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If like me, you have been bitten by the ‘Holiday Villa Bug’, or Cheap hotel Prices, you will already know that no hotel can match the privacy and luxury of a good Villa Holiday. The great news is that today there are even more villa rental options out there than ever before. Not to mention the fact that if you know how to choose the right holiday rental villa you will be saving a lot of money in comparison to the same level of service in a comparable quality hotel.
It seems that no where in the world has seen as big an explosion of luxury fully serviced holiday villas, as the island of Bali in Indonesia.
OK, I happen to be blessed with a great line of work, as a Travel Writer, and have been lucky enough to stay in some of the best tropical resorts around the world, especially in Asia. But still for me, nothing compares to the peace, luxury and delights (not to mention the cost effectiveness) of staying in a good serviced villa in Bali.
So, what makes a ‘good holiday villa’?
Like everyone else, I have learned how to choose the perfect villa through luck, some mistakes and sheer experience.
Here are my top tips for choosing the right villa in Bali for your next Bali holiday.
Location-Location-Location
This sounds obvious, but it is not always easy to make the right location decision when we are sat at home, far away from our holiday destination.
Like every other world-class holiday destination, Bali offers a range of options, from ‘central’ locations, to those which offer ‘absolute tranquility’.
I personally like a balance between the two. On a Bali villa holiday, the last thing one needs is to be sooo central that you feel like you are an extension of a night club’s base unit till wee hours of the morning. On the other hand, I really don’t want to be more than 15-20 minutes away from where the restaurants, shops and the action is. I like my villa to be certainly quiet, preferably amongst rice fields, but at the same time accessible (within 30 minutes of the airport, and a few minutes from the action).
The great thing is that Bali caters for all of these tastes.
Those seeking a central location, with a lively night life may want to look into Legian and Seminyak, (I exclude Kuta area from this list, as there are hardly any proper rental villas left in this bustling tourist centre).
Those who don’t mind a bit of a trek, and don’t want to go out and about much during their holiday, may opt for areas such as Uluwatu or Canggu and beyond.
For me the perfect choice is Kerobokan and Umalas areas. Quiet rural environment, surrounded by rice terraces and real villagers going about their real daily routines (instead of trying to push you a handicraft (Kuta) or pull you into a restaurant you really couldn’t care for (Seminyak)).
Quality and Availability of Service
Now this is an area where villas differ from each other immensely. In Bali most villas proclaim to be ‘fully serviced’. However, how ‘fully’ and how ‘serviced’ range from the most basic to being totally pampered.
A good villa should provide a guest to total staff ratio of nearly 1 to 1, or at least 1.5 to 1. So, if you are a group of 8 you should be looking at, at least, 5-6 full time staff, or for a group of 4 at least 3-4 full time staff. Sounds ostentatiously high? It really isn’t once you consider the effort it takes to keep a holiday villa, its gardens, and the pool in a tip-top shape.
Of course, quantity is never the only answer. The staff needs to be full-time and fully-trained at a professional level. There are too many villas out there, which are run by ‘part-time’ managers and staff who actually have other full time jobs elsewhere!
Your Own Chef
One of the great pleasures of traveling to a foreign destination is to experiment with and experience the local cuisine. And what better place to experience this, than in the comfort of your own villa!
So, make sure that your villa comes with its own Chef. Once you have tasted the delights of enjoying home cooking in your own villa, you will probably not want to venture out to restaurants at all. The best thing is, having your own private villa Chef in Bali, is substantially cheaper than eating out.
However, make sure to check how the Chef arrangement works.
Ideally, the Chef cost should be included in your rental rate. In this case all you have to pay for are the cost of the ingredients which are purchased for you, typically at the local market/supermarket prices, with no mark-up. So, financials of eating at your own villa becomes just like eating at home, but without lifting a finger, and at substantially lower Bali prices.
Some villas claim to offer a Chef service, but charge restaurant/hotel prices for each dish that the chef prepares for you. I prefer to avoid these, as I can always pop out to a restaurant if I so wished anyway.
So, check to make sure that the Chef is part of your villa team, and that you will not be charged incrementally for food on a per item basis.
Your Villa Manager
A professional Villa Manager makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of your holiday. Even if you have been to Bali many times before, a good Villa Manager can be a much valued life-line, a great source of shopping tips, and a problem solver. A good villa manager can provide a wealth of directions/advice, from where to eat, to which river to choose for your white-water rafting adventure in which season, or where the cheapest golf courses are, to which temples to visit to see which local ceremonies.
Needless to say, they should also be managing the villa team, and making sure that the quality of service and cleanliness are never compromised.
Before I book a villa in Bali, I always check to see what the Villa Manager arrangement is like, and that there is a full time Villa Manager on site at the villa I am planning to rent. Typically, for good villas, you can expect to have your own dedicated Villa Manager, or have a Villa Manager who is working at 2-3 adjacent villas. However, if a Villa Manager is expected to look after 5-6+ villas, then you are most likely not going to see him for more than a few minutes a day, only during his courtesy visits (at best), so you loose out on the real benefits of having the inside-track.
Villa Quality & Upkeep
Be very, very weary of any rental villas which can not provide you with more than at least 20 recent photos of the property. These photos should show you not only the outside of the buildings, but also the living/dining areas, as well as insides of bedrooms.
If you are not provided with a sufficient number of photos giving you a clear idea of the property, then it is quite likely that there is something substantially wrong with the property, such as a building overlooking it, an abattoir next door, or at the least peeling paintwork or missing fixtures/furniture.
Remember, not all villas are created equal. But additionally, not all villas are kept and maintained equally well. It is your right to request and see these photos of the property.
Mod-Cons
OK, you are planning to stay on a tiny island, in the middle of the tropics. What mod-cons should you expect?
From own experience, I would suggest that even in the middle of the tropics, good Bali villas should be able to provide at least the following mod-cons:
Air-conditioning in all bedrooms
Clean, Western style kitchen -fully equipped with a fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and a coffee maker, as well as sufficient crockery and cutlery
Safe deposit box – at least one for your private villa use, and preferably one in each bedroom
TV/Satellite/DVD Player – as there will always be someone who wants to catch the news, or children who will need entertaining
Telephone – whilst many of us live attached to our mobile/cellular phones, it is important that there is a permanent phone connection at the villa, in case of emergencies
En-suite bathrooms – if you are looking at going as a family or a group of friends, you really don’t want to spend your holiday in Bali queuing for the next available slot at shared facilities!
Enjoying a fully staffed and serviced villa with your own Chef may seem like an un-attainable dream in most other parts of the world. However, renting a Villa in Bali is by far one of the most cost effective ways of enjoying this beautiful island and the company of its hospitable people.
Now armed with this check-list you are ready to plan you next dream holiday in a Villa in Bali.
Like me, you will probably never want to leave, and go back to reality!

