Beach In Ten Villas

Villa Kailasha

Guests booking Villa Kailasha will hopefully have spotted that it’s in a remote location so there should be no surprise on arrival: we certainly thought the villa’s setting was sublime. Long stretches of black sand and marauding surf with hardly another tourist in sight. We spent most of our time stretched out by the pool enjoying the ministrations of the staff and soaking up the ocean views, but while we were there we were privileged to witness a village ceremony when the procession passed right by the villa’s front gate. We followed the merriment and colour down to the beach and experienced a Balinese event that, for us, was priceless.

For a change of scenery, take a stroll along the small roads and into the local villages for a slice of rural life. And for something a little more sophisticated, stop by the Alila Villas Soori Resort for dinner, or at least a sunset drink. The classy surroundings are pretty special and being so remote not many people drop in, so don’t miss the opportunity while you’re in the neighbourhood. We went for the said sunset drink but ended up staying for dinner – and really rated their kitchen. While their spa would probably welcome visitors as well, it’s perhaps more tempting to ask the villa staff to organise a therapist to come and give you a treatment at ‘home’.

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From $1,155 Special 8br Rate

Bedrooms 9

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 8.8

Villa Kailasha

Indonesia » Bali » Tabanan

Guests booking Villa Kailasha will hopefully have spotted that it’s in a remote location so there should be no surprise on arrival: we certainly thought the villa’s setting was sublime. Long stretches of black sand and marauding surf with hardly another tourist in sight. We spent most of our time stretched out by the pool enjoying the ministrations of the staff and soaking up the ocean views, but while we were there we were privileged to witness a village ceremony when the procession passed right by the villa’s front gate. We followed the merriment and colour down to the beach and experienced a Balinese event that, for us, was priceless.

For a change of scenery, take a stroll along the small roads and into the local villages for a slice of rural life. And for something a little more sophisticated, stop by the Alila Villas Soori Resort for dinner, or at least a sunset drink. The classy surroundings are pretty special and being so remote not many people drop in, so don’t miss the opportunity while you’re in the neighbourhood. We went for the said sunset drink but ended up staying for dinner – and really rated their kitchen. While their spa would probably welcome visitors as well, it’s perhaps more tempting to ask the villa staff to organise a therapist to come and give you a treatment at ‘home’.

more...

From $1,224

Bedrooms 9

Sleeps 18

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 8.8

Villa Kakatua

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

Villa Kakatua is a little Balinese gem, a classical residence in an area which is known to be the party capital of the island. Without being absolute beachfront, Kakatua’s location is as good as it gets in Canggu (there are very few beachfront villas in this area). The well-landscaped garden was an oasis in which we spent our days basking in the sun or lying in the shade of the poolside balé, and our nights under the floodlit palm and frangipani trees. This, coupled with the candles around the garden lit by the staff each evening, made for a very romantic backdrop to the dining balé.

Kakatua is more spacious than Villa Kedidi, its 3-bedroom sister property next door. Hiring both villas (they share staff and a management office) gave us enough room to comfortably sleep 14 people. We found the staff very attentive and professional.

For us, the villa is all about the location. We love staying in Canggu. It’s rapidly becoming one of the most exciting areas of Bali, yet it retains an unmistakable charm. A great spot for surfing, Canggu Beach nearby was also enthralling due to its black volcanic sand.

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From $633

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 7.4 Guest Rating 8.9

Villa Kalyani

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

Relaxing comes almost too easy at Villa Kalyani and you never get bored of doing it. From swing bed to bar stool, from poolside to pool table; if one space becomes tedious you can just decamp to the next inviting chill-out zone. The home theatre is one of the best that we have seen. With movies running through a digital projector onto a 130-inch screen, the room has surround-sound and two sofa beds wide enough to lie perpendicularly horizontal. We chose Jurassic Park to do our surroundings justice: nothing quite like a life-sized, saliva-filled set of T-Rex jaws coming at you to make you appreciate the wonders of modern technology. And there’s an even bigger screen out in the garden for special occasions!

The staff are smart and have been trained to anticipate your every need; the timing of the bite-size fried bananas and ice cream brought to us poolside at sunset was impeccable. The main 22 x 6m pool has a shallow area for children at the top end and a gas fire bowl providing dramatic night-time reflections. Guest comfort has been carefully thought through, with lots of underwater pool seating so you can enjoy your G&T without having to tread water at the same time. The Pioneer Pro DJ equipment can be rented for parties at the villa.

