The Shanti Residence

A sixteen-metre infinity pool runs out from a broad timber deck at The Shanti Residence, its far edge lining up with a strip of ocean glimpsed through the treetops. Set in the green hills above Nusa Dua in southern Bali, this seven-bedroom estate covers some four and a half thousand square metres, laid out as a main house with pavilions of suites around it, all linked by gardens, courtyards and garden paths.

The main house is built on a grand scale, with polished dark floors, deep sofas, a grand piano and walls of glass opening to the pool. A long dining table seats the whole group, a media room with a large smart TV gives the family somewhere to unwind, and a separate meeting room works well as an office for anyone who needs to check in with work. A private spa room means massages happen without leaving the grounds, and a canopied gazebo in the garden makes a peaceful corner for reading.

The suites are where the estate really shines. Each has a king bed, many of them four-posters draped in netting, an en-suite with a deep tub and twin basins, and several open onto their own terrace, garden or plunge pool. A team of eleven, led by a villa manager and personal guest assistant, runs the house, with breakfast included and a private chef on hand for lunch and dinner. Pandawa and Gunung Payung beaches are close by for sunny days on the sand.