This is a great place to stay if your tastes run towards the idiosyncratic and creative. Although the name sounds institutional, the Amed Lodge by Sudamala Resorts is exactly the opposite. The whole place feels hand-made and quirky. Every room is quite different. Some are multi-storey with steep stairs, and everything is built and decorated with repurposed salvaged wood, panels, doors, fixtures, and art objects from older buildings and maybe boats, furniture, and other sources. The feeling is almost hippy funk, like living in a very comfortable art project by a folk-art craftsperson. The setting is not traditional Balinese style, nor typical modern highly-designed luxury, but you have probably enjoyed plenty of that elsewhere. The narrow lot opens right onto the beach, so you can put on your snorkeling gear and walk right out into the water if you want. We tried that but may have missed the best spots close to the lodge; we found the reef and fish to be better farther off to the right (east) in Jemeluk Bay. You can easily walk to a good snorkeling entry point by stepping onto the beach and turning right (towards the Amed Seaview warung; see my review of that for advice about starting your snorkeling swims from there, as well as their excellent food.) Or you can swim straight out from the Amed Lodge and turn left to an area where we had more luck seeing and swimming with turtles in relatively shallow water (otherwise they often dive down deeper than most snorkelers are likely to go), but in this area the coral was not as healthy and we saw a lower density of colorful fish. Either way, you can easily swim back or walk back on the beach to clean up in your room. The rooms are named, not numbered; we stayed in Tulamben, which is set in the middle of the property, back from the beach but still well away from the road. It is quiet but has no porch or view... but it has a gigantic, high-ceilinged, stone-lined bathroom and shower downstairs that was perfect for donning and peeling off our snorkeling rashguards and rinsing and hanging our wet stuff up to dry and air; it was like having a big, private locker room just steps from both the waves and our bedroom. A roofed but open platform along the beach edge is a nice place for breakfast...and lunch...and dinner, although you can easily walk to other good places to eat if you wish. We didn't bother hiring a boat or guide to take us to any snorkeling locations, although we might have tried that eventually if we had had more days in Amed. We loved the freedom to stay in the water as long as we wanted, rather than being hustled along by a guide and having to get back into a boat when the guide or others were waiting, as is a common experience with snorkeling from a hired boat. The water was not quite as clear as we have seen in some other famous snorkeling places, some parts of the reef are in poor condition (although other parts are fine), and oddly enough, the fish seemed a little more skittish than in some other places, maybe because there is still fishing going on. Maybe a boat trip would have taken us to even better locations that we didn't see. But despite being out-shone by some of the best (and most expensive) snorkeling locations in the world, Amed is still amazingly good, and we had a fantastic time snorkeling. We had scheduled three nights, and I would gladly have stayed another two, three, or more to get in more days of snorkeling and freediving. And I would gladly have spent them at the Amed Lodge.

I had an extremely unpleasant experience during my stay. The staff were consistently rude and seemed unfamiliar with how to properly treat guests. To make matters worse, I was unfairly accused of breaking a bedroom window that was already damaged. Thankfully, this was the only day of discomfort during my month-long stay in Bali. Additionally, the bathroom had a persistent bad odor, and the room had issues with cockroaches. Furthermore, there was a lack of service in the beach restaurant area. I can only give it one star for its location; otherwise, I would not recommend it. There are much better options available in Amed for similar or even lower prices.

T he room booked was far from clean and livable, with foul smells and stains on the bedding. The staff was disorganized and incompetent, with no desire to help guests. The breakfasts were a dismal variety of monotonous, stale products. Even the coffee left a lot to be desired. At the same time, the terrible noise isolation added to my torment: Waking up every night to loud music and laughter from the neighboring rooms was far from the relaxation and rest I was expecting.

Nice, cheap lodge on the beach. The wood houses, rooms give a spexial athmosfere for the stay. The place is located from 5 mins walk of one of the best snorkeling place. Breakfast is served on the lodge's terrace at the beach.

Superb place, very nice staff, food is great but it does take a bit of time to come: plan some time ahead for the breakfast, it's worth it

Rather disparate atypical hotel, without much cohesion but with a certain charm. On the seaside but better to swim in the nearby bay (5mn walk) with less waves. Small swimming pool. Correct service, without excess. Rooms located on floors must absolutely be avoided for the elderly or with reduced mobility or for families with children because of the very steep stairs.

Nice eco-lodge, 5 minutes from shops of Amed and with a small terrasse on the beachfront. Authentic room decoration and with plenty of space. Food is not expensive and well served.

It was a good hotel except that the room should have mosquito net for people allergic like me! It would help them to have a good night 😉

Great views of the ocean in a very comfortable room. We recommend this hotel if you are going to Amed. Also, breakfast and food in general was very good for a fair price.

Unique rooms each built differently and incorporating recycled pieces of wood. Were there things I did not like about rooms - Yes. Was it unique - Yes. Would I stay again - absolutely. Very friendly and helpful staff made the stay worthwhile. Easy access to the reef out the front. Go left for turtles and right for pretty coral and fish. Used them to organise a local boat trip. Food was great but always came out cold. Seems to be a Bali thing if the food comes out all at the same time rather than individually as it is cooked. Plenty of places to eat within easy walking distance.

Great place, wooden beach villa vibe. Lovely staff, fun and friendly! Chef made a great meal of a fish that i caught. Highly recommend this place

Great place by the beach, comfy beds. But food not so good.