Gregory R
Google
The Rambutan Boutique Hotel is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Lovina, North Bali. I stayed here for 2 weeks in June and July 2024. It was a relaxing, interesting and enjoyable holiday. ||The hotel is set in beautiful tropical gardens, with two swimming pools and a restaurant, cafe, bar. There are a number of different styles of rooms and villas. I stayed in the Deluxe Tower Suite and the Deluxe Room, second story. I enjoyed both. The only reason I moved from the Deluxe Tower Suite was because there was a little noise from the traffic on streets below at night, but I only noticed this because I live in an extremely quiet location at home. Guests who live in busy cities probably wouldn't notice it at all. The rooms were different. The Deluxe Tower Suite was bright, sunny and warm, with two air conditioning units, and an amazing private terrace and gazebo. The Deluxe Room was cooler, and less light, but spacious and elegant. It was very quiet except where the two bathrooms either side of the duplex were separated by a shared wall, I could hear one louder couple's conversations clearly at times, although I couldn't at all when there were other guests as neighbour's. The Deluxe Tower Suite by contrast was totally private with no neighbours at all, effectively a private penthouse. It's hard to say which room I preferred, but I think the Deluxe Tower Suite. I am returning in June and July 2025 and have booked a villa which are also available in the complex. I'll have a look at the Standard Rooms too, as they are very well priced and I have a varying budget for travel from year to year. ||The owners and staff were wonderful, really helpful, welcoming and friendly with lots of suggestions about what to do. A hearty breakfast was provided each morning with delicious watermelon and pawpaw and a selection of Indonesian and western foods, from nasi goreng, fried rice, through to omelettes or eggs on toast. There are also excellent restaurants immediately outside the hotel's grounds. I alternated between the hotel restaurant and 3 regular places neighbouring the hotel. ||Lovina itself is a relaxing and pleasant town. The black sand beach is good for swimming. I would go swimming in the sea two or three times a day, especially at sunset. The water sea temperature was extremely warm, almost too hot at times (second warmest sea I've swam in after Dubai in summer), but there are stunning cool and refreshing waterfalls in the hills and mountains around Lovina. The only unusual feature I noticed is that almost all tropical islands I've visited, including South Sulawesi, had refreshing breezes and winds, especially in the afternoon and early evenings, providing a cool relief from the heat. Lovina didn't, and was very still and quite hot through the day and into the afternoon and evening. However, in Bali you can head up into the mountains and enjoy temperatures 10 degrees (celsius) cooler within 30-45 minutes drive. I'm also staying in the mountains for a few nights on my return in July 2025. ||I did a full day tour of the surrounding district, including to Denau Beratan and the Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist Temple, which was stunning The only place that I wouldn't go back to are the hot springs, as they were very crowded. I also did tours to two waterfalls, Banyumala and Banyu Wana, both recommended. There were no hassles in Lovina, and the vendors, while keen to sell their products and goods, were friendly, pleasant and patient, and made a distinction between short term visitors and long term guests in the area, who they would leave alone after a few days. I had a regular massage therapist in the area who was excellent. The hotel spa is also very good for massage therapies and treatments. ||I have three favourite islands in the world: Niue, Bora Bora and Pulau Tioman. But Loinva, Bali could definitely be added to the list, especially as it provides the best value for money out of all these destinations, so I think now it will be a challenge to decide where to go each year. However, I would definitely be keen to make the Rambutan Boutique Hotel a regular destination.
