We are always on the lookout for good budget accommodation in Sanur and recently we found a new one. Sari Villa is tucked away in the middle of Sanur down the same private driveway that leads to the Griya Santrian Beach Resort and Villa Shanti, between Wicked Parrot Bar and The Village Cucina Italiana on Jalan Danau Tamblingan. We paid $48 AUD per night. Here is what we found.
Quick verdict — who is Sari Villa for?
Sari Villa suits budget travellers, couples and families who want a clean, quiet base in central Sanur without paying beach resort prices. Rooms sleep 2, 3 or 4 people which suits families well. The location is good, the pool is small but the water stays cool, breakfast is included and the rooms are a solid size for what you pay. One thing to know upfront: the WiFi was too slow to stream anything so if that matters to you, look elsewhere.
It is down the same driveway as the Griya Santrian Beach Resort, which is also your quickest route to the beach. Check current rates and availability at Sari Villa on Agoda.
The rooms at Sari Villa
We stayed in a ground-floor twin room with two king single beds. The beds were on the firm side, pretty standard for accommodation in Asia, but comfortable enough for a good sleep. The room was a decent size with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a small fridge, a desk and wardrobe space to unpack properly.
The aircon felt great when we walked in. Over the next few days we realised it was not the coldest unit but it kept the room comfortable. The room was dark at night with thick drapes on both the door and window. No light getting in, which I appreciated.
Ground-floor rooms each have a small private courtyard you walk through to enter. The courtyard fits two chairs, a small table, a clothes hanger for towels and an outdoor shower. The outdoor shower was my favourite part of the room. I used it every day. It is worth requesting a ground-floor room specifically if this appeals to you.
Request a ground-floor room when booking. The private courtyard and outdoor shower are the best feature of Sari Villa and only ground-floor rooms have them. Upper-floor rooms require climbing a flight of stairs.
The bathroom
The bathroom is a combined shower-bath and toilet in one room. Getting into the shower-bath requires stepping up which could be an issue for anyone with limited mobility. The outdoor shower is the easier option in that case. The bathroom has a hairdryer and a full set of toiletries including a toothbrush kit and comb.
One thing worth knowing if you are travelling with friends or kids: the glass door between the bathroom and bedroom is frosted but not fully opaque. You cannot see clearly through it but body shapes are visible. Not an issue for couples but worth being aware of for shared rooms.
There was some mould in the bathroom during our stay. This is not unique to Sari Villa. Bali is hot and humid year-round and most accommodation has some degree of mould. It was not excessive but worth knowing about.
The pool at Sari Villa
The pool is small. I would say no bigger than 6 metres by 3 metres. But I quite liked it. There are not a lot of rooms at Sari Villa so it never felt busy. At no point during our stay did I see more than two people in it at once. The water was actually nice and cool too, which is not something you can say about every pool in Bali. Some places the water feels like you are having a bath. Not here.
There are steps into the pool and a ladder. The steps are pretty steep and narrow but they are there. Four sun loungers sit alongside the pool and if you want shade, the breakfast area behind the pool has plenty of chairs under cover.
During the hottest part of the afternoon part of the pool is in shade and part is in full sun, so you have options.
Breakfast at Sari Villa
Breakfast is included and served outdoors near the reception. Honestly I was not expecting much given the price. So let me tell you what was on offer when we stayed: coffee, juice, pancakes, cereal, an egg station doing fried, scrambled, poached and omelettes, toast, pastries, white rice, fried rice, chicken sausage, lemon fish, grilled tomatoes and a small fridge of yoghurts. Three heating stations kept the hot food warm.
It is a small breakfast setup and outdoors rather than a dining room. But if you are not fussy you will find something. I went with eggs on toast and some yoghurt which was perfect.
The laundry service here is good value at 20,000 IDR per kilo. Most hotels in Sanur charge a premium for washing as a separate revenue stream. Worth using if you are staying a few nights.
Where is Sari Villa Sanur?
Sari Villa is not on Jalan Danau Tamblingan and it is not on the beach. It sits between the two, accessed via a private driveway off Tamblingan. Look for the signs to Griya Santrian on Jalan Danau Tamblingan. The entry to Sari Villa is up the same small driveway between the Wicked Parrot Bar and Restaurant and The Village Cucina Italiana. If you are using GPS, put in 47 Danau Tamblingan Street.
