Waringin Homestay

Waringin Homestay is situated in a traditional Balinese family compound in heart of bustling Kuta, just a five-minute walk from the wild nightlife of Jalan Legian. The hotel is a popular place for surfers and backpackers on a shoestring budget looking to party and enjoy the area's beach culture. Families with young children, light sleepers, and couples looking for quiet stay should definitely head elsewhere. The hotel has a constant party vibe, and like many hotels in this part of Kuta, it's a common to see guests up all night drinking and making plenty of noise. Facilities are minimal, with just a small functional lobby area and a swimming pool. The pool setting is nice and is surrounded by tropical greenery, though it stays busy both day and night, and there only a couple of lounge chairs for relaxing.

This property is located on a small alleyway off of the ever-crowded Poppies II. The location is convenient, with Jalan Legian less than five minutes away on foot, and Kuta's white-sand beaches just a 10-minute walk in the opposite direction. Jalan Legian has plenty of shopping and dining options, though it's most well known as Kuta's party hub. Kuta Beach is always crowded and not the most pristine beach in Bali, though it's a great place for swimming, surfing, or sunbathing. The waves are well suited to novice surfers, as they break over a soft sand bottom, and there are plenty of nearby vendors offering surf lessons and board rentals. Beachwalk Shopping Mall is also located along Kuta Beach and has a cinema as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Other popular attractions in Kuta, such as Discovery Shopping Mall and Waterbom Bali, are located around 20 minutes away from the hotel on foot. Guests should budget at least 35 minutes for airport transfers, though driving times can take much longer depending on traffic.

Rooms are bright and airy, with large doors that open out onto spacious balconies with seating. Interiors are nominally modern, with light colored walls and plain white tile floors, however, the lack of any extra decor makes them quite austere. Simple wooden beds that have firm mattresses, though the wood-veneer furnishings are showing their age. While rates are low, you get what you pay for and the rooms here showed heavy wear during our visit. Features are the definition of basic, and only higher-category rooms are equipped with air-conditioning and hot water. Lower category rooms get by with ceiling fans and cold water. Also, there are no TVs, safes, mini-fridges, Wi-Fi, or desks in any units. Bathrooms are cramped and fairly rundown, and most feature separate shower cubicles and small vanities with porcelain sinks and mirrors. Some rooms only have porcelain pedestal sinks with no counters for storage. Beware that rooms are poorly soundproofed, and that the noise from nearby nightclubs is quite bad. Also, many of the hotel's guests are in town to party, and are often loud and rowdy until late at night.

The facilities on offer here are limited, with only a swimming pool and breakfast. The pool is a hub of activity throughout the day, though seating is limited. There's both a shallow kid-appropriate area and a deeper section, but the pool isn't long enough for laps. It serves as the main social space in the hotel day and night. Reception is open 24 hours a day and offers tour arrangement services and vehicle rentals, plus they sell beer, soft drinks, and mineral water. A simple daily breakfast is included in most room packages and consists of banana pancakes, fruit platters, and coffee or tea. Wi-Fi is free, though the connection is only available in the lobby and nearby areas. The signal is weak to non-existent in most rooms. On-site motorbike parking is also available.