Bali Vacation: Considering Bali For Your Next Holiday

By considering Bali for your next holiday, you can have an amazing experience in your life. Bali is an Indonesian tropical island with amazing beaches, friendly citizens, and breathtaking scenery. It is considered as one of the top holiday destinations since the olden days and has a tropical climate that ranges between 28 and 32 degrees round the year.

Every year each and every of us prefer to go for a luxurious vacation. Most of us choose tropical paradises because all of us want to be in a relaxing environment. However, most people like to spend their vacation in a furtive tropical place that is not only beautiful but also possesses some of the best attractions in the world. Bali in Indonesia is one of such beautiful places to enjoy your vacation.

Bali is home to some of the world famous artworks and is a great place for travelers who want a wonderful vacation. When considering Bali for your next holiday, keep in mind that the island's climate is hot throughout the year.

There are hundreds of tourist attractions around Bali. Kuta, Sanur, and Seminyak are among the best tourist spots in Bali. The southern areas of Bali are warmer than other areas. The sandy beaches of Bali are well-known for abundance of coral reefs and marine life. The Beaches on the island include Sanur beach, Jimbaran, Soka beach, Nusa Dua, Medewi beach, Lovina beach, Kuta, and Legian beach. Beaches in Bali are famous for their magnificent view of sunset and surfing.

Numerous hotels are available on the shores of Nusa dua beach and these hotels offers comfortable swimming experience in secluded lagoons. Delicious gourmet food is also served on site.

Sanur beach has calm and secluded lagoons which are suitable for activities such as wind surfing and para-sailing. Soka beach and Mediwi beach are situated between Despansar and Gilimanuk. Jimbaran Beach is some what attractive and is a favorite place for tourists as well as natives alike.

Several seafood restaurants are available on the shores of Jimbaran. Lovina Beach is most visited by the people around the world irrespective of the season. Most of the people visit here especially to view Dolphin swimming. Kuta is the best place for those who like a warm beach atmosphere. Also known as tourist mecca, the beach has several shops, pubs, and fully equipped first class hotels. Kuta beach is best for swimming and recognized for its random underwater currents.

Situated to the east of the island of Java, Bali is the primary focus of Indonesia's booming tourist industry. Bali, one of the provinces in Indonesia, is divided into nine regions from west to east including Jembrana, Tabanan, Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem and Buleleng region.

Now-a-days, Bali attracts people from around the world, drawing in more than one million of tourists every year. Also known as "The Island of God" or "The Island of Thousand Temples", the island has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world offering all the facilities expected by the tourists. If you are planning to enjoy your next vacation in Bali, the best time to visit is from April through September and November through January.

Bali has a lot to offer tourists, from historical places to scenic views. The main reason why many tourists keep visiting Bali is Bali's image as a beach destination. Several accommodation facilities are available in Bali. Private Villas with different price ranges are available. Most of the villas have a large array of amenities such as swimming pools, restrooms, change rooms, golf courses and tennis courts. Luxurious private villas with standard facilities are also available within your budget.

Once you choose your Bali villa rental, the next step is to learn about the local culture of the native people. You will get guidance from your Bali Holiday Rental regarding how to shop for your groceries and stroll around the island.

Villas are available for both short and long-term rental. Most of the Bali villa rentals are set in lush tropical gardens while some others have seashore settings. Additional amenities such as private pools, house dining, and staff assistance during your stay are also available with most of the villa rentals. Be there in this wonderful location for your next vacation and make your vacation a fantastic experience in your life.

Bali Villa Rental Tips & Tricks

If like me, you have been bitten by the ‘Holiday Villa Bug', you will already know that no hotel can match the privacy and luxury of a good Villa Holiday. The great news is that today there are even more villa rental options out there than ever before. Not to mention the fact that if you know how to choose the right holiday rental villa you will be saving a lot of money in comparison to the same level of service in a comparable quality hotel.

It seems that no where in the world has seen as big an explosion of luxury fully serviced holiday villas, as the island of Bali in Indonesia.

