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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 $832

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.2 Guest Rating 9.4

Villa Aiko

Indonesia » Bali » Jimbaran - Bukit » Jimbaran

This luxury hillcrest villa packs a punch with its panoramic views across Jimbaran Bay. We soaked up the vista from Aiko’s infinity pool, second-level terraces, enormous find-me-if-you-can bed – even from our bathtub-for-two!

If you’re looking for traditional Bali-style architecture, Villa Aiko may not be your first choice. But while resolutely city-chic contemporary in design, the villa makes abundant use of natural materials in its construction - think reclaimed ironwood and river-stone walls, teakwood floors, Benkirai-wood decking and ironwood shingle roof. And the essence of Bali is evident in the charming and attentive-but-discreet staff.

The villa manager/executive chef Putu was an absolute treasure. He was completely unfazed by my vegetarian request and created a memorable dinner – spring rolls, pumpkin and basil soup, beetroot and orange appetiser, and Portobello mushrooms en croute with perfectly cooked vegetables and the best mashed potatoes in Bali. And his Eggs Florentine – the egg poached to perfection, the Hollandaise cancelling days of dedicated Pilates practice – was a fabulous way to kick-start the morning. No wonder some guests stay away from Jimbaran Bay’s seafood restaurants and choose instead to eat in every day, as the visitor’s book attests.

We think Aiko would be a great villa for large family groups. There are so many independent seating areas to break away to for some peace and quiet, and it’s great to find a library in a Bali villa; we really appreciated the wide choice of books. Though all four bedrooms have king-size beds – no twins – there’s a single bed discreetly designed into the foot of each bed. We thought the fourth bedroom might be best for kids (who tend not to be so view-hungry) as the outlook is partly blocked by the guest pavilion and spiral staircase. One note of caution: there are steep drops from the pool and terraces but, thankfully for parents, glass barriers line both second floor terraces.

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From $670

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8-10*

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 9.3

The Anandita

Indonesia » Lombok » Northwest Lombok » Tanjung

Anandita is exactly what a ‘destination villa’ should be. It was lovely to be surrounded by calm seas, very comfortable lodgings and a team of staff who really know what they are doing. Everything is laid on and we really had no desire go out, feeling so relaxed and content that all we did was swim, eat and sleep in the sun, with a little bit of volleyball and billiards thrown in for good measure. The beach is ultra safe making it a great place for children to paddle and play; we felt that families would love this place given the choice of activities, and the room layout and bed configuration. That said, the rooms would work equally well for four couples.

Something that really impressed us was the way the staff stopped what they were doing when we invited them to make up the numbers for a game of volleyball. It is rare to find a villa where the owner has encouraged his staff to go the extra mile to please guests in this way. To quote from the visitors’ book, “The staff are truly the heart of Anandita”. The kitchen produces some fine meals, with the emphasis on fresh fish and local produce - but remember that (if you wish to order from the suggestion menu) you need to give a bit of notice when ordering your meals or making your grocery list as the villa is a long way from the nearest shops. An easy alternative is to opt for the all inclusive meal package offered at the villa which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.

Nothing changes very much in Lombok, so when we returned to Villa Anandita for our three-year-update we were delighted to find that everything was very much as it had been, including most of the staff who remembered us from our first visit. Gusti the manager/activities manager delighted us with his energy and enthusiasm, taking us out for a long bicycle ride across the golf course and along rough tracks through the fields to the traditional market at Tanjung. Since our last visit, the complement of bicycles has gone up to 13 and the owners have added a spa pavilion with two massage beds (professional therapists will come to the villa to deliver soothing treatments). We were also pleased to find that the villa now has a WiFi internet connection, so it doesn’t feel quite so detached from the world. The property has been well maintained but the beach bordering the garden has suffered from a bit of erosion so it has got narrower, but it is still beautiful to look at and you only have to walk a short distance to reach a wider section of sand. Oh yes, there’s a new international airport in Lombok now, which is further away from the villa, so the journey is longer but you’ll see some gorgeous rural countryside en route.

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From $820 Special 3br Rate

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.6 Guest Rating 8.8

The Anandita

Indonesia » Lombok » Northwest Lombok » Tanjung

Anandita is exactly what a ‘destination villa’ should be. It was lovely to be surrounded by calm seas, very comfortable lodgings and a team of staff who really know what they are doing. Everything is laid on and we really had no desire go out, feeling so relaxed and content that all we did was swim, eat and sleep in the sun, with a little bit of volleyball and billiards thrown in for good measure. The beach is ultra safe making it a great place for children to paddle and play; we felt that families would love this place given the choice of activities, and the room layout and bed configuration. That said, the rooms would work equally well for four couples.

Something that really impressed us was the way the staff stopped what they were doing when we invited them to make up the numbers for a game of volleyball. It is rare to find a villa where the owner has encouraged his staff to go the extra mile to please guests in this way. To quote from the visitors’ book, “The staff are truly the heart of Anandita”. The kitchen produces some fine meals, with the emphasis on fresh fish and local produce - but remember that (if you wish to order from the suggestion menu) you need to give a bit of notice when ordering your meals or making your grocery list as the villa is a long way from the nearest shops. An easy alternative is to opt for the all inclusive meal package offered at the villa which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.

