Baan Chao Lay

Baan Chao Lay announces itself with a boardwalk laid over water: a timber path crosses between twin pools and potted plants, leading you through a classic Thai gateway towards the sea. Three pavilions with steep, tiled roofs wrap around a central courtyard and a twelve-metre infinity pool with its own built-in jacuzzi, and beyond the last sunbed there is nothing but palm shade, soft sand and the calm water of Lipa Noi.

Everything sits on a single level, which makes the villa wonderfully easy for families and older guests. The open-plan living room rises to a high vaulted timber ceiling, with an L-shaped sofa, a Smart TV and a dining table for ten beside a kitchen and breakfast bar. Outside, a shaded sala with a barbecue seats another ten for long dinners as the sun drops into the sea. The master suite opens almost entirely to the garden and beach, with a walk-in wardrobe and a stone bathtub, while the four other bedrooms each have a king bed and an ensuite with a walk-in shower and its own little garden.

Lipa Noi sits on Samui’s quiet west coast, the sunset side of the island, looking out towards the Ang Thong islands. Days here move slowly: a kayak from the beach, yoga on the lawn, a game of volleyball, then dinner on the sand. The ferry pier at Nathon is about ten minutes away, while the livelier east coast and the airport are around thirty kilometres across the island, close enough for a day out and far enough to keep the peace.