OK, I happen to be blessed with a great line of work, as a Travel Writer, and have been lucky enough to stay in some of the best tropical resorts around the world, especially in Asia. But still for me, nothing compares to the peace, luxury and delights (not to mention the cost effectiveness) of staying in a good serviced villa in Bali.
So, what makes a ‘good holiday villa'?

Like everyone else, I have learned how to choose the perfect villa through luck, some mistakes and sheer experience.

Here are my top tips for choosing the right villa in Bali for your next Bali holiday.

Location-Location-Location
This sounds obvious, but it is not always easy to make the right location decision when we are sat at home, far away from our holiday destination.

Like every other world-class holiday destination, Bali offers a range of options, from ‘central' locations, to those which offer ‘absolute tranquility'.

I personally like a balance between the two. On a Bali villa holiday, the last thing one needs is to be sooo central that you feel like you are an extension of a night club's base unit till wee hours of the morning.

On the other hand, I really don't want to be more than 15-20 minutes away from where the restaurants, shops and the action is. I like my villa to be certainly quiet, preferably amongst rice fields, but at the same time accessible (within 30 minutes of the airport, and a few minutes from the action).

The great thing is that Bali caters for all of these tastes.
Those seeking a central location, with a lively night life may want to look into Legian and Seminyak, (I exclude Kuta area from this list, as there are hardly any proper rental villas left in this bustling tourist centre).
Those who don't mind a bit of a trek, and don't want to go out and about much during their holiday, may opt for areas such as Uluwatu or Canggu and beyond.

For me the perfect choice is Kerobokan and Umalas areas. Quiet rural environment, surrounded by rice terraces and real villagers going about their real daily routines (instead of trying to push you a handicraft (Kuta) or pull you into a restaurant you really couldn't care for (Seminyak)).

Quality and Availability of Service Now this is an area where villas differ from each other immensely. In Bali most villas proclaim to be ‘fully serviced'. However, how ‘fully' and how ‘serviced' range from the most basic to being totally pampered.

A good villa should provide a guest to total staff ratio of nearly 1 to 1, or at least 1.5 to 1. So, if you are a group of 8 you should be looking at, at least, 5-6 full time staff, or for a group of 4 at least 3-4 full time staff. Sounds ostentatiously high? It really isn't once you consider the effort it takes to keep a holiday villa, its gardens, and the pool in a tip-top shape.

Of course, quantity is never the only answer. The staff needs to be full-time and fully-trained at a professional level. There are too many villas out there, which are run by ‘part-time' managers and staff who actually have other full time jobs elsewhere!

Your Own Chef
One of the great pleasures of traveling to a foreign destination is to experiment with and experience the local cuisine. And what better place to experience this, than in the comfort of your own villa!
So, make sure that your villa comes with its own Chef. Once you have tasted the delights of enjoying home cooking in your own villa, you will probably not want to venture out to restaurants at all. The best thing is, having your own private villa Chef in Bali, is substantially cheaper than eating out.

However, make sure to check how the Chef arrangement works.
Ideally, the Chef cost should be included in your rental rate. In this case all you have to pay for are the cost of the ingredients which are purchased for you, typically at the local market/supermarket prices, with no mark-up. So, financials of eating at your own villa becomes just like eating at home, but without lifting a finger, and at substantially lower Bali prices.

Some villas claim to offer a Chef service, but charge restaurant/hotel prices for each dish that the chef prepares for you. I prefer to avoid these, as I can always pop out to a restaurant if I so wished anyway.
So, check to make sure that the Chef is part of your villa team, and that you will not be charged incrementally for food on a per item basis.

Your Villa Manager
A professional Villa Manager makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of your holiday. Even if you have been to Bali many times before, a good Villa Manager can be a much valued life-line, a great source of shopping tips, and a problem solver. A good villa manager can provide a wealth of directions/advice, from where to eat, to which river to choose for your white-water rafting adventure in which season, or where the cheapest golf courses are, to which temples to visit to see which local ceremonies.

Needless to say, they should also be managing the villa team, and making sure that the quality of service and cleanliness are never compromised.

