So many villas, so little time – how do you decide? One of the things that makes Ministry of Villas stand out in a churning sea of booking sites is that our team personally inspects all of our villas. This means that when you contact our villa specialists, they have actually visited the properties in person and know them first hand. Well, now they’re spilling the beans: here are our villa specialists’ favourite villas across Asia.
Villa Specialist: Sara
Favourite Villa: Hideaway on Escarpment, Niseko
“Hideaway on Escarpment in Niseko is one of the best chalets I have ever stayed in. I stayed here in 2018 and can’t wait to go back! The name describes the place perfectly: this really is a hidden gem tucked into the outer edge of Hirafu Village in the prestigious Escarpment Estate. The chalet is designed like an origami, with cool design features throughout – they even have a foldaway gym hidden in the living room. The highlight here is the amazing onsen which overlooks Mount Yotei. I love that the onsen is not hidden on a basement level and instead it’s built into the living areas. The chalet comes with Apple TV, Miele appliances and great style throughout. Overall, I give Hideaway on Escarpment a 10/10.”
Hideaway on Escarpment
3 Bedrooms
Location: Hirafu, Niseko, Japan
Price: From USD $563 per night
Villa Specialist: Qhorin
Favourite Villa: Tirta Nila, Bali
“Tirta Nila is the perfect villa for anyone who really wants to relax and just enjoy their holiday. I stayed at Tirta Nila in 2017 and it’s now one of my favourite villas in Bali. We snorkelled right in front of the villa – I love that you don’t need to catch a boat or travel anywhere to enjoy the water. The garden and pool are also beautiful. The food we had here was amazing! Overall, I love the service at Tirta Nila. It’s so professional, but also very friendly and welcoming. The villa manager Gusti is an absolute gem.”
Tirta Nila
4 Bedrooms
Location: Candidasa, Bali, Indonesia
Price: From USD $549 per night
Villa Specialist: Elisa
Favourite Villa: Lataliana Villas, Bali
“Lataliana Villas is a great choice for families and groups who want to be close to the beach but also want some sophistication. I visited the villas in 2018 and our team has also stayed here recently. This is a large estate of two private villas plus an optional annexe, so the property can be rented as a 2,3,4,5,6,7 or even a huge 8-bedroom option. The villas are well spread out, so even if you’re staying with a big group there’s still a nice sense of privacy. Lataliana Villas offer a great level of service with a personal chef, in-house spa menu and a list of activities which the villa staff can help arrange. Seminyak Beach is literally within a five-minute walk.”
Lataliana Villas
3,5,8 Bedrooms
Location: Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Price: From USD $420 per night
Villa Specialist: Nila
Favourite Villa: Villa Viman, Phuket
“One of my favourite villas is Villa Viman, which is part of the Samsara villa estate in Phuket, Thailand. I stayed at this villa in 2017 and completely fell in love with the views – especially those I got from my bedroom’s outdoor Jacuzzi! Villa Viman has a great design which mixes Thai elements with modern design and you definitely feel like you’re in Thailand when staying here. This is a great villa for couples or families travelling with older kids, as there are quite a few stairs to navigate. I also took a day trip to Phi Phi Islands when staying here, so the location is great for exploring Phuket. And seriously – those views!”
Villa Viman
6 Bedrooms
Location: Kamala, Phuket, Thailand
Price: From USD $1,870 per night
Villa Specialist: Tini
Favourite Villa: Akara Villas M, Bali
“A lot of our guests are travelling to Bali with kids and I myself am a mum of two, so I’m always looking for villas that cater to families. I visited Akara Villas in 2017 and fell in love with Villa M. I love that the villa’s pool gets a lot of sun and since the living areas can be fully enclosed, the villa is safe for kids. There are two bedrooms side by side on the upper floor, so parents can check up on the kids and the villa also has a great rooftop terrace. Akara Villas has a very strategic location close to restaurants and right next door to Potato Head, but the villas themselves remain unbelievably quiet. The staff at Akara Villas are also great and very accommodating.”
Akara Villas M
3 Bedrooms
Location: Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Price: From USD $560 per night
Villa Specialist: Diana
Favourite Villa: Bidadari Estate, Bali
“Bidadari Estate is definitely one of the most jaw-dropping villas in Bali. The villa is built on a clifftop in Nusa Dua and the ocean views you get from these heights are out of this world. One of the bedrooms has an ocean view balcony where the views look exactly like Jack and Rose standing at the bow of the Titanic! My favourite feature is the villa’s private inclinator which brings you down to a white sandy beach, resort style. Bidadari Estate also has its own spa and gym and the service is fantastic. If you really want to treat yourself, this is the villa you should stay in!”
Bidadari Estate
4 Bedrooms
Location: Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
Price: From USD $1,444 per night
Villa Specialist: Lola
Favourite Villa: Ani Villas, Sri Lanka
“Ani Villas Sri Lanka is one of the most amazing places I have ever stayed in. This mega villa offers an amazing level of service, with everything from full board meals to massages and daily activities included in the daily rates. This place is perfect if you’re travelling with a large group and don’t want to stress about everyone having enough to do or about what everyone will be eating, as the staff at Ani Villas will really do everything for you. I stayed at Ani Villas Sri Lanka in 2016 and was completely blown away by the service. They have a list of daily activities for you to choose from: massages, cooking classes, yoga, biking tours…. The food is also amazing.”
Ani Villas Sri Lanka
15 Bedrooms
Location: Dickwella, Sri Lanka
Price: From USD $5,343 per night
Villa Specialist: Kim
Favourite Villa: One Eleven, Bali
“First of all, it’s really hard to choose just one villa! But One Eleven in Seminyak is definitely one of my favourites. This complex has nine one-bedroom villas and it’s perfect for couples, newlyweds and honeymooners as no kids are allowed – they can even host small weddings. I visited One Eleven in 2018. The villas have a cool modern design, the private pools are enormous for one-bedroom villas and every villa has its own private spa room. But what I really love about One Eleven is the service. Their menu doesn’t just offer the basic food items, but you can also order cigars and drinks to your villa. Even the breakfast service is amazing, with a huge menu to choose from and a private chef who prepares the food at your villa, so you can really see the whole meal being prepared from fresh ingredients.”
One Eleven
1 Bedroom
Location: Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Price: From USD $374 per night
As you can see, our specialists really know their villas. Our team regularly inspects our villas and we also make it a point to spend the night so we can experience the services each villa offers. If you need help finding the perfect villa or would like some expert assistance in planning your next holiday, contact our team.
