The eight villas of the exclusive Miskawaan Estate offer enviable luxury alongside tranquil Mae Nam beach on Samui’s north coast. Five-bedroomed Villa Frangipani enjoys 27m of sand-swept shore, with the warm, eminently swimmable waters of the Thai Gulf just a few steps from the villa. Views stretch across to the island of Koh Phangan and boats sail by offering an ever-changing ocean vista. But this breezy outlook doesn’t compromise guest privacy: neighbouring villas are discreetly screened by walls and tropical foliage, and a slightly raised garden means that the beach and ocean can be seen from the villa, but not vice versa.
Villa Frangipani’s five bedrooms all slide open onto the garden or the large blue-tiled pool lying at the heart of the property, and the master suite has the added bonus of sea views straight from the pillow. It’s a pleasure to drift between rooms, pool and beach during the day and gather for meals in the open-sided dining sala – ocean on one side, swimming pool on the other – in the evening. A 10-seater table in the open-plan living pavilion makes an alternative air-conditioned dining venue; meals served from the adjacent, fully fitted western kitchen.
The helpful villa manager is always on call and visits every morning to discuss meal arrangements (breakfast is included and other meals are charged according to grocery costs, plus 30% service). The varied in-villa menu includes a good choice of Thai and western dishes, so eating out is by no means a necessity – although several restaurants are within walking distance along the beach. Being part of the fully managed Miskawaan Estate, Frangipani enjoys regular attention from the security and maintenance teams, and an English-speaking estate manager is available to give holiday advice, make recommendations for excursions or help with practical requests.
Mae Nam beach lines one of the island's largest bays and is much quieter than the beaches on Samui's more developed east coast. This makes Villa Frangipani a particularly appealing option for those who prefer to disappear into their own private world.
Villa Frangipani is part of the exclusive, eight-villa Miskawaan Estate. The other villas on this beachfront estate are four-bedroomed villas Hibiscus Acacia and Bougainvillea, and five-bedroomed Waterlily, Gardenia, Champak and Lotus. All the villas’ gardens open onto a quiet section of Mae Nam beach, with Hutcha and Hammock resorts a few hundred metres to the left, and local eateries only a short stroll along the sands. This part of the beach is never crowded, although the occasional tourist may wander by. The villas at Miskawaan sit side by side, but are hidden from one another by walls and tropical foliage so you feel pleasantly cosseted, while still benefiting from a range of 24-hour on-site services. The village of Mae Nam offers a selection of local shops, restaurants, bars and modest tourist services such as foot massage, water sports and a pharmacy, while more cosmopolitan Chaweng is a 15-minute drive away.
A private road backs the Miskawaan Estate's eight beachfront properties, each of which boasts its own parking area. Five-bedroomed Villa Frangipani is a mirror image of next door neighbour, Villa Gardenia, and booking both villas (or even more) is an ideal solution for larger groups.
Surrounded by tropical landscaping and connected by tiled, covered walkways, Villa Frangipani’s three pavilions cocoon the pool and courtyard, offering a sense of privacy. Overlooking the swimming pool from the rear is a comfortable lounge and TV room. To the left of the pool as you face the beach is a three-bedroomed pavilion, with the king-bedded master suite overlooking the pool and sea, and a king and twin room tucked behind. A further two twin bedrooms are located to the rear of the living pavilion on the right of the pool and look out onto a small patio with built-in seating area.
All five bedrooms are tastefully furnished, with teak furniture and Thai artwork. Each bedroom has wooden floors and features plenty of built-in storage. Ensuite bathrooms are fitted with glassed-in rain showers, while the beachfront master bedroom also boasts a bathtub and a covered, ocean-facing veranda furnished with a four-poster massage bed and two loungers for shaded relaxation. The master is also the only bedroom equipped with a TV. Low-noise air conditioning and blackout curtains guarantee peaceful sleep for every guest and bright, tropical artwork adds a splash of colour to the rooms.
The large state-of-the-art kitchen is open-plan to an air-conditioned dining room furnished with a ten-seater table. Next to this, in a separate, open-sided pavilion is another dining room, also seating ten, complete with built-in bar counter and surround-sound system. Ideal for social gatherings, this bright space borders the pool to the side and the ocean to the front.
BEDROOM 1 (MASTER SUITE)
King
6m x 7m
BEDROOM 2
King+Twin
5m x 6m
BEDROOM 3
Twin
5m x 6m
BEDROOM 4
Double
5m x 6m
BEDROOM 5
Twin
5m x 6m
