Villa Matanai

Google Maps pointed me here, and with rooms starting at 200k, I wasn't expecting luxury service. Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the spacious rooms, genuinely hot water, and well kept grounds. You can hear the waves all around. The furniture is quite old, and the restaurant isn't open yet, but the staff will make breakfast. A good place for a weekend.

We stayed two nights in the three-bedroom villa, with our teenage kids. It had a lovely atmosphere, great scenery, and a beachfront location with a lush garden. There was a small kitchen, though we only used the fridge; the on-site Restaurant was reasonably priced, had a good range, and served great food. The two-story villa had its own pool and access to the larger complex pool, plus an upstairs veranda with fantastic garden and ocean views. The sea is only 50 meters away. The owner and staff were friendly and very welcoming. We'd love to come back and stay longer.

The setting won me over. Sunrise over the water was beautiful, and later in the day young people gathered by the shore to watch the sunset. Getting to the villa through the woods was a surprise at first, but it turned out to be a peaceful hidden gem. The building and facilities could use a bit more upkeep, perhaps because of the pandemic and income issues, but I still loved it. I was lucky to get an inexpensive night during the quiet holiday season. Recommended, 4/5.

The rooms were okay, and the property's one real advantage is how close it is to the beach. Everything else made the stay difficult. The road was in very bad shape, there were no proper signs, and even locals didn't know the place, so finding it took a long time. There was no food service, so I had to order through the host from a local eatery. Wi-Fi only worked by the play area, not in the room, and Telkomsel reception wasn't very good either. I'd skip it unless there are no other places available.