Idle in the lap of luxury at the Bulgari Hotel, Bali

View of the private villa.

If the gods should deign that I be stuck on an island, let it be Bali – specifically, the Bulgari Hotel in Bali. 

There’s something special about lying on a deck chair at the Beach Club, with the cool wind caressing your face and the sound of crashing waves numbing your senses. With a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean, the spot marks the halfway point from the resort’s beach front, a dangerously rocky stretch with strong undercurrents – enthusiastic swimmers are advised to be content to just enjoy the view. The walk up the stairs seems daunting, but you hardly feel the climb, not when you know you’re going to languish in your private villa at the end of it.