Bali accommodations range from Hotels to luxury villas in Bali. An increasingly popular trend for families and groups is to rent a villa, which can go from US$60, $100, $200 and up per night and are usually served by a retinue of staff.
On the Budget rates, and for a more local experience, are bungalows and Cottages. In the better Hotels in Bali, expect a clean and simple room with a standard room, Superior and Deluxe room. They usually have air-conditioning and can will have a fan.
Better places will have an Living Room with a Private Pool, Garden, and Spa. The lower budget places will sometimes have only room view to garden with sharing pool.
Many villas in bali and Resort have openair bathrooms, often set in a lush garden. They are definitely a very Balinese experience, but may also shelter little uninvited guests and are best avoided if you have low tolerance for critters.
Bali’s resorts and fine Western hotels cost a fraction of what luxury accommodations would elsewhere. Promotional and Internet rates are available at all hotels in Bali. Paying the rack rates, or published rates, even in high season, is almost unheard of.
Especially in the off season, it pays to shop around; you can ask for the best rate in with Bali Fantastic Agent.
Almost all hotels charge a 21% tax (10% government tax and 11% service) on top of the quoted rates. Some hotels tack on a charge in high season the 2 or 3 weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, plus the months of July and August.
LOW, HIGH & PEAK SEASON
Low: January 9 to June 30; September 16 to December 20.
Low season is a great time to negotiate deals on accommodations and find cheap hotel packages.
High: July; September 1 to September 15; Chinese New Year and Easter week.
Accommodation is hard to find and almost as expensive as peak season. Roads aren’t as congested as at peak, but it is still difficult to get around with ease.
Peak: August; December 20 to January 9.
Although the weather in August is cooler than the rest of the year and there is very little rain, December’s weather is hot and humidity is high. During peak season, Bali is bursting at the seams with tourists. The roads become heavily congested and dinner reservations are hard to get. Expect to pay almost double for accommodations; shopkeepers will drive a hard bargain.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Most of the major Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist holidays are celebrated in Bali. The government also sets a few additional days every year during the year, though Islamic holiday dates change year to year.
- January: 1 New Year;
- February: 14 Chinese New Year (2561), 26 Maulid (Birth of the Prophet);
- March: 16 Nyepi Balinese New Year (1932);
- April: 2 Good Friday, 28 Waisak Day (Buddha’s birthday);
- May: 13 Ascension Day;
- August: 17 Indonesia Independence Day;
- September: 11 and 12 Eidul- Fitr Muslim festival to end Ramadan, 13 shared holiday by government decree;
- November: 17 Idul Adha, cattle sacrifice and hajj pilgrimage;
- December: 7 Islamic New Year (1432), 25 Christmas.
