When to Come?

Guests visit Villa Kalisha all through the year. In Bali there is a wet season (November to March) and a dry season (April to October). The dry season clearly has less rain, but even in the wet season it seldom rains for more than a few hours in a day, and there are still many days it does not rain at all. On the plus side in the wet season the scenery is incredibly lush and green, and sitting cosily in a warm bath inside Villa Kalisha while watching the rain cascade down outside is an amazing experience.

Children

Children are welcome at Villa Kalisha. We have all facilities needed for infants (such as high chairs and cots) and also provide a free babysitting service, although we do recommend a tip for the staff of IDR 50,000/hour for babysitting after 8pm. Staff can also upon request prepare half size kids meals. Please be aware however that the pool is deep (1.75m) and that there are no fences or other restrictions around the pool or the pond or the stairs, so small children do need to be watched carefully.

The staff of Villa Kalisha are however well used to handling children and are available throughout the day to provide whatever assistance your require.

Climate

Villa Kalisha is situated in a mountain area on steep slope surrounded by semi-jungle with rice paddies behind and below it. Due to its elevated position all year round it enjoys a far cooler climate than central Ubud, typically a very pleasant 24 to 26 degrees centigrade or so, and a bit cooler at night and so it is advisable to bring some long sleeves and trousers for the evenings.

Location

Villa Kalisha is in a spectacular secluded location just outside of the small and attractive traditional village of Kebon, which is just to the north of Tegallalang and Ubud, and to the west of the spectacular temples at Tampaksiring. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive to Ubud, about the same to get to Tampaksiring, and about 20 minutes to reach Penelokan on the rim of the crater of the Batur volcano. The management of the villa are happy to arrange taxis to the centre of Ubud which for a round trip journey, including waiting time for meals, shopping or taking in a dance performance will cost no more than about $15, or alternatively we are also happy to arrange hire cars, bikes or other means of transport if you prefer.

Access for Elderly & Disabled

Villa Kalisha's spectacular views mean that it is in a relatively secluded yet steep location. As such to get to the villa requires a few minutes walk across some rice paddies on a flat good quality concrete path (see picture adjacent), and then there are a number of wide steps to get down to the villa itself. The staff will of course assist guests as best they can, and will carry all luggage to and from the villa, however it does mean that Villa Kalisha is probably not suitable for handicapped or very elderly guests.

Bugs and other Creepy Crawlies

The semi-jungle location of Villa Kalisha, means that "pretty" insects such as butterflies and fireflies are common visitors to the villa, however on the flip-side it also means that some "ugly" looking insects and other creepy crawlies are as well, and occasionally after. There is nothing at all dangerous in the jungles around Villa Kalisha, and the villa is fully equipped with mosquito nets on each of the beds, so bugs will not bother you while you sleep. However if you are the sort of person who runs screaming from the room if you see a spider then Villa Kalisha is probably not for you, and you are better off trying one of the vast, impersonal 4* hotel complexes in Nusa Dua.

Water Supplies

Villa Kalisha has its own private well that is drilled into a fresh water reservoir several metres below the surface of the earth. Although we have tested the water and believe that it is safe to drink, we do actually recommend that you drink the bottled water that is provided at the villa throughout your stay

Security

Under normal circumstances security is not a concern in Bali. The Balinese people are Hindu, and are honest and peaceable. Crime is minimal and the overwhelming majority of tourists that visit Bali have a wonderful time and never have any security concerns at all.

Villa Kalisha is relatively far from the main tourist centres in Bali and is sited in a quiet location. We do have staff at the villa 24 hours/day, but this is more to assist you if you have any problems rather than to counter any external threat.

