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.

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.

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.  

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).

Bali may not be physically large (at least not by Australian or American standards) but there are a number of clear destinations on the island. The villa accommodations on the island are largely confined to a subset of those destinations. In this article, we look at the most popular destinations offering villa accommodations.

All the villas are built in traditional Balinese style with one even a Lumbung (rice barn) design. The property has tropical garden landscaping, a large swimming pool, a restaurant and a spa.

Indonesia

8° 50' 40.8588" S, 115° 7' 0.192" E Uluwatu

From the Sanskrit word for ‘Seventh Heaven’, Khayangan Estate is quite simply as its name suggests, a private villa estate that is stunning -- heavenly -- and the very best of the Bali luxury villas. Situated in Uluwatu on Bali’s Bukit peninsula adjacent to Bvlgari Bali Resort. Khayangan rests upon 1.5 hectares of magnificently landscaped gardens, clifftop, 170 metres above Selonding beach. The estate offers one of the best views in Bali with a 180-degree panoramic vista of the Indian Ocean. There are few other luxury Bali villas with a comparable view.

SABA is a cleverly designed, tasteful complex of five luxurious, self-contained villas, four with two bedrooms, one with a single bedroom, and each with a private entrance, swimming pool and interconnecting garden doors. The properties are situated around a central courtyard and can be linked or remain completely exclusive, presenting the option of renting just one bedroom or up to nine bedrooms using all five villas.

The Lakshmi Villas is a complex of four luxury villas set within the Laksmana Villas development in Seminyak, Bali. The villas take their name from Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth – a perfect environment for your next luxurious holiday.

Each of the villas has its own private pool and dining facilities. But just step outside this tropical privacy and you are only a 100 metre walk to the best beaches, restaurants and entertainment that Bali has become famous for. 

A long, winding and picturesque road running through completely unspoiled rice paddies leads to the tiny coastal village of Seseh where our property is located. In this quaint and small village, one can still find the very essence of Bali as the pace slows down and the environment is well preserved and authentic.