On returning to Kalyani for the first time in three years, we were very happy to note that the villa has been impeccably maintained, it has even been featured in a coffee table book called ‘The New Indonesian House’.

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From $1,143

Bedrooms 5

Sleeps 10

Our
Rating 8.5 Guest Rating 8.8

Katamanda - Villa Amanzi

Thailand » Phuket » Kata

Settling quickly into the relaxed and cosseted ambiance of Villa Amanzi, we soon found our own favourite places to relax and enjoy the private facilities of this well-laid-out villa (of which there are many). Amanzi is an extremely comfortable and easy base from which to make the most of Phuket's tropical charms.

We spent much of our time just chilling, chatting and feasting at the dining sala overlooking the pool; interspersed with a peaceful read on the private balcony outside our plush master suite. We never lost touch with the dreamy beach views, which are definitely one of the highlights at this villa – blemished only slightly at night by a brightly lit sign for the Katathani Hotel.

With ten years’ experience in her role, Villa Amanzi’s manager is ultra-efficient. The food was fresh and delicious, always served in generous quantities, and with a barbecue ready and waiting we are already planning a pool party for our next visit!

For us, the only slight disappointment was needing to wear flip-flops rather than pad around barefoot on the rough sand-washed pool terrace: it certainly wasn't a deal breaker though. There are a lot of steps at the villa, but the extra indulgence of a sauna and massage room more than made up for any strenuous climbs, and there’s always the lift for when a day by the pool leaves you just too exhausted to walk up to bed!

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From $1,435

Bedrooms 6

Sleeps 12

Our
Rating 8.2

Villa Kayajiwa

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

I knew we’d be in for a treat the moment we arrived at the entrance of Villa Kayajiwa. The contemporary dark façade suggested something pretty unique and stylish would be hiding behind those walls.

As a great fan of modern architecture and clever design, I could tell this villa was designed as a place to relax, entertain and impress. As far as we were concerned, it more than delivered on all three accounts.

From the antique Balinese doors in the living room with door handles in the shape of a hand (door hand-le, get it?) to the original art work in every room, the owner has clearly put a lot of thought into choosing ornaments that each tell their own story.

The villa is shaped around a large lawn and a beautiful 25-metre pool which flows into a spacious Jacuzzi, all providing the perfect backdrop for endless sunbathing, evening cocktails and morning laps.
The moat around the garden was one of my favourite design features. The gentle sound of running water created a sense of being in an oasis, far away from the stresses of daily life.

We loved the big furnished roof terrace too. Not only is it a perfect sun trap during the day, but it also doubled up as a great spot for catching the sunset, as well as for some late-night handholding and stargazing.

In fairness, the karaoke room was a little wasted on us. After about ten minutes of torture, my partner and I realised the singing was putting our relationship in jeopardy. Having said that, if karaoke is your thing or indeed if you’re a masochist, then this purpose-built room will give you an extra reason for choosing this villa.

Not that you’ll need any more reasons. From the impressive modern design, the super helpful staff, the excellent location, this villa has incredible character and gets top marks from us.

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From $797

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.8

Villa Kedidi

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

Villa Kedidi is a little Balinese gem, a breezy, traditional residence in the heart of Canggu. We were a group of friends looking to enjoy Bali’s clubs and nightlife and the location was absolutely ideal. After late nights, mornings were idyllic, laying on sun loungers in the small, private garden, surrounded by palm and frangipani trees. Come evening and the candles around the garden lit by the staff made for a very romantic backdrop whilst dining or lounging in the main building. Kedidi is more compact than Villa Kakatua, its four-bedroomed sister next door, but hiring both villas (they share staff and a management office) would give you enough room to comfortably sleep 14 adults.. We found the staff very attentive and professional, and it’s very convenient having a car and driver available at a reasonable price, as driving in Bali takes some getting used to!

We love staying in Canggu. It’s rapidly becoming one of the most popular areas in Bali, yet it retains a rural charm and there are still a few fields and rice paddies to be found in between the villas. Canggu also offers quaint and varied dining spots along with a rugged surf beach. Taking into account its wonderful location and authentic Balinese ambiance, we think Villa Kedidi offers very good value for money.

