Tourists flock to the island of Bali, on Western Indonesia. Influenced by Chinese and Indian culture, Bali was once a Dutch colony. During WWI, the island was occupied by the Japanese. Today, Bali has the highest tourism rates in all of Indonesia. One of the best ways to really experience Bali is to rent a villa to live like a local.

Plan Before You Arrive

Before you book your flight to this tropical island retreat, check the Internet for villa rentals. There are numerous websites offering many beautiful properties. Prices vary among holiday periods, and you may need to work around a particular schedule for a specific property. If you are not particular, you may try last-minute rentals.

You need to calculate how many people will be staying at the villa. You may be vacationing with your extended family or honeymooning, and will need to find the property that fits your needs. Ocean view, walking distance to a beach, cook, butler, golf course, spa or infinity pool are all options to think about. Some rental websites offer breakfast and free airport pickup. Keep in mind that there may be taxes on top of daily or weekly rates.

Guidebooks, like Frommer's, have lists of reputable villa rental agencies. You can call these agencies or check their websites. It is most important that you find a good company to deal with. You can check ASTA (the American Association of Travel Agents) and PATA (the Pacific Area Travel Association) to make sure the villa rental agency is legitimate.

Travel agents specializing in Bali may be able to guide you to the right villa. They may have to direct you to a third party, which may cost you more money. Also, Indonesia requires a visa in advance of travel. Your travel agent can help you.

Make sure you can pay with a credit card, since this gives you more security. If you really are stuck, you may stay in a hotel one night and find a villa after you arrive in Bali. This may get you a steeply discounted rate, but you would be taking a chance on finding the right property. However you can't go wrong with the island of Bali.