Those who dream of lording over their own little kingdom will relish staying at Andaman View, a lofty villa that feels completely remote and comes with such a wealth of services and facilities that you need never venture beyond its boundaries. Even being within a villa estate does not detract from the sense of seclusion, with a massive stone wall and a long driveway completely cutting off any view of neighbouring villas. The view is a huge attraction at this villa; so much so that we became eager early risers to make sure we caught the spectacular sunrise every morning during our visit.

We felt that the villa is better suited for families with older children or groups of adults since its entertainment and games are geared towards a more ‘mature’ crowd (drinking, dining, pool table), and the open swimming pool could be a bit of a hazard for active toddlers. Staying at Andaman View we really did feel like royalty, not only because it was like having our own private mini-castle to romp around in, but also because of all the inclusive services that kept us in pampered comfort throughout our stay. Having two meals a day prepared for us was a real treat, though we were sad we didn’t have enough time to indulge in a soothing treatment (available for a modest extra charge) on the villa’s own massage bed.

Happily, one thing that is not so princely about Andaman View is the price. This is one of the best-value villas we’ve visited in Phuket. Though the villa is officially located in Nai Harn, with the beach less than 10 minutes away by car, its position at the north end of the village makes it nearly as close to Kata beach (reached via a wonderful coastal drive around jungle-clad hills, and another favourite swimming spot for families) and Rawai beach – a must for Thai seafood with its row of casual restaurants lining the waterfront (pick any one, they’re all good!).

‘Summertime, and the living is easy’ crooned Ella Fitzgerald, and at Villa Maria it’s easier still, with no less than three living rooms to spread out in plus a comfy outdoor sitting area to boot. This, along with the villa’s two-bedroom self-contained suite and its sheer size, made us think – slyly – that Maria might be the perfect holiday choice for families who don’t get along! Of course, families who do get along will have an absolute ball here with the big pool-garden-party area and loads of space both indoors and out for playing and relaxing – not to mention the TVs, movies and music for those who love their electronic delights. Thoughtful features for families include trundles under all the single beds, accommodating an extra four young children (and allowing kids to have ‘sleepovers’ in each other’s rooms) and the detachable pool safety fence. With meals mostly taken care of by the full-time cook and a wealth of dining choices to enjoy within minutes, the only pressing issue of the day here was, ‘Beach or pool?’ Being located so close to the beach we could happily do both. (Declaration of bias: Nai Harn is our favourite beach in Phuket, so we are likely to have extra fondness for any villa located in this area!)

Maria is popular, so early booking is essential. When we arrived we caught the staff busy cleaning up the ‘aftermath’ of what looked to have been an exceptionally fun-filled family holiday: overflowing boxes of toys, pool toys and inflatables piled up on the terrace, extra chairs wedged in around the large outdoor dining table... Overall, this is simply a fun and festive villa. Our only regret was not having enough people with us during our visit to take full advantage of all the party zones!

Looking for the postcard-perfect family holiday escape? Then simply insert yourself here, at Moonstone Villa! This is truly a family-oriented villa within easy reach of Phuket’s most family-friendly beach – kids of all ages will absolutely love it here. We really valued Moonstone’s tranquillity and the feeling that you’re in the centre of a lush oasis while being able to enjoy all the modern comforts you’d expect in a luxury holiday home. We appreciated the small touches that give the villa added safety and comfort, such as having ceiling fans in the bathrooms (anyone who has ever found themselves ready for another shower within five minutes of having their first one will know what we mean!), and a protective fence for the pool available on request. The huge pool terrace, with its sala dining area and barbecue, made us wish we’d brought along half a dozen more friends since it’s ideal for pool parties. With meals mostly taken care of by the full-time housekeeper–cook and a wealth of dining choices to enjoy within minutes, the only major decision during our stay was: Beach or Pool? This happy dilemma was usually answered with: Both! Refreshing laps in the pool by morning were followed with trips down to the beach in the late afternoon to watch the sun sink into the sea behind the silhouettes of tall-masted yachts. Total tropical bliss. (Declaration of bias: Nai Harn is our favourite beach in Phuket, so we are likely to have extra fondness for any villa located in this area!)

