In Reply to: accomodation agent vs doing yourself posted by khass on Friday, 3. February 2006 at 08:49 Bali Time:
At the time the 4 of us flew ( early jan), from syd it was about $900 for flight only ( from garuda) and about $1700 for 10 nights accommodation and flight at a nice 4-5 star hotel - so we took the flight only and considered we had a budget of $800 x 4 ( $3200) for accommodation. We had a hotel booked for the night we arrived, and a rough itinerary - we wanted to stay about 5 nights in one spot ( somewhere near seminyak, but peaceful) and 5 nights in ubud and the north. Well we were so glad we did it! We got to stay in the most amazing places by calling when we got there and seeing what was available, and then negotiated! We had about 5 nights at Tony's villas in Seminyak for about $1000 ( $200 pn) and it was a really great funky little place nr the beach with FANTASTIC restaurants all around - then we managed to get 5 nights at Villa Sawah in Ubud , which is the most STUNNING place - private villa with staff of 5 and pool, all set on its own in the ricefields, for $250 per night ( for the 4 of us) , so $1250 , total spend $2250 on accommodation ( we were going to stay only 2 nights at Villa sawah but it was so amazing we stayed for 5!). So we saved over a grand and got to stay in much better places than on the package! Tony's villas number i have lost but if you ask the taxi drivers they will know, and Villa sawah number is +62 81338180038 - that is the mobile of the manager Melinda - she is unreal and they have other villas too apparently.
Good luck - and have fun!