Villa No. 5

The sweeping private entrance is surrounded by old tropical hardwoods, palms and lotus ponds, and it delivers you first to the upper level: 3 guest bedrooms and a living sala with the ocean in front of it. The trees are the thing that dates this plot — they are older than the resort and they give the house a shade and a privacy that a newer site cannot manufacture.

Below, the 25-by-10-metre infinity pool is surrounded by large decks and shaded poolside living, with an air-conditioned living and dining sala at the centre of the level and 3 larger bedrooms and a children's room around it, all with sea views, plus a private open-air ocean-view sala of their own. A dedicated chef and housekeeping staff cook Thai and Western from the modern kitchen, and it sleeps 14 adults with 6 extra beds.