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Puri Ganesha Villas

COST: $$$$

<p>Half the fun of staying at this tiny retreat, set in the quiet fishing village of Pemuteran on Bali's northwest coast, is getting there. The three-hour drive from Denpasar takes you through spectacular scenery—volcanic lakes, mountains, and aromatic coffee and clove plantations—before ending at this intimate, four-villa property overlooking a sweeping white beach. English owner Diana von Cranach—who also happens to be a seasoned Egyptologist and interior designer—has decorated each of the spacious villas with colonial flair and eclectic artifacts from her many travels (Ganesha statues; fanciful lamps fashioned from Lombok twigs; colorful painted Dutch mirrors and cabinets). Each villa has its own swimming pool and bale for lounging, as well as two full-time, in-house staffers. The beachfront here includes a sea-turtle hatchery; vibrant reefs just offshore are wonderful for snorkeling. Meal times (there's a raw-food menu that changes daily) tend to be jovial gatherings here. <p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Diana can arrange your transport to Puri Ganesha via Harley Davidson motorcycle, private yacht, limousine, helicopter, or six-seater charter plane. </p> <p><strong>Room to book:</strong> If you're looking for some “couple time,” the one-bedroom villa is the most secluded.</p>