watching the resident dog, Tawan, take his regular walks down to the beach. This elderly dog belongs to the staff and lazes in their quarters throughout the day, only heading to the beach for a dip in the sea or to half-heartedly chase a crab every now and then.

This part of Koh Samui’s coast enjoys a regular breeze off the sea, so is a little cooler than other beaches on the island. It’s this breeze that has drawn one of the kite-surfing schools to Laem Set. The beach, although not the most pristine, is good for beachcombing, and exploring with the kayak shows a different perspective of this coast.

Khun Sompit, the bubbly villa manageress, is very knowledgeable about the surrounding area and offers good advice on where to go and what to do. We spent nearly all our time outside, moving between the shady sala and the poolside loungers, taking cooling dips, relaxing over a drink and enjoying the birdlife while doing very little.  

It was lovely to wake up to views of the ocean from the comfortable bed in the master suite, and have tea set out and waiting to enjoy in the sala while deciding what to do – or not to do – for the day. Our inclusive continental breakfast was well presented, with a good selection of fruit, cereal, toast and muffins as well as juices and tea or coffee.

of the villa's main advantages. Day and night we enjoyed the benefits of total escape, helped by sensitive staff who remained unobtrusive unless we needed them. The only contact with outsiders was the occasional greeting from a passing fisherman, and having the sunset completely to ourselves was as much of a treat as the opulent surroundings we enjoyed it from (turning off the garden lights to star gaze at night is even better). The villa's open design and cool, tiled floors mean you can pad around barefoot in your beach wear, and with so many options for outdoor repose you're only ever fully indoors while sleeping (weather permitting of course - the villa's folding doors can all be closed during wind or rain). Staying in the master suite is a pleasantly private experience as the only view from the bed is across your private terrace to the sea. The owners are definitely active types and having so many options for recreation close at hand means that even kids will rarely feel the need to venture beyond the garden and beach. Having said that, it was fun to strike off and explore the coastal paths on the villa's two bicycles and drag a kayak out to deeper water so we could paddle to the nearby offshore islands. With delicious meals prepared to order by the chef, coming back to La Lagune at the end of the day was always a pleasure, sound in the knowledge that a blissful, private and chic retreat awaited our return.

swimmers and jump straight in the swimming pool. The fact that the house fronts a well-managed residential community means it's safe, quiet and convenient. The flip side being that when you walk from the beach up an avenue lined with similar properties, you could easily believe you've been transported to a suburban estate in the west. Fortunately, abundant tropical foliage and the constant sound of the sea keep your feet firmly in Thailand, and a major bonus for the kids is that there's plenty of space to play and explore, plus a chance to meet new friends. The villa's decor and design could easily be described as nostalgic, especially on an island characterised by contemporary ostentation. But once ensconced, we found Baan Chaai Haat to be a pleasing throw-back to the days when a holiday meant renting a bungalow by the sea, recreating the family home, and escaping the stress and mundanity of daily life. The service concept at the Samui Beach Village is very flexible and the on-site staff are polite and efficient. The cleaners work around you almost invisibly and the guest relations team can answer just about any question and give their recommendations – both for and against – about places to go and things to do, based on their own extensive knowledge of the island. Baan Chaai Haat is not an extravagant, luxury villa, but it still boasts all the essential ingredients for a fabulous holiday - comfort, convenience and a beach right on your doorstep. For a young family or group of friends in search of private, affordable accommodation, Baan Chaai Haat ticks most of the boxes.

traditional self-catering holidays than to the new upscale villa rental concepts that have taken over in many parts of Samui. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have kids, because staying within a private, gated community brings added security, and with an office on-site and staff ready to handle requests and deal with problems, it’s very convenient too. The beach in front of Samui Beach Village is quiet and clean and the water is shallow, flat and calm for much of the year, so children can play happily and safely. It’s only a short stroll from Baan Lotus, so older kids could even be left to amuse themselves by the sea while the adults lie by the pool. A lot of thought has clearly gone into the property’s interior design, which combines practical features with some interesting, artistic Asian decor. This gives the house plenty of character, in some ways even making it feel more up-market than it actually is. But despite these touches of style, you never feel uncomfortable wandering around in your swimming gear or putting your feet up on the sofa. All the bedrooms are very comfortable and nicely furnished, particularly the upstairs master, which also has a pleasant balcony looking down over the garden and pool. The bathrooms are quite compact with no tubs to soak in, but large rain showers do the job well enough and there's plenty of storage space in the attached dressing areas. Despite a lack of spectacular sea views, Baan Lotus still offers a relaxing, seaside ambience with modern comforts and comprehensive service options that make your stay easy and enjoyable.

and free to relax in your own space, surrounded by tropical extravagance. The decor may be a little magniloquent for a beach villa, but at least you never forget you're in Thailand and once you slip on your bathers and flop into the pool, you quickly get used to feeling like a royal guest. A team of staff take care of the entire estate, but as a guest at Baan Sarika you enjoy VIP treatment. You can stipulate the amount of attention you receive and the chef (included but with provisioning on guests' account) is a wizard in the kitchen. Mealtimes are almost as much of a pleasure as the down time in between, most of which is easily spent doing very little in a horizontal pose. When you yearn for life's simple pleasures, you can wander along the quiet beach to watch the fishermen bring in their catch or just gaze over the calm waters to the small islands on the horizon. Although you share the beach with other guests and residents, this part of the island never feels crowded and local island life continues around you undisturbed. This is the kind of villa that inspires a long, satisfied sigh.

Arriving at YL Residence for a friend's birthday weekend, I initially thought I'd come to the wrong place. On first inspection, the collection of modern, white buildings seemed to be part of a resort - and indeed it could be - but instead, the owners choose to rent the entire place as

a private residence, which provides a unique opportunity to share a stunning space with a close group friends or family. The suites and communal areas are all exquisitely furnished and the entire property is incredibly well staffed. This means you can either choose your spot and stick to it, or make the most of what is essentially a millionaire's playground. Our host had plenty of people dropping in and out throughout the weekend, plus 20 of us staying over, so it was easy to drift between different scenes and social groups at will. The poolside party included parents and kids, who tended to favour the sun deck and pool lounge, the drinkers meanwhile hung out in the club house bar with their ipods permanently plugged in to the Bose music system, the beach bums switched between the sand, the sea and the games room, while the inner circle often retreated with the birthday boy and his partner to the master YL Suite, which became affectionately known as "the lux lounge". Every space had its own dedicated staff with exquisite meals, snacks and a full range of drinks served at almost any hour, wherever desired. The barbecue was a particular treat and big enough for a banquet. Unequivocal extravagance!

As an extended party pad, YL Residence is hard to beat, but not everyone would choose to stay here on a wild weekend. Unofficially, it is the largest villa in Thailand so rock star connotations are virtually unavoidable, but the property also manages to hold onto its natural side thanks largely to the dramatic beachfront setting and the forest of coconut palms and casuarina trees that fill its grounds (a fellow guest suggested cutting a few of them down to build a 9-hole golf course!). Even for those on a more sedate holiday, the villa offers a one-of-a kind experience. The staff, cuisine and multitude of diversions make it a rounded luxury holiday haven. The only drawback being that without a gang of fellow guests to share its vastness, one could feel a little lonely and isolated.