Bali, land of paradise
Don`t you believe that land of paradise really exists?It does and you will find it in Bali. Don`t wait any longer, just go there. If you want the best for you, your family or your friends during your holiday in Bali, you might think of enjoying any possible comfort and all facilities of a splendid house during your stay. You may choose the idea of renting a villa to fulfill that dream.
The following information is an insight of Bali, the undoubtedly island of paradise. Bali is one of the 17000 islands belonging to Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world and considered as one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in Asia. In Bali you will find thousands of kilometers of beaches and great rivers and you will be amazed while exploring this magnificent nature. In fact, you will find all that you want in Indonesia.
Bali is one of the smallest islands of the Indian Ocean and it is highly appreciated by tourists not only due to the luxuriance of its landscape but also to the various choices of accommodation offered to them. Bali will really fascinate you with its terraced rice fields and its lush vegetation that provide the landscape a rare beauty. If there is any risk to take to go there, it will only be the desire to return again to this island.
Actually it is quite rare to find an archipelago with such exhaustive cultural identities where different religions and lifestyles reunite. It will not be possible for you to stay indifferent to this island which has an abundance of arts and cultures.
For example, you may want to stay near the royal palace, in Ubud, to attend the show of the Legong dances as well as to see qualified entertainment every evening at the Art Center in Denpasar. The population is quite friendly and warm. You may be quite sensitive with the hot and humid climate that reigns over Bali all year long. The coast has idyllic beaches of white sands or volcanic and it has many diving spots with sea bottom enriched by fishes and corals.
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Traditions and places of interest in Bali
Every year thousands of visitors go to Bali, which is known as ``The island of Gods`` because the nature and the life there are respected and the island is also marked by ancestry beliefs and Hinduism. Gods and traditional feasts are indeed integral parts of Bali. Temples, traditional villages and numerous festivals become the witness of an obvious cultural heritage.
Bali is the only island of Indonesia with predominant belief of Hinduism. Certain Balinese people, however, certain still practice animism of ancient tradition. They are very close to nature and devote many time to offerings and to pray to their Gods and other divinities. In order to assure bad spirits, some Balinese people built altars near a tree or a river. The most important temples are Tanah Lot, Besakih, Uluwatu and Taman Ayun. The rhythm of their daily life is filled with rituals and ceremonies taking place at the temples and various historic sites which are worth the trip. The region of Bali has great geographic diversity.
It is a mountainous island as well with the impressive volcanoes such as Agung, the biggest one, that dominates the island and remains as a sacred place and there are also Batur, Lombok et Java that are still active. You will certainly admire the plentiful tropical essences and flower gardens. The eastern part of the island is characterized by succulent plants. You can visit the national park located in the western side of Bali. It is a dream place to discover the rich varieties of fauna and flora. Several animal species also live there such as squirrels, monkeys, reptiles and of course, birds. A longtime ago the people in Bali mainly lived with the culture of rice but today they plant coffee, tobacco, vanilla and clove.
In the southern part of Bali several small textile or furniture companies have subsequently develop their activities even though handicraft remains the principal product for export destination. The most dynamic activity in this island is mainly tourism sector that constitutes two-third of the resources of the region. There are several monuments in Bali where you will find the art d`oeuvre described in several languages, especially the Museum of Bali that has the collection of mythical masks, ceremonial objects, old sculptures as well as pre-historic objects.
The Center of the Art of Taman Budaya is located in the capital of Bali. It represents the Academy of culture of Bali and it holds the annual art festival of Bali during the months of June and July. The memorial Margarana describes the battle of Marga and pays tribute to the regiment of guerilla warfare who had died following the Dutch air raid not long after the end of the Second World War. Bali is also famous for its paintings. In Ubud, Bali cultural capital, you will find the Museum of fine arts where you will be able to admire the sculptures or painting of Kamasan style.
