Whilst we are waiting to get the updates on accommodations from our wedding planner, Sarita and I decided to look at what’s currently available near the wedding venue + villa situated in Canggu.
Getting the right place that suits our needs can be tricky. It’s a combination of value, location, quality and guest experience. We have found some beautiful and stunning properties that may interest you, but before we get into it, let us give you a tiny briefing on the lay of the land.
tldr version: This is a long email, scroll to the bottom, there are links to hotels and villas…thanks for your patience
About Canggu – The Story
Search up ‘Canngu’ and you will find anything about the area. But what’s Canggu like for Sarita + Perry?
Allow me to take us down memory lane, well until we run out of gas..
On our first trip to Bali circa 2011, Sarita and I rented a motorbike to get us around the island. At the time, I didn’t even have a motorcycle license nor did we have data on our mobile devices. We only had access to Google Maps via the hotel WiFi so Sarita transposed the directions onto a hand-drawn map that would eventually lead us to Tanah Lot – a sacred ground for one of Bali’s most important landmarks. Pedal to the metal, we embarked on our first journey abreast. Our only goal was to get there and back in one piece hoping that we won’t get lost along the way.
When you’ve come to know me well enough, then you’d know that I would get distracted by the new experiences; having zero knowledge on motorbike etiquette, dodging wildlife on the go, smelling funky-ness in the air… inevitably I began confusing my left turns and right turns, and this resulted in us getting lost. As fate would have it we found ourselves entering the community of Canggu. We began to see fewer cars on the road and more free range chickens, rice paddies, and villagers doing what they do best. Aromas of jasmine and cloves were present as we rode into the kampung. What a perfect ensemble of real life in Bali, and you can only get the best of Bali when you’re outside of the hustling’ bustling city centers.
Long story short, we traced our tracks back to where we came from and we were en route to Tanah Lot – everything was ‘a-okay’ ya. When I say we, I really meant that Sarita is the best navigator and she saved us from running out of gas, and getting lost out in the bushes..
Sarita and I, we learned a lot about each other on that trip. Perhaps getting lost during our travels and discovering something new along the way did more for us than anything. Whenever we go to Bali, we always end up in Canggu and we’re so grateful to have the chance to show you what Bali means to us.
How do villa rentals work in Canggu, Bali?
Villas in Bali, especially when off the beaten path, are often owned by a foreign party. The villas are handled by a local property management group, and they deal with short term rentals within the property itself.
When considering a villa rental within the Canggu community, it is very common for the property manager to ask that the entire place be rented for a duration of time – usually a 3-night minimum stay.
Typically to stay at a villa, guests are required to rent the whole place. Most likely that means you cannot just rent a room in a villa property. Villa rentals work the best when guests stay together to occupy all the rooms on the property. Like renting a cottage, the cost of the villa rental would be split among the guests.
Villas are managed in various ways depending on their management model. In most cases, staff is hired as per your duration of stay, and they will work really hard to serve you. For example, food might not be readily available on the day of arrival, and the staff will ask for grocery money. The staff is comprised of butlers, maids, chefs, concierge, drivers, masseuses, and tour guides. Their wages are paid by the management company.
Before you choose to book a villa property, be sure to read the fine print on what’s included and the additional costs associated with the rental. One other thing, property companies often charge in USD currency. It would be wise to confirm with the company which currency conversion works best for you.
Where is Canggu located?
Just north-west of Seminyak is where you’ll find the best beach clubs, bars, coffee shops, yoga studios, custom surf and motorcycle saloons yet to popularized by tourists and travel blogs.
Canggu proper looks like this: map
Canggu for expats look like this: 360 view
Ngurah Rai International Airport to Taman Ahimsa: 24.5KM approx. 1 hour
Echo Beach (Canggu center): 10KM approx. 20minutes
Seminyak Square (Seminyak city center): 16KM approx. 40 minutes
Legian Beach (Kuta-Legian city center): 18KM approx. 45 minutes
Ubud Monkey Forest: 30KM approx. 1 hour
Where to stay in Bali?
The wedding villa + venue, Taman Ahimsa, is conveniently located and equidistant to the major city centers in south-central Bali – these are the busiest and greatest points of interests to experience the modernized version of Bali.
Ideally, we would love for you all to stay near our wedding villa + venue. This would give us more opportunities to have quality time together. There is an abundance of housing options from luxurious to modest, Balinese traditional to modern contemporary. Some of which are listed below.
Perry’s Top 3 Selections .. a good deal
Villa Maridadi – 5 Bedroom Group Rental – Approx. $830USD/night
http://www.villamaridadi.com/about-villa-maridadi/living-areas.html
Suitable for a party of 10 people
Sleeps 13 people max with fold-out beds
2 Nights minimum stay
Approx. 5mins to Taman Ahimsa (by car)
Villa Padi Canggu – Semi Group Rental – Approx. $200USD/night
http://balivillapadi.com/villa-facilities/
*Best book thru Booking.com or equivalent discount site
There are three complexes on the property:
– 4 bedroom villa suitable for party of 8
– 2 bedroom villa suitable for party of 4
– 1 private villa for only 2 people
2 Nights minimum stay
Approx. 7 mins to Taman Ahimsa (walking)
Villa Damai – 7 Bedroom Group Rental – Approx. $500CAD/night
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/7866516
*Only offered thru AirBnB
Suitable for a party of 14 people
3 Nights minimum stay
3 mins by car to Taman Ahimsa (15 mins walking)
Villas on the Money .. in other words budget
Villa Munduk Padang – 3 Bedroom Group Rental – Approx. $750USD/week
http://golfvillabali.com/price-rates/
Sleeps 6 people max
1 week minimum stay
1 min to Taman Ahimsa (across the street)
The Edelweiss Ultimo Cemagi – 20 hotel suites – Approx. $55USD/night
http://the-edelweiss.com/cemagi/index.php
Privately managed hotel
1 Night minimum stay
1 min to Taman Ahimsa (across the street)
Pande Villas – 13 Hotel Villa Units – Approx. $90USD/night
*Best book thru Booking.com or equivalent discount site
1 Bedroom villas that feature private swimming pools
Sleeps 2 people max
Nights minimum stay
2 mins by car to Taman Ahimsa (5 mins walking)
Worth a Look .. break the bank
The Jiva Puri Cemagi – Designed by Architect Ernesto Bedmar – Approx. $6,000USD/night
http://www.jivapuri.com/contact/
Suitable for a party of 10 people
3 Nights minimum stay
Approx. 4 mins to Taman Ahimsa (by car)
The Sahita – Luxury 4 Bedroom Group Rental – Approx. $2,100USD/night
http://thesahita.com/accomodation/sinta-bedroom
Suitable for a party of 8 people
Sleeps 12 people max with fold-out beds
3 Nights minimum stay
1 min to Taman Ahimsa (across the street)