Exotica Bali Hotel – the best villa in Canggu for value

21/10/2017

My friend asked today ” Why don’t you have your own villa in Bali?” seeing as I travel there all the time and lately have been heading over monthly.

I have looked into it, but while the ease of staying at a place such as Exotica Bali (Bed and Breakfast) is available I can’t justify the debate in my head.

Last night is the first time I have stayed there and I shall be booking ahead of time for my next visit. It books out quick!

The villa is about a ten minute walk to the beach – something that always deterred me but this is becoming the more ” hip part” of town anyway. Funky cafes, organic eats, warungs and great shops line the upper part of Jl Batu Bolong.

The entrance to the villa is lovely, the pool perfect and the staff great.

The rooms are luxurious, very well priced and have everything you need while staying away from home.

There is even a drying area for laundry and a “relaxation” space on the first floor over looking the rice fields.

I can highly recommend this place and the tariff includes breakfast!

You can book directly here.

Villa Sonja Ubud

21/10/2017

Ubud is an eclectic arty town about an hours drive from Denpasar airport.

It is well known for the art-yoga-vegetarian scene and definitely worth a stop over for a few nights to explore the local area.

Sprinkled in and around Ubud are free flowing waterfalls, lush rain forests and sacred sights.

Accommodation ranges from home stays – very keep and usually suitable, through to elaborate, six star world class resorts.

This time around I opted to stay at the Villa Sonja as it was close to the side of town where I was doing my reiki course (at Ubud Yoga Centre).

I was really impressed. For the price, the rooms were large and clean.

The villas are an assortment of rooms, (hotel style) and larger rooms. All with private bathrooms.

Two large pools ensures plenty of swimming options and there is a warung for meals on site. I usually eat next door at the Swasti Eco Village as it offers incredible food.

I would rate this place as 7/10 over all. 9/10 value for money.

The Pink Coco Gili T

21/08/2017

This is my second holiday to Gili T.

It’s a great ferry ride over and we are staying at the north western tip at a hotel called The Pink Coco.

Hotels on Gili are more expensive than Bali – mostly because they can charge more (captured audience) and they have to transport all the goods to the island.

I like the Pink Coco. It is pretty laid back, set out like a hotel but only 2 stories high, and lots of privacy from your deck.

We don’t spend a lot of time in our room anyway, Gili is an island for exploring and having little adventures.

The breakfasts are good – choice of local fare, great juices (try the dragon fruit juice) and they will top up your room with water when you request it.

The only caution about this hotel is the chlorine in the long pool. It turned my hair green. Well blue-green as my friends reassured me!

Luxury in Ubud – Puri Sunia

22/03/201622/03/2016

Last year I stumbled across the Puri Sunia twenty minutes outside of Ubud.

Balinese rice fields — Rice fields near Ubud Bali

It is a new resort that is very beautifully designed and connected to greenery in a very Bali way.

I stay in a deluxe room and it is deluxe. Much better than some of the other similar rated resorts in this region.

The spa area is good and everyone is welcomed with a complimentary foot spa massage. It really does work – massage is relaxing.

You could simply whittle time away at the resort starting with early morning yoga and stretching. If you want to slide in and out of the pool like I did, you can order excellent pool side dining.

I think you should venture into town for a few “must experience” in Ubud.

Great restaurants, music and bars and funky art shops, Ubud is a well known in-land town higher than the better known beachside town of Kuta near Denpasar.

Ubud sunset — sunset over the rice paddies, Ubud

I love Ubud for it’s organic cafes, it’s colour, it’s history, and clothing shops. A friend of mine has her own female clothing range called Goddess on the Go and she has the material made out of wood! Great fabric, nice and cool and easy to wash. Say I said hi if you make it to her shop.