| If like me, you have been bitten by the 'Holiday | | | | Ideally, the Chef cost should be included in your |
| Villa Bug', you will already know that no hotel can | | | | rental rate. In this case all you have to pay for |
| match the privacy and luxury of a good Villa | | | | are the cost of the ingredients which are |
| Holiday. The great news is that today there are | | | | purchased for you, typically at the local market |
| even more villa rental options out there than ever | | | | supermarket prices, with no mark-up. So, |
| before. Not to mention the fact that if you know | | | | financials of eating at your own villa becomes just |
| how to choose the right holiday rental villa you will | | | | like eating at home, but without lifting a finger, and |
| be saving a lot of money in comparison to the | | | | at substantially lower Bali prices. |
| same level of service in a comparable quality | | | | Some villas claim to offer a Chef service, but |
| hotel. | | | | charge restaurant/hotel prices for each dish that |
| It seems that no where in the world has seen as | | | | the chef prepares for you. I prefer to avoid |
| big an explosion of luxury fully serviced holiday | | | | these, as I can always pop out to a restaurant if |
| villas, as the island of Bali in Indonesia. | | | | I so wished anyway. |
| OK, I happen to be blessed with a great line of | | | | So, check to make sure that the Chef is part of |
| work, as a Travel Writer, and have been lucky | | | | your villa team, and that you will not be charged |
| enough to stay in some of the best tropical | | | | incrementally for food on a per item basis. |
| resorts around the world, especially in Asia. But still | | | | Your Villa Manager |
| for me, nothing compares to the peace, luxury | | | | A professional Villa Manager makes a huge |
| and delights (not to mention the cost | | | | difference to your enjoyment of your holiday. |
| effectiveness) of staying in a good serviced villa in | | | | Even if you have been to Bali many times before, |
| Bali. | | | | a good Villa Manager can be a much valued |
| So, what makes a 'good holiday villa'? | | | | life-line, a great source of shopping tips, and a |
| Like everyone else, I have learned how to choose | | | | problem solver. A good villa manager can provide |
| the perfect villa through luck, some mistakes and | | | | a wealth of directions/advice, from where to eat, |
| sheer experience. | | | | to which river to choose for your white-water |
| Here are my top tips for choosing the right villa in | | | | rafting adventure in which season, or where the |
| Bali for your next Bali holiday. | | | | cheapest golf courses are, to which temples to |
| Location-Location-Location | | | | visit to see which local ceremonies. |
| This sounds obvious, but it is not always easy to | | | | Needless to say, they should also be managing |
| make the right location decision when we are sat | | | | the villa team, and making sure that the quality of |
| at home, far away from our holiday destination. | | | | service and cleanliness are never compromised. |
| Like every other world-class holiday destination, | | | | Before I book a villa in Bali, I always check to see |
| Bali offers a range of options, from 'central' | | | | what the Villa Manager arrangement is like, and |
| locations, to those which offer 'absolute tranquility'. | | | | that there is a full time Villa Manager on site at |
| I personally like a balance between the two. On a | | | | the villa I am planning to rent. Typically, for good |
| Bali villa holiday, the last thing one needs is to be | | | | villas, you can expect to have your own |
| sooo central that you feel like you are an | | | | dedicated Villa Manager, or have a Villa Manager |
| extension of a night club's base unit till wee hours | | | | who is working at 2-3 adjacent villas. However, if |
| of the morning. On the other hand, I really don't | | | | a Villa Manager is expected to look after 5-6+ |
| want to be more than 15-20 minutes away from | | | | villas, then you are most likely not going to see |
| where the restaurants, shops and the action is. I | | | | him for more than a few minutes a day, only |
| like my villa to be certainly quiet, preferably | | | | during his courtesy visits (at best), so you loose |
| amongst rice fields, but at the same time | | | | out on the real benefits of having the inside-track. |
| accessible (within 30 minutes of the airport, and a | | | | Villa Quality & Upkeep |
| few minutes from the action). | | | | Be very, very weary of any rental villas which |
| The great thing is that Bali caters for all of these | | | | can not provide you with more than at least 20 |
| tastes. | | | | recent photos of the property. These photos |
