At the lobby of the guest house, you might probably wonder where all the rooms are, as the place doesn’t seem sufficient to hold close to 20 spacious rooms. This is because the rooms are accessed by going down a narrow flight of stairs. But fret not, as the host will guide you to your rooms and help send your luggage to your room.
After proceeding to the accommodation area, that is where the place transforms to become a beautiful and tranquil garden. Guests will be greeted by a pleasant sight of lush greenery. The garden is well planned out, with various plants and trees but without being overcrowded. In fact, many will find themselves lured to being in a state of peace and zen here. Avid photographers will enjoy their time here as it is a very photogenic place and I can also imagine guests taking countless selfies with the verdant garden making an excellent background. The only possible point for dislike will probably be the narrow path down the area and some overhanging plants that just seem to get into the way of guests when they walk to their rooms. Avoiding the plants along the narrow path will require some bending and ducking but if this bothers you a lot, inform the hosts and they will see to it quickly.
There is also a fountain and fish pond within the compounds of the garden which seems to complement the flora and fauna perfectly. The combination of water and greenery makes Bucu Guest House seem like the epitome of Bali and makes guests feel like they have all been truly immersed into the island and its heritage. Most of all, it provides a very quiet and serene and environment which serves as a wonderful getaway location from the hustle and bustle of city life and daily work.
The entrance of the room is marked by large panels of glass and clean wooden doors that give the space an oriental and resort-style feel. Such a setting is rarely seen in guest houses and Bucu Guest House is brought up a higher level by the attractive exterior design of the rooms. Bucu Guest House uses the traditional key for locking up the rooms and guests will find the room key attached to the key hole upon arrival.
Right outside the room is an open and spacious porch which faces the garden area of the guest house. This is where guests can spend lots of time relaxing and sipping on some drinks. Over here, there is a set of two chairs and a coffee table containing the essential amenities that every room should have. In fact, this area doubles as the pantry for the room and guests will find a thermal flask which works surprisingly well in keeping water hot, and a pair of cups complete with coffee, tea and sugar. Mornings will probably be best spent at the porch enjoying the refreshing view of the garden and taking in some fresh air while enjoying a cup of coffee. What’s even better is that complimentary breakfast is provided daily from 8am to 10.30 am and it comprises a generous portion of fruits and some toast for each guest. For the price paid, having such a decent breakfast makes it worth every dollar. For those who wish to have an early or late breakfast, this can be arranged by just notifying Niyoman and he will arrange for your breakfast to be delivered when you require it. However, do take note that on some days, breakfast will not arrive right on the dot at 8am even though they make it a point to serve breakfast on time. Hence, should you be on a tight schedule and need to leave at a certain time, do remember to inform them of your plans and your preferred timing for breakfast in order to avoid disappointment. One thing to take note is that the porch is an open area surrounded by greenery. Hence, although guests will not be harassed by swarms of creepy crawlies, it is inevitable to have some insects visiting the porch and so, I would suggest washing the utensils with hot water from the thermal flask before using should you be concerned about hygiene.
There is also a drying rack which guests, especially those staying for extended periods will find useful. It definitely isn’t the sturdiest or the easiest to use, guests who require it will be thankful for it.
The main door of the room opens up to a commodious space that has a very simple and minimalistic look. Though some might appreciate the abundance of space, some will find the room a little to barren. It is also furnished with mostly with dark wood, giving the room a very traditional feel. The room is light in colour and lacks texture making it look boring inside and the only piece of decoration will probably be a piece of artwork hanging above the bed. Surely, the room can do with better furnishing but even so, it satisfies guests’ need of a simple and quiet lodging place. Though I fall into the group that finds the room a too bare, I must say that the general cleanliness still pleasantly surprised me. After all, I was not expecting much after paying only 200,000 rupiah per night for this room here. However, while chatting with other guests, a couple of them did mention that there was a slight stale smell in their rooms. This should not be a major issue for most other rooms but should you unfortunately by allocated such a room, try reporting it to any host and they will relocate you if there are spare rooms available.
