Palm trees, turquoise sea, long-tail boats and temples are the images most people conjure up when imagining the perfect Thai scene. At Baan Bua Sawan, you have the palms, ocean and boats only metres away, and Big Buddha temple glistens in the sun across the bay – so there’s no doubting where you are. A row of single-storey villas (also part of the Dhevatara Residence estate), lie just in front of the three-level Baan Bua Sawan, but have been carefully positioned so as not to disturb the ocean view.
From your comfortable lounger by the pool or the outdoor dining area, you can enjoy watching the fishermen going about their daily business, setting up their nets, hunting for shellfish at low tide and heading off to fish for squid as the sun sets. With seafood and fresh markets so nearby, sundowners and barbecues by the pool are a must.
Although at first, Baan Bua Sawan appears rather fragmented with its three storeys and many stairs, it offers great flexibility for groups of friends travelling together as guests can easily find their own space. Bedrooms are privately situated, yet there are plenty of sociable areas to gather over breakfast, take dips in the pool, or watch a movie on the enormous flat-screen TV. An alfresco dining and entertainment space is shaded by a tall tree that grows through the deck from the small garden below. The three bedrooms on the two upper floors offer ocean views, while the fourth bedroom on the entrance level, opens to a small garden.
The villa’s manager, Khun Hei, drifts between Baan Bua Sawan and two other villas in Dhevatara Residence, but she’s always on hand should you need her to arrange a masseuse to come to the villa or any other concierge services. A full-time housekeeper maintains the villa, and as part of the Dhevatara Residence estate, Baan Bua Sawan benefits from 24-hour security too. Daily continental breakfasts are included in the villa rate and a private chef can be hired for a reasonable extra fee, with provisions charged at cost plus 20%. Should you prefer to eat out and explore the surroundings, Baan Bua Sawan lies just off Samui’s main ring road and is within easy access of the restaurants, bars and shops of Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village.
Baan Bua Sawan is located in the small, upmarket Dhevatara Residence estate, on the border of Bophut and Mae Nam. This villa forms part of a row of triple-storey villas (including 4-bedroom Baan Ratree ), set slightly back from the beach behind a row of single-storey beachfront villas (see 4-bedroom Baan Leelawadee ). The area in front of the development is used by fishermen to sort their nets and moor their long-tail boats, and while the beach is nice and sandy, it’s rocky below the water line and so not good for swimming. Bophut beach, however, is pleasant and lined with restaurants, bars and resorts, and is only a kilometre away.
Baan Bua Sawan is spread over three storeys, with the upper two levels enjoying great sea views. On entering through an ornate gate next to the covered parking area, you’ll find a twin bedroom, opening to a garden courtyard with water features. In the centre of this courtyard is a tree which grows up through the pool deck on the floor above and offers natural shade over an outdoor dining area.
An external covered staircase leads to the upper floor living areas and the blue-tiled pool overlooking the bay. One spacious open-plan room incorporates the lounge – furnished with comfortable sea-grass furniture angled towards the TV with satellite channels and a DVD player – and the indoor dining space with its eight-seater coconut-wood table. This room, which is punctuated with bright feature walls and Thai artefacts, and serviced by a modern, fully equipped kitchen, opens up with sliding doors to the pool deck and the alfresco dining area mentioned above. A washroom is conveniently located next to the kitchen.
A two-storey pavilion to the back the swimming pool houses three bedrooms, accessed via a covered walkway. The lower floor bedrooms both have king-size beds and are tastefully furnished in neutral shades with splashes of gold and colour. Stairs lead to the master bedroom above, which boasts its own lounge area, as well as an office corner, dressing area and king-size four-poster bed. The highlight of this bedroom is the tub in the spacious ensuite bathroom, where you can lie back in the bubbles and enjoy magnificent views across to Big Buddha. All bedrooms have TV/DVD, and mosaic tiles feature in the ensuite bathrooms with rain showers. The three king-bedded guestrooms also boast balconies with sea views, while the downstairs twin bedroom opens up to a small garden. What this bedroom lacks in view, it makes up for in privacy.
The villa is air-conditioned throughout and floored with glossy cream tiles for a modern, cool look.
BEDROOM 1
King
6.5m x 6m
BEDROOM 2
King
6m x 4.5m
BEDROOM 3
King
6m x 4.5m
BEDROOM 4
Double
5.5m x 5.5m
