What You Get
Air-con
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
TV (Satellite/Cable)
The Experience
Few villas in Phuket enjoy Baan Lom Talay's inviting mix of convenient access to the beach and utmost privacy. Baan Lom Talay means 'Seabreeze House' and here one certainly has a prime spot for enjoying those sea breezes. After arriving at the road-level car park, you descend into a maze of a villa set in four pavilions spilling down the hillside over four levels. But this is a maze where every turn leads to a luxurious end. Kamala Bay stretches out in front of the villa and there are amazing views from every room. A hundred metres away to the south is the beach, while directly across the bay is 'Millionaire's Mile' headland, dotted with fancy resorts and villas. This villa is the perfect perch for observing comings and goings in the bay, which is part tourist resort and part fishing village. Watch fishermen cast their nets from long-tail boats while, a few metres away, a luxury yacht anchors for the night.
The villa is designed in classic Thai style with separate peak-roofed pavilions connected by stairs and walkways. Each of the five bedroom suites are lavishly furnished with their own living areas, entertainment systems and ample terrace or balcony space, and three of them have outdoor jacuzzis overlooking the sea. All but one bedroom (which is furnished with twin beds) have king-sized beds. Two master suite pavilions are set at opposite sides of the 75sqm pool, which has a shallow end that's ideal for kids and a sala (Thai pavilion) ‘floating’ at its centre, nice for cooling down in the shade while listening to the built-in sound system. The lower level is designed for shared enjoyment, with a dining room, well-equipped living–media room and a large kitchen. Two windows offer an underwater view into the pool -- a fun feature that kids will love.
Four staff including an English-speaking villa manager (plus a concierge service provided by the management company) are on hand to help with every need from grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning, to arranging tour bookings, golf tee-times, and restaurant reservations. A continental breakfast is included in the villa rate while other meals can be selected from an in-villa suggestion menu (provisions charged to guest account). The Thai dishes in particular are excellent and well presented.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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8.5
- Reviewed:
- 22-Jul-2011
The perfect perch for observing comings and goings in the bay.
One does not appreciate Baan Lom Talay’s full size and glory until stepping inside. The stairs alone – and there are many! – are quite a wonder in the way they zigzag between the villa's four levels. The pool’s shallow section is a great feature for families, though parents will need to be watchful since there are no barriers to the deep end .
We found the villa staff to be excellent, offering us a warm welcome and being quick to assist whenever needed. We appreciated the personal touches, such as bringing fresh coffee to our bedroom terrace first thing in the morning, saving us a trip down to the kitchen. The villa manageress is especially helpful and speaks good English. Truly, the only difficulty we faced at Baan Lom Talay was leaving it!
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 9 | Outside Area: | 8 |
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| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 9 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 8 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 9 |
| Value: | 9 |
Highlights
The amazing view, the proximity to the sea and the privacy are Baan Lom Talay's main highlights. Waking up to the sound and sight of the Andaman Sea, the morning air scented with frangipani and sea salt, is truly a tropical delight.
Surprises
There is some noise in the evening from the FantaSea stage show in Kamala village, but otherwise the only sounds are lapping waves, insect chatter and birdsong. The low railings along terraces could be a hazard for young children, as well as the steep, narrow staircases. Those with mobility problems will have a difficult time here with the four levels to navigate, and in inclement weather it could be a wet walk to the three bedrooms on the upper levels (though each bedroom is helpfully stocked with two umbrellas).
PROs
- Magnificent views across Kamala Bay
- Supersized luxury bedroom suites
- Steps to the beach
- Three private jacuzzis with sea views
- Abundant and gracious staff
CONs
- Many steps to navigate!
- Need to keep watch at the open pool
Gallery
Location
Located on a private cul-de-sac, with only a few other villas nearby, the area immediately around Baan Lom Talay is very quiet – aside from the soothing putt-putt of motorboats gliding across the water. Kamala Bay, with its sandy beach and balmy waters is on the villa’s doorstep and is a great spot to survey the action both on the water and across the two kilometres of sand, lined with beach chairs and umbrellas. Directly across the bay, situated along a pretty stretch of coast road known as the 'Millionaire's Mile', are some of Phuket's most exclusive properties including the Andara Resort and many private luxury villas.
Just below the villa is a rocky beach reached by a flight of private steps which make a nice spot for sitting and enjoying the view or a good launch point for snorkelling. At low tide it's possible to walk over the rocks straight to Kamala's sandy beach. The main road linking Surin and Kamala Beaches is about a 100m from the villa, and from here it's nearly an equal walk (about 15 minutes) south to Kamala Beach or up to Laem Singh Beach. Surin and its excellent range of beachfront dining choices is two kilometres away.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Layan Beach | 1.0 |
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| Bang Tao Beach | 2.0 |
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| Laguna Phuket Golf Club | 3.0 |
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| Laguna Phuket | 3.0 |
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| Banyan Tree Spa | 3.0 |
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| Surin | 8.0 |
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| Kamala | 13.0 |
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| Patong | 25.0 |
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| Phuket Airport | 30.0 |
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| Phuket Town | 31.0 |
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About Kamala
A former fishing village, now home to a collection of Phuket's most luxurious properties, Kamala is a case study in transformation. Set along a curving, white sand bay on Phuket's west coast, it has emerged as something of an expat enclave and a sought-after destination for the exclusive set. A holiday in Kamala is great for families and groups with young children with its shallow sea waters and less chaotic vibe, and fishermen-turned-tour guides now offer trips to nearby beaches on their traditional long-tail boats, still seen bobbing in the bay's south end.
