Villas in Phuket, Thailand

This graceful sea-view retreat set up in the hills overlooking Patong is one of the few villas in Phuket that can truly claim to offer the best of both worlds. Within minutes of we could reach the busy beach resort town of Patong and delve into its myriad nightlife, dining and shopping choices – then easily escape back up into Villa Disa’s peaceful elegance. We sunk in and stretched out in style, and our worries disappeared amid the superb level of comfort offered throughout, from the plush living room furnishings to the fully shaded pool terrace with heaps of space for lounging or dining, to the ultra-private bedrooms. Peaked ceilings give the villa an added touch of grandeur and spaciousness, and it was obvious to us that great care had gone into its design and decoration, with high-quality craftsmanship in all the details including the wooden furnishings and the fresco-adorned wall along the pool.

Though a chef and in-villa staff can be provided on request, we opted to be left to our own devices and ordered our food from the estate’s à la carte menu. Meals were brought quickly and were superb – mainly Thai with some innovative flourishes. Though the indoor dining table was lovely, we usually dined out on the terrace to best enjoy the sea view and the fan-cooled fresh air. On one evening of our stay, the owner of a nearby villa hosted a team-building event at the shared pool area. From our position next door, we could see that the staff spent hours in preparation and the results were stunning, with a temporary gazebo, lovely floral arrangements, a sound system for the live band, and lighting around the pool’.

Overall, there’s something to satisfy everyone at Villa Disa B3: space, calm, a family-friendly environment, a terrific range of services and facilities for entertaining in style, and easy access to a wealth of attractions for those seeking more adventure – be it a challenging round of golf or a night out on the town.

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TBA

Our
Rating 7.8 Guest Rating 8.6

Sleeps 6-8*

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa La Cigale C11

With its stunning sea-view location in a luxury enclave and close access to many island attractions, we truly enjoyed the best of both worlds at Villa La Cigale. We relished the choice of spending our days in pampered elegance relaxing by the pool then going for a stroll along Patong's sands; or enjoying a night out on the town in the knowledge that it was only a short taxi ride back to our peaceful villa.

Though a chef and in-villa staff can be provided on request (extra charge), we were happy enough with the daily maid service and with the innovative Thai dishes we had delivered from the estate’s central kitchen. A virtual army of staff (45 in all) are employed to keep the estate in tip-top condition, and it really shows.

We did not bring our children along for this visit, but we think they would have had great fun swimming at the villa's pool, watching the big cable TV (with a cartoon channel) and venturing out to the shared children's pool nearby. Though there's plenty to keep everyone busy in nearby Patong, the management team can arrange yacht trips, rounds of golf and other excursions, as well as in-villa massages which, much to our dismay, we ran out of time to try.

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TBA

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Laelia W8

Villa Laelia is among the few villas where the phrase, ‘having it all’, is not an overstatement. We could retreat completely into its tranquil and luxurious surrounds yet, if the mood struck, we could venture out to some of Phuket’s liveliest and most interesting dining and entertainment offerings within minutes.

The vaulted roof and teak detailing make the villa look exceptionally majestic yet we felt very comfortable right away. We made much use of the terrace and pool areas and, although the pool is not huge, the lovely stone wall and elephant statues make it an oasis for soaking up the sea view.

Though there are no live-in kitchen or cleaning staff (except by request, at extra charge), service here is very flexible and efficient. The meals we ordered in from the estate’s central kitchen were excellent, prepared in authentic Thai style with a few innovative touches, such as the laarb gai (spicy minced chicken) patties that could be dipped in a spicy sauce. A daily maid takes care of housekeeping and the estate manager seemed ready and willing to provide for every scenario we threw at him. They also help organise larger events, and we were impressed by preparations for a team building event taking place around the shared pool area one evening during our visit.

With such a nice balance of shared space, privacy and great access to the beach and island attractions, we could find little reason why families or groups with a wide range of interests would not have an excellent stay at Villa Laelia.

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TBA

Sleeps 8

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Phala A3

From its gorgeous sea-view setting in Patong’s hills, we found Villa Phala to be the perfect place to enjoy opulent surrounds and some good old-fashioned pampering, yet not be completely withdrawn from the world. ‘Carefree’ best describes the experience here, with a mind-boggling range of facilities, services and attractions easily available and close at hand.

