The River Island Sidemen

The property is huge, really well developed, and nicely maintained. The new pool is done and looks amazing — it’s going to be such a great addition to the place. It’s right by the river, so you can constantly hear the water flowing — honestly one of the most peaceful sounds to wake up to. You can walk around and explore so many little corners of the property. If you love plants and animals, it’s a paradise. There’s always something new to spot. Even outside the property, the views are beautiful, and the locals are super friendly. The best part of my stay though was the host, Jro, and her family. They were incredibly kind and welcoming. I had a long chat with her husband — such an interesting guy, full of knowledge and great stories. The staff were also lovely — friendly, helpful, and clearly work really hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. I really enjoyed my time here and would definitely recommend it. If you stay, get a bike — it’s the best way to explore the town!

Absolutely nothing.

Located in a beautiful jungle valley with a river split on either side of the accommodation means you are truly immersed in nature. The staff are exceptional and incredibly welcoming making you feel like part of the family. Swimming in the river each day was a highlight.

Peace and quiet. Lovely setting at the river.

Loved our stay!!! It was our honeymoon and they made it extra special. Jro is an amazing human and a supermom who really took care of us. I only have good words and good wishes for her. Please, treat yourself and stay in one of the villas - I spent almost a month in Indonesia and it's the best sleep I had! The bed is so comfy, the space was super clean and I felt super safe knowing there were no bugs in the room with us. The room was very spacious and the outdoor bathroom is also super nice. Although the decor is clean and modern, it still is a typical balinese hotel which I love! Breakfast was DELICIOUS - best scrambled eggs we had!! we still talk about them! Also you could choose to have the breakfast in your patio or in the restaurant. Luckily for us, from both places your could see and hear the river which was so beautiful and relaxing. 10/10 experience. Location is super. The hotel is between two rivers and surrounded by nature. The staff was very helpful and they even carried our bags from the reception to the villa, since the path to get there was a bit bumpy. Please, bare in mind that you will need a car for almost everything. I would 100% recommend to hire a private driver for your stay and visit the many waterfalls nearby, Sidemen city, the activity parks (with rafting and other activities!) etc.

There was a minor issue with our laundry

The property is stunning and expansive, with multiple acres to explore and a peaceful, remote feel. Jro (the owner) and her family are incredibly warm and hospitable, t he food was homemade and delicious. The experience felt personal and memorable—one rainy night turned into a fun karaoke evening with Jro’s husband and other guests, which we’ll never forget.

Not a negative for the hotel more of an FYI-The hotel is about an hour walk or a 15-minute drive to the main part of Sidemen. Grab and Gojek drivers sometimes refuse the ride, ask for tips in advance, or cancel because they don’t want to make the drive—on our first night it took 45 minutes to find a driver. Thankfully, Jro informed us about this ahead of time, and using a driver she recommended worked much better

It is filled with lush greenery and nature and so very beautiful! The rooms are gorgeous and well planned out. Each room is like a private little cabin. The grounds are nice to wander around and the river view and access are great. They are building a pool as well, which will be really nice. The views of surrounding hills are very nice.

The location is beautiful, the breakfast was good, the staff is very polite.

The distance from the village (Sidemen) is a big problem, if you cannot ride a scooter. We had to rely on the staff for our daily transportation to the village, but the hotel owner did not check (as she had promised) her WhatsApp messages on time in order to arrange pickup from the village. Therefore, the first night we had to walk a long distance in complete darkness; it was dangerous. Although the breakfast is good, the quality of the other meals is very, very poor. The rooms are beautiful, but full of insects and geckos (we found gecko poop in the room every day). The owner is very unreliable: She forgot to arrange our transport to the airport (at the time of our stay, "free airport shuttle" was listed under "Facilities"), and we ended up missing our two-leg flight. She also spoke badly to us about other guests all the time, which made us feel quite uncomfortable. In a nutshell, this is an acceptable (under no circumstances "good") option for real nature lovers, who do not mind insects etc., ONLY if they can ride a scooter. Yet, the cost is too high for the quality offered. I regretted my stay at the River Island and would avoid it by all means. Similar (better, even) landscape can be found everywhere in/around Sidemen.

The property is in a beautiful location surrounded by nature. It felt very private and luxury. The restaurant was delicious, the room was clean and comfortable, the staff were incredibly kind and attentive. There was everything we needed for a perfect few days away from the crowds to relax.

It is quite difficult to get a grab in the area but the owner kindly shared a personal drivers number with us so we could get around.