Before I book a villa in Bali, I always check to see what the Villa Manager arrangement is like, and that there is a full time Villa Manager on site at the villa I am planning to rent. Typically, for good villas, you can expect to have your own dedicated Villa Manager, or have a Villa Manager who is working at 2-3 adjacent villas. However, if a Villa Manager is expected to look after 5-6+ villas, then you are most likely not going to see him for more than a few minutes a day, only during his courtesy visits (at best), so you loose out on the real benefits of having the inside-track.

Villa Quality & Upkeep
Be very, very weary of any rental villas which can not provide you with more than at least 20 recent photos of the property. These photos should show you not only the outside of the buildings, but also the living/dining areas, as well as insides of bedrooms.

If you are not provided with a sufficient number of photos giving you a clear idea of the property, then it is quite likely that there is something substantially wrong with the property, such as a building overlooking it, an abattoir next door, or at the least peeling paintwork or missing fixtures/furniture.
Remember, not all villas are created equal. But additionally, not all villas are kept and maintained equally well. It is your right to request and see these photos of the property.

Mod-Cons
OK, you are planning to stay on a tiny island, in the middle of the tropics. What mod-cons should you expect? From own experience, I would suggest that even in the middle of the tropics, good Bali villas should be able to provide at least the following mod-cons:

Air-conditioning in all bedrooms
Clean, Western style kitchen -fully equipped with a fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and a coffee maker, as well as sufficient crockery and cutlery

Safe deposit box - at least one for your private villa use, and preferably one in each bedroom

TV/Satellite/DVD Player - as there will always be someone who wants to catch the news, or children who will need entertaining

Telephone - whilst many of us live attached to our mobile/cellular phones, it is important that there is a permanent phone connection at the villa, in case of emergencies

En-suite bathrooms - if you are looking at going as a family or a group of friends, you really don't want to spend your holiday in Bali queuing for the next available slot at shared facilities!

Enjoying a fully staffed and serviced villa with your own Chef may seem like an un-attainable dream in most other parts of the world. However, renting a Villa in Bali is by far one of the most cost effective ways of enjoying this beautiful island and the company of its hospitable people.

Now armed with this check-list you are ready to plan you next dream holiday in a Villa in Bali. Like me, you will probably never want to leave, and go back to reality!
Many happy returns...

Bali Villa Rental Guide to Your Bali Holiday Environment

It is the first day of your Bali holiday and your first night at a Bali rental villa.
Welcome to the paradise called the Bali Island.

However, unless you have been living in the tropics for a while, welcome to what I call the ‘mini-environmental culture shock'. Well, at least if you have chosen a good villa in a non-urban setting, you are in for some new, exciting and really interesting sights, sounds and experiences.

This free travel guide is intended to help you most of your Bali holiday, and the new sights, sounds and smells that await you.

Rice Terraces
Balinese rice terraces are an art form in themselves, which has taken centuries to perfect.
Quite likely, around your rental villa, you will be surrounded by rice terraces which are still being tended by the local community, using the traditional techniques.

The wonderful climate of Bali allows for up to three sets of harvests to take place every year.
Depending on what time of the year you are in Bali, you are going to experience one of the following:
Preparation of the Terraces This is when the fields look like layers of serene lakes, shimmering in the sun.
Planting of the Saplings An exciting time, when local farmers will be working busily, planting young saplings, with an amazing speed and technique. If you have a video camera with you, this is the time to get close and personal with the locals community. Most will respond to your request to photo/film their activities with a pride and a smile.

Growing & Protecting During this period, you will note the farmers continuously in the fields from sun-rise to sun-set. They will either be mending and managing the terraces, or trying to protect their crop from the birds. Protection of the fields from the birds tends to attract the whole community, especially the young and the elderly.

You will see interesting home-invented contraptions being put up to scare the birds away, and hear old ladies trying to personally scare the birds away making some very interesting (and obviously time tested) sounds Harvesting Given the nature of the rice plant, this is typically a very rapid process. One which is followed by the very labour intensive and slow process of separating the rice from the chaff, manually, by hand, using again centuries old methods. Cleaning Up Once the rice harvest has completed, you will note the local community collecting the stalks, and burning them in preparation for the next plantation.

