We would like to answer basic and some rather deep questions here, to provide the best-known-to-man knowledge for you to enable you to understand how things really work in Bali. No standard answers to make impossible situations sound less impossible, only the Real answers and facts that will save you lots of valuable time and lead to results and smiling faces. With some priceless insights into the practical considerations of how to get what you want.

Most important Tip for 2008: In previous years we could answer general requests like 'availability for your plans' to come to Bali "maybe in September". This year Bali as a whole island had a "booking storm" already in February and March taking many weeks out of the calendar where rooms are actually available this year. That changes the rules of how we must proceed from here. Now the statistics of the first quarter show the trend: New all-time record year is ahead and we have to start getting practical about it.

What means first of all: a completed request for reservation is now the bare minimum to check availability and the only way to get a room this year. Send it as early as possible, at least 2 months in advance. Earlier definitely is better because some hotels are partially full even as long as six months ahead. Yes it's true that you could send it also 3 days before arrival, technically that is, however there are no more "low seasons" as in previous years, so these 'natural sense' requirements are valid for every month of the year until next January inclusive. Besides all this a memo note: If you want to go overseas this year and haven't bought plane tickets yet, you really are late, because fuel prices are on the rise as expected, and there is no end in sight for the moment.

Q: Are the rates I read on your pages valid prices?

A: Yes they are, they are Discount rates however, based on bookings only. If you want travel agent services with complete walkthroughs and basic explanations plus guidance, read details concerning that further down the page.

Q: What is the meaning of HIGH Season: Jul.1 - Aug.31, +US$50

A: You have to add $50 per room/per night to the Bali1 rate for that time period.

Q: If I ask today, if a room is available, and I will book this room in a few days, can you guarantee the availability ?

A: That was never possible, occupancy changes all the time, we fully guarantee your reservation after we receive a completed reservation form, and you did receive a confirmation. Update: If you want instant availability for curiosity's sake through automated systems, see your local travel agent and pay their prices. Bali1 .com discount rates are not available in automated online agent systems, they require 1-2 business days for a confirmed booking. If you send requests on Fridays it will take until next Tuesday for the hotel to respond. Ok, but "They could do that also faster" We agree, but they won't. The big hotels have currently dozens of "applications" for the same room at the same time and don't know which one to approve and which one would just block a room for a whole week, while using it only for 2 days. And so making that week unbookable for the actually profitable bookings. We complained a lot until we understood it's like a puzzle game, and the local hotels haven't figured out how to maximize their reservation system automatically, yet. So if you need everything done "today" this is probably not for you. Bali is generally not an "instant island", especially not this year, and not compatible with "New York minutes" that expire in under 40 seconds.

Q: But some Bali hotel rooms are instantly confirmed if I book through my travel agent.

A: Yes, at first. But they go through the same selection process as described in last answer and your booking might get modified later by the hotel. In that case you have to deal with your agent even if you left your country already on travel. In that scenario it's easier for you being a client of someone that's got a office in Bali itself, like Bali1.com has.

"That scenario" however never happened yet if booked through us, the initial time used to confirm reservations is for exactly that purpose, to get that final confirmation. All "instant confirmations" through automatic systems in Bali might get revised later on by hotels themselves if the requested dates do not match with the general booking plans of the hotel, and that's the meaning of "instant" in Bali. A better description would be "instant but not final because nobody looked at it yet". It's much better to wait first, than complain later. Especially if you thought everything is ok already, and then have to deal through an agent that can only access a "system" but never contacted any hotels themselves. And vice versa, we had hotels asking us for urgent help because of guests made double bookings, and they had no way of contacting that other overseas agent to sort things out. Yes unfortunately there is zero personal customer service possible in automatic systems in case a major problem should arise.

Q: Your rates for rooms are for double occupancy , I need the rate for a single occupancy.

A: In Bali most of the accommodation is "per room" so the rate is the same for either single or double occupancy. Unless you buy it from a travel agent in your country. They might charge you per person, but double that if you book single. We don't do that.

Q: Your rates are in US$, what are your rates in Australian $ ?

