We love our girls’ holidays and let’s face it, who wants to share a room when you can have your pick from the most stunning villas which can be enjoyed with your girlfriends, friends and family?! We hit the road to test out the best in Luxury villas and adult hideaways.

Four Seasons Resort – The Arrival

In the North East of Samui, this is about as isolated as it gets. It’s 15 minutes away from any kind of civilisation. A narrow, dark, foliage-lined driveway leads to the reception. Two huge doors are pulled back revealing a scene where we are left resembling goldfish – opening and closing our mouths but not much else happening. It’s a shock – we are standing on an open-air platform, perched at the apex of a mountainside range with every kind of blue. Its too much, sky, ocean and nothing in between. That’s some entrance.

The Villa –  Residence 1

Welcome drinks over, our buggy picks us up and we zoom along the hillside to ‘Residence 1’, a stunning three- bedroom extravaganza, that is part of the Private Retreats collection, nestled on the hillside looking straight out onto the Gulf of Siam where our infinity pool meets the sky. Famed architect Bill Bensley has his signature everywhere; the little monkeys at the end of the pool who look like they cheekily couldn’t make it to the bathroom, dark wooden beams wrapped in swathes of rope to his oversize ‘everything’ making adults feel like children in an Alice and Wonderland way.

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We meet our live-in butler, Mr Joe. Its 34 degrees and the wooden walkways could cook a prawn without a barbie. Mr Joe has a spidy sense for happiness –  thongs are at the ready in our sizes (to save burning our feet), foot towels are prepared as we emerge from the pool, bubble baths are run post-dinner in each of the rooms even lounging by the pool glasses of iced water, cold beers and slices of mango magically arrive. We can confirm that its dangerously easy to get used to this.

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Each of the bedrooms are set either side of the pool and are detached standalone structure with uninterrupted views. The private retreats are so big, they really should come with their own GPS and are a perfect match for large family and friendship getaways. In fact, this is the perfect residence where you want to spend time with someone you love…but at a distance! T he master has its own daybeds, sala, muslin draped four posters, its own swimming pool (so that makes two in total, if you are not including the large baths in this category) and a bathroom that goes on room after glamorous room. Carrie Bradshaw couldn’t kitout this space. The main lounge and reception room is always filled with new treats like coconut cookies and rice cakes.

Dining

Set around a wide bay, a trip to breakfast can feel like a day trip, it’s here up high that you can while away half a day, grazing from house baked bagels to Thai omelettes. Coffee orders are remembered along with even your table preference and we are always welcomed by name.

By night Pla Pla comes alive, a romantic spot down on the beach for lovers of grilled food, we drop into the Rum Vault for purely research reasons. Our pick of dining spots is Koh Thai high up on the hill. At night the high ceiling fans whur, dishes of satay chicken, pad thai, barramundi in ginger and lemon are served to the table including things not on the menu which you can just ask for such as a spectacular crab fried rice!

Activities & Spa

There is a spreadsheet of daily activities which can keep you busy all day long. We opt for a coral talk with marine biologist Benji. She explains corals are the same group as jelly fish and sea anemone. We don our masks and snorkels and wade out to find Nemo, but no luck as the full moon tides induce visibility akin to Tom Yum soup.

One activity that brings us close to nature is the Secret Garden Spa. Together with our therapist we set off into the jungle via stairways weaving their way upwards to the tree house heaven. Each pavilion is privately cocooned in nature, many with outdoor baths so you can be at one with the birds once you have enjoyed a relaxing massage listening to them.

Wow Factor: Bill Bensleys design gives this place so much character. The staff offer a consistently high level of attention to detail from the restaurant, to beach to the gardeners who wave and smile. Service is exemplary, discreet and warm.

Watch Factor – This is a resort which is more like a hideaway. There are no resorts close, nor are there any courtesy buses laid on to give you a taste of freedom, should you wish to escape. Resort dining prices are high and taxis are around $25 USD each way to the nearest small town

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

Private Retreats Four Seasons Koh Samui

219 MOO 5, ANGTHONG, KOH SAMUI, SURAT THANI 84140, THAILAND