How to Get the Most From a Private Villa Stay in Bali
Staying in a private villa can be one of the best parts of a Bali holiday, but choosing the right villa matters more than simply finding one with a beautiful pool. After welcoming guests to our villas in Seminyak for years, I’ve seen how small decisions made before booking can have a surprisingly big effect on the holiday.
Location is a good example. A villa might look perfect in the photographs, but if you want to walk to restaurants and the beach and discover that everything requires a taxi, it probably wasn’t the right choice for you. The same goes for things like villa staff, breakfast, airport transfers and the layout of the property. It pays to know exactly what you’re booking.
There’s also a difference between staying in a villa and simply sleeping in one. If you have your own pool, garden and people looking after you, make use of them. In this guide, I’ll share the things I think are worth checking before you book and a few ways to get much more from your villa once you arrive.
Key Takeaways
- Choose the area first, then start comparing villas within it.
- Look beyond the photographs and check exactly what is included in your booking.
- Think about how you’ll actually use the villa rather than automatically choosing the biggest or most luxurious option.
- Villa staff can make your stay much easier, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Leave some free time to enjoy the pool and villa instead of filling every day with sightseeing.
- If something isn’t right during your stay, mention it early so the villa team has a chance to fix it.
Choose the Location Before You Choose the Villa
It’s very easy to start searching for a Bali villa and get distracted by infinity pools, enormous bedrooms and tropical gardens. I think it’s better to do things the other way around. Decide where you want to spend your holiday first, then look for the best villa in that area.
Think about what an ordinary day is likely to look like. Do you want to walk out for breakfast, spend a few hours at the beach and have restaurants nearby for dinner? Or would you rather stay somewhere quiet and secluded and you’re happy to use a driver whenever you go out?
Neither is better, but they’re very different holidays.
This matters particularly in Bali because distances on a map can be misleading. A villa that appears to be only a few kilometres from somewhere you want to visit can take considerably longer to reach once traffic builds. Saving a little money by staying further away isn’t always much of a saving if you then spend more time and money getting around every day.
For guests who want restaurants, cafés, shopping and the beach within easy reach, Seminyak is one of the reasons we’ve chosen to base our villas there. If you’re deciding between different areas, I’ve also compared the practical differences in my guide to Seminyak vs Canggu.
Once you’ve chosen the right area, then start looking at pools and bedrooms. You’ll have a much better chance of finding a villa that fits the holiday you actually want.
Look Beyond the Photos Before Booking
Villa photography is designed to show a property at its best, so I always recommend spending a little more time on the details before you book. A beautiful pool is great, but it won’t tell you whether you can walk to dinner, whether the living room has air conditioning or who will be there to help if you need something during your stay.
Recent guest reviews are particularly useful. They’ll often tell you things photographs can’t, such as whether the location is quiet at night, how helpful the staff are and how easy it is to get around.
There are a few things I’d check with any Bali villa:
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Exact location | An area such as Seminyak covers more ground than you might expect. |
| Private pool | Make sure the pool belongs exclusively to your villa if privacy is important to you. |
| Open or enclosed living areas | Open living is very Balinese, but some guests prefer an air-conditioned indoor space. |
| Villa staff | Check who will be available and during which hours. |
| Breakfast | Find out whether it’s included, available at an extra cost or completely self-catered. |
| Housekeeping | Service levels vary considerably between properties. |
| Airport transfer | Knowing how you’ll reach the villa makes arrival much easier. |
| Recent reviews | These often reveal details you won’t find in the property description. |
I’d also pay attention to the layout rather than just the number of bedrooms. A couple doesn’t necessarily benefit from booking a huge villa, while a family might care much more about having bedrooms close together or being able to keep an eye on children around the pool.
The aim isn’t to find the villa with the longest list of features. It’s to find one whose features you’ll actually use.
Make Use of Your Villa Staff
Some guests arrive and treat the villa staff almost like hotel housekeeping. They’ll say hello in the morning, let them get on with their work and otherwise try not to bother them. I can see why people do it, but they’re often missing one of the biggest advantages of staying in a staffed villa.
If you’re not sure where to eat, ask. If you need transport arranged, ask. If you’d like breakfast a little earlier because you’re leaving for a day trip, see whether it can be arranged. The people looking after the villa know the local area and deal with visitors every day, so they’re often the easiest people to turn to when you need something.
Of course, what’s available will depend on the villa. Some properties provide little more than housekeeping, while others can help arrange drivers, massages, restaurant bookings, laundry, activities and meals. That’s another reason to check the level of service before booking rather than assuming every private villa operates in the same way.
I also think this is where a villa can feel very different from a hotel. You tend to see the same people throughout your stay, and after a few days they usually have a pretty good idea of how you like to spend your time. Don’t feel that you’re being demanding simply by asking what’s possible. Helping guests enjoy their stay is part of what a good villa team is there to do.
Decide Which Extras Are Actually Worth Paying For
It’s easy to add a long list of extras to a Bali holiday, but you probably don’t need all of them. I prefer to think about which services will genuinely make your particular trip easier or more enjoyable.
A driver, for example, can be well worth paying for on a day when you’re exploring Ubud or heading into North Bali. That doesn’t mean you need one waiting outside the villa every day if most of your time will be spent around Seminyak.
The same applies to having food prepared at the villa. Eating out is part of the fun of being in Bali, especially with so many good restaurants around Seminyak, but there are evenings when staying beside your own pool and having dinner brought to you sounds much more appealing. Families with young children, groups travelling together and couples celebrating something special often get the most from it. I’ve looked at the pros and cons in more detail in my guide to having a private chef versus eating out in Bali.
