This is a guest post by Nick Ball, author of Lanzarote Guidebook.

For visitors looking for something just a little out of the ordinary, the Oasis del Risco may well be just the ticket, as this is one of the most exclusive villas in Lanzarote.

The villa is located on the island’s main resort of Puerto del Carmen and designed by an architect for his own private use.

As a result it has many of the tasteful details that separate this kind of dwelling from the usual holiday rental property. Set in a mature tropical garden there are views through the trees and across the countryside to the mountain range of the Atalaya de Femés.

The owner’s love of all things green continues indoors, with an internal covered courtyard offering just one of several areas for relaxation. The delicate palms planted here complement the Moorish feel of this double-height salon.

The interior and exterior blend into each other seamlessly, ensuring guests get maximum enjoyment from the entire property. A semi-circular window in the dining area overlooks the garden, inviting diners to go outside. This is echoed by the curved pergola that provides shade over this spot.

From the master bedroom, patio doors open out onto a private sunbathing area with its own miniature volcanic rock garden. The three bedrooms are all on the lower floor, ensuring a cool retreat from the heat of the sun. Each has an en-suite bathroom with walk-in showers and bath.

Curves are incorporated into every aspect of the design, from the oval swimming pool to numerous round or arched windows that bring the light flooding in to the building. On the upper floor the open plan living space works around the balcony of the internal courtyard garden.

The kitchen can also be found on this floor and is exceptionally well organised, with all the modern conveniences that making dining at home a pleasure. Additional features of this unique villa include a gymnasium with mirrored wall and an office with Internet access for those who cannot leave work entirely at home.

OASIS DEL RISCO, LANZAROTE, THE CANARY ISLANDS is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

Nefetari Exlusive Villas, Ubud, Bali

Visitors heading to Ubud, Bali, will no doubt be looking for unique and unusual accommodations that reflect the very essence of traditional Balinese lifestyle. Just a short ten-minute drive outside of the town of Ubud, Nefetari Exclusive Villas offers a peaceful night’s sleep.  Enclosed with a private walled garden and terrace, Nefetari offers one room and family size villas situated amongst lush green rice paddies and jungle.

Uniquely designed with custom-made stone, bamboo and teak furnishings and artwork created by Balinese and Javanese artisans, these villas offer a serene atmosphere and utter privacy to guests. Each unit is equipped with a private plunge pool and sun beds.

The master bedroom is lavishly decorated in traditional teak furniture, while hand-woven linens and fabrics lend an undeniable charm and elegance to the surroundings.

The indoor/outdoor washroom is a delight that any guest will enjoy. An open air bathroom means that you can enjoy a long, hot soak in the large hot tub while gazing up at the night sky.

Each exclusive villa is overseen by the warm and friendly staff of Nefetari Villas, headed by Made. An all-inclusive breakfast is tailor-made to your personal specifications and can be enjoyed in the open air restaurant or consider breaking fast each morning on your front terrace overlooking the garden and pool.

Nefetari Villas are a ten minute drive from the  town center or a twenty minute walk. Transport is available on demand, and the staff are more than happy to pick up and drop off guests in town as well as providing transport to and from the airport. Made and his staff will also arrange for private dinners and make special appointments in town.

Enjoy your stay at Nefetari Exclusive Villas. We did. Nefetari Villas is our personal recommendation for accommodations in Ubud, Bali.

NEFETARI EXCLUSIVE VILLAS, UBUD, BALI is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

EDITOR’S CHOICE  10/10

The Peace of Angkor is a private English villa nestled in the heart of Siem Reap. Owners Dave Perkes and Colleen Allan-Burns have built an excellent reputation for their guest house by providing exceptional service in a clean and quiet atmosphere.

The accommodations at this boutique villa are spacious and comfortable, with prices for basic rooms ranging between $20US and $35US a night. Resort and villa rates are $60 – $120 depending on the season.

The second-floor balcony is a communal area, where  guests can gather to sip ice cold beer, take in the beautiful sunset and chat about their travels.

Peace of Angkor Villa is owned and operated by an extremely knowledgeable and friendly expat named Dave Perkes. In addition to owning and operating Peace of Angkor, Dave also finds work as a professional photographer. He is the man behind the lens for several prominent Angkor Wat publications. He offers a select number of tours that take you out and away from the normal tourist hot spots.  We highly recommend seeking Dave out if you’re journeying to Siem Reap.

In addition to great tours and friendly service, the staff of Peace of Angkor are able to arrange private tuk-tuk drivers in and around Siem Reap. They also know some reasonably-priced drivers if you are planning to continue on to Phnom Penh and you want to give the buses a miss.  We decided to take advantage of this offer and ended up visiting several scenic spots along that way, all of which were places we would have missed if we’d decided to use public transportation.

Peace of Angkor Villa

0133 Slorkram Village, Siem Reap, Cambodia

855(0)63 760 475

Serviced Apartments
Peace of Angkor also offers long-term quality serviced apartments at their  new establishment, Wat Bo house.

PEACE OF ANGKOR VILLA – CAMBODIA is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here