Romantic Retreats Villas

No. 39 Galle Fort

Atmospheric, well located and very comfortable sum up our stay at No.39. After the hustle and bustle of the fort, diving in and out of cafés and boutiques, and photographing iconic landmarks, it was heaven to return to our tranquil and comfortable abode, which was right at the heart of everything.

Ajith, the housekeeper, welcomed us in his quiet way, always with a shy smile and, with assistance from a second member of staff, kept the house clean and tidy. He was also the cook, and although still a novice in the kitchen, we were pleased with his efforts, especially his curries. The menu is fairly limited but included grilled fish, salads, sandwiches and kids’ meals – all dishes Ajith felt confidant cooking.

Although this is a great family house, the cement stairs (sans stairgates) and minimal kids’ facilities make it less suitable for toddlers. That said, there are two daybeds at the entrance to the master bedroom that can sleep children up to ten years old.

The soft pillowy quilts made the beds very comfortable and we particularly loved the upstairs bedroom for its extra space and breezy rooftop views. We found the bathrooms to be fairly small, but all were nicely finished in smooth polished cement. Note that Ajith is a live-in housekeeper and spends much of his time in the kitchen or discretely in his quarters, which are located next to the garden bedroom.

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From $280 Special 2br Rate

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 4

Our
Rating 7.2 Guest Rating 8.9

No. 39 Galle Fort

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Galle

Atmospheric, well located and very comfortable sum up our stay at No.39. After the hustle and bustle of the fort, diving in and out of cafés and boutiques, and photographing iconic landmarks, it was heaven to return to our tranquil and comfortable abode, which was right at the heart of everything.

Ajith, the housekeeper, welcomed us in his quiet way, always with a shy smile and, with assistance from a second member of staff, kept the house clean and tidy. He was also the cook, and although still a novice in the kitchen, we were pleased with his efforts, especially his curries. The menu is fairly limited but included grilled fish, salads, sandwiches and kids’ meals – all dishes Ajith felt confidant cooking.

Although this is a great family house, the cement stairs (sans stairgates) and minimal kids’ facilities make it less suitable for toddlers. That said, there are two daybeds at the entrance to the master bedroom that can sleep children up to ten years old.

The soft pillowy quilts made the beds very comfortable and we particularly loved the upstairs bedroom for its extra space and breezy rooftop views. We found the bathrooms to be fairly small, but all were nicely finished in smooth polished cement. Note that Ajith is a live-in housekeeper and spends much of his time in the kitchen or discretely in his quarters, which are located next to the garden bedroom.

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From $360

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 7.2 Guest Rating 8.9

Villa Abiente

Thailand » Phuket » Cape Yamu

Abiente is a superb holiday villa for active, modern couples and groups of friends, with its chic styling and setting on Phuket’s east coast, on the doorstep of the region’s best sites for yachting, kayaking and other outdoor adventures. For those of us with less ambitious holiday plans, it’s also a fine place to do absolutely nothing but relax poolside and bask in the tropical sun! The open-plan layout invited us to gather, relax and flit between the cool white interior and the pool with ease. Each of the three bedrooms is similarly designed and furnished with king-size beds and TVs, though only two enjoy a sea view and poolside setting – so there might have to be a coin-toss on arrival. We were among the first to visit this newly built villa (mid-2017) and loved its bright and welcoming ambiance with a no-fuss minimalist edge and a few touches of whimsy here and there including a big mural splashed across the entry hall. Abiente is among the newer villas in Baan Yamu, a decade-old estate with exceptional guest facilities available including a well-equipped gym, which we didn’t try out (lazy!), and the huge 75-metre pool, a good option for serious swimmers.

