You might’ve already experienced Balinese luxury on some level but the Elite Havens experience is something altogether different. Operating online, you can browse their range of villas, book and pay in a few minutes.
A villa manager and a team of staff come as standard so you can concentrate on having the best holiday of your life. We also had a private chef on hand to take the hassle out of cooking (available for a surcharge which can be organised before your stay.)
Let’s start with the cost of somewhere like Casa Evaliza. This incredible and majestic 5 bed private pool villa sleeps 8 adults and 5 children. It might seem expensive if you’ve looked online in the UK and seen the millions of Indonesian Rupiah, but for the week we stayed in early June, Casa Evaliza worked out at £5000 for the week. That’s only £625 per adult and trust me, it’s worth every single penny.
Winding through the chaotic streets of lively Seminyak on our route to Casa Evaliza made us immediately appreciate the sense of calm and peacefulness which greeted us as we closed the heavy doors behind us.
Merry birdsong and the mesmerizing sound of the gentle waves in the swimming pool were our new daily soundtrack and oh so welcome.
After meeting our staff and unpacking our cases, the 14 metre pool proved impossible to ignore! Immediately cooling and refreshing, we positioned ourselves on the loungers, pool side for the rest of the day with the odd gentle swing in the hammock under the trees.
Our only (very welcome) interruption was Casa Evaliza’s chef for the evening, making sure we’d be happy with a traditional Indonesian banquet. All we had to do was be ready at the table for 8pm and dinner would be served!
Surrounded by tropical plants and greenery and even featuring an authentic Balinese-Hindu home temple to enhance our cultural immersion, the design of this incredible landscaped garden is truly something special.
It’s worth mentioning that pre-check-in correspondence is informative and welcoming from Elite Havens and the staff will check if you need any provisions ordered in before you arrive.
Casa Evaliza’s 5 bedrooms were all absolutely beautiful with the main master bedroom suite on the ground floor beside our very own gym. It’s probably worth drawing straws before you arrive for this room because believe me, you will all want first dibs!
The spacious main bedroom with super king bed features a very special carved Toraja headboard, a separate day bed (which can accommodate another guest or is perfect for lounging) a desk and TV. This room leads through into the gigantic double basin bathroom which is so huge there’s room for a free standing tub big enough to swim in, a couple of comfy chairs, power shower cubicle and toilet.
Beyond the bathroom are another set of giant mirrored sliding doors which flow into the dressing room. Here, there’s probably enough storage for your luggage and everyone elses with hanging wardrobe space, shelving and several drawers.
Don’t be too disappointed if you end up in one of the other bedrooms though! Located on the first floor, there’s a brilliant bunk bed room for the kids which sleeps up to 5 and three more adult rooms with luxurious en suites.
The main villa pavilion is one long open plan area which has been styled beautifully. There are some incredible Balinese art work and furniture pieces and sculptures here including antiques and an ornate carved Javanese day bed, as well as a lovely cosy reading nook and a full library of books!
Covered by a traditional thatched alang alang roof, it’s a wonderfully sociable space which has been styled into sections, including a living and dining room area and the open plan kitchen as well as an air-conditioned TV room.
Not wanting to waste a second of our time in the villa, very early mornings were spent drinking delicious Balinese coffee, melon juices and platters of fresh fruit, before a quick session in the gym (there’s a rowing machine, treadmill and cross trainer) and then lounging by the pool – our only objective for the rest of the day!
An in villa massage menu was all the encouragement we needed to book an appointment and two hours later we were enjoying blissful relaxation under the shaded bale lounger at the back of the villa.
Dinner meanwhile, was exceptional – restaurant level cuisine but cooked right there from scratch in the villa kitchen and nothing to wash up afterwards!
We enjoyed the most excellent food during our stay including freshly made spring rolls, prawn tempura, nasi goreng, the most incredible chicken satay, Indonesian curries, mahi mahi wrapped in banana leaf and gado gado (traditional Indonesian salad with tofu).
Post dinner evenings were spent playing cards and chess with wine and rum under the star-lit sky while taking in the scent of fresh frangipani.
Supposing you do want to leave your villa (although we can’t imagine why!), the beauty of Casa Evaliza’s secluded location is that it is tucked away down an unassuming alley, but it’s also actually smack bang in the middle of Seminyak. Bars, restaurants, beach clubs are all nearby as well as the sacred Pura Petitenget Temple if you feel like embracing the island’s rich spiritual heritage while you’re here.
If you’ve never had a staffed villa, it may feel a little strange, but honestly, the professional team are there when you need them but out of sight otherwise, striking the perfect balance.
It’s rare that there’s a genuine sadness when I leave somewhere but everything was just so perfect, I’m longing to go back. The guest comments book which we signed just before we left was further testament to the fact it’s not only us who felt this way!
Elite Havens have properties in Bali, Lombok, Nusa Lembongan, Phuket, Koh Samui, Maldives, Japan and India.
Book your out of this world stay here.