For rare collections of Indonesian artists as well as for art lessons, you will have to go to the Museum of Agung Rai which is located right next to it. Bali is also known for its handicraft which is made of various choices of articles. These products (bamboo furniture, wood or stone sculptures) are mainly found in the markets of Sukawati, Batubulan and Bono. Ubud is the ideal spot to buy gold or silver jewelries. The colorful markets to buy vegetables, spices and meat are found in the capital of Bali, Denpasar. The shopping centers as well as restaurants are found in Kuta, a small international town in the southern part of Bali.
Advice: please make reservation immediately for your flight to Bali. As soon as you put your feet in this magnificent land, you will find a large diversity of accommodations for any kind of stay. In addition to hotels and room nights, you will have the possibility to rent villas during your holiday in Bali.
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Accomodation in Bali
You have decided to spend your holiday on a dream island and you might need a place to stay which is suitable to your idea of relaxation and well-being and that will make your holiday an unforgettable one. You will appreciate your holiday even more as long as it provides you with a peace of mind and security with regards to your accommodation.
Several villas are offered to make your stay as comfortable as possible especially those located in the areas such as:Legian, at the South Coast, that will only take 15 minutes from the airport or Ubud in the centre of Bali, located about one hour from the airport. The majority of villas are located in Seminyak, a famous seaside resort. It is an especially tourist area that offers all kinds of recreation. This area is ideal for relaxation especially for the amateurs with strong interest in discovery and sensation. Bali has more than 800 villas to rent for short or long period and even on yearly basis. Certain villas may be rented entirely or by room nights. Most of the villas are located on the hills surrounded by rice fields while apartments are mostly found near the beach.
Each villa has different charm and atmosphere in order to satisfy your requests and wishes. You will take advantage of different magnificent views such as the beautiful sunset or the superb beaches which are only within few steps from the villas. Accommodations such as villas are classified by category of villa that will enable you to find the best formula for your holiday.
In fact, you will find room for rent for less than 80 Euros/night and villas consisting of 1 to 2 bedrooms or even 5 bedrooms. The prices are variable but the average rate is from 60 to 150 Euros for one bedroom and from 150 to 250 Euros for two bedrooms. Certain villas are more luxurious than the other in terms of services provided.
Villas offered by agencies are distinguished by their construction design and lay-out, in conformity with architectural norms, and its typically Balinese decoration. The beam installed to the ground and the walls are built of handmade teakwood. You will enjoy a magnificent view on terraced rice fields because they let the walls open. Generally the living room or the bathroom has an open air to the garden thus it will give you the chance to admire the extraordinary tropical plants. Villas and pavilions are surrounded by the fountain, the pond, and water-lily and lotus flower. The owners of the villas are usually artists or personalities of the entertainment business who rent out their houses during certain period of the year.
Most of the villas are located in Ubud area, while the others are located in the southern part not far from Seminyak or in the northern part, near Pemuteran and Tejakula. More luxurious villas offer services of spa that will make your body, spirit as well as your heart enjoy the comforting and soothing hot stone massages. In Ubud you will be able to taste a fine and delicious food in your own villa and you will have at your disposal the services of a monitoring yoga and an energetic healing.
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Rent a villa in Bali
Bali is one of the main tourist destinations in Indonesia. Villa rental business has grown from day to day and tourists are quite happy with their stay in front of beautiful beaches, affordable attractions and qualified services. Staying in a villa in Bali that provides the same services as hotel is the best way to absorb the exceptional lifestyle of the Balinese people.
Renting a villa provides an incomparable comfort in appreciating Bali with family or with group of friends. Holiday makers choosing villas as their holiday accommodation may find comfort and sense like being at their own home. A private deluxe villa is always fitted out with a swimming pool, well equipped kitchen, exclusive bathroom and air-conditioned bedrooms.
