All the villas on the Miskawaan Estate offer guests a superlative beachfront experience, but at Waterlily they can enjoy a whopping 36 metres of it, with steps dropping straight from the sizeable, landscaped pool garden to soft sands and swimmable seas. This rare pleasure gives the villa broad appeal as a family retreat, group share, wedding or party venue.
Two large salas (gazebos), one with its own beach bar, make Waterlily the perfect place to entertain. Oceanside meals – attended to by the amenable but discreet staff who can be summoned at the press of a button – are a must. Although the villa is air conditioned throughout, all the rooms slide open to greet the tropical climate, so during the day you can drift in and out with the breeze; however poolside is without a doubt the perfect place to laze in the sun on the cushioned loungers and daybeds or to sit and surf the net in the shade of the sala, availing yourself of the villa’s complimentary WiFi.
Mae Nam is a long, sweeping beach and significantly less developed than those on Samui's more developed west coast. This makes Miskawaan an excellent choice for families or groups looking to avoid the crowds (its best to hire a car for trips to busier parts of the island or book on an island tour to take in the sights, both easily arranged). A chat with the efficient villa manager over your complimentary breakfast will determine the day's dining agenda, and the comprehensive in-villa (priced) menu featuring a tempting array of Thai and western favourites will mean that only committed foodies need worry about making restaurant reservations. For special meals or celebrations, you can also hire a personal chef to prepare a tailored feast or serve up surf and turf from the built-in barbecue.
Staying on a managed estate means security guards and maintenance teams are on call and in the estate office the English-speaking estate manager is always ready to accommodate special requests, give advice and make informed recommendations. The option to rent two or more adjacent villas (see Villa Acacia and Villa Hibiscus) may also appeal to larger groups or wedding parties and the staff will happily set up tables right on the beach for the ultimate tropical island celebration.
Villa Waterlily is located at the centre of the Miskawaan estate, on a quiet part of Mae Nam beach. The villa is some distance from the nearest resorts and amenities, but it’s only a short stroll to the local beach eateries and a 15-minute walk along the beach or a ten-minute drive to the two-street village of Mae Nam, which boasts a selection of local shops and modest tourist services such as foot massage, water sports and a pharmacy. This section of beach is never crowded, although the occasional passing tourist may wander by with a wave. 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.
A private road backs the estate's eight beachside properties and each villa has its own parking area by the entrance. Waterlily's five bedrooms and spacious living and dining pavilion surround an L-shaped pool; all the rooms opening onto the wide beachfront garden to draw in the dramatic sea views. Tiled walkways connect the living spaces and bedrooms, the latter boasting polished wooden floors, teakwood furnishings, Asian wall art and ample fitted storage. The master bedroom opens onto a private beachfront terrace, with a daybed poised for romantic interlude. There's also a walk-through dressing area and the ensuite bathroom features a generous bathtub, as well a glassed-in rain shower. This room also boasts a TV and DVD. The other four bedrooms (one double and three twins) open onto the poolside garden, their ensuite bathrooms offering rain shower cubicles and smoked glass windows to let in the natural light. Low noise air-conditioning and black out curtains ensure restful sleep for all.
The lounge, dining room and kitchen pavilion occupies one side of the villa, connected to the staff quarters at the rear. Wood and glass doors slide open on two sides to catch the sea breezes and there's a ten-seater dining table served by the well-equipped kitchen (with Siemens appliances and a comprehensive selection of table and glassware). In the lounge space, two sofas are poised in front of a 50-inch flat-screen TV with DVD and satellite channels. This room opens onto a fan-cooled outdoor dining area with a second ten-seater table and a dedicated beach bar with sink, fridge and rolling barbecue unit. A music system with iPod dock plays through speakers in the dining area and also in the poolside sala, which is furnished with a four-seater table and daybed.
The tempting L-shaped pool lies at the heart of the property with two sun loungers and a cushioned daybed for ocean-view repose. The management can provide pool toys for children on request.
BEDROOM 1
King
BEDROOM 2
King
BEDROOM 3
Twin
BEDROOM 4
Twin
BEDROOM 5
Twin
