Luxury and privacy define Mahagiri. All accommodation is in 18 private villas with a private pool behind a high wall. You can choose from one, two or three bedrooms.

The rooms are very lush. Each is decorated differently, although they all have high thatch ceilings which help keep the rooms delightfully cool. You’ll be well entertained with good wifi, lots of TV channels, a DVD player and a supply of magazines.

Bathrooms have a large tub, thoughtfully supplied with candles, bubbles and salts which are refreshed daily. The shower is outdoors (near the pool in the one bedroom villas, in a private room in the larger villas).

Each villa has outdoor living space with sunbeds, dining area and a kitchenette (make sure you have a cup of the very fine TWG tea). The larger villas have indoor living space too.

If you can tear yourself away from your private oasis, the resort’s restaurant serves perfectly prepared ahi tuna and a wide range of other Asian and western dishes. Hotel staff will also drive you down to Sanur beach if you’d like to spend time in the sand (or borrow a bike or walk in about 10 minutes). The spa is excellent and there’s a gym if you’re feeling so inclined.

If you’re looking for 5 star privacy in Bali’s Sanur, Mahagiri is your choice.

 
Villa Grasia is a great place to chill out. There are 23 deluxe cottages, each spacious and with a small terrace out front. The resort is relaxed and on the very quiet northern part of Gili T. You can choose to lounge on the beach or around the deep free-form pool — there are spots in the shade and the sun to choose from. In the evenings many guests take advantage of the large DVD library (or take a horse cart “taxi” to town for dinner).

Breakfast, included in rooms rates, is served in the open-air restaurant with views of the pool and the sea (buffet in high season).

Families will appreciate the three cottages which easily accommodate kids, and the kids will love the animals folded out of towels. There’s a small shallow pool connected to the larger one for wading.

Have lots of energy? Borrow some snorkel gear and walk out to some of the best snorkelling in the Gilis (bring reef shoes for the first 15 meters, and keep your eye out for turtles!). Rooms come with bicycles if you’d like to ride around the island or to the main town with its many restaurants. There’s a well-equipped gym on site, and the hotel is affiliated with the Dream Divers dive shop next door.

The Frangipani Spa provides a variety of treatments and features a jacuzzi bath; make sure you book ahead as there are no on-site spa staff.

 
I think I just witnessed the most beautiful sunset of my life.

I’m at the aptly named Hotel Ombok Sunset, on their white sand beach that looks westward to Bali’s two volcanoes, Mount Rinjani and Mount Agung. The sky turns from pink to orange to purple, filtering between the puffy clouds, and reflects off the shallow water. The hotel has set up colourful bean bag chairs at their beachside restaurant so you can sip a cocktail while you witness each evening’s light show.

The hotel is blissfully quiet – just the waves, the breeze and bird song. Rooms are in two two-story buildings or in what are modestly called bungalows (most hotels would call them villas). Each has a balcony or large terrace. Bungalow rooms also have a large bathroom, open to the sky above the garden. Rooms are luxuriously furnished.

Staff are very friendly and learn your name quickly. They’re happy to bring you whatever you need, whether you feel like relaxing poolside or on the beach (but be aware that the sea at this part of the island is too shallow for swimming). Ombak Sunset’s sister property, on the eastern side with better swimming, is Hotel Vila Ombak.