This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Paul S.
27 Jul 2015
Welcome to the Family
We had some reservations about staying at Villa Surya.
Not because the villa isn’t beautiful.
No - it is special. The rooms and facilities are exceptional, and we especially loved the pool, the outdoor showers and the rooftop terrace. All set in beautifully maintained and secure gardens.
Not because of the location.
No - this villa is wonderfully situated overlooking the rice paddies to the ocean beyond. Far enough away from the traffic mayhem of Denpasar to ensure a more peaceful environment, yet close to many of the main attractions in eastern Bali.
Not because the food is average.
Absolutely not - Ketut served up beautiful dishes each evening from a varied menu. And she was ever willing to prepare breakfast at whatever time required as we set off to explore the island’s attractions.
Not because the pool was small or substandard.
No - this is a monster pool for a holiday rental. And surrounded by other pools with fish swimming alongside. Beautiful!
Our reservations centred around whether we could cope with other people being constantly around the villa while we were in residence.
But this is Bali. Things are different here. And maybe more so at Villa Surya than some other properties. Mark and Petra Stahly have something special here.
Somehow they have created a ‘family’ from their staff and other contacts. You are welcomed into that family as soon as you arrive, and for however long you stay. Any reservations quickly disappear as you realise that these people are here to ensure your holiday is whatever you want it to be. And no-one is standing watching your every move, or invading your private space.
The level of contact is set to your preference. If you want to be left alone, then you are left alone. If you want to sit and resolve the world’s problems, then you can do that as well. Someone else has said that the owners are an asset to the villa, and that is so true. Two contrasting personalities, they combine to work wonderfully well for their guests. And they are both genuinely likeable people.
You could make arrangements for the various trips and activities yourself, but these were made for us without any fuss or drama. Made the driver was ever punctual and must surely be one of the most patient and safest drivers on the island.
What was the main highlight of our trip to Bali? Our answer has to be ‘the people’. So thank you to Mark and Petra, Ketut, Alit, Kadek, Iluh and Made for providing some special memories on a wonderful trip.
