Hi, guys! Sorry for not posting for long time. Was busy surfing some nice winter swells and working.
Let’s get back to business and keep going with observing the island)
Wanna give you quick brief about Bali areas and ways to look for accommodation.
Bukit
South part of the island with amazing costline:
beautiful beaches, often you have to walk down from rocks (eastern part) to get to a beach, but it worth it! You can find a lot of hidden gems there)
Heavy surf - mostly reef spots - for sure not for beginners.
2 iconic Bali spots: 1st one - Uluwatu - can sit at some “rock-top” bar and watch guys getting biggest waves of their live + amazing sunsets. Just spectacular!
2cnd - Padang Padang - biggest and heaviest tube in the island)
First time visiting Uluwatu temple w friends in 2012.
With my ex-girlfriend this year.
Can find affordable villas, but its not that easy cos choice is quiet limited. There are also a lot of guest houses for surfers and some apartments, but with average quality in my opinion (maybe something has changed recently, don’t have a lot of information about Bukit rentals to be honest)
Nusa Dua
Is quiet place mostly for family holidays: luxury hotels, some restaurant, quiet beaches where you can swim without worrying about get caught in rip-current)
Have to mention that central part of Bukit is a bit “empty” and its almost nothing to do there.
So then we are heading to the north part of the island:
Kuta exists just for partying and has perfect beach, where everybody learns how to surf: first 1-2 classes usually you will take here. Many Australian tourists, many clubs, bars, restaurants, best shopping malls w clothes and other goods, overcrowded.
To be honest, I go to Kuta only if I really need something there, usually trying to avoid visiting)
Kuta streets
Seminyak is “luxury” version of Kuta. A lot of good restaurants, beach clubs, hotels, nice beaches ( with some surf as well). Can find apartments, villas and guest house with reasonable price/quality ratio. Also crowded.
Famous beach club in Seminyak named Ku De Ta. Lovely sunsets.
Canggu
Place for expats, surfers, hipsters, creative people etc etc - in my opinion most comfortable place to live in the island. Amazing range of restaurants with healthy food, good night life, perfect surf-spots for intermediate level.
Easy to find any kind of accommodation.
Denpasar - “capital” of the island - you go there only if you need some electronics devices (cos malls with such products located only here (if you looking for monitors, routers, laptops or whatever)), if you need to extend your visa or need to visit post-office.
How to choose where to stay:
So my basic recommendation will be “stay in Seminyak or Canggu”, then you can explore the island and take daily trips by bike or by car to different parts of Bali. But of course it depends on what you are looking for your holidays.
For example, if you just want “pure” beach holidays for 1-2 weeks in a 4-5 star hotel on a white sand beach - for sure you have to go Nusa Dua.
For expats, guys who want to stay for 1-3-6 months Seminyak or Canggu are good because have covered all the needs: reasonable monthly prices for rent, good internet, lots of sports activities (gyms, surf-schools, yoga classes, cross-fit classes, skate-parks etc etc), big supermarkets w western products, local markets, A LOT of restaurants/cafes. Close to Denpasar or Kuta if you need to buy something “special”.
Now about distances between this areas. From Canggu to Bukit - 40-50 min driving motorbike, 1-2 hours by car depends on the traffic.
From Canggu to Kuta 20-30 min by bike, same to Denpasar. Canggu and Seminyak are really close to each other, especially if you know some short-cuts and can avoid main roads with traffic.
About apartments and villas in Canggu:
I have been living in Canggu for 4 years and will try to give some recommendations and examples.
Few basic rules:
Further you go from the cost-line (to central part of the island) - easier to find good and chip place to rent (kinda obvious lol))
Further you go up north from Pererenan - less options for apartments available, but can find really chips villas/houses.
Will recommend to look for some options in following areas: Canggu, Pererenan, Umalas, Kerobokan - its relatively close to everything and basically you can name these areas just “Canggu”.
Will show you examples of apartments I was renting out in Canggu (all of these was renting monthly and spent 5-6 months in average in each, except last one)
Damai Residence
1 living room, 1 bedroom - around 1k/monthly + electricity, cleaning 3 times weekly is included.
Apple Villa Apartments
Small living room + 1 bedroom - around $700/monthly - everything is included.
Balissimo Apartments
Big living room w kitchen, 2 bedrooms (1 was using as my office) - would say it will be good for 2 people - around 1.1k/monthly+electricity+internet, cleaning is included.
Building is located close to road and its kinda noisy during day time, but still was pretty comfortable for me.
RimbaBird Guest house (just one room)
Around $500 monthly, everything is included, cleaning everyday
For sure you can find apartments with comparable quality for less price than I did, but I just get used to certain level of comfort.
(I think, you know the feeling, guys - you’re grinding like 6-10 hours daily at home, then just chilling cos tired - so you want your place at least looks fine for you))
But still, in average, prices for good apartments in Bali slightly higher than everywhere in Asia (maybe except Singapore and Hong Kong))
About villas in Canggu
Much easier to find good quality 2-3 bedroom villa than 1 bedroom villa - so sharing will help a lot)
Will show you examples of my friends villas, in some of them I was staying for quiet a bit.
1)
2 bedrooms, bathroom in each, super-nice living room+kitchen - $2100 usd/month
2)
3 bedrooms, good living room, quiet location and close to everything - 1500 usd/monthly (but guys pay upfront for a year)
3)
2 bedrooms not that big, small living - 1400 usd/monthly
4)
3 bedrooms - 1600 usd/monthly, payed upfront w yearly contract.
Ways to look for accommodation:
1. Web
https://www.facebook.com/groups/canggucommunityhousing/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsbali/
(any group in FB w 5-10k of followers will be good - more you check, more chances to find option w good price/qualty ratio
airbnb.com (obv))
(ecepcially if you are looking for short term rentals)
2 real estate agencies, which I can recommend - mostly long term. Commission is already included in the price on these web-sites.
https://balitreasureproperties.com
https://bali-home-immo.com
Actually you might want to leave your request for few more real-eastet agencies, cos sometimes it could be slow and, anyways, you are going to pay to agent only if he will find you good option.
Average deal is 10% from total cost.
Find you “personal” real estate agent in FB/airbnb - if you start posting - for sure they will find you)
2. Just driving around the area and calling to phone numbers you see at gates.
3. Find some good local, who will do same type of “work” for fix price (Never used it, but heard stories from friends)
4. Recommendations from expats you meet in the island.
If you you are planning to stay for 6 months+ will recommend to book some hotel for week or two and check all the options above for some time.
So hopefully my post was useful for you, guys! Let me know what do you think about posts like that when I'm mixing up a lit bit of everything.
Maybe you prefer shorter version, but just w practical and useful information?
Everybody is welcome to share experience in this topic about finding accommodation in Bali)