Villa Bidadari Cliffside Estate

A half-moon infinity pool hangs on the edge of a cliff here, its far rim seeming to spill straight into a band of turquoise reef and open Indian Ocean below. Villa Bidadari sits high on the coast of southern Bali near Nusa Dua, set in more than three thousand square metres of terraced tropical garden, and almost every room has been angled to keep that view in sight, from the timber deck to the bathtubs.

The main house is warm and grounded, with carved timber, rich wood floors and walls hung with art. An open living room looks through full-height glass to the pool, a separate media lounge has a home cinema screen and a wall of sea views, and the dining room seats eight beside a fully equipped kitchen. Outside, a thatched gazebo perches on the cliff edge with deep cushioned seating, the deck is lined with oversized double sunbeds, and a staircase and private inclinator drop down the cliff to a beachfront cabana on the sand.

It runs like a small private estate. A large local team of fourteen looks after housekeeping, the garden, the pool and round-the-clock security, while the in-house chef cooks breakfast each morning and can prepare other meals on request. Families are well looked after too, with cots and babysitting available. The airport is around 17 kilometres away, so it makes an easy first or last stop, with the beaches and restaurants of Nusa Dua close by.