Picking a villa is like picking the personality of your significant other. Do you want them to be noisy? Moody? Social? Or do you just want peace and quiet?

Imagine getting your own slice of heaven in Bali. 

The smell of burning incense drifts through the air as you wake. Distant sounds of Nyepi preparations echo from the nearby Banjar, bells (genta), metallophones (kenong), xylophones (gambang), drums (kendang), mix with chirping birds and an overlay of bamboo flutes (suling) just outside your window. 

With a long-term villa rental in Bali, you get a sense of peace and privacy, and are able to truly stretch your legs out compared to a hostel. Instead of running downstairs to see a packed co-working space filled with digital nomads, you can descend your villa’s staircase, have the kitchen to yourself, or even jump in your own private pool. A transcendence.

A short walk in either direction will take you to the banjars getting ready for the Ogoh-Ogoh parade, the day before Nyepi. Yet, the modernity of Gojeks zooming by these same banjars that dot Pererenan, reveals a mix of traditional and cultural values upheld by an ever-modernizing youth. This juxtaposition creates a unique atmosphere that’s impossible to ignore, especially when the music of gamelan arrives through you, creating what feels like a portal between the everyday world and the divine realm.

If you’re not sure what vibe you’re looking for in your Bali stay, I recommend first booking a hostel for a few days. That way, you can get a sense of the Canggu and make some friends in the interim. Then move to a villa, get immersed in the local community, and if solitude gets too intense, you now have a group of friends to go back to.

Villa Hunting in Bali: It’s Like a Dating Game

Choosing a villa is like dating—you’re committing to someone’s personality whether you realize it or not.

When I first stepped into Villa Kirana, I didn’t realize I was essentially swiping right on a lifestyle. Unlike hostels that package everything inside, villas force you to define yourself through your surroundings, externally.

• Pick a villa near Nirvana gym? You’re practically announcing: “I’m either a beer-crushing Aussie bogan” or a “yoga devotee who needs Instagram-worthy gym access.” Even if you deny both, you still picked a villa near one of the most crowded intersections in Canggu. Pollution, smell, honking? Hard pass.
• Near Ducat café? You’re the “leave me alone but not completely” type who secretly sneaks out to Finns when nobody’s watching.
• Old Man’s area? Don’t lie. You’re here for the debauchery, not tranquility.
• Pererenan, right by Canggu? You’re a B+ student that wishes they were an A student. You crave social connection but want to be different—just not too different.

Your villa choice reveals your true travel personality. So which relationship are you ready for? Figure that out before you decide location—or should location come first? You be the judge.

Pererenan vs. Canggu: Location Personality Test 

Location is one of the most important parts of selecting any accommodation, from hostel to private villa. You might think booking a destination further from Canggu hotspots would save you money, but what you save in dollar cost, you waste in time. This includes spending hours in daily traffic if you decide to stay far away from places you’d like to visit consistently like Nirvana gym.

Pererenan offers a quaint atmosphere that feels worlds away from bustling Canggu—even though they’re just minutes apart. At night, you’ll hear the sound of bats rather than drunken tourists frolicking up and down the streets near Canggu beach. 

🛵 Still deciding between Pererenan and Canggu? Check out my full breakdown: Pererenan vs. Canggu for Digital Nomads to help you pick the right location for your long-term stay.

Gear Used

Inside Your Villa Relationship: What to Expect

Villa layouts can differ–they either have multiple floors, or single floor with a lot of square footage, all the way to a mansion.  

Our villa in Pererenan has a two-floor layout that gives the appearance of entering a moat upon arrival. Each floor has a bedroom. The entrance opens to a compound with a terrace, pool, and the main unit—the home.

The lower level immediately opens up to the kitchen, where house staff consistently refill the water station. The kitchen flows into a medium-sized living room that faces the pool. Adjacent is the lower-level bedroom, expansive with high ceilings that reach the top of the villa. The bathroom is very large and could be a studio apartment on its own if it were in NYC or Paris.

Outside, via the sliding doors, there’s an outdoor shower where you can rinse after spending time in the pool. Turn slightly and you’ll see a twisting, narrow staircase ascending to the second floor. The second floor is like a personal apartment with a balcony overlooking the pool–just sans kitchen. 

The most surprising thing is the value you get for such a large space compared to prices in the United States. Still, long-term villa rentals provide an opportunity to experience outdoor living without breaking the bank. A comparable place would cost well over $1.2M USD in the greater Seattle area—and that’s with an extremely conservative estimate.

When the Honeymoon Phase Ends: The Digital Nomad Reality Check

Even the most perfect villa relationship needs boundaries and backup plans.

While the villa offers a nice space for relaxation and comfort, it offers its own set of challenges compared to hostels and hotels for digital nomad workers. This is especially apparent when working in U.S. time zones.

For my stay at the villa, I experienced a several-hour power outage that not only affected our villa, but impacted the whole block and neighborhood. At least the stars were visible.

In comparison, a hotel in Bali would typically have a backup generator, avoiding this situation. 

But, I should have known better or at least been prepared. Prior to my arrival in Bali, I read about power outages but still thought, “that probably won’t happen to me, but that would suck if it happened right before or during a meeting.” Surprise, surprise! Like a relationship, kind of like your friends told you so about a date’s red flags. But then you ignored them. Remember?

⚡ Pro Tip: Always carry a power bank and portable magnetic charger for your laptop and phone in Bali. I recommend this travel adapter too for Indonesia’s plug system.

