What's with short-term private home rentals?

[milesb]

We've been thinking of visiting Ubud again around July - September, and this time are quite keen to get a private house/home instead of staying in a hotel.

Because there's 3 young kids, we really were after a 3 bedroom place, with air conditioning in bedrooms and a kitchen so we could prepare meals.

Seems everywhere I'm looking only offers fancy villas at $300US+ a night. We're keener on a far smaller budget, and I'd expected to find quite a few properties, such as add-ons to existing family compounds, but there doesn't seem to be any.

What's the secret to finding these places? Do we need to befriend an expat to give us the low down (hint, hint :)) or are there some websites I just can't seem to Google?

Keen for people's thoughts - don't need to name places, if that's against forum rules, just seems weird that every private place I can find is higher end than what we'd expected.

Cheers

Miles.

[gilbert de jong]

Hi Milesb,
Don't know if I already welcomed you to the forum, so if not...
Welcome to the forum Miles :).
Yeah 300 USD is expensive, depending ofcourse on facilities offered for that price.
What I can suggest, or what I would do (have done for a trip to Borobudur) contact the owner of the villa in question directly, I mean not through some travelagency website. They will give you a much better rate then advertised. The price given will also depend on the length of your stay.
I am not that familiar with the Ubud region, but there are probably some members who can point you to some options.
Hope you'll find what you're looking for and have a great stay/vacation.
friendly greetings......Gilbert.

[milesb]

Hi Gilbert,

Thanks for your thoughts, and for the welcome here. :)

I also found I was using the wrong phrase when Googling for places. If you use 'ubud homestay' or 'ubud pension' you get a different level of results. It seems most of the 'private house ubud' etc I was trying before, came up with the million dollar villas first. :)

Ideally, we'd like to end up somewhere small and not a large hotel, and that we felt was more reflective of the real Bali and less europe, if that makes sense. Having said that, the idea of air conditioning appeals to us (pool is great, but not a requirement) - spoilt Australians and all. :)

What we should have done is look around at options when we were there 18 months ago - but you live and learn I guess. This time, we'll certainly take a day out and scope for future places to stay.

I looked in soem windows of real estate agents in Ubud when I was last there, and am kicking myself now that I didn't get their contact details - many of them had short term holiday houses in their windows.

I'm surprised more expats don't have a second property that they rent out to tourists like us. I can imagine there'd be quite a call for them, assuming that they could have some reasonable ranking on Google, of course.

(...and don't get me started on the lack of information on many of the sites I have looked at - in tourism, the more photos and info, the better, unless the place is a dump :)).

Cheers

Miles.

[gilbert de jong]

Hai Miles,

I think some Expats who live on Bali probably have multiple properties they own and rent out,
but they register their property with real-estate agents who then put that property on their website. So i personally think most of the Villa's in your innitial search, are foreign owned.
Either for renting out or for selling your house, it's the easiest way I think. You don't have to do any of the paperwork and such.
Getting in touch with the real bali, you are already half way there when you're not staying in the south of Bali(Kuta,Nusa Dua) :wink: .
Wanting an AC or pool, makes you in my mind not spoiled at all. I guess you worked hard all year round and then want to have a nice and relaxed holiday on Bali. So it's normal to want things which makes your stay more comfortable.
Yeah, but who thinks of planning their next vacation, when you're on your vacation, hahaha.
But this time round you're prepared, so you can write the 'agents' contact-details down.
I hope you have found what you're looking for by the other search-phrase?
Let me,(us) know...Thanks,friendly greetings.......Gilbert.

[milesb]

Hi Gilbert,

Thanks again - yes, ended up finding some pretty nice places at far more budget prices. :)

I like the idea of staying in a family compound, feel like I am actually taking part in Bali that way.

Thanks again!

Miles.

[mobius]

Hi Miles. I had the same problem - and question re renting in the Seminyak area. One fab villa I know wanted $400US - but when the agent was circumvented it became $200 US. And then I found a great place for $75us a night with 2 rooms - aircon in both, en-suites, a great pool and location, Internet etc. There is a local newspaper in Bali you could look at - has many rentals in it - but I am not sure if I can name it here. It is online. Happy holidays. Cheers, Stu

[milesb]

Thanks Stu. :)

We're coming over in late September now, for two weeks. Hope to find a place in Ubud for a week, and looking to change scenery for the other week, just trying to choose now *sigh*.

I've only stayed in tree areas before, and want to broaden my horizons. Ubud, Kuta and Sanur are all nice, but thinking I need to go further north or east.

Ah, so many options. :)

Hope you have a good trip there.

Cheers

Miles.