With a warm yet elegant style, caring staff and a peaceful location on a lush hillside, Baan Surin Sawan is an all-round superb tropical holiday villa. Though the Surin hills area is becoming more built up, this villa remains well out of the fray and we were delighted to see many birds and butterflies flitting over the pool, even a squirrel scampering around in the palm trees. The trickle of flowing water and the light tinkling of brass temple bells in the breeze, made a soothing soundtrack to our stay.

The friendly, efficient service by the villa manager and chef (overseen by a professional management company) is complemented by the care of the owner’s long-term live-in maid. Thoughtful touches included being welcomed with a cold coconut drink, refreshing towels and a garland on arrival and being offered the owner’s own homemade muesli mix at breakfast (quite tasty by the way). The full-time chef specialises in Thai cuisine and we were given the chance to try some of her Southern Thai specialties including the delicious poh-pia pak (spring rolls with spicy dipping sauce). We selected our dishes individually but there’s a fixed-price set meal menu, too, which we’d recommend as a good sampler to try for guests unfamiliar with Thai cuisine. The dining room is rather grand in design and perfect for evening meals. For outdoor dining there’s a table in the back garden barbecue area and the poolside sala could be used for an informal meal. If we’d stayed longer we would have probably arranged to have the garden table brought out to the pool terrace so we could enjoy the sea views while dining alfresco.

The overall layout of the villa offers a good set-up for two families or an extended family. The entertainment room and pantry plus two ensuite bedrooms on the bottom floor give the feel of being in a separate apartment with plenty of privacy, though we expect couples might battle for the upstairs master suite, which sits majestically in its own poolside pavilion with the best sea views!

We couldn’t have picked a better place for our family vacation than Villa Borimas. It is cosy, peaceful and close to some fantastic beach clubs and great restaurants. But the best part was the villa staff team, who were all very friendly and warm. The views are magical, the villa overlooks the sea and the coastline, and every sunset was a spectacle to be enjoyed from a different spot each night - the poolside, the balconies, the moon deck, our bedroom, everywhere really!

Besides the amazing views, another advantage of being so high up was complete tranquillity. Traffic can get noisy in the village of Surin, but we couldn’t hear a thing from our lofty position. Our trip was all about putting our feet up. We spent a lot of time relaxing on the outdoor decks, in and around the pool, getting massages, reading or just talking with each other.

We had a delicious breakfast every day, enjoyed poolside under the shade of the pergola, and requested the chef to craft a few dinners for us when we didn’t want to go out. The food was always presented beautifully and was very tasty. On my husband’s birthday, we organised a barbecue up on the moon deck which he insists was one of his best birthday celebrations ever.

The living space is stylish and tasteful and there was plenty of room for everyone in our group. We will definitely be back!

Villa Sammasan is a great family villa – stylish enough to satisfy those seeking a touch of luxury but comfortable and welcoming for kids, too.  We spent most of our time here on the pool terrace, where the kids flipped for the pool, literally, as they spent a lot of time perfecting their forward jump flips while we watched in comfort from the shady sala.  We had a short stay yet the weather conditions ran the gamut from glorious sunshine to torrential rains, and the villa was a lovely haven either way.  The ultra comfortable living room and media room were great retreats for games and movies when the sun disappeared.  The larger four-bedroom Villa Napalai  next door is under the same management so big groups or extended families needing more space might consider booking Sammasan and Napalai together.

The staff here are helpful and amazingly, considering the picky eaters among us, the chef’s meals were relished and devoured by all.  Dinner was a standout event: we thought we’d ordered far too many dishes, but they were so delicious we finished them all.  The yam nue yang (spicy beef salad) and pla nueng manao (steamed sea bass in lime and garlic) were simply spectacular, and we watched in awe as our kids ate the fish up like candy.

Surin Springs Villa 6 is a tranquil base from which to comfortably enjoy this upmarket area of Phuket. The swimming pool looks over the lagoon and is a very relaxing place to soak up the sun whilst the lovely Surin beach is only a ten-minute walk down the road.

We thought the villa would be especially suitable for families, as kids will enjoy the independence of the upper-floor rooms whilst the master suite has a lovely situation beside the pool overlooking the lagoon. The shallow section of the pool, closest to the villa, means that younger children can safely make the most of the water. The kitchen is well equipped with appliances but only has the bare essentials in terms of cooking utensils, however with such a great choice of restaurants in the area – from local Thai food at the end of the road to fabulous upmarket dining (most including children’s menus), you might not be cooking much at home. A Thai chef can also be arranged to cook for you at the villa (with 24 hours notice and at extra cost) if you fancy a change.  

We were able to contact the management company at any time of the day when we needed help with tour bookings and transport. They also provide a laundry service and can do your food shopping for you (an itemised list with prices is available in the villa information pack) if you really want to have a break from the usual household chores.