The private driveway location means no road noise and no nightclub music at night. The local birds start up around 6am and that was about the only sound we heard overnight. The rooms next door were inaudible.
Check-in: 2pm. Check-out: 11am.
How to get to Sanur Beach from Sari Villa
There is no direct beach access from Sari Villa. You have two options:
- The long way: Head back out to Jalan Danau Tamblingan, turn right and walk 400 metres to Cafe Smorgus, then turn down Pantai Kerang and walk another 300 metres to the beach. Total around 700 metres.
- The shortcut: Walk through the Griya Santrian Beach Resort. Stroll through reception and head toward the beach. If anyone asks, you are going to the beach bar for a drink. This is the quickest route and the one most guests use.
The Griya Santrian shortcut to the beach also means you have access to their beach bar and beach facilities while you are there. It is a lovely stretch of beach and a good spot to stop for a drink before heading back.
Accessibility at Sari Villa
Sari Villa is not particularly accessible for guests with significant mobility issues. There is a ramp at the entrance but it is steep. There are steps throughout the property including a step up to the breakfast area, a small step into the ground-floor rooms and a step up into the shower-bath. Upper-floor rooms require climbing a flight of stairs. If you need easier access, request a ground-floor room and use the outdoor shower rather than the indoor bath.
WiFi at Sari Villa
The WiFi was average at best during our stay. It was not reliable enough to stream video on YouTube. For general browsing and messaging it was functional but anyone who needs to work or stream regularly would be better served at a different property. If WiFi quality is important to you, check with the hotel about current speeds before booking.
Pros and cons of Sari Villa Sanur
Pros:
- Good value for central Sanur, around $48 AUD per night
- Quiet location on a private driveway with no road noise
- Well-sized rooms with private courtyard and outdoor shower on ground floor
- Breakfast included and better than expected for a budget property
- Pool water stays cool
- Rooms sleeping 2, 3 or 4 people, good for families
- Cheap laundry at 20,000 IDR per kilo
- Friendly staff, clean rooms
Cons:
- WiFi too slow to stream. Not suitable for digital nomads
- Pool is small
- Some mould in the bathroom. Common in Bali but worth noting
- Not the most accessible property for guests with mobility issues
- Frosted glass bathroom door not fully opaque. Issue for shared rooms with friends or kids
- No direct beach access
Final thoughts — is Sari Villa Sanur worth it?
Yes, we would stay at Sari Villa again. With any accommodation you need to consider what you are paying. At under $50 AUD a night you need to temper your expectations a little. But the staff were friendly and the rooms were clean, which is what we look for most. Good rooms, good location, good price.
It is a good choice for couples and families who want a quiet base without spending a lot. It is not the right choice if you need fast WiFi, a large pool or to be steps from the beach. For everyone else it is one of the better budget options in central Sanur.
FAQs — Sari Villa Sanur
Is Sari Villa Sanur worth it?
Yes, for budget travellers who want a clean, quiet base in central Sanur with breakfast included. At around $48 AUD per night the value is good. The rooms are well sized, the staff are friendly and the location is central. The WiFi is not strong enough for streaming and the pool is small, but for the price these are reasonable trade-offs.
Where is Sari Villa Sanur?
Sari Villa is on a private driveway off Jalan Danau Tamblingan in central Sanur, accessed via the same entry as Griya Santrian Beach Resort. Look for the signs between the Wicked Parrot Bar and Restaurant and The Village Cucina Italiana. For GPS use 47 Danau Tamblingan Street.
How far is Sari Villa from Sanur Beach?
There is no direct beach access from Sari Villa. The quickest route is through the Griya Santrian Beach Resort. Walk through reception toward the beach. The longer route is back out to Jalan Danau Tamblingan, right to Cafe Smorgus, then down Pantai Kerang to the beach, around 700 metres in total.
Is Sari Villa good for families?
Yes. Sari Villa has rooms sleeping 2, 3 or 4 people which makes it practical for families. The location puts you close to restaurants and things to do. The pool is small but functional. One thing to be aware of: the frosted glass bathroom door in shared rooms is not fully opaque which may be an issue depending on your group.
Is the WiFi good at Sari Villa Sanur?
No. The WiFi was average during our stay and not strong enough to stream video on YouTube. It handled basic browsing and messaging but anyone who needs to work remotely or stream regularly should look at a different property.
What time is check-in and check-out at Sari Villa?
Check-in is at 2pm and check-out is at 11am. If you arrive early they can usually hold your luggage.
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