Villa Malee Sai

Villa Malee Sai sits right on Natai Beach, just north of Phuket, where a long, quiet stretch of white sand meets the Andaman Sea. It is part of a small private estate of beachfront villas, and its garden runs straight down to the sand, so mornings start with a walk along the shore and evenings end with the sun dropping into the sea. Built on a grand scale, with around 800 square metres of living space in more than three and a half thousand square metres of lawns and palms, it still feels warm and easy to live in, and it suits big families and groups of friends of up to twelve.

The centrepiece is a twenty-five-metre saltwater infinity pool that runs through the garden towards the beach, lined with daybeds and loungers, with a shallow wading pool for little ones. Down by the sand, a beachfront sala and a shaded dining terrace look straight out to sea, and the lawn is big enough for a game of football before lunch. Kayaks wait on the beach, bicycles are ready for exploring the estate, and Phuket’s airport is only around half an hour away.

Inside, the living pavilion has a high timber ceiling and glass walls that slide open to the pool, with deep sofas in sunset orange. A family room with a big smart TV is made for film nights, the dining table seats fourteen, and the sleek kitchen comes with an island and built-in ovens. All six bedrooms have their own bathrooms, with soaking tubs or rain showers, and many look out to the sea. Breakfast is included, the chef can cook Thai and international dishes for lunch and dinner, and a villa manager and daily housekeeping look after everything.