A: The conversion will be done automatically by your bank or credit card provider, call them and ask how much they will charge you. Tell them: "the price is xxx-amount in US dollars, how much will you bill me to my credit card?" They will tell you the exact amount. All our billing for each Bali hotel will be in US dollars, just as stated.

Q: I am traveling with my family including 3 kids, how do I calculate the total cost?

A: 99% of the hotels follow strictly that rule: One room allows these bedding options a) 1 King size bed (double), or b) 2 single beds (Twin). To both options you can add 1 extra bed, not more than that. Since one 2-bedroom suite is often more expensive than 2 standard rooms, the best solution for a family of 5 would be 2 standard rooms with 1 extra bed to provide room, bed and breakfast for all family members. You can request them to be interconnected, hotels will "note" that but not confirm that prior to check in because they simply don't know if it will be available before you actually check in. If the family before you extends their stay unexpectedly, the hotel cannot really ask them to leave. That would be kind of harsh, you will have rooms for sure, but if they are interconnected or not we can not guarantee 100%. Some agents will say they can, but we tell you the real truth, the one hotels really apply.

Children under 12 years are mostly free with existing bedding of the parents. You just pay a kid's breakfast directly to the hotel, or ask us how much kids breakfast are, if you want to order it through us. Baby cots are provided by the hotels free of charge upon request. According to hotel definitions a child age 12 years or older is required to pay normal full rates for any extra bed (called "triple share" if there are already 2 people in that room, the child will be the third person, and the triple share rate is the daily rate for that third person)

Q: I have a question and want prices for a hotel not listed on your site

A: If you want to stay a week there or longer, contact us. Shorter stay inquiries only for current Bali1 customers

Q: I have a limited budget, what hotels do you recommend?

A: All our listed Hotels and Resorts have current approval and guest's recommendation in order to be and stay listed, this is not one of the travel agencies that offers "all hotels in the system", we have the system already filtered and keep only the hotels that don't create problems or complaints and provide pleasant experiences for guests that stay there coming from this site. For The definitive overview based on rates, have a look at The Bali Resort Charts

It is correct to say we do not offer a few of "the most popular names in Bali" that every agent and every website sells, and the reality of it is: We most likely did that too a few years ago and got complaints from every second guest that stayed there. Honestly now, who needs that? Isn't life more than short-term income? We think it is, and prefer repeat visitors that know with confidence we do not sell them something we wouldn't like ourselves and they return next year again with the assurance we rather say "no can do" before sending them to a hotel that has frequently problems.

Q: I have never been to Bali, which hotel do you recommend?

A: Yes many emails just contain this one sentence only. Since you told us nothing about your preferences yet, neither your available budget or anything else really for that matter, what kind of recommendation are you looking for exactly ? Have you considered that rooms can cost as little as $50 or as much as $1000 per night and that this website contains all specific information regarding that to narrow down and help your decision process, and you basically just would need to read the details you would be interested in? Ahh, see, now we're going somewhere.

Q: Do you offer airline tickets to Bali?

A: No, the very idea to charge you the fee for a worldwide secure delivery plus insurance makes that a prohibitive suggestion, but it's easy to find someone that does offer air tickets closer to your area, use a search engine like the specialized Bali search engine where you can 1-click all the essential terms such as Cheap Airfare - Flights To Bali - Singapore Airline - or also Singapore Airfare to Singapore the major connection hub in the region where you can catch multiple hop-over flights to Bali daily and easily. If you want to stop over in Singapore and haven't been there for a few years you might be in for a shock, all hotel rates doubled and tripled just within the last 2 years.

Q: What are your conditions and cancellation terms?

A: Generally these terms apply - Some bali hotels have individual terms to accommodate the low discount rates that are bound to these terms, you can find the details of it on the reservation page of these hotels where it applies.

