From start to finish, Ben and his staff were helpful, friendly and effective. I liked that Ben was so personal - he clearly loves this property, enjoys Bali and meeting new people. I was a little concerned because I was traveling alone but Ben made sure to set me up with a driver who met me at the airport, all the WhatsApp numbers for him and the staff, a book of information for the villa and he even dropped by for a couple of visits.
There are three staff members who come daily to clean, make beds and take care of the garden and pool. Their service is genuinely helpful and personal - I got to see family pictures, get restaurant recommendations for Balinese food and learn some Indonesian words, which was fun. There were a couple of things that didn’t work very well at the villa (the front door bolt and the tub faucet/drain), but they were fixed almost as soon as I mentioned they were broken. The staff have a small room at the side of the villa and are only in attendance for a couple of hours a day, so the villa is quite private. However, if you plan to skinny dip in the private pool, I encourage you to call out at the side door to make sure everyone is gone before you indulge! What makes this villa unique is that it is Mediterranean-inspired design and very open living space (the only enclosed and air conditioned spaces are the bedrooms) so I recommend it if you enjoy nature and being outdoors. You’ll be entertained by the little brown frogs (but don’t get too close, they can spit if they feel threatened), the small house lizards chirping and running on the walls, the geckos calling, the house chipmunk on the tree in the center of the house and the orange cat that will visit. The insects and birds are pretty and enchanting to watch. Watch out for chipmunk poop in the morning, and don’t leave the bright white light on over the sink when you go out at night as the flying insects will throw a big party on the sink and counter and you’ll have to clean up their tiny corpses in the morning! Being so close to your neighbors might seem daunting but it is remarkably quiet for being so close to other people and to the bustling beach. Quickly get to the beach and main shopping streets through the shortcuts. Walk five minutes along the narrow Gang Keraton to Pintang Market & BMC money changer. Safe spot, great for walking, good for solo travelers who like a ton of space, nature lovers, families, multiple couples or friends. Two thumbs up - thanks, Ben!
