Lyvin Melasti adds a new luxe option in Bali

Done Kuta, Legian and Seminyak?

Looking for somewhere brand new to stay in Bali?

How about Melasti Beach, located in the Ungasan area on the southern coast of Bali?

It is about a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport and is situated along the Bukit Peninsula, an area known for its dramatic cliffs and pristine beaches.

Recently opened Lyvin Melasti is set high above the beach and is a boutique collection of villas and suites that claims "a refined new take on barefoot luxury, where minimalist architecture, sweeping ocean views, and heartfelt hospitality converge across four levels of cliffside serenity".

The property features 18 ocean-facing villas (each with private pools) and 20 ocean-view suites that will launch in December.

Designed by co-founder and product director Victoria Sokovykh, Lyvin Melasti features locally sourced Sulawesi marble floors, custom teak furniture, soft neutral tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Each villa is positioned to capture 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean

“We designed Lyvin Melasti to feel both grounding and expansive - a space that invites rest, reflection, and reconnection,” says Sokovyhk.

“Everything is intentional, but never overdone. It’s a place to breathe."

Set within a three-hectare estate surrounded by forest, the Lyvin Melasti complex includes a pond at its centre, with planned walking trails that invite slow strolls and quiet moments in nature.

The resort offers nanny services for family groups.

Coming soon: a signature restaurant by Tiga Bule (scheduled to open in December), and a wellness spa (2026).

I've added Lyvin Melasti to my list of places to visit next time I am in Bali.   

See https://lyvinproperties.co/melasti

Meet the uninhabited island that will soon be a luxury resort

The Six Senses hotel brand is synonymous with luxury and beautiful locations.

Six Senses announced this week that it will open its first Greek resort in partnership with Grivalia Hospitality.

The new resort will be located on a white-sand cove on currently uninhabited Megalonisos, one of the 10 Petalioi islands - which have been dubbed “Greek Maldives”.

Six Senses Megalonisos will be a short boat ride from the port of Rafina, just across the mainland from Athens, or Marmari on Evia’s west coast.

There will be 75 guest villas and 20 branded residences for sale, all blending into the contours of the bay, which is protected by prevailing winds to make it an ideal location for a mooring site for yachts, the PR blurb says.

Athens is an easy day trip destination.

The development will be powered by its own solar electric farm and will feature three restaurants with all-day dining, a beach bar and grill, and a specialty sunset bar. There will also be a pastry café.

The Six Senses Spa will offer multiple treatment rooms, including four double sensory suites, a watsu for a range of hydro therapies, and a Hammam for a warm herbal steam and body scrub.

“Six Senses Megalonisos offers a unique opportunity to step foot on a Greek island that even the Gods left undiscovered,” says Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses.

“We look forward to welcoming our guests with emotional hospitality that encompasses pioneering wellness, sustainability, and meaningful experiences.”

The target opening date has been set for the end of 2027.

The inside track on some of Europe's finest rental villas

Heading to Europe? Looking for a villa, or somewhere special to base yourself?

Worried about using airbnb, or dealing with an owner direct? 

Want to talk with someone with inside knowledge, and local experience?

Australians and New Zealanders can now access a range of villas and boutique hotels on offer from one of the UK's long-established villa rental companies, Simpson Travel (www.simpsontravel.com; ++44 208 003 6557).

The London-based operator focuses on Mediterranean destinations including Greece, Italy, mainland France, Corsica, Corfu (above) and Mallorca.

Established in 2002, Simpson Travel was founded by Graham Simpson, who founded Simply Travel in in 1978.

“We're delighted to be opening up our collection of villas and boutique hotels to the Australian market," Simpson says.

"I first started offering villa holidays in 1978 with my Greek wife Yianna, inspired by the idea of sharing the kind of authentic travel experiences we enjoyed ourselves.

"Today, some of our villas and Simpson Hotels are quietly secluded, while others sit near the finest beaches in Europe and certainly no longer off the beaten track, yet our approach remains unchanged.

"To us, the road less travelled is about going the extra mile; making the effort where others might take shortcuts.

“We are committed to ensuring our guests have truly memorable experiences from start to finish. As well as knowing destinations inside-out, and having strong relationships with villa owners locally, our concierge services and locally based representatives can help guests every step of the way.

"Whether it's a restaurant booking, boat hire, private transfer or shopping recommendation, nothing is too much trouble.

"Depending on the property and location, we are also able to arrange special added extras such as in-villa chefs, cooking lessons, in-villa massage or treatments, nanny services or babysitting.”

Simpson Travel also offers a range of hotels options.