See & Do Archives – Villa Finder Magazine

See & Do

The Best Things to Do in Deia

Are you curious to know why famous artists, literary marvels, and musical celebrities have chosen Deia as their home and vacation spot? Out of all the beautiful spots you can find on this planet, Deia is like a magnet for famous figures like Princess Diana, Robert Graves, Richard Branson, Michael Douglas, Chopin, Charlie Chaplin, David Bowie and many more. Deia’s seduction power has many factors involved like the fact that everyone is treated with the same warm hospitality by the locals and the stars can enjoy anonymity. Adding to that is the natural environment as Deia is situated in a spectacular setting in a green ravine with gorgeous views out to the glistening, azure Mediterranean Sea. The area has been dug out with irrigated terraces to plant stunning olive, citrus, and orange trees by the Moors 10 centuries ago and their work is still intact. Sprinkled around this magical environment…

Chiang Mai Guide

13 Things to do in Chiang Mai

Also known as ‘the rose of the north’, Chiang Mai is a beautiful walled city in the northern part of Thailand, surrounded by hill tribes, rainforest and mountains. This sprawling city was founded 7 centuries ago and for a long time, Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, home to 300 temples. Today, Chiang Mai still is the cultural centre in all of Thailand. The ambience is laid-back and easy-going and the surrounding nature is stunningly beautiful! The temperature is pleasant, much cooler than in the south of Thailand and there are plenty of things to experience, see and do in and around Chiang Mai. Is your trip leading you up to the north of Thailand? Good on you! Check out these amazing things to do in Chiang Mai: 1. Cafe scenes: Find out what everybody loves about Chiang Mai Chiang Mai has got a real friendly atmosphere…

Destination Guide

Great fun adventures in Koh Samui: 4 must-do activities

Are you ready for some adventure on the gorgeous island of Samui in the Gulf of Thailand? No matter how much we love to laze on the beach or swim in the pool of our private villa, at some point we all need a little bit of adventure for that holiday excitement. From jungle treks to waterfalls, treetops flights and sea kayaking at amazing places, these are 5 must-do activities in Koh Samui. Na Muang Waterfalls in Koh Samui. Photo credit: melanieh_87 on Instagram Nature lovers: jungle escape to Na Muang Waterfalls Are you ready to venture off into the jungle to discover waterfalls and natural spring pools? Of course, you are! Any nature lover would agree that The Na Muang Waterfalls are a great change of scenery from the pristine coastline. There you’ll find natural spring pools to swim in and like a tropical dream, be surrounded by lush…

About Us

“Open Sesame” to discounts and offers at the best Bali restaurants and spas

“What’s for lunch?”, “Where should we go for dinner?” “Is it family-friendly?” Sound familiar? These questions don’t just haunt you when your stomach starts to rumble or when it’s your turn to pick a spot for a family lunch, they are relentless and creep into your holiday even when it’s clear there are about 10 restaurants on the street to choose from. If you ask us, it’s especially harder when restaurants in destinations like Bali have been extensively reviewed and photographed through everyone’s favourite FOMO app, Instagram. There’s a secret to selecting the best restaurant or spa experience in Bali that doesn’t need too much googling or jumping on trip advisor to research and read reviews- just ask a local, and that’s what we did! We asked our local friends in Bali and most importantly, we asked ourselves. The Villa Finder team live and breathe the Bali life so are…

Destination Guide

The best beachfront villas in Sri Lanka

A teardrop-shaped island rising majestically in the middle of the Laccadive Sea, Sri Lanka packs in a delightful medley of laidback and thrilling adventures. If you’re considering your first trip to this sun-kissed island and know you want to wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach, read on for our guide of the best hand-picked beachfront villas (for moderate to luxury budgets) and what to do around the area! Nestled off the coast of India’s south-eastern coast, Sri Lanka is known for its inviting beaches, diverse culture and rich canopies of thick foliage perfect for hiking. Whether you feel like lying on a beach with a Toddy Tapper’s Punch- the local cocktail, or traipsing through the jungle in search of a hidden waterfall or embarking on a scenic rail adventure, there’s no denying that this island has something for just about everybody. Mirissa A beach town…