Every day was different. One day we retreated completely and lounged by the pool, ordering our meals from the estate’s à la carte menu and catching up on some reading while stretched out on the wooden deck chairs. The next day we wandered downhill into central Patong and plunged into its busy hawker-lined streets and shopping arcades, and when the heat and crowds got to be too much, we beat a hasty retreat to the villa.

We were very impressed with the level of care taken in both the villa’s design and upkeep. L’Orchidée clearly runs a tight ship, with a large team of staff and contractors providing service for 25 villas, keeping the villa and the entire estate neat, tidy, and looking brand new even though it was built in 2006. Service is efficient and professional; all of our requests were understood and taken care of.

In all, we found Villa Phala to be an ideal holiday home, offering ample opportunity for both exploration and utter relaxation for people of all ages. Kids especially will delight in having a choice to play in the villa’s private pool or hang out with other children in the shared pool and shallow children’s pool at the club house, just a few minutes’ walk away.

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TBA

Sleeps 8-9*

Our
Rating 7.9

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Phala A5

From its gorgeous sea-view setting in Patong’s hills, we found Villa Phala A5 to be the perfect place to enjoy opulent surrounds and some good old-fashioned pampering, yet not completely escape from the world. ‘Carefree’ best describes the experience here, with a mind-boggling range of facilities, services and attractions close at hand. Every day was different. One day we retreated completely and lounged by the pool, ordering our meals in and catching up on some reading while stretched out on the wooden deck chairs, the next we wandered down into central Patong and plunged into its busy hawker-lined streets and shopping arcades. When the heat and crowds got to be too much, we beat a hasty retreat to the villa.

We were very impressed with the level of care taken in both the villa’s design and upkeep. L’Orchidée clearly runs a tight ship, with a large contingent of staff and contractors providing service for 25 villas - keeping the villa and the entire estate neat, tidy, and looking brand new even though it was built in 2006. Service is efficient and professional; all of our requests were understood and taken care of.

In all, we found Villa Phala to be an ideal holiday home, offering ample opportunity for both exploration and utter relaxation for people of all ages. Kids especially will delight in having a choice to play in the villa’s private pool or hang out with other children in the shared pool and shallow children’s pool at the club house, just a few minutes’ walk away.

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TBA

Our
Rating 7.9 Guest Rating 8.5

Sleeps 8

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Suriya B2

With its stunning sea-view location in a luxury enclave and close access to many island attractions, we truly enjoyed the best of both worlds at Villa Suriya. We relished the choice of either spending our days in pampered elegance relaxing by the pool and venturing out for a quiet stroll along Patong’s sands; or enjoying a night out on the town in the knowledge that it was only a short taxi ride back to our quiet villa. Having two master suites is a real plus for extended families or travelling couples, and we especially welcomed the high level of privacy offered by their downstairs location.

Though a chef and in-villa staff can be provided on request (extra charge), we were happy enough with the daily maid service and with the innovative Thai dishes we had delivered from the estate’s central kitchen. A large team of staff and contractors are employed to keep the estate in tip-top condition, and it really shows.

We did not bring our children along for this visit, but we think they would have had great fun swimming at the villa’s pool and watching the big cable TV (with a cartoon channel). And having the shared children’s pool nearby offers even more play-time options. Though there’s plenty to keep everyone busy in nearby Patong, the management team can arrange yacht trips, rounds of golf and other excursions, as well as in-villa massages which, much to our dismay, we ran out of time to try.

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TBA

Sleeps 6-8*

Laguna Residence 57/5

Thailand » Phuket » Bang Tao Beach » Bang Tao

We felt that the layout, size and design of this villa made it ideal for families and extended families. As well as the twin bedded room on the first floor (ideal for kids), the master bedroom is spacious enough for a baby cot and the queen bedroom on the ground floor would be great for elderly relatives. The maid’s room next to the utility area could also be an added attraction for those travelling with a helper.

