We might move the Bali if we like it

Billt4SF

[b]We might move to Bali if we like it[/b] My wife and I are planning to visit Bali in April 18 for three weeks with the idea what if we like it (read: *love* it) we'll move there for a year as our first try at living overseas. Thus, we have a dual purpose in our visit: to enjoy Bali, and to check out a possible move in 2016. We are thinking that, given the time of year, we could reserve maybe half of our accommodations. Is this feasible for April 18 - May 2 time period? We have the idea that many accommodations in Bali are not advertised on the internet. Not sure how true that might be. We want to try to find some homestays or other accommodations that are more like what we'd get if we make the move. Seems to me that many of the "homestays" that I find on the internet are really guesthouses, that is, a separate residence run (or at least owned) by westerners for the tourist that just happens to be cheaper. We are hoping to find some houses of actual Balinese people that would rent a room to us for a few days. I suppose there is a spectrum here. There are really four questions I guess: (1) is it reasonable that we can find good accommodations on the fly April 18 - May 2? (2) is staying at homestays a good way to scope out a longer-term situation? and (3) are there many places in Bali for rent that are not on the internet? (4) Are these places we might actually like? Maybe we should try to meet some expats as well, although I'm not quite sure how to do this. Any comments from those who reside in Bali or have done so would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill & Emily

Billt4SF

Markit wrote

Thanks Markit! I don't think we'll stay long-term in a homestay. I thought it might be a good way to actually meet some actual people and learn about how to find a good longterm situation. As far as what we would like, we're middle-class people and we are hoping to find a villa type place when we stay for a year. We'll be retired by then, we should be able to pay $2,000 USD or more per month. We like to scuba dive, but we like other things (culture, reading, cooking, gardening, ...) too -- we're not dive junkies. Thanks, Bill & Emily

Smoke

maybe stay at a homestay while you look around at different areas of Bali and decide what area may suit you best . some like the laid back atmosphere in Sanur while others enjoy the boondocks of Karangasem or the crazyness of Kuta . take your time looking around and get a feel for the areas.

SquarePeg

Where in Bali are you looking at? - there are many varied locations, all with different levels of rental opportunities. If your budget is $2k per month for rent, you will get a very good quality villa depending where you stay - note, you can easily rent a nice place for 50-70% of that amount, even in some popular locations. If staying a year, you should probably look at places that do annual rent - noting you'll be required to pay that all up front.

Markit

Billt4SF wrote We are thinking that, given the time of year, we could reserve maybe half of our accommodations. Is this feasible for April 18 - May 2 time period? We have the idea that many accommodations in Bali are not advertised on the internet. Not sure how true that might be. [COLOR=#ff0000]Hi and welcome - you'll have no problem finding whatever level of accommodation you want or can afford outside of the main tourist seasons and they start around July.[/COLOR] We want to try to find some homestays or other accommodations that are more like what we'd get if we make the move. Seems to me that many of the "homestays" that I find on the internet are really guesthouses, that is, a separate residence run (or at least owned) by westerners for the tourist that just happens to be cheaper. We are hoping to find some houses of actual Balinese people that would rent a room to us for a few days. [COLOR=#ff0000]The levels of cleanliness and luxury are "variable" and may surprise and delight or fill with horror.[/COLOR] I suppose there is a spectrum here. There are really four questions I guess: (1) is it reasonable that we can find good accommodations on the fly April 18 - May 2? (2) is staying at homestays a good way to scope out a longer-term situation? and [COLOR=#ff0000]By "scope out" do you mean you want to live like that or just use the hs to find a reasonable place to live?[/COLOR] (3) are there many places in Bali for rent that are not on the internet? [COLOR=#ff0000]Yep[/COLOR] (4) Are these places we might actually like? [COLOR=#ff0000]Daft question us not know you at all :O)[/COLOR] Maybe we should try to meet some expats as well, although I'm not quite sure how to do this. [COLOR=#ff0000]You just did. More will follow - read the forum past and present for all the answers you could want, and some you might not. [/COLOR] Any comments from those who reside in Bali or have done so would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill & Emily

ronb

A key question is where you want to stay. You mention diving - there are great sites in north-west Bali (Menjangan Island) and north-east Bali (Tulamben). Then you mention culture - and Ubud could be a good choice perhaps, but not on the coast. Then when you narrow down the general area, transport is an issue. If you will drive or ride motor-cycles yourselves then you can be a few Km out of your selected town, but if you depend on hiring drivers then it is better to be central and only hire drivers on the days you really need them. Nobody can answer these questions for you. You need to come and case the joint.

