Villa Padi Menari is situated 5km north of Ubud town in an area surrounded by rice fields. This is a private home catering to discerning, independent travelers who seek an exclusive experience rather than a generic hotel one. Development is booming in this area with many buildings coming up around us. There is construction happening nearby. Guests now have many options of shops and food stalls nearby as well as easy access to transport.
Made predominantly of wood and open to the elements, the villa is rustic and can seem weather-beaten. It is not for you if you are looking for a sterile, immaculate house. Consisting of 3 bedrooms with ensuite baths, all bedrooms come with air-conditioning, fan, king-sized double beds with the finest hotel quality bedding and linen. A private 4mx8m plunge pool (approx. 1.7m deep) with lush tropical garden overlooks a spectacular view of paddy fields and coconut groves beyond. We encourage human and nature interaction and hence have only one TV with cable and DVD player in the entire property. Downstairs we have a multi-platform music docking stereo player.
You will have private use of the entire Villa. Booking includes daily breakfast for up to 6 people, Aqua water, tea and coffee making facilities, free Wi-Fi, housekeeping, night security, barbecue facilities and parking. Additional services such as cook to prepare meals, massages, laundry, driver & guide, sightseeing tours, cultural shows, cooking classes, etc. can be arranged at a reasonable fee. We can pre-stock the fridge for you with a list of items you require i.e. beer, soft drinks, fresh fruits, snacks, etc. A receipt will be given to you for reimbursement of this expense.
On days or nights when leaving Padi Menari feels like too much trouble, there is the option of takeaway or ordering delivery from a wide variety of Balinese, Indonesian, Asian and international cuisine from nearby restaurants in Ubud. Our staff can scoot out to get your meals if you wish.
The villa is located in the windy rice field and is very open. We try to keep it as clean as possible but the humidity and residue brought in by winds from the fields makes it a daily battle! We share the land with the indigenous creatures of Bali such as white herons, birds, frogs, tokek (giant gecko), field mice, spiders, green snakes and all sorts of insects. For the most part, they avoid humans but occasionally you may encounter a curious creature seeking refuge. Mostly harmless, may be pesky at times but hey, this is nature. Pest-control and fumigation treatments on ants, mosquitoes and bugs are done occasionally but we prefer to minimise the use of harmful chemicals. You may find insect carcasses in the mornings especially if it rained during the night.
The villa's orientation is towards the setting sun and can get quite hot during late afternoons. During this time the air conditioning may not be strong enough to combat such intense direct heat especially since the villa is made of wood. It is better to leave the doors and windows open for the breeze to cool down the rooms. The bedroom upstairs is hottest so try to avoid being in it during this time.
Padi Menari’s philosophy is based on a deep and enduring love for the natural environment and surroundings. We are concerned with the overall long-term impact of tourism on the island and thus, we strive to promote sustainable practices whilst remaining true to the spirit and culture of Bali. To this end, we try to promote the use of locally produced, eco-friendly products and through actions such as usage of recycle bags, energy saving bulbs, water management, etc. where possible. Purified Aqua water is supplied for drinking and cooking and we encourage you to reuse your water bottles to help reduce waste on the island.
We finally have high speed fiber optic wireless internet which works well most of the time. However, internet reliability is still a frustrating problem in Bali and is at the mercy of weather conditions and power outages.
Our principle to provide equal employment opportunities and keeping it local means that some of the staff are not technically trained in the hospitality industry and may not be as experienced as those in other commercial establishments. Our villa attendant, security man and gardener are from villages nearby and can be quite shy. For what they may lack in skill, they make up for in honesty and enthusiasm. They are constantly learning and improving and we hope you will not find them lacking too much. They are eager to please and will try their best to meet your needs so please do communicate with them on whatever you need.
The maximum number of guests is 6 adults. Note: Although we love children and have welcomed many families with toddlers and children over the years, Padi Menari is very much an adult’s getaway and is not designed as a child safe property due to its open concept and multi-levels. Thus, you will need to be responsible for them at all times.
