In Fiji you stay in bures and in the Maldives it's over-water bungalows but in Bali, the stylish choice is private villas.

Privately owned, stand-alone, in clusters within exclusive compounds or plush hotel villas have all the trappings of  luxury resorts. Many come with their own staff - butler, chef and driver - while masseurs or even someone to give you a post-wedding manicure are just a phone call away.

What differentiates a villa stay from honeymooning in resorts or hotels is space, privacy and exclusivity. There's no fight for the best sun lounge, no need to share your pool with other guests and you can more or less set your own timetable: what you'd like for breakfast and when, what type of cuisine you'd like your chef to prepare, when you'd like to go shopping. If you want to have dinner at 9pm by the pool after cocktails, villa staff are more than happy to accommodate.

Real Weddings has scoured the island and found a selection of outstanding villas in which to drape yourselves on a day-bed, gaze into the distance and sip an arak madu - a Balinese signature cocktail made from arak, honey and a slice of lime - amid tropical glamour with your favorite person in all the world - your new spouse!

Entry-level villas

For the cost of a five-star hotel room, you can have your own secluded pad with pool, staff and room to move.

Villa de Daun, set back from the bustle of Jalan Raya Legian, bills itself appropriately as "Kuta's little secret". These 12 stylish villas (with one, two or three bedrooms) are in a lush garden compound and each has a private swimming pool, outdoor leisure area, personal butler, kitchen, luxurious linen, kimonos and more. There's a chic reception area, a cafe and De Daun Restaurant but best of all is the sweet Dala Spa. Browse the shops nearby and then book yourselves in for the 21/2-hour Royal Wedding Ritual, which includes a Balinese massage, Javanese lulur, yoghurt body polish and a milk and flower bath.

Visit Villa de Daun or you can also check our most complete list of top honeymoon destinations.

The Gangsa, part of Bali's Kayumanis group, has 11 spacious villas in a secluded compound in a back street in the beachside suburb of Sanur, where tourism took off on the island in the 1970s.

The villas are nowhere near the beach but what they lack in location is made up by the romance and charm of the property and its incredibly helpful staff, on hand to fix Wi-Fi issues or deliver a bottle of Champagne at 1am.

Nothing is too much trouble. And there's an air-conditioned car and driver to whisk you to the property's laid-back beach club at a moment's notice. These sweet villas have private swimming pools, outdoor dining and living areas, spacious bedrooms and outdoor bathrooms. 

The presence of the on-site Gong restaurant (try the ayam sere lemo, roast chicken salad), lounge bar and spa mean you never need venture outside the compound, although staff are more than happy to recommend and book restaurants or tours for you.

Visit The Gangsa

Mid-range villas

These gorgeous deluxe villas are just right for honeymooners.

The new, Moroccan-inspired Space Villas are within strolling distance of the shops and restaurants of trendy Seminyak. With soaring roof lines covered in traditional alang alang (thatched roofing) and contemporary fittings, the six spacious two-bedroom villas have king-size beds, outdoor bathrooms reached via huge walk-through wardrobes, upstairs living rooms, fully equipped kitchens and gorgeous pools with day beds and sun lounges. 

Your beautiful bed will be romantically (and practically) draped in a mosquito net. Open the Balinese doors at the end of the pool and double the number of bedrooms - ideal if you happen to be getting married in Bali and travelling with family, friends and the bridal party.

The best thing about Space and its older sibling next door, the more affordable Serene Villas, is their location. Turn left outside and you're in the heart of Bali's best boutique shopping along Jalan Laksmana, with the beach and restaurants within walking distance.

Visit Space Villas

The airy two-storey Villa Vajra Ubudis in the middle of lush rice fields, just north of Ubud. The three-bedroom pavilion and the separate, romantic, one-bedroom Villa Sati are owned by two US businessmen and managed by BHM, a well-respected villa management company in Bali. 

Lower yourself into a heady flower bath on arrival and listen to the sounds of the jungle. There's a pavilion perched over the River Oss for yoga and meditation and your own open-air lounge for reading and relaxing. When you can rouse yourself, take a scenic walk together to Sunset Hill to experience local village life and take in the beauty of Ubud's rice fields.

There's a pavilion perched over the River Oss for yoga and meditation and your own open-air lounge for reading and relaxing. When you can rouse yourself, take a scenic walk together to Sunset Hill to experience local village life and take in the beauty of Ubud's rice fields.

Visit Villa Varja Ubud

Blow-the-budget villas

Pantai Lima is an estate of five jaw-dropping villas with beach frontage in the tiny fishing village of Pererenan, just north of the popular expat area of Canggu. 

It is managed by French couple, Mathias and Gaelle Echene, who own two of the villas. No expense has been spared in the fit-out. Each of the villas, of 2500 square metres, has contemporary and antique Javanese furnishings.

There's a floodlit tennis court, vast landscaped gardens that can accommodate up to 250 for a sit-down dinner, pools and spas overlooking the surf, cinema rooms, spa rooms, conference facilities, the latest in technology plus fully equipped kitchens overseen by French chef Manuel Wendling and his team of sous chefs. The blend of French nouvelle cuisine and Asian fusion food is outstanding.

Visit Pantai Lima

Villa checklist

* Decide on your budget and location: beach, rice fields, mountain or city? And determine what villa size you need: a romantic one-bedroom villa for two, or a complex of interconnecting villas that can sleep dozens for a wedding or birthday?

* Surf the internet and make a short-list of appealing villas and special deals (such as pay for five, get two nights free) and extras such as spa treatments, meals and transfers.

* Ensure the villa has the facilities you need. Cots, mosquito nets, a car and driver, masseur, chef, electronic equipment such as DVD players, sound systems and Wi-Fi access are often available but check.

* BYO alcohol. A government crackdown on illegally imported alcohol and a tax hike on alcohol means there's been a shortage of wine and spirits and when available, prices are exorbitant. Visitors can arrive with one bottle of wine or spirits each. The cost and availability of beer seems unaffected.