Villa Saanti

Villa Saanti is Thai for "Home of Peace". This extraordinary six-bedroom, fully staffed beachfront villa lounges next to one of Thailand’s most alluring secrets: Natai Beach – seven kilometres of near-deserted, powder-soft white sand, only 30 minutes to the north of Phuket International Airport.

This stunning designer-chic home is run by Wow (an appropriate name for the manager of a villa with a definite wow factor) and his full-time team – the chef, two housekeepers and the gardener – all ready to satisfy your slightest whim.

And after a spectacular sunset over the Andaman Sea, for which the villa has ringside seats, after an invariably excellent dinner, and after digestifs sipped under the brilliance of a billion stars unspoiled by urban lighting, it’s time to drift into a dreamless sleep in Villa Saanti’s deeply comfortable bedrooms.

VILLA LAYOUT

Villa Saanti faces west across the Andaman Sea, its two-storey main pavilion and four glass-walled sleeping pavilions framing two huge swimming pools, and looking out across palm-dominated gardens to the beach. Entering the main pavilion, you find the dining and guest kitchen area on the left and the lounge on the right.

Beyond the lounge is the media and entertainment room. Upstairs is the huge master suite and a guestroom, and in front of all this is an enormous shady terrace and the 20-metre main pool, which spills into a second pool - looking out over the garden. And beyond the garden is the glorious deserted beach.

LIVING AREA

Indoor Living
Meals at Villa Saanti are served, unless otherwise requested, at a long, elegant 12-seat table in the dining area on the ground floor of the main pavilion. A second dining table on the veranda, can seat eight people.
To the far side of the dining room is a well-equipped guest kitchen for those who enjoy a little therapeutic holiday cookery (though with a skilled chef in residence, perhaps not unsurprisingly, few actually do). There is also an excellent coffee machine and wine cooler here to ensure the red, white or rosé is always at the perfect temperature.

Next to the dining area is the über-comfortable living room, the place for snoozing or reading through shady afternoons, or for relaxed conversation after dinner amid the chocolate brown décor and furnishings dominated by an antelope skin rug and a huge bird cage.

Next door to that is the entertainment room, with its 55-inch flat-screen TV, DVD player and satellite receiver or, for the more energetic, the villa’s Wii system. WiFi is available in every room, throughout the villa grounds and onto the beach, and a Sonos sound system allows guests to play their favourite music just about anywhere in the villa.

Upstairs, past the master bedroom, is the gym, equipped with rowing, cycling and jogging machines, along with weights and exercise balls.

Outdoor Living
An absolute beachfront holiday in Thailand is all about making the most of the sunshine and the outdoors. With this goal in mind, Villa Saanti is arranged around a huge sand-wash deck furnished with sun loungers, and a barbecue area equipped with a wood-fired pizza oven.
Taking pride of place at the centre of the estate are the villa’s two stunning infinity-edge pools. The larger one, measuring 20 x 5 metres, spills into the smaller one, designed for children and jacuzzi lovers, and measuring 12 x 3 metres.

To the front of the lawn, under soaring coconut palms (the land on which Villa Saanti stands used to be a coconut plantation), is the beachfront sala, with its sunken seating inviting lazy conversation, reading or just gazing out across the sea to the horizon.

Just beyond, on the sand and in the shade of screwpine and sea almond trees, are six more sunbeds and one of the world’s most sublime views – the sapphire-and-emerald sea and cobalt sky.

BEDROOMS

Master Suite
The huge master suite takes up most of the upper floor of the main pavilion at Villa Saanti, with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors opening onto a balcony and wide views of the Andaman Sea. The master bedroom has an ultra-comfortable king-size bed, blutooth speakers and a 55-inch TV with DVD player. The room is cooled by air conditioning and ceiling fans. Its ensuite bathroom has a double vanity, rain shower-with-a-view and a separate WC with bidet.

Upper Floor Guest Bedroom
Adjacent to the master suite, this air-conditioned guest bedroom also has a king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom with double vanity, sunken tub and rain shower.

Guest Pavilions
Villa Saanti has four almost identically sized guest bedroom pavilions, all opening through wide glass doors to the pool and gardens. Each is equipped with air conditioning and a ceiling fan in its pyramid-shaped roof, a deliciously comfortable king-size bed and a chaise longue. Ensuite bathrooms are fitted with double vanities, rain shower, separate WC and an alfresco tub for bathing under the stars. A 33-inch flat-screen TV with satellite connection, and blutooth speakers provide entertainment.

STAFF

One of the great joys of staying at Villa Saanti is the impeccable service delivered by dedicated, professionally trained staff. This smiling team ensures you’ll have everything you want, when you want it.

Their warm, friendly service can be tailored to meet your specific requirements. Just inform the villa manager of your desired staff presence – for example, at mealtimes only, or on hand to serve snacks and drinks throughout the day – and service will be tailored accordingly.

Villa Manager
Villa Saanti’s manager is your main point of contact with staff. It’s his job is to oversee and coordinate the staff and property and to assist you during your stay.

Chef
The villa’s chef excels in the preparation and presentation of Thai, Asian and Western favourites. He will create dishes from the villa’s wide suggestion menu, or can prepare special dishes on request, also taking care of health and dietary requirements.

Housekeepers
Villa Saanti’s two housekeepers keep the villa spotless. They also help in the kitchen and with serving meals and drinks.

Gardener/Pool
The villa’s gardener tends regularly to the lush gardens and maintains the pools.

Security
Guests’ safety is assured by round-the-clock security.

DINING

Villa Saanti’s chef is on hand throughout your stay to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. The villa has an extensive menu of exotic Thai and Asian dishes to choose from, as well as Western favourites, children’s specials and vegetarian choices. Fish is bought from local fishermen who land their catches on the beach nearby, so it’s always super-fresh. The chef is also happy to cook up special, off-menu requests.

Daily breakfast is included in the villa rate. Drinks, along with groceries for the other meals, are charged at market price plus a 20% handling fee and a government tax, with a minimum shopping fee of THB 750. Staff will do the shopping and provide receipts for reference. To ensure this can be done in a timely manner, we advise you to plan your meals the evening before.

FAMILIES

Villa holidays are by their very nature family-friendly, especially for those with small children, and Villa Saanti, with its predominantly ground-floor layout, wide gardens, swimming pools and beautiful beach with warm shallow sea – is a safe, happy, relaxing environment for kids and their parents.

The friendly staff are terrific with children and are often able to help entertain the kids during the day to give mums and dads a little break. Full-time babysitting can also be arranged through your villa manager (extra charges apply). Between the pools, beach, pool table, ping pong table and entertainment room there’s plenty to keep children busy all day without even leaving the villa.

No need to use up your luggage allowance on kids’ equipment either. Villa Saanti has a cot, toys and high chairs. Other equipment can be hired locally. Just let us know what you need when you make your reservation and it’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.

And if the excitement of playing in the villa or building sandcastles on the beach ever shows any sign of wearing off, check out our Things to do. There are plenty of sea- and land-based activities around Natai Beach to keep all the family amused.

SPA

Feel like a body scrub or massage? Just ask our staff to bring the spa to you! The beachfront sala at Villa Saanti is an idyllic spot to relax and unwind. We can recommend deluxe treatments carried out by fully trained therapists from a reputable local spa (extra charges will apply).