8-Bedroom Private Luxury Rental Villas - list view

Amilla – the great beach residence 8 bedroom

Pinch me, I’m dreaming! Surely this is heaven on earth? Flying over coral islands strung like pearls on a necklace, and sandbanks that sparkle in the sunlight, I knew we were in for a treat long before we arrived. By the time we stepped onto the jetty to a phalanx of staff welcoming us to our ‘island home’, I was head over heels in love. The Amilla Beach Villa Residences really are very special. This is an ultra-luxe destination with a relaxing island vibe and a generous heart-and-soul spirit.

We kicked off our shoes immediately and kicked into the island groove (even the seaplane pilot was barefoot): swaying in the hammock, slipping into the silken lagoon waters, spying on the resident Maakana (heron) as he strutted along the pure-white sand. Indoors, we indulged in the many treats that arrived as if by magic throughout the day. (Turns out the villa came with its own magician – Munaadh, our hugely engaging Katheeb (house manager) who enriched our stay immeasurably.) He proved to be a mind reader, able to anticipate our every whim, and shared his unbridled passion for the island with us. He also organised a fabulous seafood-and-champagne barbecue at home – one of many culinary highlights of our stay.

Sauntering along sandy paths through coconut groves, past ancient Banyan trees, we were amazed by the sheer amount of activities available across the small island. Sure, you can have the laziest, most relaxing vacation ever – I would gladly have spent my entire time at the sublime Javva Spa alone! But the chance go dolphin watching and swimming with mantas was too tempting.

A shout out to the astonishing array of restaurants can’t be overlooked – the amazing culinary experiences and mouthwatering menus were among the many highlights of our trip. Sunset cocktails followed by a fresh-from-the-sea meal at the over-water Feeling Koi restaurant is an absolute must; I admit to piling on the pounds during my stay.

The sheer size and sensitive layout of The Great Beach Villa Residence makes it well suited for a large gathering of friends. It’s also very family-friendly, and within the villa there’s masses to keep kids entertained beyond the beach and pools – not to mention the resort’s extensive recreational facilities and kids club.

It’s easy to lose all sense of time. In fact, ‘island time’ really does exist here, as the Amilla visionaries set their clocks two hours ahead of Male so guests can enjoy extra hours of daylight; how’s that for above-and-beyond service? A sign at the Empire Beach Club claims “Happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of life”. What a perfect epithet for our stay!

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From $17,248

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 9.1

Kaba Kaba Estate

Indonesia » Bali » Tabanan

We’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of beautiful villas in our time, but Kaba Kaba Estate exceeded all expectations of comfort, luxuriousness, good taste and space. There’s so much to do on the estate itself that its out-of-town location is not an issue. Everything has been thought of, from tennis, foosball, air hockey and all the major electronic game consoles, through to a library, gym and even a croquet lawn. If only we’d had more time! As it was, the pools, the spa and the spectacular home cinema were more than enough to relax and entertain us.

The staff were just the right mix of professional and friendly, and the chef is a consummate pro, delighting us with everything he presented. Although there is a selection menu, we highly suggest that you just ‘go blind’ (like we did) and let the chef and his team surprise you with their magic. Our simple, three-course Balinese dinner was off-the-charts delicious.

Do go for an early morning wander through the rice fields. The locals are very friendly and the experience will be something the regular tour guides can’t give you. The wide-open spaces are awe inspiring.

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From $2,645

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 14-18*

Our
Rating 9.3

Villa Kailasha

Indonesia » Bali » Tabanan

Guests booking Villa Kailasha will hopefully have spotted that it’s in a remote location so there should be no surprise on arrival: we certainly thought the villa’s setting was sublime. Long stretches of black sand and marauding surf with hardly another tourist in sight. We spent most of our time stretched out by the pool enjoying the ministrations of the staff and soaking up the ocean views, but while we were there we were privileged to witness a village ceremony when the procession passed right by the villa’s front gate. We followed the merriment and colour down to the beach and experienced a Balinese event that, for us, was priceless.

For a change of scenery, take a stroll along the small roads and into the local villages for a slice of rural life. And for something a little more sophisticated, stop by the Alila Villas Soori Resort for dinner, or at least a sunset drink. The classy surroundings are pretty special and being so remote not many people drop in, so don’t miss the opportunity while you’re in the neighbourhood. We went for the said sunset drink but ended up staying for dinner – and really rated their kitchen. While their spa would probably welcome visitors as well, it’s perhaps more tempting to ask the villa staff to organise a therapist to come and give you a treatment at ‘home’.

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From $1,155 Special 8br Rate

Bedrooms 9

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 8.8

Villa Saan

Thailand » Phuket » Kamala

Our stay at Villa Saan left us in no doubt that this is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a tropical holiday immersed in style and luxury. The villa’s exquisite design, with its grand entrance foyer framing wide sea views, adds extra WOW factor to its spectacular hillside location, and a clever four-floor layout provides ample shared space and plenty of privacy within each bedroom suite.