In order to make the most of your holiday in this paradise island with friends or family, renting a villa will cost you less expensive than hotel and you will certainly enjoy the convivial atmosphere. Today Bali offers marvelous luxury villas, comprising big open space, swimming pool and all aspects related to modern comfort. The guests will be warmly welcomed by the employee of each villa and will be assured to enjoy personalized services equal to the best 5-star hotel during their stay. These extraordinary villas are available for rent for week-end, a week, a month or more with the best rate including all services such as transfer to airport as well as food and beverage upon arrival at the villa. In addition to this, different packages may also be proposed depending on the interest of each tourist. The personnel providing the services furnished by the villa are really over the top.
The price is calculated based on the function of the villa and includes the personnel of the house. The price per person also varies in accordance with the number of guests. The advantage compared to holidays in a hotel lies in the additional cost. Food and beverage are included in the rate of the villa. You will not have to worry about food because the meal will be prepared every day by the personnel and comes from the local market. In exchange for the extra cost that you will have to pay for the local employee, you will enjoy a unique private atmosphere created by the villa. You will have at your disposal the kind of space and comfort that a hotel cannot offer in the same condition without counting the specific services that you will receive, especially if you travel with friends or family and children.
If you dream of a really unique comfortable holiday, without any worry of extra you are now being confronted with the reality in Bali thanks to the exhaustive choices of villas offered at the location.
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Travel agents in Bali
Several agents will be at your disposal to assist you in choosing the right type of villa since it is not a very easy thing to do. Actually there are hundreds of villas for rent. The agents will find the type of villa that will be most comfortable for you, with best located area and services. Certain agents even have French speaking guides available and they will offer you a special package of accommodation and tour to discover the beauty of Bali, its culture, ways and customs of the population and natural sites. You will be confused due to the abundant choices for your stay in Bali when it comes to specialized travel agents that are in relation with exclusive owners or management.
Villa rental may also be arranged from one individual to another. You may take advantage of transfer from airport of Bali to the villa. If you wish, certain agents will provide babysitters for your little children and cook. On request and with additional cost, you may have someone who will do massage, spa, manicure and pedicure for you at your domicile.
Other agents may also put a car with a French-speaking guide at your disposal in order to explore Bali and its culture. Some agents offer certain activities such as cruises in sailing boat, rafting, descending on mountain bike, diving under the sea, and tour to interesting sites. On the other hand, several agents propose activities like fishing, sea sport (surfing for example) or golf, safari/diving. Certain villa owners put at the disposal of their guests on holiday a well equipped kitchen, internet, bed sheets, blankets, towels, soap and shampoo. Another choice would be agent that, in collaboration with their Balinese partners, will prepare a trip based on your request by adapting to your budget. In providing their services, these agents include personal assistance in order to help you during your stay in Bali. The services may include air ticket reservation, renting of deluxe private villa with swimming pool, typical house with tropical garden, villa with private swimming pool plus services of servant, motorbike, bicycle or car with or without driver (in this case international driving license is required), reservation of bungalows, organization of hike/rides and participation to other cultural and sport activities (river rafting, diving under the sea, trekking in rice fields, visits of temples, mountain climbing).
Those agents will be at your disposal for the organization of your honeymoon trip, (certain villas offer special price for honeymooners like those located in Seminyak, Jimbaran and Sanur) such as excursion of one or several days all over the island. Certain agents offer high quality services such as golf or equitation. You will be able to enjoy other complementary services offered by the agents such as courses or trainings on wood sculpture, painting, design, traditional music, yoga, in order to make you learn certain cultural aspect of the region.
You will also find tour operators that will offer you individual tour. The objective is to personalize their services by taking into consideration the personal needs of each guest. If there are two of you, they will make a program for two with a private car and a guide. They will also be able to do the same if you are with friends or family. It`s actually a way of making a private trip and to let you discover Bali serenely while enjoying a service with incomparable quality.
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Rental fee of villas in Bali
The rental fee of villas is actually adapted to all types of budgets. We will provide you several names of villas located in the area of Seminyak and at Canggu. Villas are also found in several other attractive locations in the area especially Legian, Jimbarang and Sanur.
