“Most relaxing vacay ever! Gem on the Ocean.” Our family had such a wonderful time at Villa Talia Vashti. We were happy with the location (at first we thought it was too far away from everything) as it was quiet and we were able to get a true sense of Bali; not the Westernized side. The staff were friendly and they were there when we needed them, but did not hover. We felt pampered - every need & question was answered. Tom made a map of Snorkeling in front of the villa! My boys went out quite a bit and loved every minute! We dove Tulamben & Manta Bay - both fantastic dives! We ate breakfast in and dinner most of our time there at the Villa. Who could resist the amazing food and atmosphere only the Villa and staff could create. No grocery shopping, no cooking, no dishes or clean up - a Mom's dream! We did need a driver to get anywhere notable. There were many drivers (for approx $30 a day!!!) on hand. We took a couple day trips to Ubud, Kuta, Padang Bai, Water Palace, temples, ancient villages, and used the driver for lunch or dinner trips. Took us to see the monkeys, water rafting, etc. Highly recommend someone drive you as driving conditions are sketchy. We mostly used Wayan (a local there in Candi Dasa) - he is awesome! *Note: We are a family of 4 (boys 14y & 19y) - American Expats living in Sydney Au. So, by American and Aussie standards - a true gem! This was by far the best and most relaxing vacation we have ever taken. We will be back!

“Awesome!” Villa Manis is so beautiful! Very close to centre 15min walk yet quiet location. The villa design incl interior is awesome, Mary Lee has definetly a good taste and talent, with attenion to details - everything you need are there and she made herself available to queries, so no need to worry about anything. Surely I'd like to return back whenever visiting Ubud.

“Peace on Earth” Words really don’t do such a fantastic place justice, but I will try connect you to what we have discovered. Please believe me when I say this is a must on your bucket list!!! Everything was absolutely perfect during our entire stay. Made and Kadek the staff at the Villa were very accommodating they were there to assist us with anything we needed. We spent 90% of our time in Rumah Kayu because we prefer the seclusion and everything we needed was already there. We loved "The beach" area, which is directly outside the front door, the kids loved exploring the rock pools in low tide and snorkelling in high tide . The villa was beautiful and very clean. The views from the decks are breathtaking, especially as you look onto the beach while sitting in the infinity pool. For the kids there is so much to do ball; games, drawing, soccer, cricket, badminton, baseball, banana boat rides and of course the awesome pool. I've been at Rumah kayu Villa now several times. With friends, family, In any case, this piece of Heaven on Earth has become a dear place to us. My sister describes it as one of her favorite places on earth that just makes her happy, we all feel the same about this oasis. There is so much to do! You can explore the island, the staff can charter a boat for you where you can go snorkelling, we’ve seen dolphins, manta rays, turtles and amazing sea life. I love it here so much that when i think "retreat", "relaxation", "recharging", "beauty", “exploration”, “family time” and “fun” I think of Rumah kayu Villa! Go to this well kept secret in Nusa Lembongan and i am sure you will keep it in your heart forever! .. I know it can be scary to book something online that you have never seen, but I promise-you will NOT be disappointed!!!

“Best accommodation of our entire trip” Myself and two friends travelled to Bali late in January, which was the first visit to Indonesia for all of us. Our first stop was Angel Villa and it was the best introduction to Bali we could possibly have asked for. Annie and Rod (as well as being fantastic hosts) are so knowledgeable not only of Balinese culture, but also of the local surrounds, and so for Bali novices like ourselves, we found ourselves saying "We'll ask Annie when we get back" whenever there was something we didn't fully understand, and without fail, they had the answers. Their recommendations were consistently spot on, not only for fantastic local places to eat and drink, but also for shopping destinations like for silver jewelery etc, and the best ways to get around - locally, as well as off to our next destination. We stayed in the Poolside room, which is the larger room of the two on offer, and is lovely and light, with fans and air-con to relieve the humid and hot temperatures. On days we weren't out exploring, the Villa was a fantastic place to relax - we spent a lot of time on the balai or relaxing by the pool, reading, playing cards and/or having a couple of bintangs. The gardens are exquisite and provide a brilliant oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. Given it's a homestay there is a fully equipped kitchen, and while we used it for snacks only, if you were interested in cooking a 'proper' meal you'd find everything you need, and the local supermarket is a 5 min walk away. The location in Mas is great - out of the crazy-ness of Ubud which is a huge plus, but still easy enough to get in to Ubud if and when you want to. Local market is spitting distance away for all things fresh (and is a must visit), as are cheap warungs for delicious local style food, as well as slightly more expensive restaurant style places if you so desire. Great bar called Dstar which has live music a few times a week is also easy walking distance away. Oh, and did I mention the pool?!?! As hosts Annie and Rod are very respectful - there when you need them, but at the same time it really felt like we had the place to ourselves most of the time. There is no curfew, and we all felt very comfortable to come and go as we pleased. And I know it' might seem like a small thing, but over our couple of weeks in both Bali and on the Gili Islands, Angel Villa had by far the absolute best water pressure of all our accommodation choices! Loved staying here, would return without hesitation.

