Bali has long been a haven for surfers, artists and adventurers.  Tourism has grown rapidly on the island and not surpisingly accommodation prices have also risen.  Most of the tourism development is concentrated in the south of Bali in areas such as Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua and Seminyak.

Seminyak has become popular with party goers and has several world famous nightclubs, bars and hotels.  It is almost impossible now to find budget accommodation in the area.  Kuta, well known for noisy bars and the Australian tourists that flock to them is perhaps the cheapest area to stay in the south of Bali.

Nusa Dua and Jimbaran which are on the southern peninsula of Bali has several five star resorts and there is almost no budget accommodation to be found. 

The best tip for anyone who wants to find a cheap place to stay in Bali is to head straight out of the south of Bali to the east, central or north of the island.  Along the east coast of Bali, you have Padang Bai, Candidasa and traveling a little further, the diving hot spot - Amed.  All of these places are not only quieter, they are much more cheaper places to stay.

Heading inland a little north, you will come to Ubud.  Ubud is regarded as the cultural center of Bali, where you can see nightly dance and Balinese music performances.  You can still find some budget places to stay, but it is not so easy and the popular places are often booked out. 

Crossing the whole island and heading north you will come to Singaraja, Bali's second largest city, after Denpasar.  Most tourists opt to stay in the tourist town of Lovina. Lovina is famous for its dolphins, but there are many other things to see and do in the area.  Lovina is also known for having cheap Bali accommodation - perhaps the cheapest in Bali.  Mega Ayu Homestay for example has  rooms from just 50,000 rupiah, which is about $5 a night - including breakfast! 

When looking for a place to stay, look for the words "homestay", "losmen" or "guesthouse".  These are the cheapest forms of accommodation in Bali.  During low season, it is possible to get a good discount on your stay, especially if you stay at least a week or a month.  Negotiating is perfectly acceptable in Bali and all part of the fun when traveling on the island.

You can still find cheap places to stay with pools and AC