How to find the right Bali villa for you
You know what they say - location, location, location. If there is one thing you need to know before you rent a villa in Bali - it’s where you want to be. Make a list of what’s important:
Do you want to be in the thick of it, near a shopping strip, bars and clubs?
Do you want to have rice paddie views or a short walk to world class surf?
Are you wanting solitude and mountain walks or a complete cultural immersion?
Are you coming to party all night and spa and shop all day?
In other words, if you want to spend cocktail o’clock at the amazing beach clubs - Ubud isn’t where you want to be. And if its peace and quiet you are craving - Kuta isn’t going to suit.
Image : The Viceroy Bali
How do you plan to get around? Taxi, on foot, with a driver or by scooter?
Are you a family, solo or a couple?
Is privacy and security important?
Do you need a private chef or a self contained kitchen?
Answering these simple questions will really help in working out where on the island will suit you. It pays to do your homework.
On an island that is jam packed with accommodation options - there are two common ways to rent a villa:
In a resort/ hotel:
This is a great choice for shorter stays and if you want to just book a place, kick back and do nothing. The service will be impeccable and you will have the best of both worlds - privacy and full hotel facilities. It may be more expensive but you get 24/7 service, security and all the bells and whistles. There are plenty of options to choose from.
Private rental:
To find the perfect villa for a longer stay join some of the accommodation group pages on FB - they all advertise private rentals. Ask around - get recommendations, look out for people breaking their lease, something will pop up. Real Estate agents in Bali will also do short term villa rentals. Air B&B and villa rental websites will often do the hard work of selecting locations and vetting landlords for you. It is all a matter of what your budget allows.
If you are going for the private option it pays to ask a lot of questions up front - especially if it’s medium to long term (more than two months).
Does the villa cost include: wi fi, electricity, water, cleaning, a cook, security, a car / scooter and laundry? How often is cleaning and who are the staff? Or are these services hidden extras?
Is there a mould problem ? (It’s the tropics we get mould!)
How quiet is it ( roosters, dogs, construction etc) ?
What are the noise rules? Some villages wont allow noise past 10 pm.
Is there a security guard on the property at night?
How fast and stable is the wifi connection (check it yourself - don’t take the landlord’s word for it). The internet is notoriously unstable in Bali.
What is the road access like and is there lighting at night?
If there is a serious issue with your lease, landlord or a break in do you have the contact details of the local Banjar authorities?
Renting a villa off a local will save you a hefty price tag and is a great way to become part of the local community. The cheaper private stand alone villas are not always in great locations, or come as advertised. So inspection is a must. They usually have no security service either so if that’s important to you (ie you are bringing a lot of tech gear and camera kit with you) - look into adding a security guard into your costs.
Treat it as a normal rental arrangement- take photos on the day you move in to record the condition of the property and the furniture. Send it to your landlord and in the event there is any damage or theft - you have evidence. It’s a good idea to get things in writing as much as you can and arrange an always have an inspection before you move in or pay for anything. It is normal to pay up front - refunds are rare, so make sure you are 100% certain it’s the place for you.
Finally, if you choosing to stay in Bali longer term - try out an area first and rent before you commit to a lengthy villa lease. That way you have no hidden surprises like construction.
Image: Villa M
Image: Aksari Ubud