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From $650 ++ Special 2br Rate

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 4

Our
Rating 8.2

Villa Abiente

Thailand » Phuket » Cape Yamu

Abiente is a superb holiday villa for active, modern couples and groups of friends, with its chic styling and setting on Phuket’s east coast, on the doorstep of the region’s best sites for yachting, kayaking and other outdoor adventures. For those of us with less ambitious holiday plans, it’s also a fine place to do absolutely nothing but relax poolside and bask in the tropical sun! The open-plan layout invited us to gather, relax and flit between the cool white interior and the pool with ease. Each of the three bedrooms is similarly designed and furnished with king-size beds and TVs, though only two enjoy a sea view and poolside setting – so there might have to be a coin-toss on arrival. We were among the first to visit this newly built villa (mid-2017) and loved its bright and welcoming ambiance with a no-fuss minimalist edge and a few touches of whimsy here and there including a big mural splashed across the entry hall. Abiente is among the newer villas in Baan Yamu, a decade-old estate with exceptional guest facilities available including a well-equipped gym, which we didn’t try out (lazy!), and the huge 75-metre pool, a good option for serious swimmers.

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From $750 ++

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.2

Villa Adasa

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

I’m moving in! Put it another way, I don’t want to leave Villa Adasa, ever. Within moments of our arrival, the sounds of the gamelan gave way to early Dylan rasping from the Sonos sound system. How did they KNOW he’s this reviewer’s all-time favourite? Mind-reading was clearly second nature for Villa Adasa’s staff, who seemed to know what we wanted before we did, but were just as adept at giving us complete privacy when that was called for too. While this is a great villa for a family as well as for friends/couples sharing, Villa Adasa manages to achieve a rare intimacy that would make it equally appealing to a couple looking to splurge on space. Villa Adasa delights 24/7. Daytime, we were faced with the taxing decision of whether to dive into an ocean of colourful cushions carpeting the double bale (gazebo), relax on the loungers by the pool, strip to bare essentials on the sun-deck above, or remain supine on the myriad sofas in the living pavilion. At sundown it was no contest; the best place to soak up Bali’s famous purple-hued sunset was from the loveseat on the master bedroom loggia. The night-time atmosphere at Villa Adasa is charming, thanks to its clever ambient lighting and comfortable living area. So dining presented us with an equally weighty dilemma: Do we select from the excellent menu and have our accomplished villa chef whip up a five-course meal or seafood barbecue for us, or do we wander out and take our pick from the many world-class restaurants within moments of the villa? We loved hanging out in the huge master bedroom suite and enjoyed the best night’s sleep thanks to a fabulously comfy bed, luxury goose-down duvet and pillows and high thread-count cotton sateen bed linen. The Sonos music system was swish, and being able to control it from our phone and laptop was pretty cool. And it was heaven having such a wonderful library of coffee table books and glossy magazines to browse. All in all, staying here was like breathing pure oxygen — I was on a permanent health-inducing ‘high’ throughout our all-too-short-stay.

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From $690 ++

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.2 Guest Rating 9.4

Apsara

Sri Lanka » West Coast » Bentota

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, in particular, stood out for his conviviality and amazing food. The house and garden were both immaculate: it felt as though we were the first ever visitors. The lighting was also especially good. The bedrooms and living areas are all air conditioned, although we just left the doors open as there was always a refreshing breeze coming off the river.

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.

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From $360

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 9.1

Bayu Gita Residence

Indonesia » Bali » East Coast » Ketewel

We wanted for nothing at Bayu Gita Residence. The villa blends all the charms and appeal of a contemporary beach house with the stylish luxury of Bali villa living. Thoughtful design, graceful Balinese aesthetics, natural building materials, the friendliest of welcomes, and what seems like great feng shui, all conspire to create an atmosphere that is warm and inviting, and we felt right at home from the moment we walked in. While the design itself is delightfully simple and unpretentious, the luxury is in the details, and it is abundantly clear that no expense has been spared in creating this tasteful abode. Interiors are refreshingly uncluttered – decoration seem unnecessary when the lavish finishing’s of the villa are themselves a work of art; from richly-hued dark timber latticed panels and highly detailed stone work, to delicately beaded cushions, swishing burgundy drapes and gorgeous framed textiles. The beautiful white flowers that dangle from the vine-covered trellis on the patio add a touch of whimsy.

While the property is not huge, the space had been wonderfully utilised, and the open design makes it feel really fresh and spacious, especially with the sun streaming into the garden and all the doors thrown open to the sea breeze. Expansive views from the upper floor, with tantalising glimpses of the sea, add to the sense of space.

There’s no doubt that, when rented in conjunction with its big sister, six-bedroomed Villa Bayu Gita, Bayu Gita Residence would make a wonderful and very memorable beachside wedding venue.

