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.

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.

How relaxed is it possible for a human being to get? Our stay at Villa Sapi gave us some idea. It was so peaceful and quiet; the only constants being the sun, the breeze and the gentle splashing of the waves on the sand. Otherwise, it was a new experience at every turn, from the extraordinary architectural design to the random acts of artwork around the villa and gardens. The TV room – curvilinear, boxed-in with glass and filled with assorted beanbags – looks and feels like an annex of George Jetson’s cartoon space house.

The ebbing tide occupies a big part of your day because it takes up such a big part of your view. We sat on the beach one evening watching a brilliant sunset over a low, low tide with the dusk light reflecting off the rock pools and silhouetting the fishermen stalking the shallow waters. Yet, while nature’s sea views are pretty special, be sure to take the time to turn the sun loungers around so you can stare back at the equally impressive artistic achievements of man.

Come mid-afternoon, it’s fun to amble down to the Hotel Tugu for a glass of something cold and a journey into Indonesia’s diverse indigenous past before returning to Sapi for a sunset drink and the anticipation of what chef has in store for dinner. At the time of our visit, the daily charge for food per person was a mere US$40 (US$20 for children). Every meal was a three-course gourmet indulgence, and in our opinion this was some of the best food we have ever had in a villa; the chef is five-star-trained after all. If you’re worried about gaining a few kilos (and you probably will) you can opt for the chef’s low calorie fare. If you’re looking for in-house activities, the manager can arrange tennis with a professional coach, table tennis, volleyball, cooking classes and more.

All in all, this is a villa where you will want to bring your friends so they can see it for themselves. Photos and tall tales just won’t suffice.

We arrived at Sepoi Sepoi’s gorgeous Sira Beach by speedboat (like rock stars!), having spent the previous evening enjoying the nightlife of Gili Trawangan: a visit to the Gilis is an absolute must when you stay here – good restaurants and great snorkelling. The villa staff were on the beach to greet us and help carry bags, which was a relief as the property is so spread out it’s quite a hike to the rooms. Staying in the company of five other adults and four adolescent children, we found that Sepoi Sepoi works well for all ages (which is no surprise given the owners have children of their own). While we lazed by the pool, ambled down to the beach, or enjoyed an indulgent massage (best in the open air pavilion beside the pool, costs extra) the kids were off waterskiing, bicycling, and playing board games - it was often difficult to know where they had disappeared to.

The food at the villa was tasty and well presented. Meals are chosen in advance from a menu (due to the villa’s distance from the nearest grocery store) and are currently included in the rates up to a daily limit per guest. There is even a kids’ menu. On our last night we were treated to a roast beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding, a specialty the chef has been taught to make by the English owners, which certainly proved his ability to cook international dishes as well as local delights. Our favourite for after dinner was retreating to the living pavilion to watch movies on the big projector screen. Villa Sepoi Sepoi is a real tropical success - especially for families.

We arrived at Sepoi Sepoi’s gorgeous Sira Beach by speedboat (like rock stars!), having spent the previous evening enjoying the nightlife of Gili Trawangan: a visit to the Gilis is an absolute must when you stay here – good restaurants and great snorkelling. The villa staff were on the beach to greet us and help carry bags, which was a relief as the property is so spread out it’s quite a hike to the rooms. Staying in the company of five other adults and four adolescent children, we found that Sepoi Sepoi works well for all ages (which is no surprise given the owners have children of their own). While we lazed by the pool, ambled down to the beach, or enjoyed an indulgent massage (best in the open air pavilion beside the pool, costs extra) the kids were off waterskiing, bicycling, and playing board games - it was often difficult to know where they had disappeared to.

The food at the villa was tasty and well presented. Meals are chosen in advance from a menu (due to the villa’s distance from the nearest grocery store) and are currently included in the rates up to a daily limit per guest. There is even a kids’ menu. On our last night we were treated to a roast beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding, a specialty the chef has been taught to make by the English owners, which certainly proved his ability to cook international dishes as well as local delights. Our favourite for after dinner was retreating to the living pavilion to watch movies on the big projector screen. Villa Sepoi Sepoi is a real tropical success - especially for families.

This is a great villa for families or groups of friends, with loads of space, private places to escape and plenty of entertainment for all ages. The pairing of the six bedrooms means that three families can easily escape from each other in their own separate areas. During our visit to the villa the staff surprised us by setting up a sunset table for two on the sand, within a circle of candles and flaming torches, to create a most romantic feast of local dishes. Only after the sun went down did we realise that the ‘circle’ was actually a heart shape! The chef has created a great menu and can turn his hand to anything but loves to indulge his guests with Lombok specialties. Due to the remoteness of the area, you’ll be asked to order your first meal and any special requests in advance of your arrival. The kitchen will operate on a menu or grocery system according to your preferences.

Fully self-contained, we didn’t leave the confines of the villa grounds except to swim in the ocean. The electronic beeper that we were given to summon the staff at anytime was a great idea (and necessary due to the size of the place). No one claims that this villa is 100% environmentally sustainable but great care has been taken in the design to be as eco-friendly as possible. We were very aware that, although were indulging in six-star luxury, we were having a low impact – the pool is chemical free, our long showers and baths were solar heated and the water we were using was being recycled to nurture the organic gardens.

This is a great villa for families or groups of friends, with loads of space, private places to escape and plenty of entertainment for all ages. The pairing of the six bedrooms means that three families can easily escape from each other in their own separate areas. During our visit to the villa the staff surprised us by setting up a sunset table for two on the sand, within a circle of candles and flaming torches, to create a most romantic feast of local dishes. Only after the sun went down did we realise that the ‘circle’ was actually a heart shape! The chef has created a great menu and can turn his hand to anything but loves to indulge his guests with Lombok specialties. Due to the remoteness of the area, you’ll be asked to order your first meal and any special requests in advance of your arrival. The kitchen will operate on a menu or grocery system according to your preferences.

Fully self-contained, we didn’t leave the confines of the villa grounds except to swim in the ocean. The electronic beeper that we were given to summon the staff at anytime was a great idea (and necessary due to the size of the place). No one claims that this villa is 100% environmentally sustainable but great care has been taken in the design to be as eco-friendly as possible. We were very aware that, although were indulging in six-star luxury, we were having a low impact – the pool is chemical free, our long showers and baths were solar heated and the water we were using was being recycled to nurture the organic gardens.