Those villas offer services that are almost identical but it is clear that the more comfortable and luxurious the place the more you pay for the corresponding services. Villa Kubu is located in the center of Seminyak, one of the busiest areas in Bali. Here you will find excellent restaurants, bars, shops and fashion boutiques. At the heart of Seminyak, which is an excellent swimming spot, and after several meters walk in the beach, you will find Villa Kubu consisting of a complex of individual villas. Each villa possesses its own garden and its architecture will provide you, at the internal part of the villa, a private swimming pool. There are kitchens, services of maitre d`hôtel, magnificent bedrooms, services of massage, pedicure, manicure, internet and CD or DVD player. To give you an idea, a villa with one bedroom includes a tropical garden and a swimming pool. The kitchen is completely equipped. The bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom. You will have a bathtub and a separate shower, one extra bathroom for the guests, air-conditioning, WIFI, a furnished maxi bar, a living room and a dining room.
The price of one bedroom villa ranges from 200 Euros to 230 Euros/night; and you will spend around 260 Euros to 300 Euros for two bedrooms and between 330 Euros and 360 Euros for three bedrooms. For any kind of bedroom, the following services are included in the price: transfer to airport with private car, breakfast, fruit and flower basket in the villa, an internet connection and daily-served pastries.
Another alternative in Seminyak is Villa Holiday Corinee that offers all the comfort, intimacy and luxury that you are looking for by coming to Bali. This villa has two bedrooms that will accommodate two couples or newlyweds for their honeymoon. Of course families or groups are also welcome. Compared to the other existing villas in Bali, Holiday Corinee will let you appreciate the quality-related price. Whatever your reason to come to Bali, you will appreciate your stay. The rental prices range from 60 Euros to 150 Euros for two bedrooms.
In Canggu, you will be amazed by Villa Holiday Jana that will make you really feel at home. You will be provided with all that you need to make your own coffee or tea, a kitchen corner as well as a mini bar. This residence is a small paradise for those on holiday completed with swimming pool and a reserved area to enjoy your cozy private bath where you will have the opportunity to admire lotus flower and fish. In this villa a center of massage or spa for your body`s well-being and spirit will be at your disposal. The employees of the villa will be ready to give you advices on the best restaurants, shops and places to visit. This villa consists of 1 to 3 bedrooms and the price is around 250 Euros/night.
Still in Canggu area and if your budget is quite flexible, you can stay at Villa Holiday Dewa which is one of the most luxurious villas of the island. This villa is made of wood and has four bedrooms with one magnificent view on the river. It`s a dream spot for all families, couples or newlyweds. In this villa you will take advantage also of one big swimming pool around which you will be served cocktails and all other kinds of drinks. This villa is surrounded by greeneries and its tropical garden. Certain tourists who have stayed in this villa agree that this place was not only needed to rest and sleep for one or two nights but it has been considered as their residence during their stay on a paradise island. The rate is around 250 Euros per night.
If you go to Canggu you will also find Villa Pura Bawana, which is an impressive residence consisting of 5 bedrooms. The villa is surrounded by terraced rice fields and adjoins the typical Balinese environment and countryside. The beauty of this villa lies in its pavilions with thatched roofs. Each pavilion consists of one dining room, one living room, five big bedrooms and two kitchens. The lounge is open to the exterior of the house. The luxury of the villa and the quality of the services offered are completed by: books and toys for the children, all necessary things for infants and small children, one reading room, one laundry space (supplementary), services of massage and spa (supplementary), one private swimming pool of 30 meters long.
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Holiday in Bali
Bali, an island of Indonesia located close to Java island, is a very well-known tourist destination for so many years thanks to its magnificent sceneries and unique culture. This volcanic island has fascinated the western people since 1930 when they discovered the stories of artists that had been living in Bali.
The capital of Bali is Denpasar and even if the entire surface of 5600 km2 of this island is full of tourist sites and cultures, it is mainly the southern part which is very famous.