Bucu Guest House offers two kinds of rooms, one which is equipped with an air conditioning system and the other with just fans. For maximum comfort, I would going for the slightly more expensive but much more desirable air conditioned rooms as it makes the room a great hideout should the weather outside get too hot and humid. There is also a ceiling fan in the air conditioned rooms which helps with airflow and further cools the room if needed. It can be a little noisy if switched to the maximum speed but doing that shouldn’t be necessary as the room is generally well ventilated and rather airy.
One let down is that the room does not have any form of entertainment. Guests will not be able to enjoy watching television shows or movies in the room at night. In exchange, what guests get is plenty of storage space. The large dressing table serves as an excellent spot to store your luggage and the voluminous cabinets and drawers can be home to many other personal items. Those who want some entertainment can do so on their personal electronic devices as there is complimentary wifi provided in the room. However, do not expect it to load at super speeds as the signal strength can be quite choppy at times. Even so, it is a nice and useful tool to have as you can google up the nearby attractions and plan your itinerary from the comfort of the room.
The bed itself is springy and some might find it a little too hard. The springs are also just slightly squeaky but it should not cause much discomfort or disturbance. The size of the bed is a generous king size and can even fit three comfortably and if you are not those with special requirements for beds, the ones in the room should suffice in providing rest. At night, the room is surprisingly quiet aside from the soft sounds created by the spinning ceiling fan. This comes as a pleasant surprise as the room is surrounded by nature and it would be expected to have lots of cricket sounds. The only gripe would be the pillow selection. Each guest have the option of a thin pillow or a small cushion, both of which are very thin and deflated. I believe that most will find the pillows a little too flat for their liking and it would probably be much better and more comfortable if more pillows are provided in the room. Also, some guests might not be used to the blankets provided as they are rather thin, unlike the thick duvets used commonly in hotel rooms. However, the room at Bucu Guest House is not as cold and the ones provided will keep you decently warm.
There aren’t many amenities provided in the room and guests can find most of them around the bed. Towels are nicely rolled up and placed on the bed, together with an extra roll of toilet paper and a handy information sheet. Also found on the bed is a handy map with the nearby places of interest marked out. Though it is a self-printed map courtesy of the hosts, it is actually very clear and well marked out, and is a handy tool to have. The bedside table is barren and besides a small air purifier and switches for the lights, fan and air conditioning, there is nothing else of use. One single power socket is available by each side of the bed and it requires a 2 pin plug to operate. Thankfully, those who have a habit of forgetting to bring along an adapter can still borrow one from the reception at the lobby.
Other storage spaces include a spacious wooden wardrobe which is a little stiff at the hinges. Though it is large enough to store some basic clothing, the hangers provided are insufficient and those lodging at Bucu Guest House will have to request for more. Furthermore, all rooms do not have an electronic safe as most hotels do but instead, the wardrobe comes with a key that guests can use to lock valuables in. It might seem a little scary to store valuables in anywhere else besides a safe but the wardrobe does suffice.
The view out of the room is pretty much the same as what you will get sitting on the porch. However, it is expansive and lets in a generous amount of natural sunlight into the room, brightening up greatly and giving it a Bali-feel. Also, it is not easy to find rooms with such a calm and soothing view as what you get staying at Bucu Guest House and this sure acts as a big plus point for those who desire a quiet place to stay in with a nice view.
The wide angled view is made possible through a panoramic window, which can be covered with a curtain should guests desire some privacy. The same goes for the room door, which has a large glass component as well. At night, the curtains do a good job of blocking out external lights, guaranteeing an undisturbed rest for guests. But do take note that it requires some effort to ensure that the curtains are completely closed and slightly overlapping in order to create a totally private space. Otherwise, it is possible for peering eyes to glance into the room through small gaps between the curtains and the windows.
 
The bathroom starts behind a wooden screen that looks very traditional. It does a great job of hiding the bathroom entrance so guests do not feel “dirty” at all. Here, you will find a simple sink which unfortunately lacks any form of toiletries or amenities. There is no place to hang a hand towel and should you require one, my only suggestion would be to hang a towel on the wooden screen. Even a simple hand soap is not provided and this spells trouble and inconvenience especially for guests who are uptight about cleanliness an hygiene. There is, however, ample space around the sink to place and store your personal toiletries and guests who bring their own toiletries, will have no issues unpacking them around the sink. The main saving grace would be the sheer usability of the sink as it gushes out water at decent pressure and does not have any leakage issues which are common in such types of accommodation.
