KT Kuaya Guesthouse: Balinese Homestay in Ubud
Staying with a local family is my favorite type of travel accommodation. It’s the best way to immerse yourself in a culture and your best chance to experience a home-cooked meal by a local grandma.
One of my best and most authentic experiences in Bali was staying at the Kuaya family’s homestay. In Bali each family lives in a compound with their own temple, and many of these families have opened their homes for travelers to visit and stay.
Adi, Ketut, and the rest of the Kuaya family were so sweet and hospitable. It was nice to be treated like one of their relatives (although Filipinos and Indonesians do look similar); it felt like my cousins were running around my backyard & my grandma was sweeping the floor every morning.
The location was superb—it was close to the city center but far enough to have your own little, Balinese oasis. There's a beautiful pool in the back that’s surrounded by a mini jungle where you can hear the sounds of nature & animal friends. The lounge area is beautifully decorated & super relaxing to take a dip or catch up on some reading.
I stayed in a single room with an ensuite bathroom. My room was cozy for myself & it would've been just as comfortable if I had a plus 1. There wasn't AC, but there was a ceiling fan that kept the room fairly cool. All the rooms have a little balcony spacious enough to have coffee/ breakfast, dry your clothes, and leave your shoes behind (gotta love Asian customs).
Okay so can we finally talk about their breakfast? It was all sorts of AMAZING—the best I had during my 3 weeks in Bali. Adi made a different Balinese breakfast every morning from pandan pancakes to fritatas that were all served with an assortment of island fruits. Every morning around 9am, she stops by my balcony to chat about my plans for the day & asks if I'm ready to eat breakfast. Home-cooked meals really make you feel right at home no matter where you are!
If you’re looking for cheap accommodations without having to stay in a shared dorm room, booking homestays in Bali is the way to go. And as I mentioned before, it will be one of the most authentic experiences you’ll have while in Bali. Booking homestays in Bali is fairly easy, there are a crap ton listed on booking.com and airbnb. But if you’re looking for a homestay to stay at in Ubud, I highly recommend Kuaya Homestay. Plus the price is on point!
$18/per night with free breakfast via booking.com
Useful Tips If You Stay at KT Kuaya Guesthouse:
Withdraw cash to pay for your stay.
If you want to get all the touristy sites finished in 1 day (which I recommend doing), request a driver through Adi to drive you around (approx. $60 and the driver happens to be one of their good friends who lives on their block). You'll have the autonomy to pick & choose what sites you want to visit.
Be sure to watch the Kecuk dance on Wednesday night where all the men who live on the block perform a traditional Balinese routine. The dude who drove me to all the sites was actually part of the performance, I almost melted when he waved to me after their performance!
My favorite food/drink spots on the block:
+Fair Warung Bale: for cheap/delicious Indonesian food (all the proceeds go to their charity which is cool).
+Seniman Coffee Studio: for good coffee, tea, and wifi.
