Romantic Retreats Villas

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 $1,143

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.2 Guest Rating 9.4

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 $520

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 $578

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 $371

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.1

Villa Canggu North

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

Our inspection revealed that Villa Canggu North would be a great choice for a small family or four friends who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Seminyak. The pool and its deck is an extension of the large living and dining room, which can be alternatively be closed off for air-conditioned comfort. The beach is not a great swimming beach – this is a coast surfing Mecca – so do take care. It is fascinating, however, watching the local community at work. The boat sculpture in the living space is a work of art, not a toy, so if you have young children you will need to keep little fingers in check!

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From $450

Bedrooms 2

Sleeps 4

Our
Rating 7.6 Guest Rating 9.0

Villa Cemara

Indonesia » Bali » East Coast » Sanur

Wow…from private pool to shallow sea in five paces? We’ve been lucky enough to stay in quite a few beachfront villas, but none have been as close as Villa Cemara! We were amazed when we first walked through its unassuming entrance and into the enormous living pavilion; the view was so attention-grabbing that we hardly noticed the cold towel and freshly squeezed orange juice that were pressed into our hands in welcome. When we eventually dragged our eyes away from the vista, Pande showed us around the place. We loved that the bedroom suites were all named after tropical flowers found in the garden. And the Australian owner’s taste was evident in the exquisite Indonesian furnishings, artefacts and art; gosh, is that really an original Arie Smit painting? Surely that can’t be a real Hoffker? And I felt an acquisitive flash for that fabulously gilded door framing a mythical garuda. The first question was where to relax. The pond bale? The living pavilion daybed? The poolside sun-lounger? The pool was just too inviting, and after a refreshing dip, we slipped through the gate onto the golden sand for a leisurely sunset walk, returning to find a tasty dinner waiting for us. (We found the staff to be very friendly and obliging, and appreciated that they knew when to disappear. Two of them share cooking duties, and there’s an extensive suggestion menu of Balinese, Indonesian and western dishes … plus one of the cooks is dab hand at Mexican cuisine.) This is a fantastic fair-share villa for couples or a group of friends; it’s very family-friendly too. Though the master pavilion is gorgeous, we don’t think anyone would be upset not to get it; in fact we chose to stay in the guest bedrooms instead, preferring their scale and light. The villa is great for those who want to relax and recharge their batteries, but the more energetic can go jogging or cycling along the promenade, or head to the water-sports centre for a spot of kite-surfing or sailing. We thoroughly enjoyed our it-can’t-possibly-be-a-once-in-a-lifetime Cemara experience, and were not at all surprised to learn from the villa manager that well over 90% of guests return. That’s now sure to include us too.

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From $1,964

Bedrooms 5

Sleeps 10

Our
Rating 8.5

Dea Villas - Villa Radha

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

There have been a few changes since we stayed at Villa Radha two and a half years ago, with the addition of two new villas to the enclave, a children’s playground, a gym and a spa. Staying at Villa Radha now means you have the choice of two spas on your doorstep. We decided, however, that we preferred the bygone era ambiance of the totally private wooden spa building within Villa Radha’s magical garden. Like the villa itself, the spa is another antique building so it is more in keeping with the overall character and charm. We noticed that with a total of five villas on the estate there is a now a little bit of hustle and bustle (and dare we say modernity) outside of Radha’s garden walls, but tucked away in our own private paradise – the gardens have grown and are even more beautiful than we remembered – we were able to completely relax and enjoy the wonderful service of the staff, and the great food. If you’re into sleek contemporary design the ethnic, rustic style of Villa Radha may not to be to your taste, but it is nevertheless immaculate and very comfortable, with all the trappings of the 21st century. There is no sitting room as such, but we enjoyed relaxing on the veranda, and were also very comfortable watching TV and movies in the air conditioned bedroom. As for the garden, well this is a landscaping triumph: forget any ideas of a modern Zen-like space, this garden will bewitch you with its tropical abundance of giant taro leaves, spiky pandanus, fan, parlour and travellers palms, bird’s nest ferns, heliconia, flowering frangipani, and rare fruit trees. It will make you wonder how it can be so full (almost to the point of being overgrown) and yet so meticulously maintained. At first we thought it was a little bit expensive for a one-bedroom villa, but when you consider the uniqueness of the property, the space, the facilities, the butler service, the pool, spa and gorgeous garden, you’ll probably agree that it’s extremely good value for money.

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From $358

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 8.3 Guest Rating 9.3

Des Indes I

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

Our 2017 re-inspection of Villa Des Indes I revealed an immaculate, eclectic home that has been lovingly furnished by its owners to celebrate the rich heritage of Indonesia through a fine collection of antiques, artefacts, curios, local artwork, colonial prints and classic sculptures. The villa is a true delight, enhanced by its central location but very quiet and private feel. Once inside you are truly in your own world and, given the very gracious staff, a wonderfully enjoyable one at that. The chef prepared an excellent and beautifully presented meal during our stay – the Dory dish and ikan lilit (fish satay) were delicious; so it’s easy to imagine a full-blown dinner party in this gorgeous setting, illuminated by scores of flickering candles. Des Indes I will delight families and groups who appreciate being surrounded by a sense of history alongside the villa’s many contemporary luxuries.

In our opinion, it is still one of the most unique East-meets-West, old-meets-new villas in Bali.

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From $1,421

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.8

Hachiko Chalet

Japan » Niseko » Hirafu

We loved the location and abundance of natural light at Hachiko. The common areas situated on a single floor are ideal for gathering and unwinding, whether for breakfast or at the end of a day spent exploring the breathtaking Hokkaido outdoors.

The muted earth tones throughout the chalet have a lovely grounding effect, and the decor and design is sleek Scandinavian chic, a real joy to step into and wake up to.

The bedrooms being spread out over two levels meant that each member of our group had a comfortable ‘nest’ to retreat to whether to catch up on some sleep, read a book or get a massage in peace. The addition of a drying room for skis and boots, plus the laundry facilities, dishwasher, and car parking space are also great facilities.

Then, there’s the complimentary housekeeping and the driver-on call service which was great! We used this to go to the supermarket and for daily trips to and from the gondola with all our gear.

We loved wandering out into the charming streets of Hirafu village; there are bars, restaurants, boutiques and cafes to be discovered, though be careful in winter time - the roads can get slippery.

One evening, we indulged in a celebratory meal at home cooked by Niseko Gourmet, and it was superb. The chef prepared an omakase (degustation) meal featuring seasonal Hokkaido ingredients especially for us.

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From $501

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.6

Villa Bulan Madu

Indonesia » Bali » Jimbaran - Bukit » The Bukit

Villa Bulan Madu is a wonderfully romantic little villa. The setting is very pleasant and, given how open the rooms are, very private. The villa shares the same owner, staff and kitchens as its neighbour, the five-bedroomed Villa Indah Manis, so has the benefit of a large staff who discreetly disappear next door until summoned. For us, the staff could not have been more helpful and the food we had was beautifully presented.

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From $312

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 7.7 Guest Rating 8.7