Villa Phala 3

Villa Phala 3 looks down over Patong Bay from the hilltop L’Orchidee Residences estate, and from almost every terrace you can trace the whole arc of the beach, the town below and the green headlands beyond. It is a handsome Thai-style home in rich red timber and crisp white walls, with a peaked pavilion roof over the pool and wide verandas wrapping around the upper floor. Four bedrooms and room for nine make it a natural fit for families and groups of friends.

The infinity pool seems to pour straight into the bay, with sun loungers on a sunny deck at one end and a shaded Thai sala at the other, furnished with deep rattan armchairs and a sofa facing the sea. A covered outdoor dining table sits beside the pool for long lunches in the breeze, and there is barbecue equipment and a teppanyaki grill for cooking outdoors. Upstairs, the main living space sits beneath a soaring timber-beamed ceiling, with cream sofas, a cushioned daybed nook, a carved dining table for the whole group and a well-equipped kitchen.

Two king master suites open onto balconies with views over Patong, and two guest rooms are set up with twin beds that can be joined, ideal for children or friends sharing. Every room has air conditioning and its own bathroom with walk-in showers and stylish vessel basins. The villa has an onsite team with a villa manager, security and housekeeping, a chef can cook on request, and the estate adds a shared pool and a clubhouse with gym equipment. Patong Beach is around ten minutes’ walk down the hill.