Destination Guide

Pattaya vs Hua Hin – the better choice for families

Still looking for that perfect place to spend a relaxing beach holiday with the family? Thailand is great! Exotic, colourful, tropical and home to some of the best beaches in the world. You can stay at splendid private pool villas, do lots of fun things and see beautiful places. Next question is – where in Thailand are you going to spend this family beach holiday? Is it going to be the vibrant and exciting beach city Pattaya or Thailand’s original resort beach town Hua Hin? To see which of these 2 fabulous holiday destinations is best for you, let’s zoom in a little and do some comparisons. This is Pattaya vs Hua Hin for families. Pattaya vs Hua Hin Pattaya is a major tourist hub famous for beach fun, nightlife, shopping and more nightlife. We’ll be honest, it’s not usually the first destination you’d think of for a relaxed family…

Bali Activities

Uluwatu Travel Guide for Families: 6 ways for parents to unwind and 6 activities to keep kids entertained

Beach fun, surfing, sunsets, playtime, music, monkeys, food, and cultural experiences – you’ll find it all in Uluwatu. Upcoming, trendy and yet incredibly laid-back and fun-loving, Uluwatu is located in the southern tip of Bali (the little tip at the end when looking at a map of Bali Island). From the airport, it’s about 30-45 minutes away and is home to one gorgeous white sand beach after another – the very best on the island! A great place for a memorable family getaway in Bali. The ultimate beach destination in Bali Every beach in Uluwatu is like a tiny paradise of its own with perfectly white sands, turquoise bays, awesome surfing waves and cool beach bars. The beaches are hidden away at the bottom of high limestone cliffs. Some of them are easily accessible while others are a bit harder to reach, but all the more rewarding. Uluwatu is popular…

Bali Activities

The Best Gili Island for Families

White sandy bays, the tranquillity of an island, sea turtles and sunshine, it’s easy to see why “The Gilis” are perfect for family holidays. With three islands to choose from though, we know it’s better to be armed with enough information (and photos!) to decide which one of 3 little Gili Islands is the best for an island getaway with the kids? The word “gili” translates to “island’ and there are countless islands in the Indonesian Archipelago. However, when referring to ‘The Gili Islands’, we mean 3 specific islands located just off-shore from Lombok and just a short boat ride from Bali: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. These pristine little tropical islands are tiny paradises without motorbikes, cars and any other forms of motorizes traffic. It is truly idyllic. The Best Gili Island for families Well, to be honest, all 3 are great family destinations but to determine…

Bali Activities

An introduction to the Gili Islands

Most probably, you’ve already heard about the pristine Gili Islands when planning your trip to Indonesia. They are just as famous as Bali, and for good reason! Close your eyes and imagine idyllic white-sand beaches, turquoise and blue waters, encounters with sea turtles, amazing diving sites, gorgeous villas – it’s paradise-like here on the gorgeous Gili Islands. But, what makes these islands all even more unique, idyllic and peaceful is that all 3 of them are free from motorized traffic. The only means of transport you’ll find are bicycles and… horse carts! On top of that, you can easily circle the islands on foot, catching the sunrise and the sunset all on the same day on a different part of the island. Perfect. Nicknamed as ‘the Maldives of Southeast Asia’ the Gili Islands are 3 islands and each of them has their own charm, attraction points, and unique appeal. Whether…

Chiang Mai Guide

Family Activities in Chiang Mai – 12 Things To Tick Off Your List

Chiang Mai makes for the perfect holiday destination for families with kids. This beautiful walled city in the north of Thailand has endless family activities and is filled with friendly locals who are always happy to help with directions or recommendations. The city is clean and safe, with plenty of things to see and do. You may want to consider ticking some (or all!) of the following family things to do in Chiang Mai for an amazing family getaway in Thailand. 1. Temple hopping Under the gold, glittering sun, the giant Buddha statues, serpent stairs and high rooftops of colourful buildings appear as if out of a fairy tale or an ancient saga; the kids and you will marvel at the attractions because let’s be honest, it’s not every day you see unique temples. There’s only so much walking you can do in a day though, so choose your temples…