Before I even started planning for our trip to Bali, I knew that I wanted to stay somewhere special.  It’s Bali after all, and just any regular hotel won’t do.  Bali is all about luxurious villas with private pools precariously perched in the middle of the jungle or surrounded by rice fields.  Whether you’re looking for private pool or to-die-for view, Bali’s got it all for less than $125 USD per day!  Yes, you read that right.

Prices usually vary, but you’ll be able to find the best rates during low season, which was when we were there. Even with the slightly higher rates during busy season, these price points are hard to find anywhere else in the world. Not only are the villas stunning, but the hosts are accommodating, the views are unforgettable and the services provided by the villa staff are unparalleled.

This beautiful island offers so many affordable accommodation choices, that it’s hard to figure out the best places to stay in Bali. After looking through pages and pages of Airbnb and Booking.com listings, we hand-picked a few of our favorites for each of the areas we were visiting. The list below focuses on the places we stayed at while in Bali: Ubud, Seminyak, Canggu and the Nusa Islands. Ubud is the region famous for its rainforest and rice fields while the livelier districts of  Seminyak and Canggu, located on the Southern coast are known for their beach clubs, bars, and restaurants.  Each of the reviews are based on our personal experience.

1. Zoe Villa, 1 Bedroom Villa in Canggu

Zoe Villa is a family-owned villa located in the heart of Canggu.  This modern villa is spacious with its own kitchenette, alfresco lounge, and ensuite bathroom that has both a bath tub and a shower. The best part is that the bright and airy bedroom overlooks a lovely garden and private pool. We spent our first days hanging out by the pool, enjoying the tropical climate of Bali. It was the perfect way to start our vacation. The villa feels like a secluded oasis even though it is located on the main road within walking distance to the Berawa beach and many other hot spots in town.

Check in/Check out:  Anytime after 2 PM / 12 PM (not flexible)

Room Type: One bedroom villa with private pool

Sleeps: 2 adults and 2 children

Villa Features: Modern villas situated only a 9 minute walk away from the beach.

Villa Benefits:  free Wi-Fi, free parking on premises, free in-room breakfast, free filtered water, daily housekeeping, bike rental on premises,  A/C

Cost per Night: From $ 83  USD

2. Blue Moon Villa, 2 Bedroom Villa in Ubud

Surrounded by rice fields and swaying palm trees,  this two bedroom villa in Ubud offers a serene atmosphere, perfect for a quiet getaway. The glass-enclosed open-concept space is lit up by natural light from all angles. All the rooms look out to the salt water swimming pool with uninterrupted views of the rice fields in the background.  Blue Moon villa is 7-10 minutes by scooter or taxi to the center of Ubud, providing privacy, peace, and quiet.

After we checked in we decided that we wanted to spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool. There are delivery menus for nearby restaurants so we never had to leave this self contained private paradise.  After a few minutes, I could feel my stress and worries washing away leaving me light and happy. If you want to further indulge, you can order a private poolside massage that only cost about $20 USD per hour. During the rainy season, it usually rains in the evening. When it rains, you can hear the soothing rhythmic sound of water falling on the thatched roof along with a symphony of nature sounds from outside. In the morning we were woken up to a naturally illuminated house with breathtaking views of the rice fields and a breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, and toast by the pool.

Check in/Check out:  Anytime after 2 PM / 11 AM (flexible if there are availability)

Room Type: Two bedroom villa with ensuite bathroom

Sleeps: 4 adults and 2 children

Villa Features: Villa with private salt-water pool, located in the rice fields of Ubud

Villa Benefits:  private pool and garden, strong Wi-Fi, bike/car rental on premises, bright interiors, free filtered water, free breakfast,  free local phone to use around town, daily housekeeping, in-villa massage service, A/C

Cost per Night: From $ 119  USD

3. Jungle View Villa, 3 Bedroom Villa in Ubud

This newly renovated three-bedroom villa perched high over a lush river valley, hidden in the wild jungle of Ubud, located about 10-minutes drive from the city center.  The two-story modern villa has a open plan design and floor to ceiling glass windows to emphasize the jungle views and vaulted ceiling. On the top floor is a large living space, fully equipped kitchen, and a master bedroom.  The lower floor has another bedroom and a yoga studio that can be converted to extra rooms or even an entertainment space if needed.  The private infinity pool overlooks the lush jungle, blending in seamlessly with the background.  One of my all time favorite memories from the Bali trip was when we cranked up the music and had a dance party down in the yoga studio on a particularly rainy day.

