Villa Tranquil Residence 2

Tranquil Residence 2 is the romantic centrepiece of the three Tranquil Residence apartments in the Maret hills above Lamai. Where its sister next door has a compact hot tub and the two-bedroom Residence 3 trades up to a plunge pool, this one-bedroom apartment offers something neither can match: a full-size jacuzzi spa bath built into the private balcony, framed by natural sandstone and open to a 180-degree panorama of the Gulf of Thailand. It is a genuinely indulgent feature, and it sets the tone for the whole stay.

The apartment occupies 100 square metres within the Tropical Sea View Residence, a low-rise hillside development set among coconut palms and tropical gardens. Inside, the design is contemporary and unfussy — polished white-tile floors, clean lines, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass pulling the ocean deep into the living space — with gold-leaf and teal Thai art panels warming the white walls and natural teak furniture throughout, from the king platform bed to the media console, lending a grounded, resort-quality feel.

The layout flows logically from door to ocean: an open-plan living area with a generous L-shaped sofa beside a modern kitchen of breakfast bar, chrome stools, rangehood, microwave and full-size fridge, the king bedroom opening through sliding glass onto the covered terrace where a four-seat dining table and the jacuzzi share the sea-view balcony. A manager fluent in English, French and Chinese is included, handling bookings, scooter hire, transfers and tours, with weekly housekeeping, linen and 24-hour security as standard, plus the shared infinity pool, sun terrace and on-site gym. Lamai Beach lies 700 metres below — a five-minute ride — with the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks, Lamai Night Market and beachfront restaurants all within easy reach.