Pertiwi Bisma

One of the hotel's best qualities is the serene and tranquil atmosphere. Built along a river and jungle valley, the soundtrack throughout the hotel is the constant flow of the river and sounds of nature. The grounds are beautifully manicured with tropical plants, palm trees, and meandering stone pathways lined with greenery that lead to the different facilities and rooms. Most guests hang out around one of the two outdoor swimming pools during the day. The valley pool sits in a stunning setting right along the jungle valley overlooking the river. Kinara Restaurant is housed in a traditional Javanese wooden joglo, and features nice modern interior decorated with vintage photographs and intricate wood carvings. Thanks to high ceilings and open walls, all sides the restaurant have great airflow and plenty of light. Most guests here are couples on a romantic holiday. 

Location wise, the hotel is ideally situated. It's positioned on the small and quiet cobblestoned Bisma Street, which sits adjacent to Ubud's busiest locale, Monkey Forest Street. The area has a relaxed atmosphere and is much less developed than downtown Ubud. Although it's just 10 minutes' walk from downtown, the area feels far removed from the hustle and bustle. Along Bisma Street there are only a few shops and dining options. The most popular restaurants are Cafe De Artistes (a fine dining Belgian restaurant) and Umah Pizza (an affordably priced pizzeria). 

Monkey Forest Street is much more happening and is lined with boutique shops, a wide range of hip cafes and restaurants, and laid-back bars that offer nightly live music. Monkey Forest Sanctuary is also just 10 minutes' walk from the hotel and is one of Ubud's most popular tourist attractions. The forest is crowded with macaque monkeys and features Balinese temples and holy springs along the riverbanks. Ubud is well known as being the heart of Bali's art and cultural heritage scene, and it's easy to see why. There are numerous art galleries and museums around town, some to check out include ARMA Museum, Neka Art Museum, and the Don Antonio Blanco Museum. For traditional dance performances and puppet shows, the Ubud Palace is a good option (about a 20-minute walk from the hotel). Yoga and wellness is a big part of the Ubud pulse. The Yoga Barn offers a huge selection of different yoga classes and wellness treatments. Other good options include Taksu Yoga and Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio. All three studios take around 20 minutes to reach on foot. The international airport is about 90 minutes away, though during peak traffic it can take over two hours to reach.

There are 35 rooms in three different categories spread along the property. All room types feature furnishings built from quality hardwoods and yellowish rattan, creating a nice contrast. Super Deluxe Rooms and the Valley Suites have ultra modern interiors and are generous on space. These rooms are decorated with sparse white walls and light colored tiled floors. Though minimal, decorations do include either a framed patterned batik cloth or vintage photos of Bali. Valley Suites have the best views, as they sit right above the jungle valley and overlook the river. The only downside is that they are at bottom of the property and a bit of a trek to reach. The Valley Villas are most private and intimate, and have views of tropical greenery and the Valley Pool. Villa interiors are more natural, with teak flooring and wall paneling, giving the space a rich and warm quality. 

All rooms are outfitted with balcony seating, a work table and chairs, a low wooden bed with a comfy mattress, and a roomy wardrobe. Villas are the only room type that have a canopy mosquito net over the beds. Standard room amenities include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges, and coffee- and tea-making facilities.

The bathrooms are spacious, modern, and fresh but a little dark. Suite and villa bathrooms have glassed off shower cubicles with rainshower heads. Super Deluxe Rooms have a shower/bath combo. Toiletries are provided and hairdryers are available upon request. The rooms we saw during our tour of the hotel were all well maintained and fresh but did show some stained grout in the bathrooms and some chipping paint inside the rooms. 

For a small boutique hotel Pertiwi Bisma 1 has nice facilities. There are two swimming pools, so pools don't overly crowded. The Valley Swimming Pool has a stunning setting perched right above the river valley and is surrounded by palms and lush tropical greenery. This pool features a semicircular infinity edge and is lined with a wooden deck set with pool chairs and umbrellas. The upper level pool isn't as scenic, and is a bit more worn. It's slightly longer and has a small kids' pool section, though there aren't as many pool chairs laid out. A spacious yoga shala sits above the Valley Pool and the river valley below. It's a large wooden building and is open on all sides, and has great airflow and light. The hotel doesn't have a daily yoga schedule but guests can use the space when they please. Kinara Restaurant has a clean and modern interior, plenty of seating, and is housed in a semi open-air traditional wooden Javanese joglo. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served and the menu is reasonably priced and has a selection of Thai, Indonesian, and Western favorites. There isn't a full bar but some wine, spirits, cocktails, and beer are available on the drink menu. Events like barbecue buffet nights (for a charge) are often held weekly at the restaurant and usually include traditional dance performances. Although there is no spa facility, massage therapists are available through reception and treatments can be performed in-room or in the yoga shala space. There is plenty of parking on-site. Wi-Fi is free throughout.