Avalon Castle and Spa

Avalon Castle and Spa in Ubud—where do I even begin? I recently stayed here with five friends - and let me be frank: I did not choose this venue, nor would I have if I’d simply read the website beforehand. The website alone would have been enough to deter me, and unfortunately, my experience largely aligned with those initial misgivings.Let's start with the description on their website. They boast, "Avalon is designed as a private retreat center specifically for improved learning, to support greater team connection and the mindset required to make positive changes in leading and connecting with people." Excuse me, but what exactly is this corporate mumbo-jumbo supposed to convey? Rather than offering practical information about the villas or amenities, the site focuses on massaging the ego of one individual, Arthur Carmazzi, who is apparently integral to the retreat’s philosophy. Here’s the thing: I’m not interested in who Mr. Carmazzi is, and I highly doubt most potential guests are either. When choosing a place to stay in Ubud, what truly matters is the quality of the accommodation, not some pretentious lecture on the "science of group dynamics."In over 30 years of traveling for both business and pleasure, my requirements remain fairly simple: clean linens, fresh towels, reliable WiFi, a room free from pests, and hot water for showers. These are the bare essentials. Unfortunately, Avalon fell short on many of these fronts. Yes, we were close to nature—Ubud's charm largely comes from its jungle-like surroundings—but that doesn't excuse the ant infestation in our rooms. Nor does it explain why the WiFi kept cutting off every 30 seconds, a source of endless frustration.One of the biggest letdowns was the condition of the towels and linens. I can appreciate that Avalon is attempting an "authentic" Balinese feel, but there’s nothing authentic or charming about towels that are stained and grey, or bed linens that have clearly seen better days. For the prices Avalon charges, new towels and decent bedding should be non-negotiable. These may seem like small details, but they are the very basics of hospitality.To me, Avalon feels like the unfortunate result of yet another well-off westerner deciding to build a home in an Asian hotspot and turning it into a business without truly understanding what makes a successful hospitality venture. Sure, the place has potential. The setting is beautiful, and with some thoughtful attention to detail, Avalon could be a much more pleasant experience. But all the psychology jargon and gimmicks in the world can’t hide the fact that the basics are sorely lacking.That said, I must give credit where credit is due. On a more positive note, one of our group members planned to propose to his girlfriend during our stay. The manager was absolutely brilliant in arranging the flower decorations around the swimming pool and even provided a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate the occasion. This thoughtful gesture was much appreciated and showed a real willingness to go the extra mile. The staff, in general, were great, and one young woman in particular stood out. She was always smiling, helpful, and truly charming, making our stay feel warmer and more personal despite the venue’s shortcomings.Ultimately, my stay was mildly pleasant at best, but it’s clear that Avalon is resting too heavily on lofty marketing rhetoric and not nearly enough on delivering the essentials that travelers actually want. Perhaps I’ve missed the unique selling point, but all the pomposity surrounding this place leaves me feeling like I’ve been duped by well-crafted pictures and hollow promises. In short: there’s potential here, but much of it remains unrealized. Avalon needs to focus less on corporate waffle and more on the fundamentals of hospitality.

Exotic place. Interesting. I liked that you can order breakfast online the night before, specifying the place where you want to have breakfast

Even though the place seems original, the rooms are extremely damp, sheets not clean and toads in the bathrooms..

AVOID THIS HOTEL AT ALL COSTS!Avalon in Ubud is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. The rooms were humid and smelled like mold, and we could hear everything going on in the rooms next to/above us.There were 4 huskies chained tightly to a tree in the sun without water, with obvious skin diseases. This is absolutely animal abuse. Parts of the hotel were under construction, and we were not informed about this before our arrival.We ordered pasta when we arrived and we never saw it despite waiting one hour.The owner, Arthur Carmazzi, was loudly using his computer in the main area, but didn't even consider speaking to us about our complaints.We were so hungry and frustrated that we decided to file a complaint with Booking.com and ask for a refund.It is a complete nightmare.

We have booked the junior suite with garden view.A very large room with access to a private infinity pool. We recommend it 100%.The treatment of the staff was very friendly. We also recommend going to the hotel's typical show, ask when you arrive. They give you food and the show is very worth it. We have enjoyed it a lot, to finish you cannot leave this place without getting a massage please, the best massage we have had in a long time. The 2 hour one is really great, a castle in the middle of nature, it is normal that you find little animals.We leave happy and the owner who speaks Spanish is very friendly.

An excellent evaluation.I usually look at reviews before staying in places, but lately I prefer to take into account the good ones more than the bad ones.It is a different, exceptional place and for me a magical point of view. (NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES) Since it has stairs.Since we arrived they assigned us a room that was not the one I requested, but the boy explained to me that the next day they would change us to the suite. If you want to stay in this place we 100% recommend this room. It has a bathtub 🛁, shower, and a spacious room "junior suite with garden views". VERY BIG. The bathroom gives access to a private infinity pool, I didn't think of that. Spectacular 👌 Everything was wonderful, from the staff who treated us as if we were family, always with a smile ☺️. The owner of the castle, super friendly and also speaks Spanish, ♡. To close our last day, we went to the show with food. I can't describe how beautiful it was, even my eyes watered. I congratulate you, I advise you to invite all the guests so they can see how great it is, or suggest as soon as they arrive so that you make it much more popular, it's worth it 🫶🌎.To close, we request 💆‍♀️ 💆‍♂️ 2-hour and 30-hour couples massages pffffffffff. what massages! You cannot leave this place please without taking this experience with you. Right with the sound of the river, full of nature.A very pleasant experience. 🙂 THANK YOU

The hotel is very surprising and magnificentThere is a beautiful spa area with swimming pools with a tree-lined view conducive to calmThe host is very welcoming and the team adorable. We are pleasantly surprised by this original place.

Hotel with a lot of charm, ideal for having a perfect welcome in Bali if you go from the airport to Ubud. It is about 15/20 minutes by motorbike from the center of Ubud but it is not a problem. To point out the incredible environment in which it is located and the possibility of choosing a different place every day to have breakfast served, having a terrace with views of the river that you won't even believe. Very friendly staff with a spectacular site.

Beautiful castle however service took a long time

Spectacular