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.

We loved Villa Maya, primarily for location, location, location. Majapahit is wonderfully isolated and private – in fact it can feel like you’re the only person on the island. Combine this with regular doses of fresh sea spray and breezes and it’s a great place

While Majapahit Villas may not be prime position for restaurants and nightlife (with a team of chefs producing gourmet cuisine from Majapahit's professional kitchen, who needs restaurants?), they offer some unique guest benefits, including a private boat for sight-seeing, fishing and snorkelling trips, and Villa Maya has its very own temple which makes a wonderfully Balinese setting for a special ceremony. Some of Bali's best surf beaches (especially during the East Coast Season – November to May) are within an easy drive, as are the fascinating traditional craft villages of Mas, Sukawati, Batubulan and Batuan, as well as Ketewel and Saba which are both renowned for their elegant Legong dance performances.

Aside from location, Villa Maya and co are really just comfortable, ‘liveable’ holiday venues. Let’s call it ‘luxury for beginners’. The staff are genuinely warm and helpful, if a touch over-eager (they tend to hover unless you are quite clear about being left alone); the in-villa chef is quite a dab hand in the kitchen (best spaghetti bolognaise we’ve had on the island to date); and the facilities/amenities are all thought of – including an excellent stock of the latest release DVDs).

It may not be the most swish accommodation on the island, but its understated luxury feels ‘homey’, the type of place that finds you thinking, ‘I could live here.’

We really enjoyed Villa Nataraja (and its adjacent twin Villa Raj); it had a very intimate friendly ambiance and exuded a warm, comfortable, lived in

We really enjoyed Villa Raj (and its adjacent twin Villa Nataraja); it had a very intimate friendly ambiance and exuded a warm, comfortable, lived in feel. Although the villa is not old,

The villa is particularly suitable people looking for get-away-from-it-all peace and quiet and is some distance from restaurants and nightlife. However, the staff are very professional indeed and the food that comes out of the kitchen is excellent, so there's little need to go out. The walled garden is very private and dominated by a great pool; the outside options (two balés and the sun loungers) were really pleasant, and being able to enjoy a jacuzzi in your own lounge has a certain seductive appeal. It’s good to have the beach nearby, and the beach-side sundeck is handy for keeping an eye on the kids. The rooms in the villa are well kitted out with huge beds and bathrooms. If you are looking for a small step up, consider paying a bit extra for Villa Maya, Majapahit’s absolute beachfront rental property.

We visited Puri Nirwana as two couples on a weekend getaway and we loved every minute of it. What a privilege to experience such a beautifully designed architectural masterpiece. The colourful quirky art (the work of the owner) on every wall became a major conversation topic

You cannot fail to enjoy Villa Pushpapuri – we certainly did during our stay. The staff were very helpful, the food was good and the setting superb. It was a real treat to be able to see and hear the sea from almost everywhere - by the fabulous swimming pool, at dinner

The first thing we noticed on entering Villa Samadhana was the wide open space, rarely seen these days in the more popular tourist centres of Bali. The kids ran a good 70m sprint from the entrance up to the living area, across manicured lawns and past flowering trees. Being a

The owners obviously love to spend quality family time here and the poolside pavilion is a well thought out covered area that provides unlimited opportunities for action, relaxation and play for the entire group. With a 25m lap pool, generously sized shallow area for toddlers, inflatable pool toys and four umbrella-shaded sun loungers, this was our ‘go to’ spot each day after breakfast.

The butler and his attendants soon realised that our small, low maintenance group didn’t require them at our beck and call all day and discretely left us to our own devices until we needed them. However, the villa’s extensive amenities and big team of full time staff are perfect for large groups and special events such as weddings. And chef Wayan is a magician in the kitchen. He and his team took care of the grocery shopping before our arrival, based on our selections from the vast menu emailed to us. As a first night surprise for the kids we’d ordered ice cream sundaes and banana splits - the perfect treat before watching a family movie in the air-conditioned media room.

The Pabean Beach area serves up a refreshing slice of unhurried Balinese life. Our daily strolls to the beach provided glimpses of an authentic village lifestyle: local children laughing and playing on the glittering, black-sand beach, elderly men chatting beneath their shady roadside shelters and ibu (mothers) skilfully wielding long, skinny sticks to knock down frangipani blossoms for daily prayer offerings.

Sanur Residence is very modern in design, simply furnished but very comfortable. Although the houses lack the charm of a typical Balinese villa, they make excellent beachside holiday houses (villa doesn’t seem quite right). To us it looks like each house is owned by a