In Reply to: Villa Baliana posted by Baligrandad on Friday, 22. April 2011 at 09:04 Bali Time:
Okay, pro's and con's of Villa Baliana.
Firstly, yes I would stay here again, its spacious, comfortable, and has everything our family of 7 needs.
I wouldn't recommend more than 7 people, and it really is set up for 6, but we fit very comfortably with a roll up cot bed for Master 2.
The floor plan on the website is correct, with an enclosed and lockable stairway heading up to a roomy second storey. The second storey has a large lounge, and double balcony's.
The bedrooms all have comfy beds, with the Master Bed having a solid Queen, the second bedroom having a lovely King Size, and the third having two good sized twin beds. All rooms have built in cupboards which include hanging space and shelves. There are also desks/dressing tables, and bedside tables for additional storage.
The bathrooms are lovely. The master ensuite in particular is a good size, with a big vanity (if you look at the pictures on the website, remember that the sinks are HUGE!!). The showers are great, with shower heads that can be detached and moved around (on hoses... you know what I mean?), and the towels while a bit thin, are clean and do the job. The towels are probably due to be replaced, but its not like they are full of holes, or smell bad, they are just a little thin, and detract from the rest of the bathroom setup.
All bedroom linen is clean, and changed regularly. No complaints there.
Made and Agus, the household staff, are great. Extremely uobtrusive, but very helpful. They have one day off per fortnight, when the housegirl works on her own, but the rest of the time they are around first thing in the morning cleaning up the grounds, the kitchen, cutting up fruit, or if you ask Made will make your breakfast.
During the morning Made and her helper clean the bathrooms, make the beds, sweep the floors and generally just tidy everything up. You barely know they are here, and to be honest, we have been out so often, that most of the time we have been out of their way completely.
During the day Made takes your washing from the washing baskets in each room and magically makes it clean again. Be warned that you don't receive your clothes back until the next day, and sometimes it can take longer if the weather is too humid. If it is raining Made takes the washing to the laundromat, otherwise it gets hung up outside to dry.
The lounge is comfy with a 3 seater, a 2 seater and two singles. We move furniture around to suit us. The dining table seats 6 (as does the one in the Bale) but we just grab one of the many other chairs to fit Master 2 in.
Outside is where you start to encounter one or two small problems. The grassy area is nice and big, but it can get a bit muddy, and is a bit uneven, so you have to watch your step. The Bale is great, no complaints, especially as there is a good fan in the roof to help keep you cool.
The pool is also lovely, not too hot, not too cold... but it looks a bit murky, due to the leaf litter that falls from the surrounding lush gardens. Agus cleans it regularly, and we've tested it ourselves, the water is fine. But it is a little murky so be prepared. The cushions on the poolside lounge chairs need to be replaced, but they're still okay, just getting a bit tired.
The biggest problem, is that all the tiling outside, both around the pool, towards the bale and most especially the red tiling heading up to the villa itself is VERY SLIPPERY when wet. We have all been treading carefully, and most of us have slipped at least once. Luckily noone has been hurt, but we've learnt to dry our legs and feet before we take a single step. I don't think there is much that can be done without replacing all the tiling, just be careful.
But seriously, don't let this put you off staying at Villa Baliana. This place is a gem.
Now outside of the grounds. The narrow Gang leading from the Villa towards Jl Werkudara desperately needs to be re-done. Its one giant pot hole with a few patches of asphalt. Trying to push a stroller along is nearly impossible.
The neighbours are great, even with the distant building works beside Kumala Hotel, which you can occasionally hear. We think there is a Chinese family next door, with someone taking piano lessons. We get serenaded each morning by the quiet tinkling :)
We very rarely see anyone out and about on the Gang, and when we have, they have been friendly and pleasant.
At the end of the Gang, you have a small Circle K, an Eden Green Spa, and a leather tailor. If you turn left you find the Kumala on your left, and numerous small shops on your right. Head down this way and you will pass Jadi Cafe, and Warung Asia on your right, and at the end Corner 66 Restaurant, and Marzano Restaurant.
If you turn right you will pass the Purai Dama Hotel on your right, numerous shops on your left, the laneway to the beach on your right directly after the hotel, and after the dogleg you will hit Hotel Kumala Pantai, and the Jayakarta. On the left you will find heaps of small shops, Briella Spa, Rizeky Tailor, and heaps of other good stuff. Opposite the Jayakarta is a street which houses Yutz Restaurant, Tommys Cafe, a great Kodak shop for changing money and heaps more.
All of this is within easy walking distance, and then you have the beach restaurants as well.
Anyways, thats a brief run down, hopefully it answers all of your questions about the Villa, and its surrounds.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Cheers,
BaliDaze