Villa Markisa

Follow a winding garden path past frangipani and palms, and Villa Markisa reveals itself as a quiet, thatch-roofed retreat around a curving turquoise pool. Tucked into the Pecatu area of Uluwatu, it is close enough to Bingin and Padang Padang for a dawn surf or a sunset at the clifftop temple, yet calm and self-contained enough for proper, unhurried rest.

Inside, the living and dining pavilion rises to a soaring timber-beamed ceiling, with sliding glass walls that open to the garden or close for air-conditioned comfort in the heat of the day. Soft grey sofas, bold contemporary art, a dining table for the whole group and a well-equipped teak kitchen with a breakfast bar make it easy to linger. The three bedrooms each have their own en-suite, and the bathrooms are a highlight: sculptural freestanding tubs, a stone bath set among tropical plants and garden showers open to the sky.

Outside, the free-form pool has a shallow wading area for little ones, with loungers and parasols on the sunny terrace and a lawn beyond. Daily housekeeping keeps everything fresh, a chef can be arranged for relaxed dinners at home, and arrival is easy with an airport pick-up included. Villa Markisa is one of five villas linked by garden walkways within the same estate, so neighbouring villas can be booked together for a larger family or group while each keeps its own entrance and privacy.