Owner was disrespectful and had anger issues almost got in a physical fight. The staff are very helpful and respectful but the owners (husband and wife) are the worst hosts I’ve ever seen in my life and I’ve travelled all around the world. First time I experience such an attitude from people working in the HOSPITALITY industry.

Very friendly owner and staff Quiet location

It was a bit far out which made getting into the village of Sideman a bit challenging and expensive

Wonderful little gem in the River! The house was beautiful decorated and clean. Breakfast was great and a lot. Staff was very helpful and friendly. We slept so good with the sound of the river. Loved the spacious garden, we hope they will keep it and not build huts everywhere (there is construction going on). You need a scooter to get somewhere and should feel comfortable on one. Streets are steep!

Looks like a resort, but it is more like a homestay. Don't expect perfection,some things are still in development and they are still learning to handle everything. ;) Outdoor bath means you have a frog in your sink some nights.

Almost everything. The property was too scenic. The hospitality was one of the best we have ever experienced.

NA.

The house was absolutely amazing! So many nice little details in there and it was also very clean. The staff was very very friendly and it was so relaxing to stay there. Next to the houses you have a river and lots of trees, which makes it feel like that you actually are in the jungle. We had a great time staying there!

- Absolutely friendly host and staff who took care of any needs. They even organized scooter rides into Sidemen for us for free - Beautiful quiet house in the middle of nature - Perfect place for relaxing and recharging - The food was delicious

- Nothing really. However the road to the hotel is very bad and it's a bit remote. The host already asked the government to fix the road, but so far it did not get fixed. It's not a real problem however since the host organized transport for us.

The staff was very welcoming. The grounds were nice. Great value.

Somewhat isolated from Sideman, but 10 minute taxi is well worth the solitude.

Everryone was so friendly and helpful. Loved the atmosphere

We stayed in Bali for 2 weeks and River Island at Sidemen was hands down the best property that we stayed in during this time. First and foremost is the lovely homelike hospitality from the host Joru and her 5 lovely daughters who are ever smiling and attend to all your requests with joy and happiness. Joru personally takes care of your comfort in a motherly manner and is ever enquiring if you need anything. The warm hospitality touched us deeply. The property itself is about 5 acres and at in very scenic environs. You can hear the river flowing at night. There's a nice restaurant where you can enjoy the view of the river valley and green mountains while having breakfast. Open air shower is a nice touch and we enjoyed bathing amongst the green environs. The breakfast is wholesome and excellent and is served while being decorated with fresh flowers every morning. Bike rentals are available at the property itself. This property is developing and has a lot of potential for future. Highly recommended to stay here. We were quite sad to leave after a 2 night stay.

The final approach road of about 150 meters to the property is a bit tedious and especially difficult on a bike during rain. Hopefully this can get addressed soon.

The River Island Bali is a beautiful hideaway surrounded by nature. You can hear the river right from your room – it’s incredibly peaceful. Each room is like a small Balinese house with a private terrace, which adds a lovely touch. The breakfast was delicious, especially the scrambled eggs – perfectly seasoned and cooked. Everything was clean, and the bed was super comfortable. A perfect place to relax and unwind.

While The River Island Bali is beautifully located in nature, future guests should know that access is quite difficult – the road leading there is in poor condition, and you’ll need to walk or ride a motorbike the last stretch. During my stay, there was construction happening near the river, which took away a bit from the otherwise peaceful vibe. The owner kindly tried to minimize the noise, but it still affected the overall experience. The room wasn’t cleaned during our stay, and the cups for tea weren’t restocked. The terrace table hadn’t been wiped or cleared before breakfast either. The staff was friendly but could be more attentive, and staff's basic English skills would help, especially at check-in – it was hard to communicate my needs. With some improvements, this place could offer a truly relaxing retreat.

This is the perfect place if you’re looking for a quiet and calm holidays, full of nature and stunning landscapes, The staff is very kind and offers the best service, they’re always checking on you and also they offer driver anytime you need. The breakfast is very good, the room is beautiful and comfy. I recommend this hotel 100% and I’ll definitely come back! Thanks Jero for your amazing hospitality.

A lovely peaceful location with incredible staff and breakfast. The villas are brilliant, with ac and we loved the outdoor bathrooms. The owner was very helpful with everything we requested. The breakfast was the best one we had in Bali. Some of the site is still under construction, but there was no noise at all to disrupt the peaceful surroundings. The host also speaks good English.

Everything about this property was perfect.

The River Island is an absolute gem. The property is located between two rivers and very private. The rooms are beautifully styled and the staff are wonderful. The owners are very hospitable and welcoming.

