Where to stay in Bali: Ubud, Canggu or Uluwatu

There's no such thing as "the best place to stay in Bali": it completely depends on what you want to do. Ubud is jungle and culture, Canggu is cafés, surf and partying, and Uluwatu is cliffs, surf and sunsets. Prices are approximate per room per night for two people and can change a lot depending on the season.

Ubud: jungle, temples and culture

Low cost (€20-50): Pertiwi Bisma 2, simple but with that tropical feel you're after in Ubud, and The Peacock Inn, small and well located near the center.

Standard (€50-120): Alaya Resort Ubud, comfortable with a Balinese aesthetic without going full luxury, and Adiwana Unagi Suites, a more polished experience with rates from about €170 on some dates.

Boutique (€120-250): Bisma Eight Ubud, with beautiful design and a sophisticated atmosphere, a very good mix of traditional Bali and contemporary design. One of our favorites.

Luxury (€300+): Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, Mandapa (a Ritz-Carlton Reserve) and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, with jungle villas, private pools and spa.

Canggu: surf, cafés and partying

It's the perfect area for the surf and nightlife days.

Low cost (€15-50): The Hideout Hostel and Asung Guesthouse, with private rooms from about 250,000 IDR a night at some properties.

Standard (€50-120): ZIN Canggu Resort & Villas and Chesa Canggu.

Boutique (€120-250): Shore Amora Canggu, Theanna Villa and Spa and Hotel Tugu Bali, with more character and elements of Indonesian culture.

Luxury (€250+): La Reserve 1785 Canggu, COMO Uma Canggu and Aston Canggu Beach Resort.

Uluwatu: the trip's grand finale

Low cost (€30-60): Gravity Eco Boutique Hotel and Bingin Garden.

Standard (€60-120): Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali and villas or guesthouses in the Ulu Cliffhouse area.

Boutique (€100-220): Suarga Padang-Padang, an eco-friendly hotel with a spectacular location and ocean views and one of our favorites, and The Asa Maia, more intimate and adults-oriented.

Luxury (€250+): Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort, Alila Villas Uluwatu and Six Senses Uluwatu, with private villas, pools, spas and views of the Indian Ocean.

North Bali

"North Bali" isn't a single area: Munduk is mountains, fog, waterfalls and plantations; Lovina is coast, a black-sand beach and dolphin excursions; and Pemuteran is calmer, geared toward nature and diving. For nature, we'd choose Munduk. In Lovina you have Bali Taman Beach Resort & Spa and Frangipani Beach Hotel (€25-50), Kelapa Lovina Beach Villa and Villa Teman Lovina (€50-120) and The Damai Lovina (€100-200), a calm atmosphere that's somewhat lost in Canggu. In Munduk, Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort, from about €220.

What about private villas?

A villa with a private pool can cost from €80-150 a night for simple options, up to €500-1,000+ for luxury ones. If there are four of you, instead of booking four hotel rooms, a 2-bedroom villa with a private pool split between four can cost practically the same per person as a good hotel.

Our favorites by area

Ubud: Bisma Eight. North: Munduk Moding Plantation. Canggu: ZIN Canggu or Shore Amora. Uluwatu: Suarga Padang-Padang.

Prices change a lot by season. You'll find the whole route in our 14-day Bali itinerary, and the real costs in how much it costs to travel to Bali.