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.

Akuvara's contemporary design may not be to everyone's taste, but once you settle into the tropical lifestyle on offer you soon appreciate the beauty of keeping things simple. The clean open spaces suit the environment and technological enhancements like the music and

The staff are courteous and try hard to meet every request. Despite the occasional language barrier they manage to run everything smoothly while remaining unobtrusive and the english speaking manager ensures the villa runs smoothly and deals with things like tour bookings and restaurant recommendations. This part of Lipa Noi offers a nice balance between seclusion and diversion. You can happily spend days doing very little, but a short drive to the other side of the peninsular brings you to some decent resort restaurants, as well as the Nikki Beach Club, which is far more sophisticated a venue than you'd expect to find in such a secluded location.

In some ways Akuvara felt like two villas in one. The studio at the rear of the property feels like an independent unit, but would certainly be a useful addition for a full family gathering. The option to rent the villa without this fourth bedroom, however, makes Akuvara a great choice as a functional but comfortable family getaway.

If there is such a thing as villa envy then staying at Akuvara may inspire it as the villas close-by are significantly larger and more opulent than this one - but come with a much higher price tag. Yet despite its compact design, Akuvara still boasts the full range of amenities required to provide a pleasant beachside escape. Between the pool and the beach you never want for daytime pleasures and lazing in the ocean-front sala with a cool drink and a book must surely rate as one of life's finer moments.

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

We found Ambalama to be a very flexible beach villa, suitable for families, groups of friends and even decadent couples. It is spacious enough to host larger groups and its sociable layout maximises party potential (as does the iPod docking station and Bose sound system). Each

Those who dream of lording over their own little kingdom will relish staying at Andaman View, a lofty villa that feels completely remote and comes with such a wealth of services and facilities that you need never venture beyond its boundaries. Even being within a villa estate does

We felt that the villa is better suited for families with older children or groups of adults since its entertainment and games are geared towards a more ‘mature’ crowd (drinking, dining, pool table), and the open swimming pool could be a bit of a hazard for active toddlers. Staying at Andaman View we really did feel like royalty, not only because it was like having our own private mini-castle to romp around in, but also because of all the inclusive services that kept us in pampered comfort throughout our stay. Having two meals a day prepared for us was a real treat, though we were sad we didn’t have enough time to indulge in a soothing treatment (available for a modest extra charge) on the villa’s own massage bed.

Happily, one thing that is not so princely about Andaman View is the price. This is one of the best-value villas we’ve visited in Phuket. Though the villa is officially located in Nai Harn, with the beach less than 10 minutes away by car, its position at the north end of the village makes it nearly as close to Kata beach (reached via a wonderful coastal drive around jungle-clad hills, and another favourite swimming spot for families) and Rawai beach – a must for Thai seafood with its row of casual restaurants lining the waterfront (pick any one, they’re all good!).

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

The magical Ariara Island is truly an exciting new frontier for luxury travel. It might sound clichéd, but Ariara really does have it all: an incredibly pristine hideaway location, superb craftsmanship, inventive design, fabulous cuisine and a team that is absolutely

And the food, oh the food! Among the rich and varied things we sampled were wonderful, exotic fruits – some picked off wild trees on the island, giant lobster, imported beef steak barbecued to absolute perfection, pastas and salads made with organic cheeses, herbs and vegetables, fabulous desserts including orange and basil sorbet and the local rice and coconut bico treat. Being a remote island, getting fresh food in (aside from seafood, which fishermen bring directly to shore daily) is a big undertaking, and coordinating it all is a chef on the island and a Swiss chef based in Manila who operates her own organic dairy farm and expertly sources the finest imported foods and wines. Ariara was six years in the making by a very resourceful, creative and passionate team. With its potent combination of ground-breaking standards of service and a wild, largely undiscovered marine wonderland, we believe that it won't be long before Ariara is the place that others in the super-villa business will be scrambling to imitate.

The tranquil, stylish, and warmly welcoming Villa Arimbi has such an astonishing mix of design elements and detail that words cannot do it justice. Indeed, this villa has been showcased in design books and several magazine features since emerging from an extensive renovation last

Relaxation and pampering were what we sought during our stay, and Arimbi's staff and setting deliver these in spades. The landscaped gardens are incredibly beautiful, lovingly cared for and completely private. We spent a lot of time in the sumptuously furnished, open-air living and lounge rooms, just drinking in the tropical scene – when we weren't cooling off in the fabulous pool and jacuzzi that is. The staff’s dedication to keeping the garden and rooms in pristine condition is evident throughout-- we watched in amazement as the villa manager spent several minutes arranging the leaves and flowers of a small tree just so.

We had little desire to venture far from the villa but we did enjoy walks to Sanur beach which, while perhaps not one of Bali's cleanest, is a great spot to enjoy a cold Bintang while watching local people of all ages at play. We were particularly captivated by the sight of one large family engaged in a group meditation session, with an elaborate arrangement of flowers and fruit set on the sands in offering to the gods.