Once the doors of 32 Middle Street were closed behind us we felt instantly at home. The property felt secluded and its courtyard swimming pool and rooftop sundeck offered plenty of scope for relaxation. Indoors, we loved curling up on the squashy sofas in the living room and

As soon as we walked through the doors of Adelle Villa Two we thought ‘this is cute’ and for the location ‘surprisingly spacious’. It’s a dark wooden building so the effect is cosy, comfy and homely rather than

The staff spoke very limited English but the friendly villa manager, who is only a phone call away, can answer any questions you may have.

Unfortunately there was a local power failure just after our arrival, so we were literally left in the dark and without a back-up generator. But instead of searching for candles and fending for ourselves we decided to check out the nearby restaurant scene where we were simply spoilt for choice.

If you are looking for modern high-end luxury then Villa Beatrice isn’t for you, but if you want great value for money, easy and comfortable living in a central location, then it ticks all the boxes.

At Villa Ahn we felt like we were in the heart of the real Bali within a peaceful village unspoiled by tourism but only ten minutes away from Ubud. The quiet of the rice fields and the gentle manner of the staff gave this big comfortable house a special tranquillity.

When we arrived we were given a wonderful cool drink made with fresh hibiscus picked right from the garden. Once unpacked, we couldn’t decide which we wanted first: a rain shower, a soak in the big shrine-like bathtub, or a swim in the sparkling blue pool.

This was a totally relaxing house to be in. The bedrooms were very quiet, aside from the sound of frogs in the rice fields, which was like a lullaby. There were plenty of places to sprawl with a book or dabble over a scrabble board (we brought our own). One of us bought a badminton set in the nearby town of Gianyar, which we installed on one of the villa’s big lawns. In the living room there was plenty of room for all six of us to watch a movie. (There are a few DVDs at the villa, but we picked up half a dozen at a supermarket in Ubud very cheaply.)

Meals were a treat. Ibu Kadek, the cook, made us wonderful local dishes that were rich with coconut milk and fresh spices adjusted to our taste. In between meals she offered us tea and whipped up snacks. The inclusive breakfast offers the usual selection (American, Continental) but also Indonesian and Balinese choices. Other meals are from listed price menus and costs are quite reasonable. Dishes are mainly Indonesian, but sandwiches and burgers are also available. Barbecues are a relatively grand affair. The housekeeping staff do all the provisioning, and can shop for special requests for a small fee.

Villa Alang Alang is charmingly Balinese and is a rare find in this fast developing area. The open living areas and a lush garden full of palm trees around the pool provides an authentic Balinese experience, yet still right in the heart of Seminyak. We loved it but not everyone

Angel Villa is compact both in its location and the villa itself – that said, it is bigger than most villas of this type and price range. The outside space is dominated by the pool which is lovely and refreshing – perfect to slide into from the pool-side lounge area

We loved staying at this handsome garden villa and really enjoyed the independence of using the good, modern kitchen or calling on the 24-hour catering service when we were too lazy to cook or dine out. But with so many good restaurants in the neighbourhood that wasn’t

What a wonderful villa! Apsara offered us plush comfort, an excellent chef and a wonderful riverside location all within easy reach of Bentota’s long sweep of beach. We enjoyed the company of the staff who always greeted us with a smile and made us feel so welcome. The chef,

There’s a wall-mounted DVD and Blu-ray disc player in the living room (loads of DVDs) and a surround-sound music system with iPod dock set up so you can hear your favourite tunes inside or by the pool. There’s also a good WiFi connection throughout the villa so you can easily get online if you bring your own kit.

Apsara has its own private jetty and is well connected with a locally renowned water sports outfitter who can come and pick you up from the villa in their boat. There’s a good supermarket just up the road from the villa that stocks loads of imported goods and the fresh produce market is right on your doorstep too. The staff will buy groceries for you though, and with such an amazing chef to feed you (and a wonderful menu) it’s unlikely you’ll be doing much more than ‘window’ shopping.

The unique interior décor of Villa Azzalea definitely gives it lots of character: we felt as if we’d been transported onto the set of a sultry Moorish movie, or perhaps a Bollywood blockbuster. Despite this exoticism however, the villa still felt very homely and was

A small staff team looked after the house, and friendly Made made us a lovely tropical breakfast each morning. He struggled a little with his English but since we only made simple requests this wasn’t a problem. Sister-property Villa Balquisse is up the road and this ten-bedroom hotel is the headquarters of all villa management operations so staff will come down to meet you and can easily be called upon if you have any specific requests – they are very helpful. There’s also the Mediterranean Asam Garam restaurant here (a driver can come and pick you up from the villa or deliver dishes to you) and, for a full pampering, the Henna Spa. Both are decorated in Zohra Boukhari’s iconic Moorish–Oriental style. If you’d like your taste buds pampering too, you can arrange for a private chef for just US$20 a day.

For us, Baan Dalah is the perfect casual family beach house. Nothing pretentious just easy and relaxing - the sort of weekend escape we would all like to have. This is not your exotic ‘to die for’ villa but a simple retreat on an enjoyable stretch of tropical beach.