The economy of Bali essentially has been depending on tourism for thirty years, making this island the richest one in Indonesia and before that, agriculture was the main source of this richness. Rice culture is very developped, and the terraced ricefields are also very much appreciated by tourists. Tropical climate is favorable to this agriculture with a period of high rainfalls followed by dry season from April to October.
The success of Bali was initially the result of political will of former president Soeharto (mandated from 1967 to 1998), who had decided to open his country for mass tourism since 1970’s. However, most of all, it is the cultural richness and the multiple acitivities with possible access that make Bali a popular destination for the western people.
In Bali they will find heavenly sceneries, rich and original culture and they will take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings.
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Going for Holiday in Bali
Bali is the island of Indonesia offering the most tourist attraction which is why this island has to keep its authenticity. ``The Island of Gods`` is also very rich in activities and highly attracts many tourists who are eager of cultural discovery, of nature or simply leisure on sandy beaches facing the Pacific Ocean.
Diving is an activity commonly performed in Bali. The sea bottom of the island is inhabited by multi color fishes and corals. It is also possible to find wreckages, such as the one from the Second World War located in Tulamben, the northern part of Bali. The lagoon of Sanur, at the south of Bali, is accessible to beginners and they will have the opportunity to observe fishes at reasonable depth.
In order to continue in the domain of sea sport, surfing is also possible on the island. You have to get preliminary information regarding the tides that possibly change a spot accessible to beginners to a very dangerous area, or even unfeasible. Rafting, hiking or mountain bike are also among activities that may be performed in Bali. Trekking activity is usually organized, but it is advised that you have a good stamina if you intend to climb mount Batur and mount Agung because the altitude difference is very significant. These conditions are also applicable for mountain bikers. For beginners, it is possible to organize short trip on a bike because the condition is feasible on the entire island.
Bali has also three internationally known golf courses spreading all over the landscapes of the island: ricefields, vegetation, beach and temples. The three wellknown golf courses are: Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club, Nirwana Bali Golf, and le Bali golf and country club and their greens are running alongside the luxury hotels located at the coast of Bali. The fourth course is more affordable in terms of price, but it only has nine holes, which is the Grand Bali Golf Club, located in Sanur the southern part of Bali.
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Staying in Bali: what are the choices?
Bali has a number of high quality hotels such as deluxe hotels or more affordable accommodations. Kuta and Nusa Dua are provided with hotels, but you have to be careful with the rate fluctuations. You have to make sure that the rates are applicable per night and not for a certain number of nights.
The high tourist season is between June and September and during this period room occupation rate is extremely high and the prices increase by 15% on average. However, if you choose to go during the high season, make the reservation of your hotel two or even three months in advance.
Nusa Dua, a world famous hotel complex, is reputed for its quality of service, its luxury to the western people, but Sanur is a more ideal area to stay with family.
Hotels are not the only accommodations available in Bali. It is also possible to rent a villa or apartment thanks to the numerous real estate agents who will offer this type of services to tourists. The average prices are ranging from 500 to 5000 euros per month and it is important to make sure of its value for money.
If we fall in love with the Island of Gods, it is also possible to buy a secondary place and live there during a certain period of the year to feel like a real resident. If you wish to live in immersion in Bali, usually one will choose to stay at the resident`s house (an accommodation type called losmen or wisma) or in a guest house. The difference between these two types of accomodation is the price. If you choose to live at a resident`s house you might find yourself among the milieu of Balinese daily life, and therefore living in a agitated surrounding that, for certain people, is far the from the idea of quiet holiday period.
It is a kind of lodging that perfectly fits those who like to live in immersion in a new culture and to share the daily life of the inhabitants of the country they visit. These rates fluctuate, but it is possible to negotiate the price if you decide to stay in losmen. Before taking a hotel room, you have to ask several useful questions, to know if the price advertised includes tax and services. Normally the tax is 21%, so it may make quite difference on the budget.
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Souvenirs
If you go to Bali for leisure, you will be quite satisfied of your stay thanks to the heavenly beaches such as Jimbaran or Lovina.
