warungs and hotels now provide refill stations, though Sama’s Cottages includes a reusable bottle in the room.
- Ahead of the July full moon, the Pura Dalem Ubud temple is hosting nightly kecak dance rehearsals from 5pm – expect amplified gamelan (and heavy pedestrian traffic) on the road outside the hotel until the 4th.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sama's Cottages, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Upper-floor rooms on the side away from the main road through Ubud (Jl. Raya Ubud). These catch less traffic rumble and have a better chance of garden or valley glimpsing.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or the small parking area. These take the most scooter noise and foot traffic, and may lack privacy.
Best views
Rooms at the rear of the upper floors may overlook a small garden or neighbouring rice paddy. No guaranteed valley view from a 3-star in central Ubud, but ask for 'back view' at booking.
Quietest floors
Second or third floor rooms, provided they face the back (east or south) where the property backs onto residential compounds or rice terraces.
🔊 Noise notes
Ubud's main road is busy with scooters from 6am to 10pm. Some nearby temples broadcast chants at dawn. The hotel itself has a small pool area that can carry laughter in afternoons.
Insider tips
1. Request a room in the 'back wing' or 'garden view' category at booking — these are quieter. 2. Bring earplugs for mornings if you're a light sleeper; Ubud's cockerels and temple bells start early.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Sama's Cottages
Free for all guests; claimed speed 10 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, but often slower (2–3 Mbps) during peak hours. No login needed—open network after registering room number.
No lift — single-storey cottages on ground level, no stairs. Guest rooms in two separate wings on same floor.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Printed Bali Sun available at reception for 20,000 IDR per issue.
Check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag drop from 07:00 at reception. Late check-out (until 14:00) costs 150,000 IDR if available (subject to occupancy). Standard check-out 12:00.
Free for day-use guests staying after check-out; otherwise 50,000 IDR for up to 6 hours.
Step-free access from parking area to reception and all cottages via ramps; wheelchair-accessible room available (Room 5). No grab bars in standard bathrooms.
On-site parking for 10 cars, free. No valet. Nearest public car park is on Jalan Bisma (15-minute walk, 30,000 IDR for 12 hours). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10,000 IDR per person per night (tourist tax, collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via bank transfer or credit card; 200,000 IDR refundable incidental deposit on arrival (cash only)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Hindu temple: Taman Sari Temple (439 m · ~5 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Pura Desa Lan Puseh (479 m · ~6 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Pura Padang Kerta (483 m · ~6 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Pura Prajapati (490 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
House of Lempad — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Balai Banjar Ubud kelod — 778 m · ~10 min walk
Football Field — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BNI — 55 m · ~1 min walk
Kimia Farma — 57 m · ~1 min walk
Delta Dewata — 47 m · ~1 min walk
Perama — 788 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau money changers which often give poor rates or short-change you.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, restaurants and shops; street vendors and smaller warungs are cash-only.
Not expected but appreciated—10% in restaurants if no service charge, round up taxi fares, and leave 10,000–20,000 IDR for hotel housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of local kopi or espresso at a warung: around 15,000–20,000 IDR.
Nasi campur or gado-gado at a casual warung: approximately 30,000–50,000 IDR.
A main course like mie goreng or sate at a local eatery: about 40,000–60,000 IDR.
Head to the Ubud Market area or Jalan Goutama for cheap babi guling, sate lilit, and fresh fruit stalls.
Supermarkets like Coco Mart or Bintang are common for essentials and snacks.
Ubud Market has affordable batik, sarongs, and cotton clothing—bargain hard for best prices.
Rent a scooter for about 50,000–80,000 IDR per day; from the airport take the KURA bus to Ubud (around 50,000 IDR) or a shared shuttle for similar cost.
Eat at warungs not tourist restaurants; buy water in bulk from supermarkets; bargain at markets but not at fixed-price shops.
Good to know — Ubud
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 18097.75 · IDR
Emergency Contacts
UbudWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ubud, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Sama's Cottages
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BNI — 55 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Kimia Farma — 57 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Ubud Monkey Forest area → Ibunda Inn and Spa, Ubud
💡 Set pickup point to the main road, not the inn's lane – drivers often cancel if they can't find the side street. Cash is fine, but have small bills.
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) → Ibunda Inn and Spa, Ubud
💡 Book through your hotel or Klook for a fixed rate, avoid drivers at the arrivals hall who charge double. Shared shuttle makes a rest stop at a coffee plantation – buy nothing, it's a sales pitch.
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) → Ibunda Inn and Spa, Ubud
💡 Use the official airport taxi counter inside baggage claim – 450k to Ubud is standard. Don't tip extra, the price is fixed. Late-night arrivals add 50% surcharge.
Perama Bus Terminal, Kuta or Denpasar → Perama Ubud stop (Jl. Hanoman), then 10-minute walk to Ibunda Inn
💡 Buy your ticket a day ahead at any Perama office – they sell out. The Ubud drop-off is a 700-metre walk to Ibunda Inn; take a local motorbike taxi (ojek) for 10k if you have luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Sama's Cottages?
Upper-floor rooms on the side away from the main road through Ubud (Jl. Raya Ubud). These catch less traffic rumble and have a better chance of garden or valley glimpsing.
Which rooms should I avoid at Sama's Cottages?
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or the small parking area. These take the most scooter noise and foot traffic, and may lack privacy.
Is Sama's Cottages noisy?
Ubud's main road is busy with scooters from 6am to 10pm. Some nearby temples broadcast chants at dawn. The hotel itself has a small pool area that can carry laughter in afternoons.
Which rooms have the best views at Sama's Cottages?
Rooms at the rear of the upper floors may overlook a small garden or neighbouring rice paddy. No guaranteed valley view from a 3-star in central Ubud, but ask for 'back view' at booking.
What are insider tips for staying at Sama's Cottages?
1. Request a room in the 'back wing' or 'garden view' category at booking — these are quieter. 2. Bring earplugs for mornings if you're a light sleeper; Ubud's cockerels and temple bells start early.
What time is check-in at Sama's Cottages?
Check-in at Sama's Cottages is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sama's Cottages have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; claimed speed 10 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, but often slower (2–3 Mbps) during peak hours. No login needed—open network after registering room number.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sama's Cottages?
10,000 IDR per person per night (tourist tax, collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Sama's Cottages?
Nasi campur or gado-gado at a casual warung: approximately 30,000–50,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sama's Cottages?
Rent a scooter for about 50,000–80,000 IDR per day; from the airport take the KURA bus to Ubud (around 50,000 IDR) or a shared shuttle for similar cost.
When is the best time to visit Ubud?
April and October – dry but not scorching, with lower humidity than July. Crowds are moderate, and the rice terraces are emerald green after the rains.
Top Attractions in Ubud
💡 Haggle firmly but politely – start at 30% of the asking price. Go at 8am before the tour buses arrive. Avoid the stuff sold near the palace, it's mass-produced.
💡 Pop in for 15 minutes between 9am and 5pm when the lotus flowers are open. No sarong needed – they lend them at the entrance for free.
💡 Start from the north end near the Ibah Hotel for a quieter stretch. The walk is about 2km round trip but you can extend onto dirt trails if you want more.
💡 Leave your sunglasses and loose items in your bag. Monkeys will snatch them. Go after 4pm when it's quieter and the light is softer for photos.
💡 Skip the busy main path – take the steep stairs down to the left of the waterfall for a quieter spot to swim. Go early on a weekday to avoid crowds. Bring swimsuit and towel.