The property needs a swimming pool. Although there is river access it is not conducive to lounging around! Better reading lighting needed for inside and outside the rooms.

A lovely, green and serene private island between two rivers. The room was spotless and comfortable. The owner was incredibly kind to us and sweet. If you want to chill, do yoga, meditate, and be surrounded by beautiful nature, flowers and batteries surely choose this property. Thing to consider that the location is a bit remote and the road is challenging, steep and a bit bumpy in the end, however, it was ok from our taxi drivers.

This is a perfect spot for relaxing after busy Ubud or Canggu. It's far enough from any village or town to feel the real Indonesian lifestyle. You will be pampered by the sound of twin rivers surrounding you, with clean water you can bathe in, you will be surrounded by hills of rise terraces, cultivated by warmest hearted people on this planet. This is a place to stop. And to feel. And to be. And the staff! Their staff is 5* hotel staff. So kind, so caring, won't ever leave you without help! Food to the room? No problem! Ride to the waterfall - no problem. Actually nothing is any problem for them! Amazing staff that actually creates the magic of this place!

Nothing! Everything was perfect!

Für uns war die perfekte Unterkunft. Wir haben uns von Anfang an wohl gefühlt . die Gastgeberin war sehr aufmerksam und zuvorkommend. Haben uns gefühlt, als wenn wir in eine Familie aufgenommen worden sind. Alles perfekt. Die Zimmer sind sehr sauber das Essen lecker. Werde diese Unterkunft zu 100 % weiter empfehlen.

Venir dans cet hôtel c'est vouloir s'ancrer en plein coeur de la nature qui représente parfaitement Bali. L'emplacement est paradisiaque, même si l'accès à l'hôtel n'est possible qu'en étant véhiculé. Un grand merci à la gérante ainsi qu'à toute l'équipe pour leur hospitalité, leur gentillesse et générosité indescriptibles. Vous quitter nous a fait un pincement au coeur, et nous avons déjà hâte de revenir vous voir. Encore merci pour tout.

Tout était parfait.

„The River Island Bali“ ist ein verstecktes Paradies im wunderschönen Sidemen. Die weitläufige Unterkunft bietet alles was man für einen erholsamen Urlaub benötigt. Die Gastgeberin mit ihren Kindern immer bemüht einem die Wünsche von den Augen abzulesen. Unkompliziert, immer sehr freundlich, kompetent- was will man mehr. Es ist keine Schickimicki Unterkunft - es ist eine familiengeführte, authentische Unterkunft. Und dies abseits des Trubels. Das Baden im River - wunderbar. Und nun gibt es zudem noch einen Swimmingpool, welcher noch nicht bei Booking aufgeführt ist. Wer die schöne Landschaft liebt, dem kann man Sidemen und vor allem die „The River Island“ Unterkunft nur wärmstens empfehlen. Und das zudem zu einem wahrhaft günstigen, vernünftigen Preis. Wir kommen sicher wieder.

Nichts

The River Island Bali ist das beste Hotel in dem wir je gewesen sind.Ein kleines Paradies am Fluss,mitten in der Natur.Perfekt zum Ausruhen & Genießen.Die Gastgeberin und ihr ganzes Team sind unglaublich nett und zuvorkommend, so etwas haben wir wirklich noch nie erlebt.Wir waren 4 Tage da & hätten am liebsten verlängert.Die Bungalows sind super schön und sehr sauber.Das Essen super lecker.Jeder Wunsch wird sofort erfüllt-Roller,Wäsche,Essen & Trinken für Zwischendurch.Einfach unglaublich.100% Weiterempfehlung!!! Wir kommen garantiert wieder.

Nichts.

Tout La gentillesse, la bienveillance, l’accueil, la chambre, l’ambiance zen dans la jungle Super petit déjeuner 🥞 Merci à toute l’équipe près à répondre à toutes demandes. Nous reviendrons sans hésiter

Scooter indispensable

Le calme et le cadre. Bungalows cosy et propres, assez éloignés les uns des autres. Néanmoins les commentaires élogieux lus avant d’y séjourner sont dans l’ensemble un peu trompeurs. Une randonnée autour de Sidemen au départ de l’hôtel est possible.

Gestion de l’établissement assez approximative, ce qui peut rendre le séjour pas très agréable parfois. Dommage parce que le lieu a plein d’atouts. Véhicule nécessaire pour tout faire car assez éloigné des lieux d’intérêt.

Heel aardig personeel, goede service, de mogelijkheid om een scooter te huren op locatie is heel handig, het ontbijt was heerlijk