Bedroom doors are lockable however, and there are also safety boxes in each of the bedrooms as well

Directions to Bali

Bali lies about 2.5 hours flight away from Singapore or the same from Perth in Australia. The capital of Bali is Denpasar, and there are many flights to Denpasar (DPS) from Australia, most European cities, the US West Coast and Japan primarily via Singapore, Hong Kong and Guam (from the US). Several large carriers fly to Bali such as Garuda, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Qantas, KLM as well many other large european carriers also fly to Bali. Direct flights from cities in Asia and Australia to Bali are increasingly easy and cheap thanks to the arrival of a number of budget airlines such as Air Asia (Malaysia and Thailand), Valuair (Singapore) and Jetstar & Virgin (Australia & New Zealand). Further afield there are even direct flights from Moscow (with Transaero) and from Japan (with Jalways). Most tickets can be booked over the internet without a problem.

Visas for Bali

Visas are available on arrival for almost all Western and Asian nationals for free now for stays of up to 30 days (although some nationalities still require visas in advance or have to pay for "Visa on Arrival" so please check before you arrive in Bali the website to check is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Indonesia. For stays of more than 30 days it is possible to get a Visa on Arrival and then extend it by up to one month at the immigration office in Bali. It is not possible to stay longer than 30 days without a visa.

VIP Arrival Services

Bali airport is new and a joy to go through these days, and so there is now no need for any special arrangements, and indeed they are illegal. There are ATMs and Bureau de Change on the way out of the arrivals hall, as well as a selection of Duty Free shops with very over-priced wine, beer and spirits and a couple more banks as you exit the baggage area.

Once you exit customs, the driver from Villa Kalisha will be there waiting for you with a sign (if you have arranged an airport transfer through us) and will take you to your vehicle and help you with your luggage.

Money in Bali

The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah. There are cash points all over Bali now, and also at the airport as well so it is easy to withdraw cash Rupiah when you need it. If you are bringing cash, most major currencies are accepted, but the best exchange rates are for cash USD and to a lesser extent cash AUD. There are unscrupulous cash exchange dealers in Bali, and the golden rule is that if a rate looks far too good there probably is a good reason for that. Best and safest way to get cash is to withdraw it from a cash point or to use credit cards that are widely accepted as well. At Villa Kalisha however we are only able to accept payment in cash Rupiah, although we are in the process of installing a credit card terminal right now (February 2016).

Directions to Villa Kalisha

From Denpasar (Bali) Airport follow the signs to Denpasar and Sanur (not Kuta) this will take you to a big roundabout where there is a dual carriageway heading North bypassing Kuta on the first turning to the right. Take this road and follow it to Sanur at the huge Dewi Ruci statue (do not take the underpass to Seminyak and Sunset Road). Follow the dual carriageway for about 20 minutes, past Sanur McDonalds and KFC, past the big round-about with the road to East Bali, until you come to a set of lights with a sign to Ubud and Gianyar. Follow the signs, and from then on just keep going on the main road until you see signs for Ubud directing you off it. This will take you up through the craft village of Mas towards Ubud. At the end of this road, turn left, and then right again at the first traffic lights that you come to after a few hundred metres (they are rarely on though) and follow the road up the hill. You are now in Ubud and Villa Kalisha is about 20 minutes away. Keep going and when you hit the giant statue just keep going straight out of Ubud and towards Tegallalang for approx. 8km past all the craft and carving shops and past the football pitch.

Carry on until you see a huge sign for "Kampung Cafe" and just 300m later there will be another sign to Kampung Cafe as you turn off onto a road that forks off to the right, which then drops steeply past Kampung Cafe. Villa Kalisha is 1.9km from this point. Follow this road through the village of Tangkup (the first village you come to) and then Kebon (the second village). After you pass the Temple at Kebon, the road does a wiggle and about 50m after the temple you will find a garage on the right, and next to it a set of steps. This is the entrance path to Villa Kalisha, and our staff will be waiting there to take your luggage and guide you across the rice paddies to the villa.

Getting Around

For great rice-field walks and to experience traditional Balinese village life, just head out from Villa Kalisha and see where your feet take you, or alternatively just ask Nyos our manager and he is normally happy to help you explore the beautiful local area.