Welcome to Villa San
Less than 300 metres north of Ubud’s Royal Palace lies Villa San, a private and serene oasis in central Bali. Designed as a labour of love, the villa is only minutes from sensational shopping, superb spas, classic cultural performances and luxuriant rice fields.
Showcasing an impressive array of artworks and handicrafts originating from China, Africa and Indonesia, Villa San comfortably accommodates 12 people in six large bedrooms (three doubles, three twins). These buildings are nestled around a 25m lap pool and set within lush gardens which incorporate elegant sculptures and a tranquil meditation terrace.
Friendly professional staff will quickly make guests feel totally relaxed at this spacious and recently (2011) refurbished villa, which is particularly suitable for an extended family or a group of friends.
About Villa San
Guests at Villa San are spoiled for choice when it comes to ways to relax. Reflecting the owners’ artistic and spiritual leanings, there’s the loft studio for painting, a telescope for star-gazing from the rooftop terrace at night, and a Buddhist stupa and yoga terrace tucked in a quiet corner of the property for group or individual meditation and yoga practice.
The spacious grounds offer freedom and flexibility for both families and groups of friends, with hammocks and sun loungers arranged around the 25 x 5m pool and a pool pavilion seating up to 15 people. Inside, as well as the living and dining spaces, there are two well-equipped entertainment rooms – one is part of the two bedroom master suite, the other adjacent the informal dining room – a gym and a children’s playroom. The villa showcases some exquisite art and handicrafts from China, Ghana and Indonesia.
Villa San comprises six large bedrooms – three doubles and three twins. French doors from all the bedroom pavilions look out over tranquil gardens, only steps away from the long sloping lawn and the inviting pool.
A friendly, helpful team of staff are on hand around the clock, with a butler and chef available to meet every request. They are knowledgeable about local Hindu cultural activities, art galleries and the myriad options for exploring and learning about the region (guests can take a craft or cooking class, or book an in-house meditation or yoga session) and will recommend the best of local restaurants, cafés and spas.
Rooms
At the heart of Villa San lies a two-storey living pavilion whose crisp modern lines and eclectic collection of wooden art pieces draw the eye from the moment you step into the villa. The pavilion houses the lounge, dining and entertainment areas as well as a playroom, artist studio, rooftop terrace and the kitchen. White casual seating, chrome and glass desks and crisp white walls are perfect foil for the exquisite Balinese, Chinese and African handicrafts in bedrooms and living areas.
The six bedroom suites, all with spacious walk-in wardrobes and luxurious bathrooms, are built in an L-shape around this living pavilion; each a discreet distance from its neighbour.
Bedrooms
Villa San’s six spacious bedrooms all feature large, luxuriously comfortable beds dressed in fine white linen and with plump feather-filled pillows. Exquisite hand-crafted bed runners from Africa and Indonesia add the finishing touch. Fine artworks and more carefully selected handicrafts grace the walls. Each room is equipped with ceiling fans, air conditioners and iPod docks and furnished with a desk, bedside tables and reading lights.
Villa San’s master suite, comprises two very generous sized bedrooms (one king–bedded and one twin-bedded) separated by a similarly large and comfortable family room, with three inviting sofas and a state-of-the-art home entertainment system. The well-appointed ensuite bathrooms, accessed through large dressing rooms with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, are full of light from windows facing onto gardens on two sides.
In separate buildings around the main living pavilion, eight more adults can be accommodated in two queen bedrooms and two twin bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms featuring large tubs and showers. Two extra beds are available for children, on request.
Living, dining and entertainment
Villa San’s air conditioned entertainment lounge features one of the property’s two state of the art home theatre systems, incorporating a large flat-screen satellite TV, DVD player and stereo system. Guests can sit back and relax on one of the big comfy sofas and look out over the property through floor-to-ceiling windows. Glass doors from the entertainment lounge open directly to the open-sided living area, furnished with more comfortable sofas and an unusual collection of wood and glass sculptures. Just a few steps away from the living area is a professionally equipped gym, while to the right is a casual dining area, the kids’ playroom and finally the green, spacious lawns and sparkling swimming pool area beyond.
While most of the cooking is done behind the scenes in the staff kitchen, no expense has been spared in the open-plan ‘front’ kitchen, where the chef makes his final meal preparations and where guests are welcome to indulge in their own culinary creations. You’ll be delighted by the bright, chunky Spanish-style crockery, the range of appliances and the sizable wine fridge. Separated from the kitchen area by a timber-topped breakfast bar, the dining area is open on three sides, looking out onto gardens and the swimming pool lawn. Its long wooden table with comfortable seating can accommodate up to 14 dinner guests.
Upstairs, reached by a spiral staircase hidden next to the pool steps, an artist’s studio with wide glass windows provides a private, quiet hideaway. The adjacent rooftop terrace is a perfect place to scan the heavens, with the help of a professional telescope.
Outdoor areas
Pool loungers, hammocks and casual seating shaded by sun umbrellas are comfortably arranged throughout Villa San’s well-kept gardens, while a covered gazebo seating 12-15 lies at the far end of the pool.
Villa San’s sparkling 25 x 5m pool is just perfect for swimming laps. For lazier times, there’s a lounging ledge at the deep end (1.8m), while the steps at the shallow end (1.2m) are wide and safe for younger swimmers.
