When people come to us in search of the ultimate, dreamiest villa for their next holiday, “beachfront” is one of the requests we hear most often.
But what many people don’t realise is that being “beachfront” is a broad term and it takes quite a bit of research to get it right. You need to go the extra mile to ensure that the actual villa you check into matches the dreamy image you have in your mind.
When searching for the perfect beachfront villa, there are many things to consider, such as:
- Is the beach in front of your villa private or public?
- If it’s public, is it busy or will you have it mostly to yourself?
- Is the beach swimmable? Is it child friendly?
- Is the sand white or grey; is it coarse in texture or powder soft?
- Is there noise from a nearby beach club booming late into the night?
- Does it offer views of the sunset or sunrise?
Well, look no further: we have done the hard work for you. From Bali to Phuket and from Vanutu to Sri Lanka, we have searched far and wide for the best beachfront villas out there. Here is everything you need to know about finding the perfect beachfront villa.
Beachfront Villas in Bali
After years of being bombarded with stunning images of beachy Bali holidays saturating our collective social media feeds, it’s little surprise that we get a lot of requests for beachfront villas in Bali. But as is often the case, reality is a bit more complex than social media might have you believe.
Noku Beach House is a prime example – it is the only private, absolute beachfront villa in all of Seminyak. To many travellers, this comes as a surprise: Seminyak is, after all, one of the most popular districts in Bali and many travel here precisely to enjoy the beach. But due to the area’s infrastructure, the palatial Noku is the only private villa that’s located directly on the beach, whereas most villas are tucked inside private gardens, most of them only a short stroll from the shoreline.
If you’re looking to stay beachfront on the west coast, it’s best to head up the coast from Seminyak, to areas like Canggu, Pererenan and Seseh. Canggu, of course, has exploded as one of the most popular locations on the whole island and boasts a handful of stunning beachfront villas, including Arnalaya Beach House and Ombak Luwung Beachfront Estate.
Canggu’s beaches are very popular and largely lined with beach clubs and surf shacks, so if you’re looking for a serene, castaway experience, it’s best to look at Pererenan and Seseh which are the next two villages up the coast. Though certainly up and coming, these offer a more private and remote setting with less populated beaches. We love oceanfront villas like Taman Ahimsa and Villa Semarapura.
Canggu, Pererenan and Seseh all feature darker, volcanic sand and the strong currents and waves make the waters here more suitable for surfing than swimming.
If you’re travelling with kids, Sanur is a great choice. While there are not a ton of beachfront villas in central Sanur, there are a few stunning options – we love Villa Cemara and Villa Batujimbar. Sanur doesn’t get much in the way of waves, so it’s perfect for the kids to splash around in the shallow waters or for the grownups to do some canoeing or standup paddling. The east facing beach doesn’t get much of a sunset, but if you’re an early riser, you’ll be treated to sublime sunrises over the ocean, with local fishermen wading in the water.
Again, the more grander beachfront villas are located further up the coast, away from the madding crowd. Jeeva Saba Estate and The Royal Purnama are located in the more secluded Saba Beach region, with direct access to an often deserted black sand beach looking out to pounding surf.
Beachfront Villas in Thailand
When planning a beach holiday in Thailand, “Phuket or Koh Samui” is one of the most commonly asked questions. If you have your heart set on an absolute beachfront villa, the answer is pretty simple – Koh Samui it is.
While Phuket does boast some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable, most of the most luxurious villas on the island are actually built on stunning clifftops above said beaches, offering an added level of privacy and truly jaw-dropping views of the ocean.
Koh Samui, on the other hand, offers a lot more villas that are beachfront and perfect for family holidays in the sun. Lipa Noi with its white sands and gentle waters is a firm family favourite, with villas like Ban Suriya and Baan Puri offering absolute beachfront perfection.
Another idyllic location are the beaches lining the north coast, where Bang Por and Maenam offer a more tranquil and quiet setting, while Bophut is the bustling place to be. The beaches feature soft sand, calm waters and palm trees offering shade – perfect for building sandcastles with the kiddos. Villa Malouna is an amazing family-friendly beachfront villa located directly on subdued Bang Por Beach, while at the other end of the spectrum, Villa M is the only private luxury villa located in Bohphut’s Fisherman’s Village.
If you’re looking to discover true hidden gems, set your sights on Natai Beach. We have long since dubbed this area the best kept secret in Thailand and we firmly stand by this assertion. Located on mainland Thailand yet just a 30-minute drive from Phuket Airport (Sarasin Bridge connects Phuket island to the mainland), Natai is incredibly accessible yet remains under most travellers’ radar, making it all the more appealing for those travellers lucky enough to be in the know.
This 10-kilometre long beach is covered in soft golden sand and lined with just a handful of exclusive villas, including Jivana Beach Villas, Villa Saanti and Sava Beach Villas. Strict local laws restrict rampant development in the area, so there is not an eyesore of a sky scraper in sight. Natai Beach is stunning, secluded and all yours to enjoy.
Beachfront Villas in Vanuatu
If a beach vacay in Bali or Thailand seems a bit too polished and maybe a little “been there, done that”, how about an escape to Vanuatu? This stunning island nation offers some of the most beautiful beaches you could imagine – and as luck would have it, you’ll likely have a piece of this paradise all to yourself.
Villas like Villa Sarangkita and Tropical Haven, both located on the island of Efate just moments from Port Vila, offer direct access to the beach and best of all, natural rock pools formed on the shoreline. These natural oases beat any man made swimming pool if you ask us! To justify its evocative name, Tropical Haven offers 40 metres of private ocean front, exclusive to you and your travel companions. Paradise, here we come!
Beachfront Villas in Sri Lanka
It’s little secret that Sri Lanka offers some of the most stunning white sand beaches on the planet – if you don’t believe us, just take a quick scroll through the #SriLankaBeach hashtag on Instagram. Go on, we’ll wait.
Stunning, right?
Though Sri Lanka has certainly staked its claim as one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world, the country still maintains that alluring appeal of a hidden gem. The beaches, too, still have that wild and untamed feel – with some truly unbelievable beachfront villas to take in the views from.
Sri Lanka’s southern coastline is lined with golden crescent beaches counted among the most iconic in the country, including Unawatuna and Mirissa – think golden sand, waves lapping to the shore and palm trees (and perhaps on Instagram swing) swaying in the breeze. Lining the beach you’ll find stunning holiday villas – some of our favourites include Bellini Blue, Villa Frangipani Tree and Samudra House.
For a more remote, castaway setting, head further east down the coastline. The stunningly designed Talalla House offers direct access to a near private beach – while technically public, you’ll often have the soft sands all to yourself.
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While Sri Lanka’s southern beaches are indeed stunning, it does take a good drive to reach them from the airport in Colombo. One of the more accessible options for a beachfront villa in Sri Lanka is Sangria Sun, which is located right on the beach, just an hour’s drive from Colombo on the west coast.
Still in search of the perfect beachfront villa? Contact our team – tell us exactly what you want, including preferred dates, location, number of guests and budget and we’ll make it happen.
