Merta Beach Bungalow by Bukit Vista

This lovely young couple met all our needs. The breakfast was simple but delicious. And they were kind enough to cook our ramen for us. We were able to communicate in Indonesian, so I’m not sure how good their English was. The room was clean and well-maintained, if not a bit spartan. The air conditioner worked fine. There were a few good restaurants within walking distance as well as an over-priced laundromat. The room had a nice view of the ocean, and it was very calming. However...

...the property is listed as ‘beachfront’ which is technically true…but the ‘beach’ is simply a cemented dock about 7 feet (2meters) below the patios in front of the hotels. The cemented area is just that, cement with some large loose gravel sitting around. You can’t put your feet in the water (not comfortably, at least), but you can enjoy a beach view. There are lounge chairs to sit in and an outdoor shower to rinse off the non-existent sand. The electric water kettles were placed outside and guess what…they had RUST in them. This is incredibly unsafe…can’t you get tetanus from drinking from a rusty pail? We asked for a new one but it was just as bad. In the end, we asked them to heat our water for us (probably from another rusty electric kettle). The room was ok, very ‘rustic’ which I don’t care for, but that’s what you get in Nusa Penida. The shower pressure went from miserable to non-existent. It turns out that they have to buy the water to refill the tanks every once in a while. So basically there is no infrastructure for water at this hotel (and perhaps others?). Overall, it was charming because we stayed there just a few nights and the main point of going is to explore the real beaches in Nusa Penida, not sit in your hotel room. It just seemed like the price was a bit steep for what you get. But I think this place is pretty typical for Nusa Penida.

The location was nice, since it was close from the harbour but great to visit both sides of the island and not being too far.

Great being so close to the ocean, but during the night it sounded like the waves were going to enter through the room.

Cozy, elegant, Bali-style bungalows with the view of Mt. Agung. However, in our opinion the real gold of the place is its' owners: they are super friendly and super helpful. All questions we had were replied. All issues we got were solved. They even helped us with a transfer from the pier. Our main regret was that we couldn’t stay in this place for a bit longer than one night. Anyway, now we know where to stay when we come back to Nusa Penida. Sending you our warm greetings.

Set in a peaceful garden with sea view, the bungalows made for a very relaxing stay. I loved the small size of the resort. It is located in an area very convenient to restaurants. The staff were very friendly and helpful, yet also respectful of your privacy.

The music from nearby restaurants was loud on Saturday night, making it difficult to sleep. There are no hooks on the walls at all, and no coat hangers, it really would make the stay much more comfortable if there were somewhere to put your clothes or towels, especially as the floor gets dirty as there is no daily cleaning service. Also, a table or rack to put your bag on would be appreciated. You have to bring your own plug for the sink if you need one. The breakfast was fine, but nothing special, but it was delivered right on time - service is good. The coffee was, however, terrible. It is made (I assume) with tap water and tasted foul. I have spent a lot of time in Indonesia and didn't know that Indonesian coffee could ever taste that bad!