In Reply to: Anybody know Maharta Bungalows? posted by trisha on Friday, 16. February 2007 at 11:28 Bali Time:
We have stayed at the Maharta, next to the Niksoma, for years. It is a small hotel owned by an Austrian. We get the normal not deluxe rooms. They are at the back. They are 2 to 3 star, the deluxe rooms are nicer (3 star) up the from closer to the beach. The staff are fine.
If you want a better room try the deluxe rooms - bigger and nicer bathrooms. Niksoma next door is much nicer but more expensive. If you want Hilton standard rooms stay at a Hilton. Everything is relative ie depends on how much you pay.
We do not get breakfast as all hotel breakfasts get boring if you stay in the one place long enough. We go out onto the beach road turn left and head towards the Zanzibar restaurant on the beach. There are many restaurants along there on the beach to choose from and you can have whatever you want for (a nice) breakfast at a very cheap price. If you want a good hotel breakfast and 4 star rooms pay a 4 star price.
The Maharta is well located, it is on the beach, it has a small pool and you are not surrounded by alot of people all the time. You can walk to Kuta one way or Seminyak the other way. We walk on the beach in the morning and evening most days.
Taxis are cheap in Bali so if you want to go somewhere just go out the back to the main street and either get a taxi or there will be alot of offers for "Transport" - suite yourself whatever you get.
There are good shops (restaurants, DVDs, software, clothes) on the street out the back.
We are heading back to beautiful Bali for trip number 6 next Saturday and will off course be residing at the Maharta. No children this time just boring friends. We used to fly in and stay at the (2 star) hotels at the back of the Padma (ie 3 brothers, Garden View Cottages (only once mind you), etc.) and i was usually sent out next morning to barter for a nice reasonable hotel room on the beach. Now I just book straight into the Maharta by email - barter down to the same price everytime no breakfast - easy.
Try this link
http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=-8702042&x=115165161&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2
The cross-hair icon in the middle of the view should be on the Maharta on the beach. Hope this works.
Those that want better could try the Melasti Beach Resort a few doors down towards Kuta also on the beach (down towards the bottom of the screen on the photo).
We have travelled through a lot of Asia (in 2 star to 5 star hotels) and we still love to go back to Bali. Have a great holiday in Bali - we certainly will.
Lucien