Keeping cool is easy in the 19-metre infinity pool that appears to hover above the sea, and the jacuzzi set in the corner of the pool is just the spot for relaxation between swims. Fancy a more private soak? Just head up to the master suite and ease into the plunge pool on its private balcony, or lie back and relax in the suite’s outdoor tub. The two top-floor guest bedrooms also have bathtubs-with-a-view in their ensuite bathrooms.

Though it was hard to drag ourselves away from the sea and sunset views, we did enjoy watching movies in the villa’s sumptuous private cinema. This, together with the games room and pool table, said to us that Saan is a villa designed for entertaining as much as relaxing.

The staff here are especially thoughtful. We arrived on a day of inclement weather and, since a dip in the pool wasn’t an option, were asked if we’d like a bottle of chilled wine brought up to the master suite as an alternative. We agreed that this was an excellent idea!

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From $3,228

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.7

Ariara

Philippines » Palawan » Calamian Islands

The magical Ariara Island is truly an exciting new frontier for luxury travel. It might sound clichéd, but Ariara really does have it all: an incredibly pristine hideaway location, superb craftsmanship, inventive design, fabulous cuisine and a team that is absolutely thrilled to serve and guide you every step of the way. Since we tend to be lulled into laziness in the tropics we were quite content, really, to simply curl up on a poolside sun lounger with a cold San Miguel brew in hand, but our hosts had other plans for us! In just one day we were given dive instruction by the PADI-certified dive master, then plunged into the sea just metres offshore at a colourful site full of exotic marine life. Later, we hiked up the island's inland trail to the hilltop and were treated to an amazing panoramic view. Then, after returning to the villa and cooling off, it was time to climb aboard the Karen Joy for an excursion to a nearby fishing village. Still, we made it back to Ariara in time for a sunset cocktail and a three-course dinner featuring fresh lapu lapu (red grouper). There's no need to do all this in one day, of course. One could easily spend weeks, even months here and have a new adventure each day – or simply do nothing but lie back and contemplate the changing colours of the jewel-toned sea.

And the food, oh the food! Among the rich and varied things we sampled were wonderful, exotic fruits – some picked off wild trees on the island, giant lobster, imported beef steak barbecued to absolute perfection, pastas and salads made with organic cheeses, herbs and vegetables, fabulous desserts including orange and basil sorbet and the local rice and coconut bico treat. Being a remote island, getting fresh food in (aside from seafood, which fishermen bring directly to shore daily) is a big undertaking, and coordinating it all is a chef on the island and a Swiss chef based in Manila who operates her own organic dairy farm and expertly sources the finest imported foods and wines. Ariara was six years in the making by a very resourceful, creative and passionate team. With its potent combination of ground-breaking standards of service and a wild, largely undiscovered marine wonderland, we believe that it won't be long before Ariara is the place that others in the super-villa business will be scrambling to imitate.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16-17*

Our
Rating 9.4

Baan Kilee

Thailand » Koh Samui » Lipa Noi

It is rare to find villas like Baan Kilee. We visited as a group of families and it worked an absolute treat. The kids had a ball and fell into bed exhausted each evening giving the parents time to enjoy their vacation. The staff could not have been more welcoming and accommodating; they continually smiled despite being run ragged all hours of the day by demanding parents and children. In true Thai style the kids were taken under their wing from day 1. The food was exquisite and cold drinks, teas, coffees and snacks just kept on appearing. The villa itself is well designed - practical, functional and eminently flexible. All the bedrooms are generous and have good bathrooms. We have no problem recommending Baan Kilee - it is one of the best villas we have seen.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 12-18*

Our
Rating 9.0 Guest Rating 9.1

Villa Infinity

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

The beauty of this villa is the size, (and of course the views). Everything about it is huge and it is totally geared up for large groups of people, weddings and parties, with an extensive sound system (complete with hidden speakers that extend through the garden) and a highly professional kitchen with five-star cuisine prepared by two chefs. The U-shaped sofa in the living pavilion can accommodate 22 people, while the dormitory can accommodate 12 kids or, alternatively, the same number of adult guests who need to bunk down for the night. Note: although this room is not really suitable for adults, guests at events and weddings can sleep here for an additional fee. There were just two of us staying at Infinity, so we felt a bit lost lazing by the large pool all by ourselves. Still, it is a beautiful sprawling expanse of lawn and beautiful architecture so we got over that concern pretty quickly and got into the sheer amount of space available to us by imagining the stellar events that must take place here. An early morning swim is a must, especially as the pool is the warmest we have encountered. Mornings at Infinity are also a time of spectacular beauty with birds singing and crickets chirping; you can see the volcanic backbone of Bali on the horizon and watch the farmers out in their fields tending their crops. Just stunning!

