Direct rental from owners has been a popular rental model for well over a decade in both Europe and North America. One of the most popular sites, VRBO -- Villa Rental By Owner -- now boasts over 140,000 villas! The VRBO collection features primarily units in Europe and North America. There are very few units in Asia in general, but their inventory for Bali and Thailand is showing signs of slow growth.

VRBO works by providing villa owners a distribution and promotional channel for their villas. Though site visitors make their bookings right on the VRBO website, the enquiries are dealt with by the actual villa owners, not by agents or intermediaries.

After a peaceful drive through lush plantations and emerald green rice fields we arrive at the serene coastal resort Alila Manggis. Situated in a sleepy village of Manggis near Candi Dasa on Bali’s South East Coast, Alila Manggis is the perfect hideaway for those who want to explore more than Bali’s southern highlights.

Tracing the footsteps of one of Bali’s most revered priests, experience a centuries-old pilgrimage as you make your way through five beautiful and historic temples located in Bali’s Bukit region, each with its own story to tell. Only available to guests of Alila Villas Uluwatu, this Journey of Enlightenment takes you on a passage seldom traversed by tourists. Find yourself walking through an ancient cave temple filled with stalactites, containing a revered source of holy water on the island, or enjoying a traditional Balinese-style lunch in a Balinese pavilion with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and the Bukit’s surrounding limestone cliffs.

We recently had occasion for a quick trip to Singapore. This was a short trip, and we were on a budget, so we elected to stay at The Quincy Hotel. While on the whole it was a good experience, we'd have to say they have it only about 80% right.

The Villa Insider website provides reviews and previews of villa properties in Bali. We've always been fans of both Bali villas and have been happy to see this website arise as a source of independent information.

Villa Insider has now added a discussion forum to give their visitors a place to ask questions and to post their experiences. If you are thinking about booking a villa in Bali or if you have experiences to share, try the Villa Insider Bali Villa Forum.  

Certified organic therapies, freshly brewed kelp rituals, teenager experiences, yoga to the sound of Café del Mar and ‘Martini & Manicure’ hedonistic getaways - Karma Spas in Bali aspires to present the next generation in holistic travel and spa culture.

Villa Des Indes has recently opened their ancient doors to a second traditional style residence, available for luxury rental, in the Seminyak area of Bali. This new villa features a unique antique Javanese Joglo living area, pictured above.

Following the success of the original three bedrooms, Villa Des Indes I, the owners have recently completed another 2 bedroom gem across the small private lane, Jalan Astinapura (Throne of the Gods).

Is there life after the Ritz-Carlton? In the case of Bali, yes, there most definitely is! A little back story is needed: With the arrival of the new Bvlgari Resort in Bali, certain competitors felt aggrieved and decided to take the hotel group to court over various "unfair" competition issues. The net result being that the Ritz-Carlton brand (part of the same group as the Bvlgari) made a reluctant, but graceful departure from the Bali scene. Many tears were shed and the people wondered: What becomes of The Property Formerly Known as Ritz-Carlton? The answer is: The Ayana Resort and Spa.

With the launch of Alila Villas Uluwatu, the Alila Group has taken a bold step into a new marketplace - 5 star villa resorts. The resort itself is currently in soft opening, with only 45 of the eventual 61 villas completed. We were fortunate enough to get a tour this week.