Sankara Suites and Villas

honestly do not enjoy leaving negative reviews, but the way this situation was handled was so disappointing that I feel it is necessary to share my experience.

I had to relocate to a completely different hotel during my stay because the condition of the room became a serious concern for me. The room had a noticeable mold/mildew issue, along with cleanliness problems that were simply unacceptable. For someone who deals with respiratory issues such as asthma, this is not a minor inconvenience — it is a legitimate health concern.

During my stay, I began waking up with headaches and feeling unwell, and I ultimately decided that I could not continue staying in that environment. I had to spend additional money out of pocket to find another hotel, which was extremely frustrating and completely disrupted what was supposed to be an enjoyable Bali experience.

What bothered me almost as much as the condition of the room was how the situation was handled by management. When I brought the issue to the staff’s attention, I was offered another room. However, based on what I experienced and what I later saw in previous guest reviews, it honestly left me questioning whether management was already aware that there were issues with the property. If there were known mold, mildew, or cleanliness concerns, guests should not have to discover them after becoming sick or uncomfortable.

I was not offered a reasonable partial refund for the portion of my stay I could no longer use. Instead, I was offered things such as a massage or an upgraded room. While I appreciate the gesture, neither of those solutions addresses the actual problem. A complimentary massage does not compensate someone who had to pay additional money for another hotel, and an upgraded room does not provide much reassurance when the underlying concern is the condition and cleanliness of the property itself.

I genuinely feel robbed of part of my Bali experience. I came here to relax, enjoy the culture, and make great memories — not spend my time dealing with an unacceptable room, health concerns, relocating hotels, and additional unexpected expenses.

The cleanliness was also far below what I would expect from a hotel charging what this property charges. There is a major difference between a room simply being imperfect and a room having conditions that make a guest question whether it is safe and appropriate to stay there.

The biggest disappointment was not just the room — it was the lack of meaningful accountability and resolution afterward. When a guest raises a legitimate health and cleanliness concern, the priority should be making the guest whole and addressing the underlying issue, not offering a massage as though that resolves everything.

I sincerely hope management takes this feedback seriously and investigates the property’s mold/mildew and cleanliness issues rather than simply moving guests to another room and considering the problem resolved.

Unfortunately, based on my experience, I cannot recommend this hotel, particularly to anyone with respiratory sensitivities or anyone expecting a clean, comfortable, and properly maintained place to stay.

We had a great time staying at the Sankara Suites & Villas. The staff go over and beyond with their happy, lovely personalities. Nothing is too much trouble, they really want to make your time here a positive one. Every member of staff we came across always greeted us no matter their job in the complex. Even the maintenance man always said hello even when he was changing a light bulb in the garden at night. They are the friendliest, kindest people you could come across. The gardens were pretty. We used the gym and the pool and most nights ate at the amazing restaurant. The room bed linen and towels could do with a refresh, however the rooms are big and clean and the service of the rooms is a of high standard. The restaurant has plenty of fun events that they put on. The afternoon tea was lovely too. The best massage I’ve ever had at the Spa! Thank you to…. Emi, Soma, Edi, Rutu, Ulan, Budi, Dewa, Asta (the amazing Chef) and all the other wonderful staff we didn’t get the names off. THANK YOU! We shall miss you all, forever in our hearts!

My partner and I came to the Sankara after spending a week in India, celebrating a friend's wedding. We had a beautiful time at the wedding but the back to back ceremonies had tired us out.

Before we even arrived at our room, we were picked up at the airport by a member of the Sankara team, Nyoman. He was on time, attentive, polite, and very friendly. We hadn't even made it to the room and already felt the tension melting away. As soon as we arrived at the Sankara, we were in awe. The facility was absolutely stunning, the staff was warm and welcoming, and it truly felt like we discovered a secret oasis in the middle of the jungle.

Everyone from the restaurant staff, spa/massage therapists, & front desk were incredible. Polite, respectful, warm and just so easy to talk to. They were flexible to our needs and able to quell any concerns we may have had immediately.

Above all i have to give a HUGE shoutout to our driver, Nyoman. In the 7 days we stayed, Nyoman was out driver for 6 of the but he was so much more than just a driver. He was able to give us recommendation for tourist attractions (that were less busy & cheaper!), gave us mini tours through the rice fields, temples, & waterfalls (sharing his knowledge of Balinese culture and history) and most of all, lots of fun!! On top of all that he took us to beautiful hidden markets, beaches with tons of open space, and made pit stops anywhere we needed.

Having someone like Nyoman to assist us through our time here was an absolute privilege. He truly embodies the spirit of hospitality, aka the art of making people feel seen & heard. We were so overwhelmed when we first arrived but Nyoman made everything so easy that we could turn our brains off and simply enjoy all these marvelous experiences, it was nothing short of magic.