For many, the Christmas season is one of the most sacred and special times of the year. A time to celebrate with friends and loved ones, to kick back and relax, and to simply enjoy the company of those you love the most. What better way then, to make the most of the holiday season than with a trip to a tropical paradise?
Bali, Indonesia has long enjoyed a reputation, as one of the most beautiful and exotic destinations on earth but the Christmas holidays is an especially busy time to visit. Historically, Seminyak has been the destination of choice for holiday travelers (and with good reason; trust us, it has everything you could want) but over the peak period Seminyak is the most wanted location and booking accommodation at the last minute isn’t always a good idea.
Bali is Booking Out Over Christmas
Private and resort villas in this area tend to be booked months in advance and always go for a premium. To be frank, staying in Seminyak this time of year will not offer you the best bang for your buck, so to speak. If you’ve been considering a Christmas holiday to Seminyak and been doing your research, you’ve likely noted that villas (especially those with 3-4 bedrooms in the $350-$500/night range) in the area are likely already booked between December 23 through to January 5.
Ministry of Villas is taking many enquiries at the moment and people have a set budget in mind and everyone wants to be in Seminyak and nowhere else. But when you have a budget of $350 AUD per night don’t forget Bali imposes an additional Government tax and service charge (between 15%-20% percent of the booking price) to all hotels and villas to the final price. So for those of you looking at Seminyak in the low season you would certainly find some great options but in the peak, well there isn’t much left.
So we want to let you in on a few insider hints regarding other locations on the island that may meet your needs. If your heart set on spending Christmas or New Year’s in Bali, allow us to suggest looking elsewhere. There are several slightly lesser known towns within 10 km of Seminyak that will offer all the amenities, while shielding you from the hassle of traffic, over-crowded tourist destinations, and where you’ll still be able to book incredible private villas for you and your family. You will have access to all the best parts of Seminyak while maintaining peace, privacy and tranquility to celebrate with your loved ones.
Why not try Petitenget, Batubelig or Umalas?
Personally, we urge you to take a look at Petitenget, Batubelig or Umalas. These quaint towns are within 10 – 20 minutes from Seminyak and offer great villa options. Now for those of you who think that you don’t want to be in Petitenget, just keep in mind the famous Potato Head beach bar is actually here in Petitenget and it is becoming the next ‘hot’ destination as Seminyak becomes too crowded.
Some of the great villa options we have a little further out is Villa Senang, a lovely four bedroom villa, which still has availability from the 18th of December to the 30th of December and is very reasonably priced at $475 per night for 8 people. Or, why not come to Bali a little earlier and stay at The Elysian, on sale in November for $251 per night? You simply can’t beat that rate! Last but not least, check out Villa Karisma in Umalas offering 6 stunning spacious bedrooms, media room, chauffer for the duration of your trip, full time chef, nanny and butler for $1100 ++ per night for 12 guests and is also still available during peak holiday season.
The point is, if you’ve been looking at spending your holiday in Seminyak and found your options to be a bit disappointing as it’s all booked, fear not! Simply give some considerations to some of Bali’s other hidden gem locations and we promise you won’t be disappointed!