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Yogyakarta well known as the city of students, as Yogya is one of Indonesia’s most foremost centers of education and learning and has a great number of students from all over the country among it’s population.
According to official statistic, about 30 percent of the city’s inhabitants. Gajah Mada University is Indonesia ‘s oldest state-owned universities and also one of it’s most prestigious.
Besides centre of education, Yogya is famous as center of Javanese culture. So many important heritage could be visited in this area. Here, you can learn the cultural activities as the root of the culture. The visitors can learn how to play the Gamelan music, how to make a batik, how to dance and so many other things can be done in Yogya.

All student Package are designed for group tour only, the hotel we selected on these package all are in budget hotels (3 jasmine – 2 star). However, if you need higher class for the accommodation, please inform us right away as we will be very happy to assist you in anyway possibilities.
THE AUSTRALIAN STUDENT JOIN THE TRADITIONAL FEAST (KENDURI)
To understand better about the culture and living of Indonesian people, it’s not enough by seeking information from news paper, TV or listen from the other experience. Of course, will be much better if you come directly and get involved on their daily life.
This also done by 15 students of MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL (MHS) Australia. Through wonderful packaged arranged by GRAND JAVA TOURS cooperate with Australian Tour Operators, 15 MHS students accompanied by 2 teacher , along 9 days learn about the culture and as well the way of live of the people in Yogyakarta. They even take a shower, has their meals and as well sleep at the village community. These 15 students stay with new family at Maguwoharjo village.
“Within 9 days they stay here in Yogya, 5 days they stayed at hotel and the rest they stay with local people here. They have their new family here. They involved directly, learn directly the way of life of these villager.“
The fact, within short period get mingle with the local people here, they find that Indonesian people are friendly, polite, and tolerant. Not as they read on their news paper or as they seen on their Television “said Anny the Director of Grand Java Tours among the process of The traditional feast (Kenduri) which is attended by 15 students and 2 teacher at Sanggar Tari SEKAR RINONCE Maguwoharjo, Tuesday Sept 24, 2002.
At this village they also enjoyed Jathilan, The Trance Dance which performed local Jathilan group. After the Jathilan, in the evening they join with the local people of Traditional Feast (Kenduri) for the successful of the local people for winning the championship commemorate the Indonesian Independence. The feast filled by open and gathering pray, then cut of the Conical Shape Rice (called Tumpeng in Javanese language). Uniquely, The Australian students wear the traditional clothes during the feast, complete Javanese clothes.
Pip Capon, on of the teacher of MHS who accompanied the students said to Bernas “the student as well as her self are very happy to get along with the villagers. The Indonesian is very friendly, very polite and tolerant. This fact is very different as what we know from the media. We the conclude that what we got on the news paper and as well TV was not completely right “ said PIP CAPON.“
“Before stayed with the people at Maguwoharjo, these student also get along for join the local school here“ said Anny. They join the class at SMK Nitikan Umbulharjo, then they going home with the student to their house. They stay with the family of the student.
Join their daily activity, going to school with the local bus, serried in the bus, as well stay with them. Doing that way, Anny said, these students know how they take a study, go to school one serried bus, until their activity at home.
By learning the culture, language, education and living of Indonesian people, these foreign student know more deeply about Indonesia. And their impression, Indonesian people are very polite, soft, friendly and tolerant, said Anny Yulijanti.
www.grandjavaonline.com
Male, 25th, Indonesia
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Swiss-belhotel Mangga Besar Trial Opening on 999