During this final period you may see smoke towering from the fields. Please note that there is no need to be alarmed, as these are controlled fires which take place in the middle of the rice terraces, surrounded by water. If you have never had the chance to do so, we would highly recommend that you take a stroll through the rice terraces. You will find the local farmers very friendly and welcoming, and if you wanted to take some photos, some will even go out of their way to pose for you!

However, please note that it takes a lot of effort and sweat to keep the rice terraces in working condition. Please keep to the ‘foot-paths' between the terraces, and avoid walking into the actual water-ways themselves. Also, we would recommend wearing soft shoes (sandals/flip-flops) to minimise damage (to the rice fields). Or like locals do, you may want to go barefoot!

The Local Community
The local community in Bali is organised around a very strong network of Banjars (local councils/cantons).
However, unlike the western concept of councils, each local community is locally managed and run, and is almost a state onto itself, with its own local values, rules and guidelines. So much so, that it can actually be up to the local Banjar to decide if a new building can be built or not, or what purpose should the new developments have.

Typically your Bali villa will have close relationship with the local Banjar, and the local community. Many of your villa staff will probably be from the local village.

The Local Religion in Bali
Like most of the rest of Bali, at Mia Villa we live in a Hindu community.
Balinese Hinduism is a fascinating subject in itself, enshrined in local culture and tradition. We would urge all our guests to track down a temple ceremony and experience this festive religion first hand themselves. (Typically, your Villa Manager will be more than happy to advise you on where the next/nearest public ceremony is likely to be.)

In like with the local traditions, many villas have their own full size temples or at least a mini-temple attached to a wall (quite likely near the kitchen area).

It is perfectly alright to take pictures of the temple, and the villa staff praying, making offerings at the temple. However, as a show of respect to the local traditions a level of respect does indeed go a long way. Using the temple as a towel rack (you would be surprised what some people will do!), allowing children to climb the temple or play with the offerings, and being in the nude around the temple are best avoided.
You will note that, every single day your villa staff will visit the villa temple, making offerings and prayers. These prayers are made to protect the villa, its guests, and its staff from harm and negative forces, and to keep the evil spirits away from your Bali villa.

Balinese Hinduism is a very open minded and accommodating religion. If you wanted to find out more about it please do not hesitate to ask your villa staff, who will often share the subject with you very willingly.

Sights of Nature
Most Bali villas enjoy extensive tropical gardens, and you will be surrounded by a wonderful range of tropical trees and flowers. Whilst, some like the Heleconia and the Lotus Flowers are easy to spot and appreciate, there are many other smaller varieties of plants that you will come across which provide subtler insights into a tropical garden.

If you want to take certain varieties back home, and try growing them, please do not hesitate to speak to your Villa Gardener or your Villa Manager who will be happy to introduce you to some of the better nurseries on the island. (Of course, please first check that your destination country does allow for import of tropical plants.)

Sounds of Nature
The Gecko
Permanent and non-paying residents of most Bali villas is the Gecko (lizard-like creatures).
Totally harmless to humans and pets, the gecko are welcome guests as they feed on ants and small insects, providing a natural and environmentally friendly pest control.

Gecko also provide the signature sound-bite of the tropics. You will hear the very distinctive call of the Gecko on a regular basis. (It is said that if you count a Gecko call up to seven times in one go it will bring you good luck.)

Possibly the only down-side of Geckos is that they tend to eat a lot, and as a result pooh a lot too! So if you come across small droppings on the floor, you know who the guilty party is.
Some gecko can grow to quite large sizes (30 cm / 1 ft)+, and become quite a bit louder. They are still totally harmless to humans. However, if you find that you are bothered by the louder gecko, you will need to raise this with your Villa Manager.

The Kodok
Another permanent resident of Bali is the Kodok, or frogs as we know them in the English speaking world.
The Kodok are such a big part of the life in Bali (as a result of the rice terraces), that you will see their statues throughout the island, often depicted as mischievous and fun loving characters.

Needless to say, the Kodok are totally harmless, and more often than not, heard rather than seen. (Unless it has been raining, when they will be brave enough to come out for a shower.)

Local Ceremonies
Some evenings you may hear gentle rhythmic drums, and chanting at a distance. (Especially during full moon or dark moon.) These are the sounds of the ceremonies being held at the local villages around you. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than, turning off the TV/music, grabbing your favourite drink, and enjoying these ceremonies from a distance. I believe this is one of the most pleasurable benefits of staying at Bali villas.

