Author

Villa Finder Editorial team

Browsing

Bali is a hot spot for yogis, aspiring yoga teachers and spiritual beings, so we were excited to meet up with Californian yoga teacher, sound healer and entrepreneur Danielle Bushell to chat a little bit about her work and Bali lifestyle. Villa Finder: Could you give us a short intro about yourself? Danielle: I’m originally from the United States, California, I have always felt most like myself near an ocean. I started practicing yoga when I was 16 years old and since then it has always been my sense of grounding and connection. I am passionately curious, and love meeting people from around the world and seeing how others live. I have traveled to over 30 countries and have discovered that exploring the depths of the unknown I have actually discovered the most of myself. Although I loved my life back in Cali, the less is more life resonates most…

Mention Koh Samui, and one immediately conjures up postcard-pretty images of the beach – white sand beaches, sparkling waters and swaying palms. Naturally, you’ll find numerous dining venues dotted along the coast – from casual eateries, to stylish beach clubs and upscale restaurants. Yet there’s more to the Samui’s dining scene, including French bakeries, Japanese restaurants and unassuming haunts dishing up some of the tastiest Thai food on the island – and here’s our comprehensive dining guide to help you find the best restaurants in Koh Samui! Eating in North Samui Villa vacationers have plenty to choose from when dining in North Samui; the region boasts a lively, family-friendly vibe, with dining options ranging from seafood restaurants and healthy cafes, to fine dining venues, beach clubs and more. These venues are easily accessible and located just a five to 15 minutes’ drive from your villa. Bang Po Bang Po Seafood Takho…

The DO’s 1. Wear a helmet Both for protection and to avoid a run-in with the police! Bali Roads can be dangerous and messing with Balinese police is definitely not a fun Bali activity that I would recommend! 2. Expect to wait in an extremely long line when going through Indonesian customs It’s not always the case, but I have waited in line for up to 3 hours before. Ensure to let your driver know your flight details in case of a delay or multiple flights landed at once. Be sure not to book anything too close to your flight arrival and bring some entertainment for the kids for while you wait. Do note that you can arrange VIP Fast Track to shorten the time at the airport. If you are staying at our Bali villas, let our Concierge team know and they’ll get it done for you. 3. Make…

Planning on heading to Bali this summer? Do I have some bucket-list items for you! There are endless things to do and see in Bali that it’s important you tick off all of the best parts – including Bali’s incredible beach clubs. Imagine famous DJs, instagram-worthy cocktails, lounges, hammocks, swings and superb swimming pools. That’s where I come in – to ensure you’re making all of your friends back home extremely jealous, I’ve put together a list of the do-not-miss poolside spots. Consider me your Bali-Beach-Bar-Expert (‘cause yep, I’ve tried and tested them all) and trust me, you do not want to miss these ones! After all, is it really a Bali holiday if you don’t spend most of your trip sprawled out with a cocktail in hand? Mrs Sippy – Seminyak Credit: Indo Clubbing Enter Mrs Sippy and find yourself stepping out of the Seminyak madness and into a tropical…

Mauritius brims with sunshine all year long- including winter. With crystal clear lagoons and soft, silky stretches of beaches, this island is an ideal holiday spot especially because of its temperate climate and near-perfect weather conditions. Here’s what you need to know about Mauritius weather to find out the best time for your trip. There are only two seasons in Mauritius: summer and winter. There’s no daylight saving time on the island so you won’t need to reset the clock as the seasons change. Summer in Mauritius Mauritius has a humid and warm summer that normally stretches from November to April. During summer, you can expect temperatures ranging between 24.7 and 29.2 degrees Celcius. February is the hottest month of the year. Do prepare yourself for plenty of humidity, especially between February and March! On the plus side, the island is surrounded by refreshing lagoons in which you can cool…

No matter how much we love Seminyak for its sophistication and fashion, its fine dining restaurants, coffee bars, exclusive spas, beach clubs, and villas, at some point we gotta venture out, take a break from the beach and the pool and see what else there is to see and do on Bali Island. Don’t worry, with our help you won’t have to think about where to go nor about transport or accommodation because you can actually go on wonderful day trips from Seminyak. You will be picked up early in the morning at your private holiday rental in Seminyak and off you go on some island adventures. Here are 6 great day trips to make your Bali holiday even better: 1. Snorkelling trip to Lembongan island For an amazing underwater experience, book a snorkelling day trip to Lembongan Island. You will be picked up at your villa in the morning, drive to…

If you’re a foodie, there’s no denying that you’ll be right at home in Mauritius. Indeed, this island is particularly known for its delightful cuisine that blends elements from around the world. It wouldn’t be surprising if you get European and Asian cuisine in the very same meal. So versatile is Mauritian cuisine! Best of all, you will always have your pick when it comes to choosing restaurants since the island has a fair share of cafes, snacks, bars, small-scale, family-owned as well as gourmet restaurants. Check out our selection of the best restaurants in Mauritius! 1. Dallas Yesh Cuisine ‘n’ Bar Dallas Yesh Cuisine ‘n’ Bar may be relatively new but this eatery has rapidly soared to emerge as one of the best restaurants in Mauritius. With a meticulous and highly dedicated chef, this restaurant specialises in typical Mauritian snacks and delicacies as well as fusion cuisine with European…

Sometimes, it’s pure bliss to sleep in and wake up without an alarm clock. Then, spend a moment or two in silence to appreciate life and everything around you. Take it slow and start your day completely relaxed. Well, at least that’s how your life is when you are at our Bali villas. And when you are ready to head out, it’s almost brrrrrunch time! Bali has some AMAZING places to fill your stomach, you just need to know where to look. The following cafes are some of our favourites for the best brunch in Bali! The Shady Shack (@theshadyshack) Pay a visit to the Shady shack and you will find yourself sitting nestled amongst palms overlooking Canggu’s beautiful rice-fields as you eat. The fantastic jungle feel is only enhanced by the mouth-watering, vegetarian menu. Expect a number of vegetarian, vegan and raw-food options, start your meal with a turmeric…

Hailed as one of the major holiday destinations in the world, there’s no denying that Mauritius is a land full of wonders, with adventures to unearth in every corner. In spite of its small size, there’s always plenty to do on the island so rest assured that you’ll never run out of things to do during your holiday in the sun. Here are 10 things that you should absolutely not miss during your trip to Mauritius. 1. Discover the rich culture This is something absolutely unique to Mauritius: people from an extended variety of religious and cultural backgrounds live together in complete harmony, with no war and no prejudices whatsoever. Even better is the extended number of cultural festivals that stem from the medley of backgrounds. To really immerse yourself in Mauritian culture, you can participate or attend the different shows and festivals throughout the year, such as Diwali, China…

Sri Lanka’s charm lies in the rich history that honed the nation into what it is today. Being a melting pot of different cultures, this little island is just the right balance between old and new, where ancient heritage, tall buildings, lush mountains, and turquoise beaches co-exist in unparalleled serenity. With this, Sri Lankan cuisine has been shaped by a number of historical and cultural factors, with major influences ranging from Asian to Western cuisines. A visit to Sri Lanka will never be complete without indulging your taste buds. To make sure that you get the best out of your vacation, we’ve collated all our favourite food trip places from every part of Sri Lanka. Read through and feel free to bookmark this post! Must-try restaurants in Colombo Sri Lanka’s colourful capital boats unlimited options for fine dining, budget eats, and colonial restaurants. While Colombo is typically just a stopover for…