Light flooded into the house during the daytime, and when we drew the pin-striped blinds at night they effectively wallpapered the rooms and completely transformed the atmosphere of the house. The gardens are generous and child-friendly, with a white wicker fence at the end of the lawn to make sure that youngsters don’t stray onto the fairway. Although there are other villas on both sides, we felt there was enough landscaping in between to give us adequate privacy. There are no live-in staff (although a manager is on call 24 hours a day) and the villa is primarily self-catering, but a maid cleans daily, pool boys and gardeners come twice a week, and a chef can be arranged with prior notice for a small fee. Food is prepared according to a menu at cost price. The management company can also assist with anything from trips and tours to transport, grocery shopping, maintenance and laundry services.

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TBA

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 7.5

Layan Estate - Villa Omnia

Thailand » Phuket » Bang Tao Beach » Bang Tao

Villa Omnia makes for a very pleasant family holiday home. It benefits from being on a mature estate so avoids much of the construction malaise from which other estates suffer. The villa itself is spacious and very light thanks to lots of glass doors and windows. It is very well set up for families – an outstanding pool with good shallow section, toys, playroom and plenty of outside space to let off steam.

As with many recent construction projects in Phuket, the build is not of the highest standard (patchy paint, light terrazzo cracks, plasterboard walls) but these issues are very minor and would not detract from a great holiday – and the complex has a management company to fix any problems. The privacy is excellent as are the outside options – a lovely sala at the end of the pool, pleasant outdoor dining and good sun-trap terraces with loungers. The kitchen is modern and well equipped – nice touches like iced glasses in the freezer – but comes with almost no provisions so a supermarket shop is essential. Bedrooms are large and comfortable and the bathrooms very practical although note that one queen and twin bedroom share a bathroom – good for a family as access to the twin is either from outside or through the queen room.

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TBA

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 7.2

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Ansellia X1

With its gorgeous sea-view setting in Patong's hills, we found Villa Ansellia X1 to be the perfect holiday choice to enjoy opulent surrounds and some good old-fashioned pampering, without completely detach ourselves from the world. 'Carefree' best describes the experience here, with a great range of facilities, services and attractions easily available and close at hand. Every day was different. One day we retreated completely and lounged by the pool, ordering our meals in and catching up on some reading while stretched out on the deck chairs. Another day we wandered downhill into central Patong and plunged into its busy hawker-lined streets and shopping arcades, and when the heat and crowds got to be too much, we beat a hasty retreat to the villa.

We were very impressed with the level of care taken in both the villa's design and upkeep. Service is efficient and professional; our requests were understood and swiftly taken care of. There's something to satisfy everyone’s holiday needs at Villa Ansellia, with space, calm, a family-friendly environment, a terrific range of services and facilities for entertaining in style, and easy access to a wealth of attractions for those seeking more adventure – be it a challenging round of golf or a night out on the town. Kids will especially delight in having the choice to play in the villa's private pool or hang out with other children in the large pool and shallow children's pool at the clubhouse nearby.

more...

TBA

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 7.9

L'Orchidee Residences - Villa Cattleya C8

This luxurious, well-managed villa set up in the hills overlooking Patong is one of the few holiday homes in Phuket that can truly claim to offer the best of both worlds. We could be at the busy beach resort town of Patong, delving into its myriad nightlife, dining and shopping choices within minutes – then escape back up into Villa Cattleya’s peaceful elegance with ease. We sunk in and stretched out in style, and our worries disappeared amid the superb level of comfort offered throughout, from the plush living room furnishings to the private bedrooms. We could see a real sense of care throughout, with high-quality craftsmanship in all the details including the wooden furnishings and the fresco-adorned wall along the pool. The shaded poolside terrace offers plenty of space to relax, though we felt it would benefit from having a larger dining table (the estate manager mentioned that new furniture was being ordered).

Though a chef and in-villa staff can be arranged for an extra charge, we opted for the à la carte menu served from the estate’s central kitchen. Meals were brought quickly and were superb, mainly Thai with some innovative flourishes.

Overall, there's something to satisfy everyone’s holiday requirements at Villa Cattleya C8, with space, calm, a family-friendly environment, a terrific range of services and facilities for entertaining in style, and easy access to a wealth of attractions for those seeking more adventure – be it a challenging round of golf or a night out on the town. Kids especially will love having the choice of playing at their own private pool or hanging out with other children at the large estate pool or the shallow children's pool at the clubhouse nearby.

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TBA

Bedrooms 3

Sleeps 6