SenS Hotel & Spa + Conference Ubud Town Centre

In a town full of homestays, budget crash pads, luxury villas, and old-school Balinese hotels, SenS is a distinct departure. Interiors have a classically elegant style that's modern and pleasant, making it a respite from the heat and traffic outside. It's also one of the best-located hotels in town, as the tourist center is only a 10-minute walk west. While we mostly saw tourist families and couples during our visit, the hotel has a business-like vibe. In fact, its events spaces make it a prime contender for any conferences and group functions that take place in town. Just keep in mind that it's not the most prototypically Balinese hotel to be found in Ubud. You won't see any ornately carved wood, pagoda-inspired architecture, or folk art. Instead, the abundance of marble, pink, and glass feels lifted out of Europe or Asia's big cities. This style is something that many previous guests like -- in fact, it's a respite from the sometimes stuffy style found in older Ubud properties. But it won't suit everyone, particularly those who want to feel like they're in Southeast Asia's tropics. The hotel does stay busy throughout the day, with guests coming and going, and while you won't hear traffic noise at night -- a blessing in traffic-clogged Ubud -- some noise from other guests does carry throughout the hotel. 

True to its name, the SenS Hotel & Spa is well-located for travelers who want to be in the touristy heart of Ubud. It's just a bit removed from the action, at the eastern end of town, and it takes about 10 minutes to reach the proper town center on foot. There's an open-air food hall across the street, as well as one of the city's most important temples (busy during the spring holidays and Royal-Family occasions). Cab drivers are perched out front all day and night. You'll need a cab or the hotel's free shuttle to reach the Sacred Monkey Forest, which is around a 10-minute drive (depending on traffic). You can make the walk in 20 minutes if you don't mind sweating in Bali's heat. The walk takes you past seemingly limitless cafes, warungs, and boutiques along Jalan Hanoman. If you're lucky, the airport near Kuta should only take an hour to reach by car, but in practice, you should budget two hours to get there.

The rooms here are a fresh and welcome change from some of the tired and dated alternatives that pack the center of Ubud. There are bright panels of artwork on the walls that complement light wood-veneer furniture, crisp white bedding, and pops of jade green. The compact layouts are well-organized, and features include flat-screen TVs, a generous supply of free bottled water, minibars, electric kettles or espresso machines, air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi. There are also proper work desks and additional seating, plus nicely sized closets. The bathrooms, like so many that we saw in Bali, are glass-walled. This means that privacy isn't exactly guaranteed, even when you draw the wall-to-wall curtain. That's due, in part, to the fact that the glass bathroom doors don't reach from the floor to the ceiling. Additionally, some units come with soaking tubs that -- when used as a shower -- get the bathroom floor completely wet unless you follow explicit instructions about tucking in curtains and so on. In any case -- for rooms that are otherwise quite pleasant, it's an unfortunate inconvenience. Due to the hotel's courtyard-style layout, it's worth noting that noise from below can echo upward, particularly when there are lively guests occupying the cafe tables below. 

As something of a business destination in Ubud, the hotel's features are geared toward that crowd. The restaurant is an attractive space where guests can be found at almost all hours. It serves all three meals, including an extensive breakfast buffet (for a fee). International and Indonesian dishes are available. Servers are on-hand during the buffet to supply any needed extras, and the afternoon tea service is quite lovely. Outdoor seating is also available. The hotel's spa is small, but offers massages and various beauty treatments. The small workout area is also part of the spa, and includes modern cardio equipment, a universal machine, and selection of free weights. The pool is in the hotel's courtyard and is really only meant for a quick cooling splash, though there are loungers set up poolside. Don't expect to sunbathe as it gets quite limited natural sunlight. A free shuttle runs on an hourly loop through Ubud, and is free for hotel guests. There are a number of modern events spaces in the hotel, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.