In addition to the incredible views, the villa offers many amenities including delivery menus for the nearby restaurants, a privately catered dinner in home, free local phone to use around town, and bike rental on the premises.  The host is also incredibly accommodating and allowed us to check in much earlier than check in time because there was availability. The property was difficult to find from the main road, but we were able to call Made, the property manager, who came up to meet us.   Since it was raining the day we checked in, we decided to stay in and order food.  For dinner, Made and his wife came over to make us a traditional Balinese feast with enough food to feed 5-6 people.  The meal was really delicious and only cost us about $20 USD.

Check in/Check out:  Anytime after 3 PM / 11 AM (flexible if there are availability)

Room Type: Three bedroom villa with ensuite bathrooms and outdoor bathtubs

Sleeps: 6 adults and 4 children

Villa Features: Villa with private infinity pool, located in the jungle of Ubud

Villa Benefits:  private pool and garden, strong Wi-Fi, bike/car rental on premises, free filtered water, free breakfast,  free local phone to use around town, daily housekeeping, A/C

Cost per Night: From $ 105USD

4. Villa Mia, 2 Bedroom Villa in Seminyak

For those looking for a relaxing oasis in the heart of the city, this two bedroom luxury villa is the perfect find. Villa Mia is located in a quiet side street right in the center of Bali’s popular Seminyak district, within walking distance to the beach, and is surrounded by international restaurants, local warungs, boutiques, bars, and spas. It has a spacious living area with a fully equipped kitchen and a big screen TV.   There are two bedrooms with comfortable queen-sized beds each with their own ensuite bathroom and outdoor bathtubs surrounded by lush gardens – the perfect place to unwind after a long day. The rooms are separated by an outdoor private pool that comes equipped with lounge chairs and floaties.

Even though this place is gorgeous, the most memorable part of our stay wasn’t the amenities but the incredible service we received.  Our host Mia was gracious and  accommodating as we were stranded in Seminyak  because of the erupting volcano and airport shutdown.  She let us check in early, helped us call the airport, and extended our stay an extra day until we could figure out new plans.  She was always responsive when we have questions.  Even though we were bummed because we missed our flight to Komodo, staying at Villa Mia made it not as bad since at least we were not stuck in an airport.

Check in/Check out:  Anytime after 2 PM / 12 PM (flexible if there are availability)

Room Type: Two bedroom villa with ensuite bathroom and outdoor bathtubs

Sleeps: 4 adults and 2 children

Villa Features: Private pool villa located in the heart of Seminyak

Villa Benefits:  private pool, excellent location, strong Wi-Fi, bike/car rental on premises, free filtered water, daily housekeeping, A/C, exceptional service

Cost per Night: From $112 USD

5. Little Aman, 1 Bedroom Villa in Nusa Lembongan

Let me start off by saying this villa doesn’t have a private pool, BUT it does have a view that’s to-die-for. Little Aman is a cosy 2-story bungalow just a few steps away the beach and the some of the island’s best cafes & restaurants. The villa is located on the hill overlooking the village of Jungut Batu. From the upstairs bedroom, you have the best view of the ocean and Mt Agung. It was nice to sit out on our balcony at night and listen to the waves and wake up in the morning to this stunning view. Downstairs, the living space is bright and spacious with a full kitchen. The host is extremely responsive and accommodating, even though they have a check-in time of 2 PM, they were able to pick us up from the harbor and checked us in by 10:30 AM when we got there.

Check in/Check out:  Anytime after 2 PM / 10 AM (flexible if there are availability)

Room Type: One bedroom villa with 1.5 bath

Sleeps: 2 adults and 1 child

Villa Features: Ocean-view villa situated a few minutes walk away from the beach

Villa Benefits:  excellent location, free Wi-Fi, bike rental on premises, free filtered water, daily housekeeping, A/C, free pick up from harbor

Cost per Night: From $ 68 USD