If it’s your first time to Bali and you have done your research about the geography of the Island in terms of the location choices, then your next decision is where do I want to stay? What is the right accommodation choice for my travel group?
These choices of accommodation in Bali are huge. They range in prices from $10 per night, for a budget room in a homestay up to the high $000’s for a luxury cliff top, ocean view, villa. This decision will be dependent on budget, length of stay, size of group, needs of the group and any special requirements. Here I will walk you through your choices from budget and beyond.
Losman or Homestay. This was one of the first styles of accommodation in the early days of tourism. Traditionally staying within the family compound or home, so a great way to engage with a Balinese family. Basic rooms, with ceiling fans and some with air-conditioning some with just cold water. Most now have Wi-Fi. Homestay’s generally don’t have a swimming pool. Priced from $10 to $40 per day. Perfect for travellers on a budget who want a secure base.
Apartments. Some studio or with one or two bedrooms with separate kitchens and living space. These usually feature a shared pool. There are more and more of these now to meet the demand of travellers who stay in one place for a few weeks at a time or who want the flexibility to do some cooking.
Guest house or hotel. A step up from the homestay with a pool. Air-conditioned rooms with reception staff, swimming pool and restaurant. Prices here can be anything from $30 to $200. There are literally hundreds of these in Bali so the key here is to check the age of the property. The older ones unless well maintained can be tired, however these often have lovely mature gardens and bigger rooms. The brand-new ones could have opening special deals! The size can range from a boutique 10 rooms to 600 + rooms. The key here is to check the reviews.
Family Resort Hotels. The Padma Hotel, JayaKarta, Kumala Pantai in Legian and the Bali Dynasty in Kuta are some of the first of these Hotels. Nusa Dua has many of the newer resort hotels. Huge gardens with bungalow style single story buildings. Huge pools a choice of a couple of restaurants and within most families budgets, starting at $90 per night. Kids can play safely and there are plenty of other families to socialise with.
Luxury Resort Hotels. Many of major brands can be found in Bali, the newest one being the Ritz Carlton. Some of the settings of these Hotels are breath taking with immaculately kept gardens, stunningly lit at night and feature award winning architectural and interior design. That’s before you even get to experience the hospitality the spas and the restaurants. Look up The W, The Mulia, The Ayana, The Viceroy, St Regis, Bulgari, Four Seasons. The sky is the limit when it comes to the rates as many have Villas within the hotel grounds for guests wanting more than a hotel suite.
Private Villa. In Bali this tends to be more than just a holiday home. The Villa experience can provide all the comfort and service of a hotel but with the value, privacy and space of a holiday home. Villas tend to have a minimum stay of 3 nights. The choice can be overwhelming, just take a quick look on TripAdvisor to see the numbers. Again do some research here, how old is the property? does the owner or manager visit the property regularly? What are the inclusions and additional services, housekeeping, airport transfers, breakfast, dedicated manager, security, chef, babysitter, driver? Are the photos accurate, when were they last updated? How far is the walk to the beach, special attraction, restaurants, shops? The communication with the owner or manager will give you a good idea as to the level of service you can expect. The standard and price range are enormous, so reviews are vital. Villas are ideal for families and groups of friends or just for a couple who want their own space.
To book your perfect Bali Villa get in touch today
info@coolbalivillas.com