Seminyak has attracted many of the large international hotel and resort chains such as: Accor (M Gallery), Marriot and Starwood (W Hotel) just to name a few. These brands are well known, so people know what to expect. Seminyak has also mastered the villa concept, which comes with so much more than just a stock standard hotel room. Much of the reason for why villas in Seminyak are unique, is the serenity that they offer. Many of them come with full butler service, a private pool and a spacious living area all for the same price as an upmarket hotel room. Personally I prefer the villa concept because I like to relax on my holiday with the people I choose, not a pool full of strangers playing ‘Marco Polo’!
Below is a list of the top 5 questions that you should ask the Villa before booking:
1. Where exactly in Seminyak is your Villa located: Unfortunately, many villas market themselves as being located in Seminyak, however they are actually located in the surrounding areas of Seminyak (ie: Petitenget, Batu Belig, Kunti Dua). Some will argue that these areas are actually part of Seminyak, which they are technically, but location is very important in Bali. One of the main issues with these villas, in the these locations, are they are miles away from anything! If you are thinking of booking a Villa in Seminyak make sure you are walking distance to the boutique shopping, restaurants and day spas that make up Seminyak (the tourist location), Don’t book a Villa so far out that you get stuck in traffic for 30-40mins to get anywhere worthwhile. I’ve heard it said before ‘Location, location, location!’.
Please see the map below, for the hotspots in Seminyak:
2. Is the bedroom fully sealed?
This question is especially important if you are sensitive to mosquitoes. Being able to lock a fully sealed room will help ensure a holiday with a good nights sleep, free from mosquitoes and the annoying itch they inflict!
3. Is the bathroom air-conditioned?
Outdoor bathrooms sound really sexy on the internet, however the reality of an outdoor bathroom is not actually that nice! It is important to remember that Bali is a tropical climate that can get very hot & humid. (Average temperature is 20c – 33c (68F – 93F) with a humidity level that can range from 60-95%) I have personally stayed in a private villa that had an outdoor shower/bathroom, apart from the mosquitoes, it was not enjoyable at all getting out of the shower only to be hot, sweaty and bothered from just getting dressed! My wife also found that she wasn’t able to put any make up on in the bathroom before we went out for dinner, as it slid off her face! I strongly recommend you look for a villa that provides air-conditioning in the bathroom ( many have beautiful big windows looking out onto tropical gardens, so while you feel outside, you still have the comfort of air-con).
4. What is included in the butler service? There is no point having a butler if you never see them, because they are serving other guests, or if they are poorly trained with little local knowledge. Your butler should be on-hand throughout your stay. Obviously, you want them to be discreet, but you want to know that your butler is there if you need them. Before booking clarify:
a) How many other villas will the butler be looking after at the same time (should be no more that 2 villas per butler, for the best level of service).
b) How will you make contact with the butler if you require them, best option is if you have a direct phone to the butler (not just reception).
c) How long has the butler worked in Seminyak. This is especially important if this is your first trip to Seminyak. Having a butler that knows alot about the local area, including the best restaurants for the type of food you like, locals artists and tailors that you may want to use, exceptional dayspas and of course where to find the perfect outfit helps make sure that you get the best out of your stay in Seminyak.
5. Does the villa, private pool and pool deck get enough sun? Most private villas will have a 2m (or higher) wall around them, which is fantastic for security and privacy, however if the layout of the villa was not fully thought through, the villa’s pool may not recieve enough sunlight. I remember inspecting a villa, while I was deciding whether I would stay there or not. The villa was very dark and cold due to very little sunlight and the pool was freezing! I decided to stay else where!
Once you find the perfect Villa you will never look back!
