10/10Delighting in Taipan villa's incredibly picturesque location on one of the few remaining coastal areas of Phuket that retains a traditional charm, we sunk happily into a languid life here and were very reluctant to leave. Though life at the villa is relaxed, the bay is bustling, and we were perfectly content spending our day watching the comings and goings of the long-tail fishing boats and yachts, while wondering about the progress of the treasures hidden inside the dangling oysters at the pearl farm in the centre of the bay. Venturing down to the beach, we saw only a sprinkling of local families strolling the sands -- and no rental sunbeds or tourists in sight. Those who relish the chance to delve into the local culture of a place will really love staying here. This being a new villa, the owners are open to suggestions, however, so be sure to give advance notice of any requirements you may have for children's equipment, bedding or other facilities. Aside from the daily breakfast service, this is a self-catering villa but we do recommend hiring the on-call chef at least once – his seafood dishes are superb! Meals may be arranged with the villa manager. Though we were happy to lazily float in the villa's pool all day, it is worth venturing out for at least one afternoon to drive the scenic roads around the cape, with plenty of places to stop along the way to take in the views or enjoy a cool drink in a shady hut.