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