Therefore, my ultimate hack to weather and now avoid this situation is to have: a USB-C and regular charging power bank that can sufficiently charge your laptop; a phone charger like Anker’s magnetic charging device; and reliable 5G service—not a pay-as-you-go plan.

Note: If you experience a power outage, download the PLN app—Indonesia’s state-owned energy provider app—for real-time notifications about outages and potential duration (available on Android and iOS).

Also, when booking a villa, check if it’s the rainy season, as the chance of power outages could increase during this time.

Commitment Issues: Villa, Hostel, or Hotel?

If you’re deciding where to stay in Bali long term, there are clear tradeoffs between villas and hostels. A hostel provides a built-in social network, while a villa gives you space and privacy that can be crucial for long-term stays, especially if you’re working remotely. But, you can decide if you want to stay in a villa in busy Canggu or a quieter, adjacent neighborhood, like Pererenan.

In Pererenan, the environment is very quiet aside from a few establishments. Late-night activities are limited to a burger joint (that you should skip), a pizza place, and the M Mart. It’s easier to use Pererenan as your living base and Canggu as your social center. This means either going out to Old Man’s or other spots, or just hanging out at 7Hungry convenience store’s outside patio, people-watching—all just a Gojek ride away.

Find Out Your Villa Type

Type	Area	Example Villas
Gym Lovers	Near Nirvana Gym	Villa Greco, Villa Kubu Dewi Sri
Co-Working Space	Near Ducat Café	Villa Reillo, Luna Ola
Jiu-Jitsu	Near Woven	Ophelia Villa, Uma Santai
Nightlife	Near Old Man’s	Villa Kedidi, Kakatua, Blossom Eco Luxe
U.S. Timezone Workers	Stay close to 24/7 amenities	Those with generators + prioritize Wi-Fi

How to Swipe Right: Practical Villa Booking Tips

When booking a villa in Bali, first consider if you can maximize rewards points. I’m always for point maximization–without going overboard:

• Can you book with Amex? With hotels, you usually get 5X rewards. That same reward point accumulation won’t happen as easily with villas and hostels.
• Does Booking.com have a deal? With their Genius booking program, you can trigger discounts–and even get a free ride from the airport to your accommodation.
• What about booking with Airbnb? Make sure you access Airbnb via the Delta Airline portal. That way you can make sure that you earn airline miles on Delta from your Airbnb stay. (This is a side hack, since this  could help you get to Bali again, for FREE, using those same miles.)

When comparing platforms, do your due diligence by reading Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Google Reviews. I particularly recommend starting with negative reviews to identify potential issues. You’re basically Facebook/LinkedIn stalking your potential date to make sure they are not crazy.

For example: At our villa, pool cleanliness was a frequently mentioned issue—and sure enough, it was. 

Also consider: 

• How long are you staying in Bali? Booking.com, while sometimes cheaper, may not offer long-term discounts on weekly and monthly rentals, which are popular on Airbnb (and gets you Delta SkyMiles).
• What does security and safety look like? Research the area thoroughly, especially if you’re living alone. I recommend sticking to the highest-rated properties on Airbnb and Booking.com. 
• Ask a local for recommendations: You can ask locals and Facebook Groups. Ask your private driver about rental offers, they might know from friends, family, or word-of-mouth.

Living Together: Your Daily Villa Routine

Staying in Pererenan versus Canggu means swapping the bustling tourism of central Canggu for a more structured routine that integrates better with the local community. In Pererenan, we were able to visually get close to banjars getting ready for Nyepi preparations—that’s an intimacy your note likely to get in tourist-heavy areas.

Like most visitors to Bali, you’ll want to socialize and enjoy the Balian scenery rather than stay at home. Since your work time will be at night and overnight, if you’re working U.S. hours, make sure to spend your daytime outside and exploring.

Perfect Villa Matches

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• Workout regularly? Consider villas near Nirvana gym like Villa Greco or Villa Kubu Dewi Sri Canggu
• Need a co-working space? Look near Ducat cafe with its built-in workspace and nearby options like Villa Reillo, and Luna Ola
• Near Woven Jiu-Jitsu? Then check out Ophelia Villa Canggu or Uma Santai Villa
• Prefer walking distance to Old Man’s and Canggu beach for nightlife? Try Villa Kedidi, Villa Kakatua, or Blossom Eco Luxe Villas – by Ekosistem
• Remote worker on U.S. hours? Pack power backups, reliable internet solutions, and stay closer to areas with 24/7 amenities—your villa relationship needs to support your work lifestyle too

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Final Thoughts: Long-Term Compatibility 

I quickly learned a villa’s location is like a personality label. It’s similar to that of a horoscope, where someone could opine: Oh you live there? Why did you pick there? “You must be a…”

Labels aside, the villa experience was well worth the extra cost. I would definitely consider this place again due to its value, size, and proximity to Canggu. But, think about the size of your group.

Villas are larger and given a more “homey” feeling. As a result, the large space is a great bonus for families and friend groups. That extra space can comfortably accommodate everyone, while having your own private space.

For accessibility, note that many villas lack adequate space for vehicle drop-offs. They also have very narrow walkways leading up to the property. This makes luggage transport difficult. Also, wheelchair users will face significant challenges as most villas aren’t designed with mobility in mind. For instance, the second floor of Villa Kirana is only accessible by a narrow, twisting staircase that even I found annoying to navigate. Those with mobility concerns should consider higher-end hotels as potential alternatives.