At the entrance to Villa Joss, luxuriant trailing vines frame a long, covered walkway creating a jungle-like atmosphere. This impression is strengthened by the sound of water trickling from two serene Buddha sculptures, one sitting gracefully at the end of the walkway and the other reclining languidly by the swimming pool. The lawned garden surrounding the villa features an array of frangipani trees and scattered pots of lotus – very pretty when in bloom.
Inside, the sense of calm is sustained thanks to carefully selected materials such as natural-coloured marble on the floors, an extensive use of teak, and silvery-grey shingle tiles on the living pavilions’ deeply vaulted roofs. Huge, floor-to-ceiling, fold-back glass doors let the garden in and fill the villa with light. Four ensuite bedrooms (three doubles and a twin), all overlooking the 16m pool, make this villa ideal for extended families and groups.
Built in 2010 Villa Joss is named after the owner’s daughter Jocelyn, who also has a painting by a renowned local artist dedicated to her in the Joss Suite. Throughout, distinctive Balinese art adds a splash of colour to the villa which otherwise is decorated a very neutral but soothing palette of creams and browns.
For those seeking stimulation of a more technological kind, the villa has an abundance of big-screen TVs and, if music is your thing, tune into the Bose sound system which is wired throughout the common areas of the villa. There’s also a small collection of books and board games available, as well as complimentary WiFi access.
Villa Joss has a full complement of friendly and attentive staff. If you feel that cooking is not for you then make full use of the villa’s chef, but if you fancy yourself as a bit of a Jamie Oliver the staff will be more than happy to grocery shop for you (on guest account) and then the kitchen is all yours! Evening barbeques by the pool preceded by sundowners in the jacuzzi? Why not?
In its traditional residential setting, with the beach nearby and sophisticated Seminyak within a short drive, Joss is very definitely a family-friendly villa; ideal for those wanting to get away from it all, but not too far away.
