I Was Kicked Out of My Bali Villa
3 Tips Before Choosing a Long Term Accommodation
Bali is a paradise that is known for it’s tropical villas. You won’t be able to resist falling in love with the living accommodations in Bali and trust me, you’ll have many options when looking for the perfect place to call home on the island.
Indonesia was the first country where I lived abroad and when it came to picking my first home, I made a few mistakes that led to me being kicked out in paradise.
Since then I’ve traveled and lived in 6 more countries and here is what I have learned about choosing the right accommodation to call home as a long term traveler.
Visit More Than Once
You need time to really check the accommodation and the surrounding areas. Try to visit several times before moving in. One time is not enough. You wouldn’t buy a home before visiting a few times and the same should apply even for a long term accommodation that you’ll be renting. You need time to explore not only the accommodation, but the neighborhood as well.
Here are some things to consider:
Are there restaurants, markets, laundry, or any other services you might need near?
How is the noise? Are there dogs barking, chickens clucking, loud cars and scooters? Is it a busy road?
Is it well lit at night?
Don’t Commit Right Away
Never commit to staying X amount of time at an accommodation before actually living in it. Sometimes the tenant will offer Ask if you can spend a few days or weeks there first and extend the agreement if you decide you like the place. I recommend living there for at least one or two full weeks before committing to months.
Know Your Must-haves & Non-Negotiables
What is it that makes a house a home for you? You’ll mostly be spending a lot of time in your accommodation and it’s best to spend the time comfortable. Making a list of your must-haves and non-negotiables saves you a lot of time and keeps you from making impulsive decisions. Keep this list as you travel. It will help you navigate a lot of different living arrangements and stay true to what is within your comfort level. For example, I can never live where there are a limited amount of windows that do not offer natural light. Natural sunlight is very important to me so no matter how beautiful a place is I will never commit to living in it if there are only a few windows. This has saved me a lot of time when searching for a new home base.
House hunting abroad is an exciting experience. It is one of my favorite experiences about living life abroad. These three tips have helped me decide on the perfect homes abroad and all it took was being kicked out of my first long term living accommodation.
No biggie.