An in-villa massage can be another worthwhile treat after a long day out, while an airport transfer is one extra I particularly like for arrival day. After a long flight, I’d rather know someone is waiting for me than start figuring out transport with luggage in hand.
The point isn’t to turn every available service into part of the holiday. Pick the ones that solve a problem or give you an experience you’ll genuinely enjoy.
Don’t Turn Your Villa Into Somewhere You Only Sleep
It’s surprisingly easy to book a beautiful villa and then plan a holiday that gives you almost no time to enjoy it.
I’ve seen guests arrive with every day mapped out: Ubud one day, Uluwatu the next, a boat trip after that, followed by another early start for a tour. Halfway through the holiday, they’re exhausted and decide to cancel something just so they can spend a day beside the pool.
I think that’s often a very good decision.
If you’ve chosen a villa because you wanted your own pool, garden and private living space, leave some room in the itinerary to actually use them. Have a slow breakfast, spend a morning by the pool or come back early one afternoon rather than trying to squeeze another attraction into the day.
Bali is a wonderful island to explore, but you don’t need to be sightseeing every hour to feel that you’re making the most of your holiday. Some of the nicest days our guests have are the ones when they don’t have much planned at all.
Speak Up Early If Something Isn’t Right
This sounds obvious, but it’s something I wish more guests would do.
If the air conditioning doesn’t seem to be cooling properly, something in the villa isn’t working or you’re unsure how to use something, tell the villa team when you notice it. Don’t quietly put up with it for three days and mention it when you’re checking out.
The same applies to smaller things. Perhaps you’d prefer breakfast earlier because you have a driver arriving, or you need some help making a restaurant reservation. In a well-managed villa, these are exactly the kinds of things the staff should be helping with.
At My Villas in Bali, for example, our butlers can help guests with restaurant and spa reservations, transport, local information and laundry as well as preparing breakfast each morning. The point of having that support is to make your stay easier, so use it.
Most problems are much easier to solve when the villa team knows about them straight away. And if a request can’t be accommodated, at least you’ll know rather than spending part of your holiday wondering whether you should have asked.
The Most Expensive Villa Isn’t Always the Best Villa
It’s tempting to assume that upgrading to a larger or more expensive property automatically means a better holiday. I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
A couple staying in a well-located one-bedroom villa with a private pool may have a much better experience than they would in an enormous property miles away from everything they want to do. Likewise, a family may care far more about the bedroom layout, staff and location than whether the villa has the biggest pool.
I would choose based on how you’re actually going to spend your time.
If you love going out for dinner, being able to walk to good restaurants could be more valuable than having a huge kitchen. If you’re travelling with young children, having your own pool and enough space to relax while they’re asleep might matter far more than nightlife. If you’re planning to explore Bali extensively, easy access to transport becomes more important.
Luxury is nice, but convenience has a habit of becoming more valuable once you’re actually on holiday.
The best villa isn’t necessarily the one with the longest amenities list. It’s the one that makes the holiday you want easier.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
Getting the most from a private villa stay doesn’t require planning every detail before you arrive. In fact, I’d recommend doing the opposite and leaving some room for your plans to change once you’re here.
What is worth deciding beforehand is where you want to stay, what you expect from the villa and which services are important to you. Check those details before booking and you’ll avoid most of the disappointments that can occur when the reality doesn’t match what someone imagined from the photographs.
Once you arrive, make use of the staff, enjoy the privacy you’ve paid for and give yourself permission to spend some time doing absolutely nothing.
After all, if you’ve travelled all the way to Bali and have a private pool waiting outside your bedroom, you don’t need to feel guilty about using it.
FAQ
What should I check before renting a villa in Bali?
Start with the exact location, recent guest reviews, whether the pool is genuinely private, the layout of the villa and which services are included. I’d also check housekeeping arrangements, breakfast, airport transfers and who will be available if you need assistance during your stay.
Is it better to stay in a villa or hotel in Bali?
It depends on the holiday you prefer. Villas generally give you more privacy, your own living space and often a private pool, while hotels can offer larger shared facilities such as restaurants, gyms and resort pools. For couples and families who value privacy and space, a villa can be a particularly good option.
What is normally included with a private Bali villa?
There’s no single standard, which is why you should check before booking. Depending on the property, your stay may include housekeeping, breakfast, villa staff, Wi-Fi and airport transfers, while other services may cost extra.
Do private villas in Bali usually have staff?
Many do, but staffing varies considerably. Some properties provide housekeeping only, while fully serviced villas may have butlers or other staff who can help with meals, transport and reservations. Don’t assume that “private villa” automatically means “fully staffed.”
Is breakfast included in Bali villa rentals?
Sometimes. At My Villas in Bali, breakfast is prepared daily by a personal butler, but other properties may charge separately or operate on a self-catering basis. Check the inclusions before you book rather than assuming breakfast will be provided.
Should I tip villa staff in Bali?
Tipping isn’t something you should feel pressured to do, but guests often choose to leave something for staff when they’ve received particularly good service. If you do want to tip, you can ask the villa manager about the best way to distribute it among the team.
Is it safe to book a private villa in Bali?
There are many professionally managed villas in Bali, but I’d still check recent reviews, booking terms and who you’re booking through before paying. Be particularly cautious if you’re asked to transfer money somewhere unexpected or a deal seems considerably cheaper than comparable properties. I’ve covered more general precautions in my guide to staying safe in Bali.
Is a private villa worth it for couples?
For many couples, yes. Having your own pool and living space gives you a level of privacy that’s difficult to get from a standard hotel room. You also have the freedom to spend an entire morning at the villa without feeling as though you should be making use of shared resort facilities.
- Welcome Back To My Villas in Bali - November 17, 2021