Traffic, Motorbike, Night-Club Noises
If you have chosen the location of your Bali rental villa correctly, you should hear very little (if any) of noise.
However, if you are having withdrawal symptoms; Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak do indeed provide that bright-lights / big city experience to rival most holiday resorts in the world.
Hopefully, armed with these insights, you can now ease into your new rental villa in Bali, and enjoy your holiday in this island paradise.
Many happy returns...

The Golden Sands Of Tanjung Benoa Beach - A Charming Spot in Bali

Tanjung Benoa is a charming resort area, located to the north of Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. Also known as Benoa Peninsula, Tanjung Benoa is a magnificent five kilometers long peninsula, which is much famed for its scenic views comprising beautiful coconut groves, white sandy beach, and incredible mountains.

Once a typical seaside village, Tanjung Benoa has now been transformed into a highly developed resort area, dotted with a number of upscale hotels, luxury resorts, world class private villas, superb restaurants, open air cafes, and facilities for enjoying a continuum of water sport activities. In short, in recent years, Tanjung Benoa has become one of the most sought after tourist spots in the country.

Of the attractions in Tanjung Benoa is undoubtedly its beach with calm waves. This beach area serves as a perfect base for enjoying a large number of water sport activities such as parasailing, water sports, wind surfing, jet skiing, banana boat sailing, snorkeling, reef fishing, and much more.

Further, to cater to the needs of diving enthusiasts, a plethora of diving centers operate here. Likewise, you can also find an array of shops specializing in providing rental equipments that are required for different water sport activities.

However, things to see and do in Tanjung Benoa are not just confined to beach as well as its activities, but beyond that. The place is also home to such interesting destinations as Batubulan, which is a quaint village much famed for its stone carvings. One can find here thousands of statues displayed in the street starting from Batubulan village to Tegaltamu. Many of the stone statues that are used as the Balinese gate's guards found in the Dewata Island are created by sculptors from Batubulan.

Batubulan is also much famed for its stunning temples, among which perhaps the most popular is Pura Paseh, which is placed about 200 meters from the main road. Pura Paseh is noted for its one of the kind art and architecture. Apart from these, Batubulan is a center for shopping items such as handicraft items, textiles, carved items, and traditional clothing. Besides, you can also see a couple of shops presenting traditional Balinese performances such as Rangda and Barong dances.

Located to the north of Tegaltamu, close to Batubulan village is another popular destination, namely, Taman Burung. Sprawling over an area of about two hectares, this is an incredible bird park with more than 1000 birds of about 250 different species, all of which are collected from different parts of the country. Just few among the specialties found here are African hornbill, birds of paradise, Bali Starling, flamingos, and Blue and Gold Macaw.

A reptile park can also be seen here, with a plenty of amazing reptiles that have been collected from Africa and Indonesia. Some of them are crocodile, piton snake, turtle, komodo, mega snakes, and monitor lizard. The park is also attached with gift shops and a fine restaurant. With these rare bird and reptile species, the park is really worth a visit.

Places of interest in and around Tanjung Benoa also include the Bali Golf and Country Club, which is one of the most renowned golf courses in Asia. Further, it would be a great experience to take a visit to Tanjung Benoa's quiet port, with a village-like atmosphere. Likewise, while your stay at the destination, take a tour to the Chinese Buddhist temple found here.

Attractions nearby Tanjung Benoa include Serangan, also known as Turtle Island. A temple that dates back to 16th century can be seen at this spot. Above all, people touring the destination can also engage in a range of such activities as shopping and savoring seafood delicacies from any of the umpteen restaurants that are spread across the area.

As mentioned earlier, Tanjung Benoa consists of a plenty of upscale hotels and resorts, private villas, and other accommodation options. Some of the premier resorts in the area allow you to choose from a number of high end accommodation options, from deluxe sea view suites to premier hotel rooms replete with high-end amenities. Let it be of any type, an accommodation choice in the place is complete with all comforts that are required to make your stay here memorable as well as enjoyable.