Ban Suriya is Thai for “home of sunshine”. The name could not be more apt. Arranged within a garden of coconut palms and facing the huge pool, all the rooms are encompassed by expanses of glass that can be opened to let the sunshine and light breezes into every space.

Bordering the gardens of this beautiful Samui villa, and just a few steps from the six bedrooms, is the classic, talc-soft, white tropical sand of Lipa Noi Beach, arguably Samui’s most beautiful and peaceful beaches. Beyond the beach, one’s gaze is drawn to the warm, sapphire-blue sea and the deep blue silhouettes of islands on the horizon; the perfect setting for each evening’s spectacular sunset.

Ensuring that guests have every opportunity to appreciate the delights of Ban Suriya to the full, the team of staff seem to be equipped with emotion detectors that tell them what you want before you know it yourself. The chef satisfies your every culinary whim with a tempting array of Thai and international dishes. Indeed, his skills are such that many guests at Ban Suriya opt to dine-in for every meal.

Between mealtimes, the possibilities for relaxation and holiday pleasure are endless: lounge in or around the pool, play a game of giant chess, pool or foosball, retire to read quietly in the sunken library, work out in the private gym or enjoy a massage in the spa room or beachside tree house. Or take full advantage of the beach and ocean on your doorstep. A doze on a deckchair in the shade, or a quiet paddle in one of the villa’s two kayaks, or atop the stand-up paddleboard.

After sunset cocktails and a seafood barbecue at the alfresco dining table, gather for a movie at the open-air cinema. The perfect end to another perfect day at Ban Suriya.