The founder of RedDoor Bali luxury villas shares what he loves most about the island
Sometimes it is the ideas pitched at the dinner table that turn into life’s biggest surprises – in the best of ways. That’s how it worked, at least, for Claudio Cuccu and his journey: Why not visit Bali? some friends suggested at random, on a good evening in Sydney. The next thing they knew they were hopping off a plane on the island, never quite to leave for good. Together with best friend George Gorrow, Claudio built a house “initially to raise our children,” but later being called to Rome and New York for work, the pals decided to rent out the villa in their absence. It was then that the now award-winning RedDoor took shape. “The renting has been doing so well that RedDoor has been fully booked for the last three years, and is fully booked until mid-2015,” said Claudio. RedDoor has since been known as one of the best in Bali, and a top 3 villa in Southeast Asia.
K: What do you love most about living in Bali?
C: The energy. The people. The waves. And most of all, the fact that it brings you face to face with things you need to deal with. There’s something about Bali that clarifies whatever is unclear inside of you. Sometimes it takes a few days, sometimes a few weeks, but you always get depurated. It’s magic.
K: What’s something you’ve always wanted to do on the island?
C: At RedDoor we help the community as much as we can. Together with other villas in Pererenan, we pay people to get the beach clean every day. Eco Bali helps us recycle 90% of our trash, and we also support a charity association. But, there is so much more to do. I wish I could give more back to the island.
Claudio’s Picks
While in Bali, don’t miss…
- Surfing at Tugu and Old Man’s, a great spot to chill and unwind
- Enjoying a meal at Bambu Restaurant in Petitenget, by the creators of renowned La Lucciola
- Spending a day at the beach in Balangan
Take a break with a good serving of…
- Nasi Campur, at my favorite Warung Yess in Pererenan
- Fresh coconut water from anywhere
- Bakso, an Indonesian type of meatball usually served with rice vermicelli in soup, from any seller on the streets
Indulge in Nasi Goreng and Ayam Goreng at…
- Warung Kolega, a popular Indonesian restaurant to enjoy delicious local grub
- Warung Yess, a buffet serving Indonesian and European dishes
- Warung Ocha, which also has Western a la carte meals in addition to Indonesian fare
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Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published as a Klook Connoisseur feature of RedDoor Luxury Villas founder, Claudio Cuccu. See the original version here.
