Raya Beachloft

Raya Beachloft is a true beachfront home, right on the shore at Rawai, on Phuket’s quiet southern coast, with nothing between its glass walls and the water but a strip of sand. From the living room, the plunge pool and the roof terrace you look straight out across the bay to a scatter of green offshore islands, with longtail boats coming and going through the day. It is an easy, intimate base for two couples or a small family who want the sea on the doorstep rather than a drive away.

The home is a bright two-storey loft. The living room has tall windows facing the water, deep sofas and a sculptural open staircase rising to the upper floor, with a dining table for four and a well-equipped modern kitchen alongside. Step outside and the small private pool runs along the front of the house, edged by a sunny terrace, and from there it is only a few steps down to the beach. Up on the roof, a large terrace with loungers, umbrellas and a dining table is the best seat in the house at sunrise and on warm evenings.

Both bedrooms have king beds, their own bathrooms and big windows onto the bay. The upstairs suite is the one to claim, with a jacuzzi bathtub looking out to sea. There is a small gym for anyone keeping up a routine, and a chef, massage, a driver or a boat for island trips can all be arranged. Rawai’s seafood market, Nai Harn beach and the sunset point at Promthep Cape are all a short drive away.