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From $541

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 7.5 Guest Rating 8.9

The Layar - Villa 2A (1BR)

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

We’d done our research and thought we had realistic notions about where we were going, but The Layar surpassed all our expectations. The villas’ design works on so many levels: it’s intriguingly different and totally tropical, but what we hadn’t anticipated was just how ‘at home’ we would feel as soon as we crossed the stepping stones into the gorgeous garden and saw the sweep of roof, from under which the living and dining areas beckoned.

The villas are well equipped with satellite channel TVs, sound systems and a good range of kitchen utensils (in the unlikely event that you might chose to self-cater), while bedrooms and bathrooms – all of which are generously sized – are fitted with quality furnishings and adorned with interesting Indonesian art and artefacts.

And there’s plenty to keep all ages and interests entertained. The gardens, furnished decks and pools, coupled with TV areas, lounge and dining spaces will be enough for some, but lazy days can be punctuated with in-villa spa treatments carried out by The Layar’s professional therapists and delicious barbecue dinners cooked in the gardens of your own private oasis. When we did finally tear ourselves away from our new ‘home’ we enjoyed venturing out to explore the shops, restaurants and cafes of Seminyak, all of which were easy to reach on foot. Cocktails on the beach at La Lucciola, followed by an excellent dinner at ‘The Junction’ made a great end to the day.

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From $356

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 7.6 Guest Rating 9.1

The Layar - Villa 2B (1BR)

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

We’d done our research and thought we had realistic notions about where we were going, but The Layar surpassed all our expectations. The villas’ design works on so many levels: it’s intriguingly different and totally tropical, but what we hadn’t anticipated was just how ‘at home’ we would feel as soon as we crossed the stepping stones into the gorgeous garden and saw the sweep of roof, from under which the living and dining areas beckoned.

The villas are well equipped with satellite channel TVs, sound systems and a good range of kitchen utensils (in the unlikely event that you might chose to self-cater), while bedrooms and bathrooms – all of which are generously sized – are fitted with quality furnishings and adorned with interesting Indonesian art and artefacts.

And there’s plenty to keep all ages and interests entertained. The gardens, furnished decks and pools, coupled with TV areas, lounge and dining spaces will be enough for some, but lazy days can be punctuated with in-villa spa treatments carried out by The Layar’s professional therapists and delicious barbecue dinners cooked in the gardens of your own private oasis. When we did finally tear ourselves away from our new ‘home’ we enjoyed venturing out to explore the shops, restaurants and cafes of Seminyak, all of which were easy to reach on foot. Cocktails on the beach at La Lucciola, followed by an excellent dinner at ‘The Junction’ made a great end to the day.

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From $356

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 7.6 Guest Rating 9.1

The Layar - Villa 3A (1BR)

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

We’d done our research and thought we had realistic notions about where we were going, but The Layar surpassed all our expectations. The villas’ design works on so many levels: it’s intriguingly different and totally tropical, but what we hadn’t anticipated was just how ‘at home’ we would feel as soon as we crossed the stepping stones into the gorgeous garden and saw the sweep of roof, from under which the living and dining areas beckoned.

The villas are well equipped with satellite channel TVs, sound systems and a good range of kitchen utensils (in the unlikely event that you might chose to self-cater), while bedrooms and bathrooms – all of which are generously sized – are fitted with quality furnishings and adorned with interesting Indonesian art and artefacts.

And there’s plenty to keep all ages and interests entertained. The gardens, furnished decks and pools, coupled with TV areas, lounge and dining spaces will be enough for some, but lazy days can be punctuated with in-villa spa treatments carried out by The Layar’s professional therapists and delicious barbecue dinners cooked in the gardens of your own private oasis. When we did finally tear ourselves away from our new ‘home’ we enjoyed venturing out to explore the shops, restaurants and cafes of Seminyak, all of which were easy to reach on foot. Cocktails on the beach at La Lucciola, followed by an excellent dinner at ‘The Junction’ made a great end to the day.

more...

From $356

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 7.6 Guest Rating 9.3

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Layers of Luxury Only at The Layar

Layers of Luxury Only at The Layar

Layers of Luxury Only at The Layar