Honest reviews and buying-guide thinking on beach villas — what to look for, what to ignore, and what actually makes a stay special.

In the tropics the best view is rarely the ocean — it is the sanctuary you build a few hundred metres inland.

A great view is more than a horizon. The four ingredients that separate nice from spectacular.

The layout, the pool, the kitchen and the staff all matter more when there are ten of you. Our checklist.