There's something refreshingly independent about Blue Samui. The secluded setting is quite unusual for a fast developing island because there are no other properties surrounding the villa (bar one, a little further down the hill, which barely enters the view). This means you quickly relax into your own, private world – shoes and watch off, beachwear on. Once you've stocked the fridge at one of the island's big supermarkets, the urge to venture out fades, at least during the day. The homely atmosphere, combined with abundant on-hand facilities lets you set your own schedule and this generally involves little more than eating, lounging, reading and drifting into the view. Of course, unless you're someone that sees cooking as a leisure activity, the lack of a chef means dining out becomes part of the routine, but with a hire car there are plenty of options close by. The two on-site staff are very keen to please and will happily serve snacks and drinks so you don't have to leave you sun lounger too often. A poolside barbecue is also a must at least once during your stay. The evening light makes those breathtaking views almost surreal. Although the guest bedrooms share a bathroom, the rooms themselves are nicely furnished, spacious and the wide verandah is almost an extra lounge. The views from the nicely hidden bath tub in the master suite make bathing a special pleasure that adds to the indulgence in what, for us, was a pleasingly private and relaxing island retreat.

As an independent couple with plenty of travel experience, we found Emerald Beach Villa offered everything we needed on a beachside break and represented good value when compared to similar accommodation in a hotel. It would work equally well for a family. An agreeable, practical space, clearly designed for outdoor living, we spent most of our time either by the pool, on the beach or in the fan-cooled dining pavilion with the sliding doors flung open to catch the sea breeze. The rear pavilion is something of an anomaly, especially the 'greenhouse' lounge which gets very warm during the day. The bedrooms however, are spacious, cool and comfortable, although with so much glass the morning sun tends to flood in so light sleepers may find early rises become the routine. The upstairs twin bedroom is great for older kids (say seven years and above), but families with toddlers may find the steep stairs and upper landing that lead to it a concern.

Renting a vehicle is highly recommended if you plan to eat out a lot, although the in-villa menu suggestions are varied if you opt to pay extra for an in-house chef. A jolly cleaner arrives every morning after breakfast and again in the evening, she's accompanied by the helpful villa manageress who deals with special requests and will even nip to the local shops to buy basic provisions. Essentially, it is the beautiful garden, quiet beach and stunning views that appeal most. The somewhat remote location makes the holiday home (villa may be a tad generous) feel your own as soon as you arrive and although the neighbours are very close by, walled grounds create a pleasant, personalised holiday environment. As a private alternative to Samui's more upmarket resort accommodation it is an attractive choice.

We felt instantly at home at Villa Nava; partly because of the villa’s comfortable furnishings and convivial layout – it seems the most natural thing in the world to walk through the front door, drop your bag and grab a stool at the big white breakfast island to chat with whoever’s in the kitchen – and partly because Irene, the villa’s lovely manageress, radiates a motherly warmth that just makes you feel relaxed and looked after straight away.

Irene met us at the foot of the steep hill that Nava is built on and smilingly escorted us up to the villa, where, on entering through the double doors, we were greeted by the beautiful view out over the pool and palm tops to a sparkling ocean dotted with tropical island gems. Pristine forested hills and Samui’s attractive coastline disappear southwards, with Nathon town’s long jetty just visible in the mid distance.

Villa Nava’s living room, dining area and kitchen are almost totally surrounded by glass (most of which folds back to create a bright open-sided space) providing easy access to the pool and the breezy sala where, come evening, we sat on black-cushioned sofas toasting the magnificent sunsets.

The bedrooms, split two in the main house and two in the guest bungalow, are well set up for a couple of families or for an extended family (as long and grandma and grandpa are not hampered by stairs – as there are quite a lot of them between the bungalow and the main living floor), and we liked that all the rooms offered pleasant outdoor terraces for a quiet read or rest.

The villa is self-catering, but Irene will help with the shopping and even organizes for meals to be delivered from some nearby restaurants. Alternatively, a local cook will come to the villa and prepare mouth-watering Thai cuisine for a very reasonable charge.