THE NEW HOSPITALITY

Guarantee yourself some peace and quiet with a private retreat in one of these gorgeous properties.

Looking for an exclusive hideaway? These private retreats are just the ticket, says LEE COBAJ

FOR PRIVACY with all the perks, savvy travellers know that private rentals are the way to go. Whether you’re getting the gang together for a castaway island adventure, hanging out with the extended family in a stylish villa, or unwinding with loved ones in a mountain bungalow, you’ll be smug in the knowledge that there’s no one to bother you at these heavenly hideaways.

KUDADOO, MALDIVES (ABOVE AND LEFT)

Kudadoo has taken the all-inclusive concept to stratospheric new levels of luxury. There are simply no ‘nos’ here: whether you choose to rent one of the 15 overwater villas or the entire island, everything is included – and we mean everything. Fancy Ruinart champagne with your floating breakfast or Patron tequila in your minibar? Done. Want to dive in the morning, jet ski in the afternoon and watch the sun go down on a dolphin-spotting cruise? No problem. How about spending the entire day – or week – at the spa, flitting between private yoga classes, hours-long massages and meditation in the Himalayan salt chamber? You can – namaste. But the ultimate luxury is the location. The resort lies in the wondrous Lhaviyani Atoll, one of the few atolls in the Maldives to have come through the 2016 worldwide bleaching event relatively unscathed. kudadoo.com

SAMUJANA, KOH SAMUI, THAILAND (BELOW)

This Bond-worthy complex is cleaved into the hillside above Choeng Mon beach, affording it sublime Gulf of Thailand views. There are 27 villas to choose from, ranging from ample onebedrooms to an enormous eight-bedroom retreat complete with private movie-screening room, sea-view gym, whirlpool, games room and barbecue deck. All feature the same luxury beach club aesthetic; swathes of pale stone, creamy-white oversized sofas, contemporary Thai artwork, airy salas and infinity pools large enough to kayak in. A full complement of chefs, masseurs, yoga, pilates and Muay Thai instructors are on hand. There are also tennis courts and aqua toys available for rent, from little yellow kayaks to a fleet of gleaming sailing yachts waiting to be chartered for a day in Ang Thong Marine Park. samujana.com

MANDALA THE HOUSE, BALI, INDONESIA

One for the fashionable crowd: Mandala The House is located in Bali’s hipster enclave Canggu, with rice paddy eye-candy and interiors so gorgeous they’ve been featured in some of the world’s glossiest magazines. A double-height split-level living area is at the heart of the house, filled with impeccable art and objets – macrame cushions, patchwork Persian rugs, ornamental pineapples and geometric lampshades, all offset against polished concrete and wraparound windows. Five spacious ensuite bedrooms, two swimming pools (one with a swim-up bar and the other raised with a glass bottom), a neon-lit gym, a cinema and a tuckedaway library will keep small groups in the lap of luxury. Berawa beach is just five minutes away, as are the organic cafes, funky restaurants, cool bars, clothing boutiques, jewellers and homeware stores of Jalan Pantai Berawa. mandala.house