We were enticed to stay at Planta Villas by a wonderful looking offer from Luxury Escapes. Bali was not on our radar as our next holiday destination, gosh, we’d only just been there 5 months earlier, but this offer had us dreaming of cocktails by the pool, and the flavours of Indonesia. Plus, it the villas were situated in a new area of Bali for us to explore.
Our communication prior to arrival was friendly and easy, and we were picked up from the airport without hassle. It was only around 30 minutes in comfort of our airconditioned van until we arrived at this:
Each of the villas has a huge bathroom, and private outdoor areas to sit and watch the sunset. This was the sky the first night we arrived:
One of the wonderful aspects of Planta Villas was the size of it. With only 5 2-person villas, we often felt like we were in a private residence. Each time we swam in the pool we were by ourselves. Heaven!
We met a couple of gorgeous young families staying while we were there and although we could all choose the time we ate breakfast, every morning we were there together, sharing a breakfast table and enjoying some really interesting conversation. This was a highlight for us.
Planta Villas is in a semi-rural area, interspersed with local living, rice plantations, dogs and chickens. As with most of Bali, there are no footpaths leading us to village shops, and in the heat of the day we preferred to hire a scooter and ride. It’s not as busy or crazy as Seminyak, so riding was pretty easy, however Planta Villas offered to drive us anywhere in Canggu at no charge, whenever we wanted, and we used their service a couple of times. They gave us a card with their phone number and address, which made it easy for getting a taxi back, and on one occasion we asked a shopkeeper to call them to collect us. We were happy with this service although some of the other guests we met while staying there said the phone wasn’t always answered when they’d tried to return to the villas.
Amongst Rice Fields – photo taken from our drone
Planta Villas felt more like staying in a private residence than in a resort. All of the villas common areas, like the pool, the breakfast area and the reception are beautifully styled, but the service was not as attentive or as professional as a hotel or resort. The members of staff were friendly and being only 5 Villas, we got to know a few of them. The manager particularly was very helpful and accommodating.
Everyday our Villa was perfectly cleaned, and we always had fresh water. There were a couple of things that were not quite up to standard though – we had two small safes in our room, but neither of them was bolted down, so we didn’t bother to use them. In saying that, we didn’t have a single issue with anything being taken. We had expensive camera and drone gear that we were initially concerned about, but there was no issue. There was a slight lack of communication about what was included in our stay and Luxury Escapes holiday. We sorted it though, and all went to plan. The villas gardens are so meticulously maintained, lush and beautiful, although we thing the paths and decks need a little attention. The rocky entrance was quite difficult on a scooter, and there isn’t a clear path to walk on from the entrance to the reception area.
Included in our package was a cooking lesson, and massage for two. Both were good and we came away with a beautiful recipe for fish sate. Delicious!
We enjoyed the laidback, boutique style of these villas. The price was good and the location was really interesting. It was great to be out of the busy areas of Bali, just enjoying the weather and the atmosphere. An evening cocktail around the pool would have been nice though, and a few pre dinner snacks. So our feedback to Planta Villas would be to create an evening atmosphere – there is already the sunsets, the tropical warmth, the view over the rice fields and the pool.
Fast Facts:
Distance from Canggu main centre: 20 minute walk
Transport provided: Free pick up and drop off from airport and transport around Canggu when required
Activities and facilities: Pool, cooking class, massage
Level of service: homely, relaxed, friendly
Upkeep and maintenance: gardens and pool are exquisitely maintained, some pathways and decks are needing attention
Ambience: quiet, peaceful, boutique and elegant
Stand out feature: relaxed vibe of Canggu
Interested? You can book here.