‘Emerald’ is certainly an apt name for this holiday home whose terraces are perfectly positioned to drink in the lush, tropical hillside views. This is truly a family-oriented villa within easy reach of Phuket’s most family-friendly beach – kids of all ages will absolutely love it here.

We really enjoyed Emerald’s tranquillity and the feeling that you’re hidden away from the world while enjoying all the modern comforts you’d expect in a luxury holiday home. We appreciated the small touches that give the villa added comfort, like the bean-bag chairs and having ceiling fans in the bathrooms (anyone who has ever found themselves ready for another shower within five minutes of having their first one will know what we mean!). The huge pool terrace, with its sala dining area and barbecue, made us wish we’d brought along half a dozen more friends since it’s ideal for pool parties. With meals mostly taken care of by the full-time housekeeper–cook and a wealth of dining choices to enjoy within minutes, the only major decision during our stay was: Beach or Pool? This happy dilemma was usually answered with: Both! Refreshing laps in the pool by morning were followed with trips down to the beach in the late afternoon to watch the sun sink into the sea behind the silhouettes of tall-masted yachts. Total tropical bliss. (Declaration of bias: Nai Harn is our favourite beach in Phuket, so we are likely to have extra fondness for any villa located in this area!)

The Eagles’ hit about having “a peaceful, easy feeling” could well be the theme song for Gemstone Villa. This is truly a family-oriented villa within easy reach of Phuket’s most family-friendly beach – kids of all ages will absolutely love it here. We really valued Gemstone’s tranquillity and the feeling that you’re in a lush oasis while enjoying all the modern comforts you’d expect in a luxury holiday home. We appreciated the small touches that give the villa added safety and comfort, such as having ceiling fans in the bathrooms (anyone who has ever found themselves ready for another shower within five minutes of having their first one will know what we mean!), and a protective fence for the pool available on request. The spacious pool terrace, with its sala dining area and barbecue, made us wish we’d brought along half a dozen more friends since it’s ideal for pool parties. With meals mostly taken care of by the full-time housekeeper–cook and a wealth of dining choices to enjoy within minutes, the only major decision during our stay was: Beach or Pool? This happy dilemma was usually answered with: Both! Refreshing laps in the pool by morning were followed with trips down to the beach in the late afternoon to watch the sun sink into the sea behind the silhouettes of tall-masted yachts. Total tropical bliss. (Declaration of bias: Nai Harn is our favourite beach in Phuket, so we are likely to have extra fondness for any villa located in this area!)

The Eagles’ hit about having “a peaceful, easy feeling” could well be the theme song for Sunstone Villa. This is truly a family-oriented villa within easy reach of Phuket’s most family-friendly beach – kids of all ages will absolutely love it here. We really valued Sunstone’s tranquillity and the feeling that you’re in the centre of a lush oasis while being able to enjoy all the modern comforts you’d expect in a luxury holiday home. We appreciated the small touches that give the villa added safety and comfort, such as having ceiling fans in the bathrooms (anyone who has ever found themselves ready for another shower within five minutes of having their first one will know what we mean!), and a protective fence for the pool available on request. The huge pool terrace, with its sala dining area and barbecue, made us wish we’d brought along half a dozen more friends since it’s ideal for pool parties. With meals mostly taken care of by the full-time housekeeper–cook and a wealth of dining choices to enjoy within minutes, the only major decision during our stay was: Beach or Pool? This happy dilemma was usually answered with: Both! Refreshing laps in the pool by morning were followed with trips down to the beach in the late afternoon to watch the sun sink into the sea behind the silhouettes of tall-masted yachts. Total tropical bliss. (Declaration of bias: Nai Harn is our favourite beach in Phuket, so we are likely to have extra fondness for any villa located in this area!)