Billt4SF

ronb wroteA key question is where you want to stay. You mention diving - there are great sites in north-west Bali (Menjangan Island) and north-east Bali (Tulamben). Then you mention culture - and Ubud could be a good choice perhaps, but not on the coast. Then when you narrow down the general area, transport is an issue. If you will drive or ride motor-cycles yourselves then you can be a few Km out of your selected town, but if you depend on hiring drivers then it is better to be central and only hire drivers on the days you really need them. Nobody can answer these questions for you. You need to come and case the joint.

Great comments, folks. Really appreciate it. Ronb, you are so right that we need to answer the transport question by being there. I doubt that my wife will want to drive a scooter, even if I do. We like to dive, but we won't be diving every day. We will want "things" to do, maybe those things are a lot like we do as retired couple in San Francisco, we won't really know until we get there and live there for a while (not just a three week vacation). In any case I do think we will want to have a degree of civilization around us. So we have been thinking of Ubud (can we get a nice villa in Ubud for $2k USD?). I wonder how "out of the way" a place like Candidasa or Karangasem will feel. Maybe Sanur is a good choice, but I don't think the beach per se is a particular need for us. Thanks again! - Bill & Emily

ronb

It is common to pay 12 months up-front - but everything is negotiable. One thing I forgot to mention with the above property is that it has a phone line so you can get Telkom Speedy (an ADSL service) for Internet which is considerably better than using services from mobile phone providers.

ronb

Yes $2,000 per month will give you plenty of choice. I have picked one from rumah123.com for $1200 per month - it is at http://www.rumah123.com/detil-rumah-disewa-di-ubud-gianyar-1462266-id.html. Points of interest are the land size 500 sq meter or 5 are. Many are 3 or less, so 5 gives a bit of garden space. Car space - you can see from one photo you come down a narrow lane, then get the car into the garage. Cap on electricity usage is 5,500 watts - this is both good and bad. 5,500 means you get a lower rate per KwHr - but if you turn all aircons and pool pumps on at once it may overload and switch off. A word of warning about this particular agent Ketut Sumberjaya - he has many properties listed but is hard to contact and get info from. Enjoy.

Billt4SF

ronb wroteYes $2,000 per month will give you plenty of choice. I have picked one from rumah123.com for $1200 per month - it is at<deleted> Points of interest are the land size 500 sq meter or 5 are. Many are 3 or less, so 5 gives a bit of garden space. Car space - you can see from one photo you come down a narrow lane, then get the car into the garage. Cap on electricity usage is 5,500 watts - this is both good and bad. 5,500 means you get a lower rate per KwHr - but if you turn all aircons and pool pumps on at once it may overload and switch off. A word of warning about this particular agent Ketut Sumberjaya - he has many properties listed but is hard to contact and get info from. Enjoy.

Hello again Ron, Very nice, very useful info thanks!!! Did you have to pay a year's rent up front? That's going to be hard for my suspicious mind to do.... - Bill

Billt4SF

ronb wroteIt is common to pay 12 months up-front - but everything is negotiable. One thing I forgot to mention with the above property is that it has a phone line so you can get Telkom Speedy (an ADSL service) for Internet which is considerably better than using services from mobile phone providers.

Aaahaah - you pay for mental security, I see. Great info, thanks! - Bill & Emily

Billt4SF

ronb wroteIt is common to pay 12 months up-front - but everything is negotiable. One thing I forgot to mention with the above property is that it has a phone line so you can get Telkom Speedy (an ADSL service) for Internet which is considerably better than using services from mobile phone providers.

is it true that ANYWHERE there is a phone line you can get Telekom Speedy? That's actually quite important to us. - Bill

ronb

Probably not true. Older phone exchanges in remote places may not support it. Then if you are more than 6-8 Km from the exchange it gets iffy - however, since Bali is compact you will often be reasonably close to an exchange. But the bottom line is - you need to ask - don't just assume. When shopping for real estate, you can ask the agent or a local if any neighbours are using Speedy.