However we cannot leave Bali without remembering the local culture and the experience that we have enjoyed. Indonesian gastronomy is highly appreciated and of course, in Bali, like the rest of the archipelago, the basic food is rice. In Balinese cuisine, we can also find lots of vegetables as well as grilled and marinated meat. The specialty of the island is Nasi Goreng, a sort of fried rice with vegetables and shrimps.
The culture of Bali is also a significant souvenir. It is the only island in Indonesia with Hindu as the dominant religion and in this island we can see a lot of temples where we can participate in the secular rituals performed by the Balinese people.
Balinese Hindu is not the same with Hindu practiced in India that has been influenced by Buddhism. The architecture of temples is also different. They are not filled with the effigy of divinity, but with empty niche presented to welcome the divinity willing to stay there.
Traditional dances are also the symbol of Bali. These dances are performed by young girls in golden costume and headdress.
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To go to Bali
Regular flights connect Europe to Bali. A return ticket Paris/Denpasar (airport of Bali and 3rd airport of Indonesia in terms of traffic intensity) costs slightly more than 600 euros, depending on the season and different offers are available.
There are also flights leaving from other French airports such as Lyon or Nantes. It is necessary to obtain a visa before going to Bali. Tourist visa can be obtained at the Indonesian Embassy with the price of 40 euros and valid for 60 days and this visa is not extendable. It is also possible to get a visa directly on the spot or visa on arrival at the airport of Denpasar. Options of visa are 10 dollars for a 10-day stay, not extendable, and 25 dollars for a stay of 30 days.
The departure for Indonesia requires no obligatory vaccine, but all vaccines should be updated. It is not necessary to have an anti-malaria treatment when you stay in Bali. A stay in rural areas will take more risks and therefore supplementary precautions are required, such as vaccine against rabies.
When passing through the customs you have to be sure of: not taking more than 1 liter of alcohol or more than 100 grams of tobacco. All radios, cassettes and any other media that might contain pornographic characteristics are not allowed. It is not possible to enter Bali with objects carrying Chinese ideogram.
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Examples of stay: tailored or organized, select in accordance with your idea of holiday
There are many travel agents offering a stay in Bali for holiday with the organization of local tours or based on certain themes.
In fact, these different facilities offered by the island make it possible to stay in Bali based on themes such as diving, cultural visits, sport holiday, etc. We can choose to go to Bali by organizing our own trip, but it will take a lot of time while different holiday packages are available to make it easier for you.
These packages are proposed by specialized travel agents and they start from the basic package consisting of flight and hotel accomodation, excursion and activities that are adaptable and can be modified based on your interest. The loss-leader price for this full-services package, out of promotion, is around 1500 euros for 10 to 15 days with air ticket and hotel included. The activities on the spot (excursion/hiking, guided tour to temples or ricefields) may be reserved separately and will cost around 50 euros on the basis of two participants.
These specialized agents also propose stay with certain themes such as for those who are diving addict or tourists who would like to have a well-being type of holiday. It is also possible to buy a combined package consisting of, for example, a visit to Lombok, the island next to Bali.
These agents sometimes offer their clients French speaking guides. They will know how to orient you to places to visit and to advise you according to the period of stay, because it is possible to explore the island in three weeks (around 2800 euros per person).
One week-stay will need more efficiency in the organization. This possibility is offered by organized trips, offering tour of Bali in one week for around 1000 euros (air ticket, hotel with breakfast and an excursion program). It is possible to register to supplementary activity for a price that varies according to the number of participants. These trips have the advantage of being rhythmic and organized, but you have to know to comply with to the inconvenience that might arise, such as lack of privacy or dependency on the group.
The stay a la carte is possible with certain travel agents that will propose a free service in accordance with the number of participants, the type of hotel selected, the activities required and the budget allocated. These agencies also offer to find for you a place to stay at the resident’s house, if you wish to plunge into the middle of Balinese daily activities.
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