The bathroom is a simple square which combines the toilet and shower area all into one. It is very spacious and the toilet is a good distance from the shower. Such a configuration is simple and shows that the hosts of Bucu Guest House have not done much renovation to the bathroom. Overall, it does look rather back ward and I do think that more can be done to update it especially in terms of looks. After all, many guests would want to have a nice shower in a nicely furnished and modern bathroom after a long day out under Bali’s scorching sun. One downside is that the entire bathroom gets wet once someone takes a shower and this means that any other user will have to get their feet wet once they step in the bathroom. The only trash bin is also found in the bathroom, which seems a little impractical to me. The door also looks unrefined and old, with its silvery inner surface spotting clear signs of age and wear and its lock is a simple latch that isn’t smooth does not lock fully easily. To add to the disappointments, the bathroom is also not sparkling clean although this can be expected from a guest house where its owners do all the cleaning. Stare hard and you might notice a few stains on the walls and floor of the bathroom but fortunately, none of these decrease the functionality of the bathroom.
The only other toiletry provided can be found in the bathroom and that is shampoo and bath gel. They are stored in small green jars that suit the nature theme that rooms throughout the guest house. However, the jars take up almost all the space in the small holder and guests will not be able to place their own toiletries. Should you bring your own toiletries and want to use them, it will probably be better shift the complimentary shampoo and bath get out to the basin, where you can use them as hand soap while freeing up storage space for your personal toiletries. The water pressure is also quite weak although it is still usable. Perhaps there are guests who will be unused to it and those with thick long hair might find it a little troublesome to wash their hair with such weak pressure. Even so, I think the the majority will not have major complaints about it as it is still an acceptable pressure.
The bathroom is probably the biggest disappointment of the room. I personally hoped that it would be better furnished and better equipped with more amenities. The room itself might be able to pull off a simple and traditional look, but the bathroom is unable to do so and it should be cleaner and more modern for the comfort and convenience of guests. Even with these complaints, the bathroom still suffices and those who are not picky at all will definitely find a way to make themselves comfortable.
Since Bucu Guest House is not a full service hotel but is more of a home stay accommodation, do not get your hopes high and expect many facilities. In fact, most of such guest houses have minimal or even no facilities at all, and those with just a small pool can be considered as well endowed. Sadly, Bucu Guest House falls into the category with no facilities at all. The entire area comprises just rooms and the beautiful garden with no pools or fitness room for guests to unwind and relax. However, I must say that even if there is such facilities, they will probably be severely underused as walking around Ubud and exploring Bali’s numerous beaches should be more than enough should you want exercise. Also, space is a constraint as Bucu Guest House is confined within the privately owned land of the host family and there will inevitably be a trade off in space. Hence, guests get an amazing and relaxing garden view right by their doorstep instead of other facilities like a pool. I personally find this set up more meaningful as it showcases what Ubud is all about, instead of turning Bucu Guest House into a conformist accommodation choice that offers what any other international hotel brand offers.
The only thing closest to a facility will probably be a small communal area tucked neatly into the corner of the accommodation room level. Over there, guests can mingle with other guests or just chill under the shelter and watch the scenic garden. The traditional looking couches are large enough to accommodate a greater crowd and it makes for a better place to gather at as compared to the porches outside the rooms.
Bucu Guest House is a no gimmick and straightforward accommodation choice. It is simple and delivers on what it promises. Guests going to stay there can expect a peaceful stay and also to be well taken care of by the friendly and hospitable hosts. Though this guest house is operating as a small, family-run business, there is no language barrier as the hosts all speak English. Though Bucu Guest House lacks in terms of amenities and facilities, it is a convenient place that is well connected to numerous attractions around town but yet avoids being a noisy and busy place. Hence, it is especially suitable for those who seek a convenient place to stay at but yet wish to retreat into a serene enclave every night. Yes, there are areas to improve on such as the interior design an decor of the rooms, but Bucu Guest House gets the basics right and guests will get a pleasant, clean and comfortable stay there. Those with a small travel but and wish to experience authentic Balinese lifestyle without burning a hole in the wallet should definitely give Bucu Guest House a thought.
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