Things to do in Kamala include visits to local eateries and bars, which retain a casual atmosphere unlike the hectic debauchery of Patong or the swankiness of Surin. Shopping is done at local open-air markets or the small shops that line the village's streets selling tourist fare, beachwear and convenience items. Those seeking more upscale choices head north to Surin Beach (4km), to the Laguna Phuket Canal Village shopping centre in Bang Tao Beach (10km), or south to the Jungceylon shopping centre in Patong (15km).
A few minutes south of Kamala town, lies the headland known as Millionaires' Mile, a luxury enclave where Phuket's most stylish and pricey resorts and private villas can be found along its stunning coastal road. Besides many elite havens, here you will also find the smart Andara Resort, owned by Hong Kong's famed entrepreneur Allan Zeman, with its popular Silk restaurant, the Hyatt Regency Phuket and the five-star Cape Sienna resort, whose rooftop bar, Vanilla Sky, is a hot spot for sunset cocktails. Kamala is 28km south of Phuket’s International Airport.
About Phuket
Phuket is internationally recognised as one of Asia's premier tropical island destinations. The island welcomes four million plus visitors per year to an exceptional international lifestyle, stunning beaches with tranquil waters, vibrant towns and spectacular scenery – all with an exquisite tropical climate and world-class cuisine.
Located approximately one hour’s flying time from Bangkok and only a short flight from Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the island is serviced by an international airport with direct flights to and from many major cities in Asia, Europe and Australia. The island offers an impressive portfolio of leisure and lifestyle amenities including world-class golf courses, wonderful seascapes for sailing, diving and snorkelling as well as luxurious spas, international cuisine, high-end shopping complexes, chic boutiques, vibrant bars and lively nightclubs. The infrastructure includes excellent international hospitals and health services.
Rooms
With rooms set over four levels, maximum sea views from every inch of the villa are assured. Starting from the top (entrance level), the king-bedded Lotus Room features a stunning vaulted ceiling and a big terrace with outdoor jacuzzi. Just below this is the Lily Room which is also furnished with a king-size bed and has a jacuzzi tucked into the corner of its terrace. The Jasmine Room, with twin beds and a great sea view from its balcony lies opposite the Lotus Room. On the third level down are the two master suites, each in its own large pavilion, separated by the lovely stone-walled swimming pool and sala. Both master suites are furnished with king-size beds and have large terraces and peaked wooden ceilings. The Island Master Suite, reached only by crossing the pool through the sala, enjoys total privacy. The Orchid Jacuzzi Master bedroom, meanwhile, features a large jacuzzi on its front terrace and another in its ensuite bathroom. All five suites are air conditioned and have their own stylishly furnished living areas, TVs with DVD players, mini-fridges and spacious ensuite bathrooms.
The aqua-tiled swimming pool is sheltered, at one end, by a high stone wall punctuated with sandstone statues, three of which have fountain spouts pouring into the pool creating a pleasant waterfall sound-effect. The sea-facing side of the pool is very shallow – great for young children and for soaking the feet! In the centre is a grand peak-roofed 'floating' sala, reached by steps across the water.
On the lower level of the villa, is a sitting area with six chairs set around a coffee table where one can see into the pool through an ‘underwater’ window. Down a long, open corridor to the right is the bright, well-equipped kitchen while, in the dining room at the opposite end of the corridor, three wooden tables are joined to form a grand setting which will seat up to 12 diners. Next to this is a spacious living area with a large plasma TV and full entertainment system for the family to enjoy while relaxing on the two comfy silk sofas. To the rear of the living room, an area furnished with a double daybed, wardrobe, and ensuite shower room could be used as a sixth bedroom or simply as a nice place to relax in air-conditioned comfort. A wide terrace stretches across the front of the living-dining rooms.
Key Amenities
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Air-con
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Internet (WiFi)
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Swimming Pool (Private)
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TV (Satellite/Cable)
Other Amenities
- Baby Cot (Extra)
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Ceiling Fans
- Coffee Machine
- Computer
- DVD Library
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress)
- Fax (Extra)
- Hairdryers
- Jacuzzi
- Laundry Service
- Main Dining (12 persons)
- Microwave
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Swimming Pool Toys (On Request)
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Wine Fridge
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (Restricted hrs)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager (On Request)
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
- Security
- Shopper
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Baan Lom Talay is an elegant 5-bedroom seaside villa cascading down a hill with magnificent views across Kamala Bay. Offering a stunningly situated swimming pool, lavish suites, four staff and three jacuzzis, this is tropical Thai living in fine style and utmost privacy, and all just minutes from the beach.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/baan-lom-talay.aspx
