Koh Samui has come a long way since it opened up to luxury travel in the 1980s. The Thai island now packs in five-star hotels, busy beach clubs and a sprawling Airbnb scene — but for many travellers, the sweet spot is a private villa: your own pool, your own kitchen, and none of the lobby small talk. Condé Nast Traveller UK has rounded up five villas it rates as the pick of the island, each vetted on Superhost status, guest reviews, amenities, location and design.

The shortlist is neatly sorted by travel style. Couples are pointed towards The Sea Whisper in Bo Put, the laid-back area near the island's north-eastern beaches. Families get Villa Nora, a full-family-friendly option on the island itself, while big groups are matched with Sangsuri Villa I, part of the Sangsuri Estate — the kind of place where several bedrooms and generous shared space make a group holiday actually work.

Design-conscious travellers get two entries. Samujana Twelve, on Plai Laem Beach in the island's north-east, is the pick for anyone who wants to be steps from the sea. Meanwhile Villa Sanoh, in the Samujana Estate, is flagged for its interiors — evidence that villa design on Samui has moved well beyond rattan-and-bamboo clichés. The Samujana estate developments sit on hillside land above the coast, which typically means the views are part of the deal.

Practically speaking, the villa route suits a specific kind of Samui trip. If you're staying a week or more, travelling with kids, or heading out as a group of six or more, a villa almost always beats hotel rooms on both space and per-person cost — especially if you cook a few meals in. The north-eastern coast, where most of these picks sit, puts you within easy reach of Fisherman's Village in Bophut, the night markets and the piers for day trips to Koh Phangan and the Ang Thong Marine Park.

One caveat worth noting: these are editor-selected listings with affiliate links, so it pays to cross-check current reviews, photos and total pricing before committing — villa quality can shift with new management. But as a starting point, it's a solid, opinionated list for anyone who'd rather have a private pool and a quiet veranda than a pool bar with a soundtrack.

For travellers plotting a Thai island escape beyond the usual Phuket circuit, Koh Samui remains one of the country's most polished options — and a villa booking is arguably the best way to see it at its barefoot best.

First reported by Condé Nast Traveller UK.