Villa Diamond View

Villa Diamond View is a big, bright three-storey home on the hillside above Rawai, on Phuket’s quiet southern coast, and its name is no exaggeration. From the upper terraces the view runs over palm canopy and rooftops to the bay and its scatter of green islands, with longtail boats crossing to Koh Bon and the coast curving away towards Promthep Cape. Nine bedrooms and room for twenty make it one of the easiest choices on the island for extended families, reunions or several families travelling together.

The centrepiece is a twelve-metre infinity pool along the edge of the second level, its blue water seeming to spill straight into the sea view, with loungers on the stone deck and a lawn below. A covered terrace beside it holds sofas, outdoor tables and a long dining table for twelve, and after dark the whole terrace glows above the twinkling lights of Rawai. Indoors there are two separate living rooms with wide sofas and big screens, plus a large modern kitchen with an island and breakfast stools.

There is plenty to keep everyone busy on a lazy afternoon: a cinema room with leather recliners, a games room with a pool table, table tennis, darts and indoor basketball, and gym equipment for anyone keeping fit. The nine bedrooms are spread over three floors, so families can claim their own corner, and the upper rooms enjoy the best of the sea views. Children are well looked after too, with a bunk room, a pool fence, a cot and a high chair, and housekeeping, meals and massage can all be arranged.