If you are into eclectic decor, vibrant artwork and bold bright colour schemes, Eden Villas might not be for you, but if you like simplicity, style and minimalist design you will be enthralled. The all-white design is ambitious but most people will at least be impressed at how successfully this concept has been executed. All of the bedrooms at all of the Eden Villas are pretty much the same; the only variation is in size, aspect and view, with some of them having balconies. This means that you’ll have no reason to argue over who gets which room, but the lack of individuality makes them feel a little bit like hotel rooms. We stayed at Eden Villas when the complex had only just opened and even at these early stages we could see that the all-white décor was going to be a challenge in terms of maintenance, but there is a huge team of staff looking after the whole complex. We were struck by the professional management and the dedicated reception office. The staff are allocated to specific villas, which ensures personal service.

If you are into eclectic decor, vibrant artwork and bold bright colour schemes, Eden Villas might not be for you, but if you like simplicity, style and minimalist design you will be enthralled. The all-white design is ambitious but most people will at least be impressed at how successfully this concept has been executed. All of the bedrooms at all of the Eden Villas are pretty much the same; the only variation is in size, aspect and view, with some of them having balconies. This means that you’ll have no reason to argue over who gets which room, but the lack of individuality makes them feel a little bit like hotel rooms. We stayed at Eden Villas when the complex had only just opened and even at these early stages we could see that the all-white décor was going to be a challenge in terms of maintenance, but there is a huge team of staff looking after the whole complex. We were struck by the professional management and the dedicated reception office. The staff are allocated to specific villas, which ensures personal service.

If you are into eclectic decor, vibrant artwork and bold bright colour schemes, Eden Villas might not be for you, but if you like simplicity, style and minimalist design you will be enthralled. The all-white design is ambitious but most people will at least be impressed at how successfully this concept has been executed. All of the bedrooms at all of the Eden Villas are pretty much the same; the only variation is in size, aspect and view, with some of them having balconies. This means that you’ll have no reason to argue over who gets which room, but the lack of individuality makes them feel a little bit like hotel rooms. We stayed at Eden Villas when the complex had only just opened and even at these early stages we could see that the all-white décor was going to be a challenge in terms of maintenance, but there is a huge team of staff looking after the whole complex. We were struck by the professional management and the dedicated reception office. The staff are allocated to specific villas, which ensures personal service.

It's always nice to be one of the first guests at a brand new villa, particularly when you know you definitely won't be the last. Even though we could still smell the fresh paint and plaster on the walls, as soon as we slipped into the pool, Villa Gabah felt like a place we'd be happy to call a second home. Despite its impressive size, all the facilities are contained in a single building so we never felt far from anything we needed. The helpful staff were happy to bring cool drinks from the fridge upstairs while we were lounging by the pool, and staying in one of the poolside bedrooms meant we only needed to venture to the upper floor lounge for meals on the terrace or movies on the flat screen. Kids will love the pool and garden and can be easily supervised from the terrace. The stream that runs in front of the villa provides added fascination, not to mention a soothing natural soundtrack to your stay. If it wasn't for the surrounding views and wooden accessories, we felt we might forget this was Bali. But despite the villa's secluded location, if you hire the car and driver you're within easy reach of local cultural attractions and beaches. For those who don't feel like venturing out much, the option of a private chef (small daily fee plus provisioning) means you can make the most of what is a relaxed, self-contained and easy escape.

‘Very stylish indeed’ we thought when we walked through the door of our Harmony Villa. Fish swimming in the water flowing between the stepping stones in the villa’s leafy portico, lots of shady palms, tropical flowers, a small private swimming pool; altogether a very inviting two-storey dwelling.

In a quiet street, with rice fields to the front and rear offering a genuine window into rural Bali, this pair of villas really allows you to get away from it all. And it’s so quiet! After preparing our own simple lunch we spent a lazy afternoon chilling out, reading books and swimming in the pool. The villas are self-catering but if you aren’t in the mood to cook, you can order gourmet meals (menu provided in the villa) from BaliEpicure, a company that offers 24-hour in-villa dining. We also recommend taking advantage of the many nearby restaurants and beach bars. We jumped in a taxi and headed to the beach at sunset for a couple of cold beers at Cozy Wheels (1km) on Batubelig Beach and when it got dark we called into Warung Sobat to sample their famous ‘Steak Wiwin’, the cheapest and best in Bali. Finally, we flopped back on our comfortable king-size bed in the villa and watched a movie.

It was a pleasure to step into Villa Iman Jasa and find – in place of a polished, impersonal rental – a lovely family home. We liked its laid-back personality and easy barefoot beach-style vibe. It felt intimate, family-friendly, and spacious, with some quiet corners to retreat to for ‘me’ time. At our request, the staff served our continental breakfast on the terrace of the master bedroom. We spent the morning drifting between the alang-alang thatched balé (gazebo) and the shallows of the enormous pool, gazing over the bank of rice terraces beyond the garden’s edge. At night, after enjoying a beautiful sunset, we reclined on brightly coloured sofas under the enormous white chandelier, relaxing to the sounds of gamelan music wafting in with the breeze, punctuated by fireworks set off on Petitenget beach. And we slept well in our four-poster bed, soothed by the lavender room spray (one of a collection thoughtfully provided).