Tucked away in a quiet corner behind the master suite is a tree-shaded terrace for yoga practice, suitable for groups of up to 15 people. Behind it, a traditional stone stupa (a Buddhist meditation building known as the Serene room) offers the perfect place for moments of peaceful reflection.
Facilities
- 1 private swimming pool (25m x 5m)
- 6 air-conditioned bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms
- Entertainment room featuring TV and satellite connection, DVD, CD player with stereo system
- iPod docks and speakers
- Children’s play room with books, games, toys, videos and DVDs
- 2 baby cots, 2 high chairs and 2 baby car seats
- Gym equipment
- Barbecue facilities
- IDD, local call, & WiFi broadband internet connection
- Safety deposit box in each bedroom
Children at Villa San
Villa holidays are an excellent option for families, where advantages include having access to your own private facilities, such as swimming pool, living space and gardens and having the freedom to use them whenever you want.
Knowing that the kids can run around happily, independently and safely, without you having to worry about other guests, is a real plus – and one that means parents are certain to have a more relaxed holiday too. Villa San has a long lawn for Frisbees and ball games, a great swimming pool with shallow section and two TV/entertainment rooms. There’s also a dedicated playroom with toys, games and pool equipment.
A particular highlight at Villa San is the kid-friendly staff. All Asians have an inherent love of children which means that the villa staff make them feel as welcome as adults. Having these willing babysitters on hand also gives you plenty of flexibility and freedom to do your own exploring beyond the villa grounds (full time babysitters will cost a little extra). Although equipped kitchens allow you to prepare meals for fussy eaters or babies with ease, staff will happily to do this for you – just talk through your requirements and meal schedules with the villa manager or cook and they will take care of the rest.
Neither do you have to worry about packing all that cumbersome extra equipment when you stay at Villa San as we can provide you with all the essentials, and more – from pool safety fences to baby baths, cots, high chairs and car seats. What we don’t have in-house, we can generally hire in for a small fee. Just talk through your requirements with us when you make your reservation and we’ll make sure it’s all there ready and waiting for your arrival.
And when the excitement of exploring the villa starts to wear off, check out our Things to do page; there’s plenty in the area to keep kids of all ages amused throughout the holiday.
Some of the family-friendly facilities offered at Villa San include:
- Kids room with TV/ DVD player
- Children’s books
- Board games and toys
- Children pool toys
- Electronic Games (Wii)
- Children’s menus
- High chair (2)
- Swimming pool with shallow section
- TV/Entertainment room
Dining
The villa offers a suggestion menu (including Asian and Western dishes) to make ordering easier but guests are welcome to chat with the chef if there are other items they would like to try. With excellent training from the Oberoi Hotel Lombok, chef is willing and able to accommodate most requests.
To get the best out of the kitchen, it is a good idea to plan meals with the chef the evening before, or over breakfast, allowing plenty of time for deliveries and shopping to be done. Food and drink is provided on a ‘cost’ basis with a small mark-up to cover pick-ups/delivery and stock ingredients. Meat is sourced from quality suppliers and other ingredients are bought from the market daily. The owners suggest leaving a kitty/float with the manager who will keep a track of spending.
Spa and yoga services
Many of Ubud’s very best spa therapists and yoga instructors can provide a health treatment at Villa San to suit specific needs or ailments, or to design a class for an individual or small group.
The Villa Manager, is a wealth of information about the range of Thai and Balinese massage, reiki, reflexology, energetic healing, yoga, meditation and other services available to bring in house.
Location
Villa San is a stone’s throw from Ubud’s Royal Palace – where cultural performances are held nightly – and very convenient for many of Ubud’s favourite treasures and attractions. While the property itself is very quiet and private, a vast, bustling local market is only 300m from the front door while a delightful variety of high quality restaurants and cafés can be found in and around the centre of town.
Ubud and her surrounding small villages are rich with culture and art. Many villages focus on a specific craft – such as woodworking, stone carving, ikat weaving or batik painting. These crafts are not just for the tourists, they have formed the livelihoods of these Balinese villagers for several hundred years. Guests can visit, watch and in many cases take classes – learning to cook local food, carve a wooden mask, dye a batik scarf, dance in a traditional performance, play an ancient brass musical instrument, or attend a life drawing session.
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Rates
All villa rates are subject to a 5% service charge and thereafter a 10% government tax.
Rates include:
Exclusive use of the villa, all its services and facilities and the 11 dedicated staff which include a fantastic chef and of course your own private pool, children’s play room, entertainment, media, dining and living rooms complimented with 6 wonderful bedrooms all within easy walking distance to Ubud’s centre. A complimentary car and driver is provided up to 8 hours per day (excluding petrol).Season Period Price (per night) 14 nights or more Minimum stay Low Season 09 Jan 2013 to 07 Feb 2013 US$ 695 ++ N/A 2 nights 14 Feb 2013 to 26 Mar 2013 07 Apr 2013 to 15 Jun 2013 01 Sep 2013 to 18 Dec 2013 High Season 08 Feb 2013 to 13 Feb 2013 US$ 1050 ++ N/A 5 nights 27 Mar 2013 to 06 Apr 2013 16 Jun 2013 to 31 Aug 2013 Peak Season 19 Dec 2013 to 08 Jan 2014 US$ 1250 ++ N/A 7 nights
