Villa Koyama By Villa Finder

“Hidden Sanctuary among Local Kampung”

I planned my family reunion in Bali for 2015. I have some siblings in Jakarta and a sister in Makassar, my husband and I are in Western Australia. So Seminyak in Bali was the chosen destination which seemed reasonable. I went to search for a place where 10 of us could be ourselves so the chase b… more

I planned my family reunion in Bali for 2015. I have some siblings in Jakarta and a sister in Makassar, my husband and I are in Western Australia. So Seminyak in Bali was the chosen destination which seemed reasonable. I went to search for a place where 10 of us could be ourselves so the chase began to look for a five bedroom villa in Seminyak. There were a few that caught my eye but Koyama was the winner. On its website everything looked very fine and it was suitable for my plan. I booked very early in Jan 2015 for 23 - 28 December 2015. The time arrived in December to meet all my brothers and sisters in the villa. I arrived in Bali later than those who arrived from Jakarta so my driver took me to the Villa but he got lost. It was so difficult to locate the villa, I gave my driver the manager's contact number for her to direct my driver where to go. By the way, he is Balinese lives in Denpasar and yet he had never heard of the location. He took us to a very small alley away from the main road. I started to wonder whether he got it right and I asked him where we were going? He said this direction was given by the manager and then he was on the phone again because he was lost again. Wow... it was not stated on the website how hidden away this villa was among local residents. A few days Prior to arriving I was advised by Wayan the Manager to use the transfer from the villa because it was difficult to locate, and now I know why. So my first impression was not good at all about this villa and I was quite disappointed. We eventually arrived at the villa around 7.30 pm. The following morning, I looked around the villa and I started to appreciate the surroundings. It was nestled among green gardens with a good family size swimming pool. It has 2 master bedrooms and 3 other bedrooms. We were provided for by 3 friendly staff members during day time and 2 alternate security guards during night time. An Air conditioning unit is fitted in each room but in the main master bedroom the unit was fitted in a poor location which was not so effective for a large room. In the garden you'll see squirrels happily jumping from one tree to another. we see this everyday, so it was a bonus for us to see that. On the ground you will see lizards hiding behind bushes. It is indeed a peaceful sanctuary among local houses. The villa was built to mirror a Balinese custom where there were four buildings for south, north, west & east for all bedrooms and a Balinese pergola. In the centre it is an open area for kitchen, dining, and a family room. I was impressed with that room, where 10 of us could congregate each time. All in all... It was a sanctuary for those who are looking for a quiet and serene place to rest from our busy lives. A rustic looking Koyama Villa was being built to reflect the Balinese Culture and Customs. The villa is very clean, the staff are very friendly eager to go extra miles to make our stay as comfortable as possible. I know I was disappointed at first due to its location but I was very happy with the Villa, it served my purpose. I will definitely recommend my family and friends to check it out. Next time I will have to use google earth to help me see in more detail where it is located.

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“Style over substance”

Location is great, in the heart of the trendy Petitenget area. Walking distance to great restaurants and shops. Although it is along quite a badly lit road at night, but felt safe. The gardens are lovely and lush. The staff are lovely and friendly. And the villa is beautifully decorated in a trop… more

Location is great, in the heart of the trendy Petitenget area. Walking distance to great restaurants and shops. Although it is along quite a badly lit road at night, but felt safe. The gardens are lovely and lush. The staff are lovely and friendly. And the villa is beautifully decorated in a tropical modern Bali style. We used 4 of the 5 rooms. The master bedroom is large and spacious with its own verandah. One detached cottage in the garden is lovely, but the Ac wouldn’t cool the room at all. The reason could be the capacity is not enough for the room. It was uncomfortably hot throughout our time there (may). We did tell the staff, but there’s not much they could do. There are fans, but these were the decorative kind and not much use. I should mention I’m an architect so I do notice these things. The other 3 rooms are in a block together. These rooms are tiny and basic and one has a bathroom with steps, which was difficult with small kids around. All rooms have dismal lighting, dim and barely enough to see by. Breakfast which was included, consisted of fruits, toast and tea. The staff will cook for you if you pay for extra groceries, which is what we did. There is 1 hairdryer and 1 iron for 5 rooms to share. Toiletries are provided. The TV reception was awful in all rooms and common area. The pool is quite small and has sharp edges and loose tiles which was hazardous for the children, and they all ended up with nicks and cuts. We travelled as a group of 6 adults and 4 kids ranging in age from 5-9. Definitely would not recommend this place to families. If a little more attention was paid to comfort rather than style, this would have been a lovely place.

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