The third day of a holiday is the day of surrender. The mental distance from home has finally caught up with the physical distance, and thoughts of work and school disappear. A beer at lunchtime is not out of the question, and an afternoon nap is the natural thing to do – not an indulgent luxury. Even if you only have three days, you can achieve this state of bliss at The Shamira, a gorgeous villa in Bali.

This is our first trip to Bali. Friends have mentioned to us that the villas in Bali are enormous, but five four-poster beds? We’ve just arrived, and after a grand tour of the villa and a test of all the beds, we come to an agreement about sleeping arrangements. The kids are delighted – there are no single beds, so they score a four-poster each.

Trailing through the house after the kids head off to put on a CD, it’s obvious that we need another family to join us and really make the most of the space – and all those daybeds, sofas, dining tables and beds!

It’s impossible to resist the lure of the 12-metre pool, so we adjourn to the bale (a thatch-roofed daybed). The cool breeze and relatively low humidity revive us after the journey, and remind us what we’ve left behind: the oppressive heat of a Singapore summer. We’ve also left behind the claustrophobia of living cheek-by-jowl with millions of others.

The villa’s spaciousness and fabulous facilities are a reason to do stay put and do as little as possible – and although we do make the effort to go on two excursions, we decide to avoid the crowds that we might find at Ubud and Kuta.

A morning’s sightseeing around the local area is perfect. The 17th-century Pura Taman Ayun temple, complete with moat, is worth a look; as is a ceramic and pottery workshop, tucked away in the rural village of Pejaten. The friendly owner shows us around and lets the kids make moulded shapes with the clay, and we purchase a few of the distinctive pale-green pieces as souvenirs. The tourist circus that is Tanah Lot temple, perched on a craggy, windswept rock, is the last on our list. While it’s worth seeing, we’re glad to have avoided the sunset crowds that others have told us about.

With nothing to feel guilty about now (having ticked off the main tourist sites), we surrender to the comforts of the villa. The children have sorted through the large DVD collection and are happily ensconced in front of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – giving Mum and Dad at least two hours of quiet time.

The only choices to make are: where to sit, what to read and what to drink? With numerous balconies, nooks and verandahs all furnished in comfortable Balinese shabby-chic style, these are the hardest decisions we make all day.

As it is so easy (and economical), we elect to eat in and discover the talents of the delightful cook Wayan, who prepares home-style Western and local dishes. My daughter declares that Wayan’s lasagne is better than mine. After much coaxing, my son eventually tries the chicken curry and then proceeds to demolish it all. He even suggests we make it for him again. We all agree the chicken satay is the best we’ve ever eaten.

Throughout our stay, the staff pay particular attention to the children and delight in plaiting my daughter’s hair, Balinese style. It’s this kind of personal interaction that makes a stay at The Shamira so memorable.

Having sunk happily into holiday mode and passed the wonderful third day of bliss, it’s tough to pack the bags and leave our Balinese hideaway.

The Shamira is located in Canggu, about 20 minutes north of Seminyak and an hour from the international airport. Prices start from US$500 per night. Find out more from Private Homes and Villas on 6475 3121 or www.privatehomes andvillas.com.

CV. Keramik Pejaten (831997) is in Pejaten village near Tabanan. It’s wise to call ahead for directions.