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Swiss-Belhotel Mangga Besar held its Trial Opening on 9 September, 2009 before it officially opens its doors to the public.
The morning event kicked off with the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by the hotel owners at exactly 9:00 a.m., marking Swiss-Belhotel Mangga Besar’s opening on 9-9-9. The symbollic cutting of Nasi Tumpeng followed right after the blessing of the property led by a Buddhist priest.
The afternoon activity had about 500 guests in attendance, represented by the owning company PT. Grand Swiss International, corporate and regional executives from the Hong Kong-based management company Swiss-Belhotel International, associates, and friends from the media.
One of the highlights was the speech of Swiss-Belhotel International Chairman and President Gavin Faull who stressed on the commitment of the group to ensure that all the hotels they manage will be the epitome of Passion and Professionalism and the standards of facilities is complemented by the unequalled service of well-trained operations team. Driven by the company’s philosophy that all hotel guests will want to return, each member of the team has to live in the credo of exceeding guest expectations, making them feel the comfort and security of a second home and experience Swiss-Belhotel International’s “Passion and Professionalsm”.
Breakfasting, entertainment and hotel inspection followed.
Swiss-Belhotel Mangga Besar is the chain’s second hotel in Jakarta. This 246-room four-star property is right on the doorstep of the prominent Mangga Besar and Mangga Dua areas, known as the business district for traders, export-import, shipping industries, and entertainment areas.

Batam Well furnished Apartment

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Swiss-Belhotel Batam Hotel is a modern high rise four star hotel in Batam Island, Indonesia managed by Swiss-Belhotel International.

Located close to the major commercial and business area of the Batam Island, Swiss-Belhotel Batam Hotel is a premier choice for both the business travellers and holiday-makers. Approximately 30 minutes by ferry from Singapore and 20 minutes drive from Hang Nadim Airport.

Offering contemporary service and cordial hospitality, this charming Batam Hotel is designed to meet all the needs of the guests to enjoy the privileges required for an unforgettable accommodation in Batam. Swiss-Belhotel Batam Hotel features 60 luxurious guestrooms and apartments that are well furnished with every possible modern amenity to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Combining modern and ethnic interior design for your dining in Batam, the onsite Swiss-Cafe serves a la carte menu for you to feast on in a pleasant ambience. You can sip your favourite drink including tropical cocktails and ice cold drinks with your friends in the relaxed atmosphere of the in-house Island Pool bar after spending a busy and tiring day.

Swiss-Belhotel Batam Hotel offers 2 meeting rooms that are equipped with state of the art audio visual facilities and can accommodate up to 30 persons for your meetings in Batam, seminars and any kind of social events. Other facilities in this Batam hotel include swimming pool, parking, laundry, disabled facilities, reception and room service.

For your next accommodation in Batam at Swiss-Belhotel Batam Hotel, you can book instantly online and receive our best available deals.//

Swiss-Inn Batam, Three Star Budget Hotel in Batam

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Managed by Swiss-Belhotel International, Swiss-Inn Batam is a three star international budget hotel in Batam ideally caters for travellers looking for good comfort and value for money yet inexpensive accommodation in Batam.

Swiss Inn Batam is a high rise building that is enclosed by shops, offices, shopping malls and hawker centers. Conveniently located, it is approximately 10 minutes from the city centre, 30 minutes drive from Hang Nadim Airport, and only minutes from Ferry Terminals: Sekupang, Batu Ampar and Batam Center Point.

The Swiss-Inn Batam boasts 128 guest rooms fully equipped with modern facilities for a comfortable and leisure stay. Each room is equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning unit, international TV channels, IDD telephone lines, internet access, mini-bar, and hot and cold shower, 24-hour in-room dining is also available.

Dining in Batam is relatively inexpensive and delightful. Swiss-Café serves a la carte menu and a variety of dishes to pamper your taste buds. Make sure to try out Indonesian and International buffet. To unwind the day, Serunai Lobby Lounge and Bar is a modern and stylish lounge, where you can socialize and meet your friends. You can relax with a scintillating glass of your favorite cocktail. Live entertainment programs are held every night to entertain the guests staying at the Swiss Inn Batam.

For small meetings in Batam, Swiss Inn Batam offers well outfitted meeting room that can accommodate up to 80 people in theatre style with various secretarial services like broadband internet access, audio visual facilities, facsimile, e-mail, photocopying, etc.

Whether you are a business or leisure traveller, Swiss-Inn Batam is well equipped for your comfort, with its unrivalled affordability and attentive service.
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