“Ubud Paradise” Upon arrival, I was blown away by how gorgeous the Villa was! The vibe and environment was so completely in sync with the spirit of Bali, I felt completely at peace and zen. The location was perfect, far enough away from the tourist throng and pollution and yet close enough to zoom into Ubud town for dinner and a drink. I cannot recommend it highly enough. 5 stars all round!

“Magical every time” Villa Nusa on the beautiful island of Nusa Lembongan has become my home away from home, literally. I have been fortunate enough to stay at this amazing villa 5 times over the past 18 months, and when i arrive i am greeted like family, even Sassie (Donnas Dog) is part of the welcoming committee & from that moment the magic that has enticed me time & time again begins. The view from the villa is breathtaking, looking across to Bali with Mt agung the hero of this unframed living artwork. At any time of the day or evening you can not help but stop and be lost in the beauty surrounding you. Unless you venture away from the beachside accommodation and up the unspoilt hill you will not experience the ever-changing living canvas that is the view from Villa Nusa. Donnas Hospitality extends beyond welcoming to advice on island life , restaurant recommendations range from the truly local experience of beach dining with your feet in the sand feasting on freshly caught grilled fish with coconut chilli sambal, vegetable and rice for approx. 30,000.00 rupiah, to Fine French Cuisine at Indiana Kandanga. On this visit Donna took me snorkelling with the Manta-Rays, a truly magical experience with 3 large rays gracefully gliding around us around as if inviting us to dance, to be so close and to swim with these gentle giants is a privilege and something to treasure. I could rave about the fabulous accommodation, large pool, beautiful gardens, waking up to the birds and the View.. Mt agung changing colour in the morning light, but hey thats why i keep going back. Its really hard to leave the villa and if you decide to stay in I highly recommend the chocolate brownies & ice cream delivered from the village by motorbike just to make the experience even sweeter. Once again Big Thank you to Donna, Komang, Gede & Wayan for making my stay perfect once again,till next time my friends. thank you Jodie Cooper Perth Wa

“Rich cultural Bali experience, in comfort and authentic luxury.” Villa alamanda, sitting on the fringe of Ubud town center, indulged us with the culture and traditions of authentic Bali. Located within the local woodcarvers village of Tengkulak we were provided with bountiful scenery and experienced true Balinese daily life. The unique, yet ethnic thatched Villa was tastfully laid out. In minamalistic tones, decorated tastefully with local art, the compound integrates itself within the beauty of nature. We were certainly indulged by all of our senses and by the incredible staff. Highly recocommend.

“Perfect setting” We travelled to Candidasa in Jan 2013 for 8 days (2 adults & 3 kids 11,8 & 4). We stayed in Jogolo and the accommodation was exactly as pictured. It was very comfortable & clean. We all had an amazing stay mostly relaxing by the pool and are all very much looking forward to another stay. We were delighted by the hospitality offered by Iouri and the lovely staff. We have no hesitation recommending the accommodation as it was really lovely.

“Life changing experience!” Please convey my heartfelt thoughts to Wayan and Putri for their exceptional care and love that they showed my Daughter and myself during our stay. I didn't give enough credit when Wayan asked me about my preferences when we switched to staying at the home closer into Ubud. We honestly preferred the Swallowhouse after experiencing the second location because of the comfort of the beds, the fantastic night air, and the incredible culinary delights that Putri graced us with! Being a Master Chef, I have great appreciation for the meals that she provided. Also, being a world traveller, I can't express enough gratitude for the care that Wayan took for our tours and giving us a life changing trip and precious memories that I hope to build upon when we return to Bali. As two very adventurous women traveling alone, he provided all the added information and kept us safe during our entire stay. We feel incredibly honored and blessed to have visited places like the temple ceremony, his son's school, and his home compound and village, along with the authentic crafts and artisan villages that he supports. We loved seeing the "real" Bali and meeting the generations of families who share their generations of knowledge and products for those interested in having that kind of experience. Wayan asked if there were any suggestions that we could give and honestly, there is only one to have greater internet access for both Mac and Pc owners. However, I say that reluctantly, because a huge part of the charm and beauty of the Swallowhouse lies in being able to really unplug and become immersed in the culture and experience of Bali. There will always be travelers who need the upscale comforts but let them go to the big hotels ~ you honestly don't want that kind of person staying with you anyway ~ that comes from my years of working at The Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons! (high maintenance people are not fun!)

“truly a retreat” We arrived at night and were simply stunned in the morning when we awoke to the scenery around us. So much beautiful lush greenery and tastefully decorated open living spaces dotted by art sculptures to explore. I would recommend staying here to anyone happy to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Ubud and truly relax in a part of paradise. Tamarra and Paul were perfect hosts respecting their guests privacy but also happy to engage in interesting evening conversations. Their staff too were incredibly warm and hospitable. There are some wonderful walks to take surrounding the area and the locals are all extremely friendly.