The villa guide to Bali
We are not sure if there is such a thing as a first timer Aussie to Bali anymore but if so, here is our checklist of what’s on offer and how to plan a getaway where you will feel like royalty on a servant’s budget.
The Driver
You will be greeted and collected at the airport, which is a nice luxury after a long flight. The drivers are also well versed in the local area and can take you to the less touristy parts of the island.
Having a driver on call and the same driver for the time you are there means you get to know them, they share their history and stories of their family. We even met our driver’s family and children who were delightful.
The Cook
We all dream of having a cook when we come home weary from our working day, so to enjoy a local cook’s cuisine (especially if travelling with fussy children) and to have someone prepare a meal entirely to your liking, is a wonderful experience. The cooks are often trained as chefs and can take you to the local markets each day where they buy the ingredients for the day from the local Balinese. It’s a lively insight into the local way of life. You will also witness first hand how cheap fresh produce is in Bali
Our cook in Seminyak took our 12 years old girls to the markets and they haggled for fruit, veggies and picked the fish for the evening meal from the local fishmonger. They then enjoyed coconut ice cream from a local ice-cream maker. It was the highlight of their trip to experience the real Bali. You have to ask for this, as they are very respectful and wouldn’t assume you want to experience something that may seem to them mundane. They were quite amused that we wanted to do this rather than go to the Waterpark!
The Staff
Balinese people are gentle, kind and caring. They will babysit for you if you wish to have a night out without the kids for a small additional fee. Staying in a villa usually means large grounds to for the kids to play in safely and a pool to enjoy.
The Villa Sagitta in Ubud
The Villa in Ubud we stayed in was a cut above any other in the past in terms of its staff, cook and Villa Manager. Nothing was too hard. They even do gluten free meals! The villa was spectacular and on arrival there was fresh juice and cool wet towels to freshen up. Villa Sagitta provides a simple, reasonably priced à la carte menu at the villa. In addition to the menu on offer are special Balinese delicacies on request such as suckling pig and duck tutu. While we were there, we were offered a special Balinese feast one evening (requires 24 hours notice) The food was traditional, sublime and beat for authenticity any of the sophisticated meals we enjoyed in Seminyak.
The accommodation is perfect when traveling with friends or family. There were 3 bedrooms in the main villa and the Joglo suite, a separate pavilion situated a few metres from the three bedrooms in the main villa. It has all the services you would expect from a luxury hotel – discreet staff, advice on what to door and sight seeing and a daily maid service.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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