Other than the chatter of the staff during the day and the rare bark of the resident dog, it’s an amazingly peaceful villa. Despite increasing development that eats into Canggu’s rice fields, this is a place where you can still tune into the rhythms and rituals of rural Balinese life little changed in generations. From every room, we could see farmers tending their crops, and we were privileged to witness a Balinese temple ceremony in a local village on the way to the beach. Our visit coincided with Galungan, a major Balinese celebration that happens every 210 days, and so the lanes were beautifully decorated with rows of penjurs – tall, tapering bamboo poles decorated with offerings placed outside every Balinese home. Some nice eateries are within a kilometre of the villa (including Bali Buddha, Café Moka and the gorgeous Kayu Api bakery) and with so much happening close by we felt no compunction to head to the bright lights of Seminyak 15 minutes away.

Iman Jasa means ‘great service’. Though perhaps not as polished as some villa staff teams, the staff looked after us well with sweet smiles and a willingness to please. They greeted us with refreshing cut fruit and cold towels, and served us a home-cooked fish curry for supper.

Green is said to be soothing for the soul, and in the verdant surrounds of Villa Inti almost every shade is represented; luminous rice paddies, spindly palms, lush leaves and foliage all conspiring to induce absolute calmness. Gurgling water fountains add to the serenity of this villa which feels wonderfully worn in without a hint of being worn out. The owners have great taste, obviously favouring comfort over ostentation and we happily soaked up the sense of intimacy and warmth, feeling right at home from the minute we walked in.

The atmosphere is one of pure tropical languor, easily indulged while sinking into a sea of cushions, sprawling on a sofa or lounging in a poolside deck chair. Service is relaxed – more of the ‘ask for’ rather than ’anticipated’ style – which suited us, but may not be ideal for those who like to be waited on hand and foot. When we managed to tear our eyes away from the scenery, we worked our way through the plethora of books, magazines, CDs and games, lamenting the fact that we didn’t have time for everything. We were happy to switch off, but the fast internet connection, good mobile reception and fax machine are handy for those who need to stay in touch with the outside world, which – despite the rural setting – isn’t actually that far away.

Green is said to be soothing for the soul, and in the verdant surrounds of Villa Inti almost every shade is represented; luminous rice paddies, spindly palms, lush leaves and foliage all conspiring to induce absolute calmness. Gurgling water fountains add to the serenity of this villa which feels wonderfully worn in without a hint of being worn out. The owners have great taste, obviously favouring comfort over ostentation and we happily soaked up the sense of intimacy and warmth, feeling right at home from the minute we walked in.

The atmosphere is one of pure tropical languor, easily indulged while sinking into a sea of cushions, sprawling on a sofa or lounging in a poolside deck chair. Service is relaxed – more of the ‘ask for’ rather than ’anticipated’ style – which suited us, but may not be ideal for those who like to be waited on hand and foot. When we managed to tear our eyes away from the scenery, we worked our way through the plethora of books, magazines, CDs and games, lamenting the fact that we didn’t have time for everything. We were happy to switch off, but the fast internet connection, good mobile reception and fax machine are handy for those who need to stay in touch with the outside world, which – despite the rural setting – isn’t actually that far away.

Green is said to be soothing for the soul, and in the verdant surrounds of Villa Inti almost every shade is represented; luminous rice paddies, spindly palms, lush leaves and foliage all conspiring to induce absolute calmness. Gurgling water fountains add to the serenity of this villa which feels wonderfully worn in without a hint of being worn out. The owners have great taste, obviously favouring comfort over ostentation and we happily soaked up the sense of intimacy and warmth, feeling right at home from the minute we walked in.

The atmosphere is one of pure tropical languor, easily indulged while sinking into a sea of cushions, sprawling on a sofa or lounging in a poolside deck chair. Service is relaxed – more of the ‘ask for’ rather than ’anticipated’ style – which suited us, but may not be ideal for those who like to be waited on hand and foot. When we managed to tear our eyes away from the scenery, we worked our way through the plethora of books, magazines, CDs and games, lamenting the fact that we didn’t have time for everything. We were happy to switch off, but the fast internet connection, good mobile reception and fax machine are handy for those who need to stay in touch with the outside world, which – despite the rural setting – isn’t actually that far away.

What a breath of fresh air Villa Istimewa is. Charming doesn’t even begin to describe it. It’s a very rustic villa with so much greenery that we half expected Tarzan to come swooping down to greet us when we arrived. With that said, it won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re looking for an old-style Bali experience that will guarantee you forget all about home then this might just fit the bill. Location-wise it’s a winner being only 50m from Jalan Raya Seminyak and its stacks of boutiques, knick-knack shops, cafés and Bintang Supermarket – all within walking distance.

After nipping out for a coffee at French-style Café Moka (great pastries – just a shame we were too full from our big in-villa breakfast) we came back to the villa and simply hung out by the pool. The semi-outdoor massage studio will get a lot of use so make sure you work out your roster beforehand to keep squabbling to a minimum. The local masseur, Budhi, could give any shaman out of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ a run for his money so take advantage when you can. Female therapists are also available for a more gentle massage if required.

Although the villa sleeps eight, we thought that might put a bit of a strain on resources and space so would recommend it more for a family or smaller group of singles.