| Those seeking a central location, with a lively night | | | | should show you not only the outside of the |
| life may want to look into Legian and Seminyak, (I | | | | buildings, but also the living/dining areas, as well as |
| exclude Kuta area from this list, as there are | | | | insides of bedrooms. |
| hardly any proper rental villas left in this bustling | | | | If you are not provided with a sufficient number |
| tourist centre). | | | | of photos giving you a clear idea of the property, |
| Those who don't mind a bit of a trek, and don't | | | | then it is quite likely that there is something |
| want to go out and about much during their | | | | substantially wrong with the property, such as a |
| holiday, may opt for areas such as Uluwatu or | | | | building overlooking it, an abattoir next door, or at |
| Canggu and beyond. | | | | the least peeling paintwork or missing fixtures |
| For me the perfect choice is Kerobokan and | | | | furniture. |
| Umalas areas. Quiet rural environment, surrounded | | | | Remember, not all villas are created equal. But |
| by rice terraces and real villagers going about their | | | | additionally, not all villas are kept and maintained |
| real daily routines (instead of trying to push you a | | | | equally well. It is your right to request and see |
| handicraft (Kuta) or pull you into a restaurant you | | | | these photos of the property. |
| really couldn't care for (Seminyak)). | | | | Mod-Cons |
| Quality and Availability of Service Now this is an | | | | OK, you are planning to stay on a tiny island, in |
| area where villas differ from each other | | | | the middle of the tropics. What mod-cons should |
| immensely. In Bali most villas proclaim to be 'fully | | | | you expect? From own experience, I would |
| serviced'. However, how 'fully' and how 'serviced' | | | | suggest that even in the middle of the tropics, |
| range from the most basic to being totally | | | | good Bali villas should be able to provide at least |
| pampered. | | | | the following mod-cons: |
| A good villa should provide a guest to total staff | | | | Air-conditioning in all bedrooms |
| ratio of nearly 1 to 1, or at least 1.5 to 1. So, if | | | | Clean, Western style kitchen -fully equipped with a |
| you are a group of 8 you should be looking at, at | | | | fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and a coffee |
| least, 5-6 full time staff, or for a group of 4 at | | | | maker, as well as sufficient crockery and cutlery |
| least 3-4 full time staff. Sounds ostentatiously | | | | Safe deposit box - at least one for your private |
| high? It really isn't once you consider the effort it | | | | villa use, and preferably one in each bedroom |
| takes to keep a holiday villa, its gardens, and the | | | | TV/Satellite/DVD Player - as there will always be |
| pool in a tip-top shape. | | | | someone who wants to catch the news, or |
| Of course, quantity is never the only answer. The | | | | children who will need entertaining |
| staff needs to be full-time and fully-trained at a | | | | Telephone - whilst many of us live attached to |
| professional level. There are too many villas out | | | | our mobile/cellular phones, it is important that |
| there, which are run by 'part-time' managers and | | | | there is a permanent phone connection at the |
| staff who actually have other full time jobs | | | | villa, in case of emergencies |
| elsewhere! | | | | En-suite bathrooms - if you are looking at going |
| Your Own Chef | | | | as a family or a group of friends, you really don't |
| One of the great pleasures of traveling to a | | | | want to spend your holiday in Bali queuing for the |
| foreign destination is to experiment with and | | | | next available slot at shared facilities! |
| experience the local cuisine. And what better place | | | | Enjoying a fully staffed and serviced villa with |
| to experience this, than in the comfort of your | | | | your own Chef may seem like an un-attainable |
| own villa! | | | | dream in most other parts of the world. |
| So, make sure that your villa comes with its own | | | | However, renting a Villa in Bali is by far one of the |
| Chef. Once you have tasted the delights of | | | | most cost effective ways of enjoying this |
| enjoying home cooking in your own villa, you will | | | | beautiful island and the company of its hospitable |
| probably not want to venture out to restaurants | | | | people. |
| at all. The best thing is, having your own private | | | | Now armed with this check-list you are ready to |
| villa Chef in Bali, is substantially cheaper than | | | | plan you next dream holiday in a Villa in Bali. Like |
| eating out. | | | | me, you will probably never want to leave, and go |
| However, make sure to check how the Chef | | | | back to reality! |
| arrangement works. | | | | Many happy returns... |