Spending our Winter on Bali
 

We have never been to Bali but have been told that it is the perfect spot to stay if you want to get a break from the long and grey European winter. Any suggestions on long term house rentals and other useful information for a two month stay are highly appreciated.

You may want to check the weather patterns as some of those months are rainy in Bali! (although i dont suppose it's still that bad)

Elisabeth, Bali IS a good choice for two months of Northern winter. As Smeagol says November to March is the rainy season, but I wouldn't consider that a major deterrent. It's the tropics. It rains all year.

Rates are considerably lower in February/March than in December/January.

In order to give you receommendations we'd need to know your budget and whether you're thinking of situating yourselves in the Southern beach area or inland around Ubud. Or maybe one month in each.

There are zillions of villas for rent all over Bali -- it seems the whole island is under construction -- and the design, location, and amenities can vary widely. It's best to get the opinion of someone who's actually seen the place as internet photos can be mis-leading.

I would especially ask questions about staffing -- maid, cook, car/driver -- and about nearby construction.

Bali recently changed its regulations on villa rentals and the 21% hotel tax now applies. Some landlords conveniently forget about this additional cost which can lead to problems later for the tenants. I would deal with a reputable rental agency or at least ask if the tax is being paid.

My favoritite area is Petitengit/Seminyak, though I really like Ubud as well. Sanur is also popular though there are fewer choices. Take a look a these sites as a starting point. Prices are definitely negotiable especially for a longterm stay.

http://www.seminyakvillas.net/
http://www.elitehavensbali.com/elite...info/intro.asp

Thanks very much for your advice, Marmot!

This website has some more modest rental homes in Bali, mostly in/near Ubud: http://www.balispirit.com/resorts/ba...rent_sale.html

I would suggest you look at something like vrbo.com which offers many homes for rent in Bali. You could even rent houses in different areas over a two-month stay. (Bali is also cheaper and safer than South Africa, where I also see you are considering spending the winter. Much of SE Asia would also work in terms of low-cost living. India would be a good choice as well, IMO, someplace like Goa or Kerala esp for beaches and good weather in the winter.)

You may find that a bicycle and your feet are all that you need to get to know the area. You would be amazed at the richness of culture you can find in a small area. If you want to take the odd longer trip, you can hire a car and driver for the day, or take a local bemo bus with the Balinese, or perhaps you will be brave enough for a motorbike after some time experiencing the roads there.

I cannot see a reasonable comparison of Kerala to Bali. It is equivalent to comparing a crow (and there are 1 million of them in Kerala) with a peacock.

Hi Cicerone, we are indeed looking at two different options (what luxury!!) We have family living in South Africa so spending our Winter there would also give us the opportunity to catch up with them. On the other hand we would also like to do something completely different hence the thought of Bali. The thought of India had not crossed our mind frankly but we are open to all suggestions. The planning is half the fun! thanks again everyone. I'm in danger of becoming a Fodor's addict.