In Reply to: Villa experts... posted by melbmeg on Friday, 27. July 2012 at 17:48 Bali Time:
Melbmeg, I just came back from an 8 night stay in Dyana Villas in Seminyak and I can tell you it was gorgeous and ticks every box in your quest. They are in Jalan Camplung Tanduk, and just a short walk down a laneway, and once you enter the gate into your private walled villa with garden and pool, you leave all the hussle and bussle of the street behind, (but the hussle and bussle is there close by when you want it). It's not a level of hussle that you experience in Kuta though. A few little market shops, but lots of restaurants and fixed price stores. There are some lovely restaurants in the street; I can recommend Taste of India, JPs Warung and Bennys Bar for great food. A quick taxi gets you up around the corner to 'Eat Street' or down to Legian. Nothings too far. Dyana Villas have 1,2 and 3 bed villas, all with private garden and pool, a maid cooks you brekkie and takes all your washing, bringing it back in the afternoon with even your underwear ironed. The decor and design of the villas is Indonesian, no modernist approach here; you don't hear guests in other villas; they have wifi and a laptop you can borrow, and best of all, the staff are all super friendly and nothing is too much trouble. The beach is a short walk down the road, and I enjoyed going for a walk down to the beach every morning. You have to get down to the beach of an afternoon/evening too and experience the great bars/cafes with their beanbags and tables down on the sand, with music playing and the sun setting. I found La Plancha to be great for food, service and atmosphere. The Dyana villas have a cheaper price for at least 6 nights, and we paid just $180 a night for a one bedder; I'm sure the 2 bedders would be reasonable for what you get. I could not see myself staying anywhere else from now on. Make sure you spell Dyana with the y in your search; there is a place with the name spellt with the i. Good luck with the planning.