One of the basic Bali1.com advantages is this: You don't have to pay full amount at time of reservation, just a deposit. And even that is refundable within the time specified. Compare that with major booking portals: Usually you pay full invoice amount at time of booking there. Of course you can get refunds also in case of change of plans, but don't forget refunds take time and slow down your instant liquidity. "Does that mean only my booking for the deposit is guaranteed?" No, absolutely not, Your full booking time period is guaranteed just as requested and confirmed. In case the hotel "goes crazy" because of overbooking and asks for earlier full remaining payment, we will let you know. It only happens in peak seasons around New Year usually when even "normal" hotels suddenly get caught up in that frenzy and suddenly ask everybody for more guarantees.

Q: How can I be sure that your reservation forms really are processed by a Secure server?

A: You can see that when you click on any "reserve room" or "book now" links on Bali1.com. Internet Explorer or Firefox, your browser shows a link starting with "https://..." instead of the usual unsecured "http://..." Your personal data is completely encrypted and safe at all times. Update: We now process additionally with Thawte certification.

Q: How can I be sure that I really have a room on arrival, your prices are so cheap. Is this for real?

A: Interestingly we get these questions usually from people that want to stay only 2-3 nights, almost never have used a credit card on the internet (as they admit) and now want to try an upmarket hotel for the first time like the Intercontinental or Ritz Carlton. Then they see that their local travel agent wants quite a bit more money for the same room, and suddenly are not sure anymore if maybe not "the whole Internet is just a scam". Then they fire off several emails to ask f we are real people and the room is really there as promised.

Let's get some logic into all that confusion. Obviously you never really thought about these things in detail. First, you need to understand the basic nature of credit cards. They are a virtual form of payment, not as cash. If you do not understand these basics of credit cards and their security you should not even be using them. First rule: The buyer is always secured and protected at any time, it does not matter if used in a restaurant or on the Internet.

If the seller creates a problem or does not deliver as promised, you are protected at all times and will not suffer loss under any circumstance. Reality check for the uninformed that send us these kind of inquiries: In practical reality it's always the seller that takes the risk of any transaction. We provide a service to you in form of a hotel reservation and we have to assume the risk of your virtual form of payment to the hotel. Our company CV Pacifico is a locally registered company in Bali, and that since 10 years. Unlike someone with a free unverifiable yahoo or hotmail email address that cannot prove any identity or address or even that the submitted card details belong to them personally.

And now to the basics of risk: It is a risk to accept credit card payments, not to make payments by credit card. Business people understand these simple facts, and uninformed customers think the exact opposite is true. But that is not based on actual truth, these are just inventions of the media and yellow press selling fictional scenarios as facts.

In summary: All credit card payments have to qualify to international bank verification, and match all security checks, and that before we can send out a booking confirmation. If you pay by bank transfer you can ask us to send our qualifications to you and we will try to gain your confidence. If you pay by credit card you have to convince us.

And now a tip for the ones that just want to know if the club suites at the Ritz Carlton really are waiting for them on arrival: We understand that you are planning to stay a considerable length of time in an upmarket property and want to make sure that everything is just as ordered. Therefore we will send you the internal Ritz confirmation codes on request. With these codes you will be able to call the hotel and let them personally confirm all details to you.

That is an easy way to full confirmation. In case you had any doubts. Now you know how. We don't usually tell anybody, hoping to deal only with people that can figure things out for themselves, but since you read that far, we understand you really are interested to know how to make everything perfect for your peace of mind. Smart people figure out how to buy at unusual discount rates and get full assurance at the same time, others pay the UUF Tax "uninformed-unsure-fearful tax" at their local agent.

Q: I did send you several questions and request for a detailed proposal and tour schedule

A: Thank you. However, all Discount prices as listed are valid for bookings only. If you have questions that require complete walk-throughs regarding all options that are available you can order our Bali Travel Guide (will be refunded in case of booking within 30 days) or a complete Bali orientation package that will stay with you until you run out of questions and all of them are answered. Contact us at bottom of this page with your personal requests.

Q: Many Bali hotel web sites ask to fax photocopies of credit cards and passports and charge 4%-6% card processing fees, does Bali1.com have the same reservation requirements?

A: You can fax your reservation if you want: +62.361.710726 but we do not require that or need copies of your card or passport, unless specified for peak season bookings, and there is NO credit card processing fee or charge

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Your Bali1 team, as always directly from Bali