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 14-24*

Our
Rating 8.6

Samui Summit Estate - Hilltop View 4

Thailand » Koh Samui » Choeng Mon

When we arrived at Hilltop View 4, we were as impressed as any child would be at having our own cinema with individual seat controls, and a pool that twinkles with different coloured lights at night. We also felt a curious childhood urge to play hide and seek! There’s such an abundance of perfect hiding spots amongst the many rooms, levels and alcoves here. And as our feet dangled from the huge chairs in the exceptionally high-ceilinged living room, we knew exactly what Alice must have felt like after she sipped the ‘drink me’ potion in Wonderland!

But there are few that wouldn’t be impressed by this villa. Its spectacular views don’t even fade with the sunset, when village lights, a green glow from the squid fishing boats, fireworks from the beach resorts, or perhaps a distant tropical storm light up the sky.

Hilltop View 4 is a true party pad. The kitchen is well set up for events, and there’s a second staff kitchen big enough for a team of chefs. Of course the central music system and mood lighting adds to the perfect party atmosphere, as do the three bars and pool deck. Lavish bedrooms offer solitude and tranquillity when needed and we felt that, with so many levels and living spaces, at no point would guests feel on top of each other, even if the villa was full.

When we felt the need to pay for our over-indulgence at one of the many excellent local seafood restaurants, a friendly game of tennis (racket and ball hire available at the office) at the estate’s shared court, or a walk down to the beach – and back – did the trick.

We enjoyed delicious breakfasts prepared by the resident housekeeper, but if you would like a private chef to prepare other meals at the villa, this can easily be arranged for a reasonable fee plus provisions charged at cost (plus 15% service). Khun Pee, the villa manager, will gladly help you arrange a chef and can take care of many other concierge services too, be it an in-house massage or a boat trip to one of Samui’s outlying islands.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.6

Villa The Sanctuary

Indonesia » Bali » Canggu area » Canggu

If you imagine Bali purely as a sun, surf and sand-between-the-toes holiday destination, then The Sanctuary will give you a whole new perspective on this Island of the Gods. The Sanctuary is jungle, river, tall trees with buttressed roots: what marketing and advertising people describe as charming, heartfelt, grand, traditional, rural, and the very essence of old Bali. It really is a stunner of a villa, a real stunner. It’s so stunning we have to say it more than once.

The size of the place is beyond belief. Three hectares of river and jungle land with eight queen- and king-size beds and a bunkhouse for 20 youngsters, The Sanctuary is something that would suit very large extended families with hordes of kids. It only follows that weddings here would be stupendous with all that immaculate lawn space and the abundance of natural surroundings.

Our group of four could hardly take it all in, so after a quick look round we pretty swiftly decamped to the swimming pool terrace and billiard room where we spent the afternoon eating, drinking, pooling (wet and dry), and marvelling at the wildlife. We had one of the standard bedrooms (and by standard I mean pretty big and posh) and our friends lucked into the self-contained villa, which had its own pool and a massive bedroom with views right down onto the river gorge – a very wise choice, and one we were too slow to make. Still, with the distance between us, we were able to sing in the shower at the tops of our voices without the worry of judgement.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.6

Why House

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

We visited Why House with a few friends and organised a special surprise birthday dinner for one of them in the evening. The villa staff pulled out all the stops and made our simple request into a real occasion. Rum cocktails and dips on the veranda at dusk were followed by an authentic British roast. The meal was superb and it was difficult to believe that the chef wasn’t English given the delectable cauliflower cheese and bread sauce! The lemon birthday cake for dessert was equally divine and the setting – tropical flower displays adorning the table - further enhanced the occasion. The whole evening was a great example of exactly why Why is such a good choice for groups and for entertaining. The staff – headed by wonderful hostess Henrietta – are equally proficient at looking after guests’ day-to-day needs. I found the main house bedrooms and bathrooms to be more luxurious than the others but they all come with their own special charm and are equally well-facilitated – air conditioning, satellite TVs, mini fridges and baskets full of mags, sarongs and games all come as standard in the rooms. DVD players are available on request and there’s a library of movies to choose from. The main living room has sound wired into the ceiling so it makes a great spot for getting together and having a bit of a bash! Why House might not be on the beach but you’ll find a sandy selection just five minutes away. We loved the villa’s inland location and spacious surroundings that couldn’t have felt more tropical and serene. A number of restaurants are within easy reach although with the chef’s excellent cooking – the menu lists Sri Lankan and Thai dishes, seafood grills, BBQs plus other western cuisines – it’s very likely you’ll choose to stay in. Breakfast is included in the rate and all other meals are at cost price plus a 10% charge for service. The villa is great value since several other services such as laundry, fax and WiFi are included in the rate.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.3