Ubud: Gerebig Bungalows

Finding accomodation in Ubud, Bali can be both easy and have its challenges too. It all depends on your budget, if you have no problem renting out a luxurious villa for yourself or group then you will see a variety of places to choose from and this is because Bali has sky rocketed to fame due to Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat. Pray. Love” so this means prices have shot up too. Bali is still cheap in comparrison to Western standards however a lot of Western business owners living in Bali expect tourists to pay Western prices. Most budget travellers will struggle to find something lovely that isn’t a hostel and isn’t close to Ubud town centre. My advice would be to find accomodation owned by locals, prices will be reasonable and you are supporting a Balinese family who will most likely love and care for you much more than the Western businessman who is only after making a profit.

After many hours researching, I found the perfect place- Gerebig Bungalows! The price is reasonable, its architecture is based on traditional Balinese huts, breakfast can be included in the price if you wish and that includes an array of fruits, pancakes, cooked spinach, egg with toast and so on. Scooters are available to hire, airport transfers can be booked and the managers can also assist you in planning day excursions.

Gerebig Bungalows is a family owned business and so from the moment you stay until the day you depart you are treated as part of the family. Kadek is a wonderful, bubbly woman who speaks exceptional English. She will go out of her way to make sure you are safe and happy, I was anxious about using ATM’s but she gave me some tips and taught me how to use one. Wayan her husband (when he is free) will taxi you to places you wish to visit in Ubud for a small fee. All the staff are smiley and welcoming too.

Gerebig Bungalows are situated opposite Alchemy cafe which is famous in Ubud for being 100% plant based and Vegan. There is a Laundrette on the same road as well as two small kiosks and a few lovely restuarants too. I picked Gerebig because I wanted to live in a quieter area of Ubud- away from traffic and noise and also be away from mass tourism. Gerebig is only a 10/15 minute walk (or 5 minute scooter ride) from the city centre and it is a 10 minute walk to Bin Tang, the main super market for all your essentials or if you plan to cook. These Bungalows are in close proximity to a beautiful quiet area of Penestanan which includes a gorgeous walk to Intuitive Flow yoga studio, Yellow Flower Cafe, Lala & Lili’s cafe/spa, Cafe Vespa (a digital nomad favourite) and Sama Yoga retreat centre.

The gardens surrounding Gerebig Bungalow are simply breathtaking. Waking up in the morning to tropical plants, bird song and stone pathways leading to the pool or main reception area, you really feel like you’re living in the middle of a rain forest or jungle. At night you fall asleep to the hum and chirps of native insects and frogs, I’ve never been lulled to sleep by such magical sounds before!

These bungalows are a much needed little piece of paradise hidden by nature in an otherwise dense and touristy environment. The rooms are very neat, clean and of a good size with the inclusion of a bathroom and a kitchen attached. All the Bungalows have a balcony or outdoor seating area to enjoy breakfast as you marvel at the surrounding flora, fauna and wildlife. There is no AC but each room has a powerful fan, keeping the temperature comfortable.

I find it really special that the overall asthetic and design of the complex and Bungalows themselves are based on traditional Balinese huts, from the time before tourism, when the locals lived simple lives and when Bali was abundant in rice fields. Gerebig gives you the opportunity to experience authentic Balinese home life which is unique to the majority of Ubud which is packed with overtly modern hotels and villas. There is just something so magical about this place, as if you stepped into a secret garden.

As someone who has now stayed at Gerebig for a month I can safely say it has been a delight. I can not fault Kadek and Wayan, their hospitality has no limits, their staff are super lovely, the Bungalows are cute, the gardens are lush and the price is affordable- especially if you are group travelers. I stayed with three other women in one Bungalow because all four of us were attending a ten day training together, so the price to stay at Gerebig was split four ways. It is still a reasonable price for solo travelers too.

While Ubud and Penestanan are becoming quite busy and a bit hectic at times, you can rely on Gerebig to be an oasis, seemingly far from the maddening crowd.