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From $370 ++

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 7.8

Villa Belong Dua

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Seseh-Tanah Lot

For a two-bedroom villa, Belong Dua delighted us with its generosity of space. The sitting room is huge and there’s a home theatre as well (a surprise, as this is usually reserved for at least a three-bedder). The garden and pool are also unusually large; the owners could have easily snuck one more bedroom pavilion in, but we are so happy they didn’t because it has left a wonderfully open space with wide sky views fringed by coconut palms and towering mature trees.

This is a real Bali experience, well away from the fashionable see-and-be-seen café culture of downtown Bali, but still with four-poster beds and gorgeous outdoor bathrooms to rival any of the big boys. When swimming in the pool, make sure you look up at the reflection in the big mirror that sits on the living room wall: the illusion doubles the size of the villa’s garden. And when have you ever seen yourself swimming before!? Sunsets on the beach are a short stroll away and do jump on one of the villa’s bicycles and head off out among the rice fields to explore the real Bali even further. The area is relatively flat and shady and the local people will never let you get lost.

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From $300 ++

Bedrooms 2

Sleeps 4

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 9.1

Birchwood Chalet

Japan » Niseko » Niseko » Niseko Village

Staying in a brand new holiday home is always a pleasure and we were lucky enough to be amongst Birchwood’s first few visitors. The minimalist design and décor made it feel extra crisp and fresh, and we liked the fact that there was nothing to distract from the gorgeous views of the wintery forest, which looked like something out of a fairy tale – especially when the snow was falling and we were warm and toasty inside. We travelled as a family with two fussy eaters, so the kitchen was a real plus, not to mention a genuine pleasure to cook in, with all the sparkling new appliances. Getting groceries delivered via Niseko Gourmet was another drawcard – who wants to bother with supermarkets on holiday? Or household chores for that matter, and we were thrilled to have a daily housekeeper.

We dropped our five-year old at the Niseko Village Kids Snow School on our way to the slopes each morning. The only problem was getting her to leave – she loved it, and went from being a novice to quite a confident skier in a week. We never had to wait long for the courtesy driver and it was literally only a couple of minutes’ drive down the road to the ski lift.

We live in the city, so it was a real novelty to stay somewhere so peaceful and quiet, and after a day on the mountains, we loved being able to chill out at home and put our feet up. Having WiFi meant the kids could play on their iPads so there were no complaints. We did make it into Hirafu Village for a couple of meals and enjoyed the fun, lively atmosphere, and had a good laugh at a karaoke bar, but we were always happy to get back home to our serene chalet in the birch grove. We are curious to see what Soga looks like when the snow melts, and would happily return to Birchwood for a summer stay so we can really explore the area.

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From $372 ++

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.1

Villa Bougainvillea

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

Villa Bougainvillea truly is an escape from the world at large. From the discreet driveway to the lush river banks surrounding the villa, we had a sense of being hidden away in a very private home, and this feeling continued once we were settled in, with each bedroom being screened from the rest of the villa by the tropical gardens. Whilst we appreciated this sense of escape we also quickly realised that the villa’s spacious living pavilion overlooking the pool was a great social hub and enjoyed lazing on the daybeds or sitting for leisurely meals at the solid wood dining table, being looked after by the friendly villa staff. The pool was definitely the focal point of our stay: its setting, between the steep stairs to the living pavilion and the river below the pool’s own infinity edge, under a canopy of colourful local trees, gave a wonderful sense of drama. It was easy to spend hours literally soaking in the calm tranquillity of Bougainvillea.

Any feeling of isolation is, however, only a clever illusion as the villa is a mere two to three kilometres from the increasingly popular beaches of Berawa and Pererenan where there is also a growing number of restaurants. Bougainvillea is also one of eight private villas which make up the Pangi River Village complex so multi-villa rentals would make this an ideal location for larger groups (see location section for links to the other villas). The Staff were very efficient and helpful and happy to arrange anything from shopping for groceries to massages or tours. If you require a car and driver, however, this is charged extra and you need to plan ahead.

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From $375 ++

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6-9*

Our
Rating 7.4 Guest Rating 6.4