Meaning palm in Indonesian, Villa Palem is one of Asia’s hidden gems. The owner has gone to incredible lengths to make every room, view and aspect of the villa to tell a story with amazing attention to detail. The finished product is marvellous.
Villa Palem sits on an elevated block and takes advantage of long views out to the ocean with a lovely sea breeze. Fringed by palm trees, the estate gives you a sense of privacy which we felt was like an oasis amidst the Balinese forest.
Upon arrival we were greeted by the villa’s team who welcomed us with open arms. The extremely professional team look after the villa like it’s their own home. Most have been here a couple of years and have developed a keen eye for details that ensure the villa and stunning tropical gardens are in pristine condition.
Tropical Balinese Gardens
There is no better view then looking out to miles of forest and the ocean in the distance. All rooms in the villa have gorgeous garden views. The plants flourish in this part of Bali and have set the tone perfectly – they allow you to relax and leave the modern world behind.
Villa Palem’s Beautiful Bedrooms
What I love about the layout of Villa Palem is the abundance of personal space. The bedrooms are far enough away from each other so couples can have their own space. A pair of bedrooms are interconnecting with a kid’s room furnished with 3 single beds and an ensuite bathroom with a shower and toilet. A large walk-in wardrobe connects the rooms together, adding a buffer for parents. Perfect for kids or teenagers you want close… but not that close!
Jungle Poolside
The pool is a short stroll away from the main living pavilion and features a cool outdoor bale. It has an alang alang roof and furnished with outdoor lounge and day bed to relax away from the sun. Families will find this a treat as you can hang out here with a chilled bottle of wine while the children enjoy the pool. A full-size tennis court is at the base of villa and offers guests another terrific space to entertain.
Some people don’t like the idea of being miles from shops and restaurants, however I must ask the question: why spend an entire vacation in tourism hot spots when you can spend part of your holiday in your own oasis?
Villa Palem offers so much more than your ordinary villa or even 5-star resort and it allows big groups of friends and family members to come together and actually spend time together as opposed to meeting in a lobby or navigating busy streets. I’m biased of course, but I think staying in a villa like Villa Palem away from everything is really special – and isn’t that why you wanted a holiday?
Dinner is Served at Villa Palem
People who have not stayed in a villa will need to adjust to ordering meals in advance. Villa Palem is miles from the nearest town, so the staff need your help to decide on the menu and shop for ingredients in advance. They have a fixed menu available to make it easier for you to choose from popular dishes that the chef is experienced in cooking.
Some villas will have a priced menu and others like Villa Palem go off a grocery option when you pay for the groceries plus a surcharge of 20% on top. So you can see when catering to a large group this makes sense and can save you money. Plus having your very own personal chef is a lovely treat while on holidays. But also if you need to cater to dietary requirements like people with allergies it’s the perfect option!
I booked last minute so the villa manager suggested a few simple dishes – which were amazing! I think customers overthink the menu at times and want to make too many changes to amazing dishes simply because they are not familiar with the dish but after staying in so many villas I like to go with the flow and see what the chef prepares.
Breakfast was equally wonderful. The villa has a full-size coffee machine – a must for villas and for coffee lovers like me. Meals are served on time and in the open plan dining room – it’s a room with a view and the sound of the ocean.
Villa Palem – Location, Location, Location
When we visit our Bali office I am used to staying in a Seminyak bubble, but now with Batubelig, Berawa, Canggu, Pereninan getting busier and busier I’m forcing myself to explore other areas on the island and boy I’m glad I have! Take it from me: if you have a week in Bali make the effort to go further afield – not only will you get to experience a stunning villa for an incredible price, but you’ll tap back into the Balinese spirit and culture that made the island the phenomenon it is today.
