Villa Lisha

The staff were excellent and worked very hard. We met three of them at the villa each day, and coordinated breakfast, cleaning, and rides with the manager over WhatsApp. Gede, Ketut and team did a great job. Gede also drove us several times in a spacious car for reasonable prices. The villa is stunning, spacious, and looked almost new, with lovely indoor and outdoor areas and a beautiful pool. As a couple, we really enjoyed having so much room. Other highlights included clean water, a fridge freezer, mood lighting, sun beds, and a huge king size bed. The bathtub also worked as a jacuzzi, and a couple of relaxing soaks with bath bombs were a nice touch. Del Mar beach club is within walking distance and is a must visit, though pricey. Beyond that, most places required a drive. We got used to it and it wasn’t a major problem. I’d have liked more breakfast choices: Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng felt heavy, and pancakes or eggs should be available without an extra charge. Getting around Caangu was frustrating. Local taxis charged a lot, and drivers wouldn’t let you into a car if they thought you were using Grab, Gojek or Uber. We preferred those apps because they were easier, more convenient, safer, and cheaper. On my first day, I took a local ride and was charged 300,000IDR for a five-minute trip, about £17. The driver locked us in the car until we paid. After that, I didn’t use local taxis again. A five-minute Gojek ride would cost at most 50,000IDR, and you can see the driver’s name, photo, and registration number on your phone. People often tip too, so I don’t understand why local drivers don’t join the apps or use both. They sit around hoping for customers, and it seems like bad business. You don’t know who you’re getting into a car with, and there are no names or details. It felt dangerous and untrustworthy.