Nothing changes very much in Lombok, so when we returned to Villa Anandita for our three-year-update we were delighted to find that everything was very much as it had been, including most of the staff who remembered us from our first visit. Gusti the manager/activities manager delighted us with his energy and enthusiasm, taking us out for a long bicycle ride across the golf course and along rough tracks through the fields to the traditional market at Tanjung. Since our last visit, the complement of bicycles has gone up to 13 and the owners have added a spa pavilion with two massage beds (professional therapists will come to the villa to deliver soothing treatments). We were also pleased to find that the villa now has a WiFi internet connection, so it doesn’t feel quite so detached from the world. The property has been well maintained but the beach bordering the garden has suffered from a bit of erosion so it has got narrower, but it is still beautiful to look at and you only have to walk a short distance to reach a wider section of sand. Oh yes, there’s a new international airport in Lombok now, which is further away from the villa, so the journey is longer but you’ll see some gorgeous rural countryside en route.

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From $982

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.6 Guest Rating 8.8

Villa Asada

Indonesia » Bali » East Coast » Candidasa

Returning to Villa Asada after three years we were really pleased by the way in which it has evolved to become a truly magnificent family holiday villa with stunning views over the spectacular Amuk Bay. Since our original visit, the property has changed hands and undergone an extensive upgrade, with an enormous amount of thought put into the provision of guest needs in the form of deep comfort and some great new facilities (including a poolside bar, and a gym). The Asian food we had was excellent (best satay sauce ever!) – do note though that the villa is a good hour away from major provisioning so whilst local food can be provided at relatively short notice, more complex meals need a little more planning. As such there is a restaurant style house menu and an advanced order menu where 24 hours notice is requested. The chef (included) will help out with all your meal planning though.

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From $520 Special 3br Rate

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 9.0 Guest Rating 9.1

Villa Asada

Indonesia » Bali » East Coast » Candidasa

Returning to Villa Asada after three years we were really pleased by the way in which it has evolved to become a truly magnificent family holiday villa with stunning views over the spectacular Amuk Bay. Since our original visit, the property has changed hands and undergone an extensive upgrade, with an enormous amount of thought put into the provision of guest needs in the form of deep comfort and some great new facilities (including a poolside bar, and a gym). The Asian food we had was excellent (best satay sauce ever!) – do note though that the villa is a good hour away from major provisioning so whilst local food can be provided at relatively short notice, more complex meals need a little more planning. As such there is a restaurant style house menu and an advanced order menu where 24 hours notice is requested. The chef (included) will help out with all your meal planning though.

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From $635

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 9.0 Guest Rating 9.1

Casa Brio

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

Casa Brio was a delightful surprise — everything was so much bigger and better than we anticipated; the photos really don’t do it justice.

We were particularly impressed with manager Pak Yusa and his staff, who made sure we wanted for nothing during our stay from the moment they welcomed us with an ice-cold towel and fresh juice. A special shout out to Wayan the villa chef whose culinary skills ensured we never dined out (even though our old-time favourite, La Lucciola was only a five-minute stroll away). My taste buds still tingle at the thought of his delicately flavoured pomelo and chicken salad, and beautifully presented mahi mahi steaks.

This feels very much like a ‘grown up’ villa — we can easily imagine elegant dinner parties and special family celebrations, and think it’s a great villa for friends to share. Families with toddlers might be concerned about the open staircase and rooftop terrace (not to mention sticky fingers all over the handsome upholstered furniture). But the staff enjoy welcoming children, can supply a pool fence on request, and there’s a large shallow pool area for young ones to enjoy.

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From $820 Special 3br Rate

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 6

Our
Rating 8.7 Guest Rating 9.0

Casa Brio

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

Casa Brio was a delightful surprise — everything was so much bigger and better than we anticipated; the photos really don’t do it justice.

We were particularly impressed with manager Pak Yusa and his staff, who made sure we wanted for nothing during our stay from the moment they welcomed us with an ice-cold towel and fresh juice. A special shout out to Wayan the villa chef whose culinary skills ensured we never dined out (even though our old-time favourite, La Lucciola was only a five-minute stroll away). My taste buds still tingle at the thought of his delicately flavoured pomelo and chicken salad, and beautifully presented mahi mahi steaks.

This feels very much like a ‘grown up’ villa — we can easily imagine elegant dinner parties and special family celebrations, and think it’s a great villa for friends to share. Families with toddlers might be concerned about the open staircase and rooftop terrace (not to mention sticky fingers all over the handsome upholstered furniture). But the staff enjoy welcoming children, can supply a pool fence on request, and there’s a large shallow pool area for young ones to enjoy.

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From $936

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.7 Guest Rating 9.0

Villa Issi

Indonesia » Bali » Greater Seminyak » Seminyak

It was a real privilege to stay at Villa Issi, this is a gorgeous, funky, fancy pad where no expense has been spared. It’s all about space, ultra-modern architecture, more space, high-technology and super comfortable furnishings, ranging from leather chairs to beanbag-sun-loungers. The only antiquated elements at the villa are the 200-year-old frangipani trees. Beautiful! Everywhere there are walls-of-glass that open to the balmy Bali breezes. The elevated deck that bridges the swimming pool is a fabulous feature and the kitchen is a dream, we’d never before seen such a state-of-the art fridge! In fact, there are surprises at every twist and turn, including lots of places to escape to and be on your own. This is a really exciting villa to stay in.

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From $912

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.3 Guest Rating 9.2

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