Baan Paradise, Patong, Phuket

Baan Paradise sits on the hill at the southern end of Patong Beach, where the road climbs over towards Karon, with a 180-degree view across Patong Bay and the Andaman. It is a three-minute drive down to the beach, the shopping and the nightlife, but the villa itself is private and quiet. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the view from the main living room, the dining room looks over the lights of Patong at night, and even the spa bath faces the bay.

Five large master bedrooms, spread over separate wings and levels around a 14-metre infinity pool, all face west over the sea with their own storage and en suite bathrooms. The pool has teak sunbeds and massage jets, with a Bose sound system reaching the terrace. Downstairs a games room with a 60-inch screen, home theatre and American pool table doubles as a children's retreat or a rainy-day room. There are two full kitchens, an open-plan chef's kitchen on the main level and a lower kitchen for late snacks, plus a broadband PC with scanner and printer.

A villa manager who speaks fluent English handles restaurant bookings, tours, massages and small events, and two resident maids look after the house daily. A Thai cook is available for THB 100 per person per meal plus groceries at cost plus 20 percent. Wooden floors, original artworks and antiques give the house its character. Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out at 10 am, and late check-out can be arranged subject to availability.