Southeast Asia's top 10 private villas

10. Villa Puri Bawana, Canggu, Bali

"The villa grounds are huge, allowing each family enough privacy but with large common areas to allow for a combined get-together," says The Villa Guide.
Rating: 9.1
Price: From US$1,242 per night
Bedrooms: Six
Staff: Eight
Pros: Spectacular rice field terrace design; beautifully finished interiors; outstanding staff and service; close to both beach and Seminyak; and gourmet food made to order
Cons: Difficult to find anything wrong other than the occasional morning cockerel and the odd farmer tending the rice.

9. The Tamarind, Bang Saray, Thailand

In addition to the usual perks like a private pool and personal chef, The Tamarind has a Harley-Davidson for guest use.
Rating: 9.1
Price: From US$1,000 per night
Bedrooms: Nine
Staff: Nine
Pros: Nine round-the-world decor bedrooms; super luxurious and massive; no neighbors to disturb; great Thai cook; and umpteen facilities.
Cons: Staff’s English not hot, their Tom Yam is; and easy to get lost so keep a mobile phone handy.

8. Villa Ananda, Natai Beach, Phang Nga, Thailand

"We found the air conditioning in bedrooms a little noisy and the villa does require some minor maintenance which is no surprise given the coastal location but this equates more to 'touch-ups' than anything that affects the pleasure of your stay," says The Villa Guide's review of Villa Ananda.
Rating: 9.2
Price: From US$1,648 per night 
Bedrooms: Six
Staff: Seven
Pros: Eighty meters of beach frontage; serviced to a six-star level; spacious, impeccably landscaped grounds; super private bedroom pavilions; and tasty Thai seafood prepared with panache.

Cons: Need to watch the kids at the pool, beach; far from nightlife entertainment; and weddings/events not permitted.
More on CNN: Phuket's best pool villas and suites

7. Baan Suriya, Lipa Noi, Koh Samui, Thailand

"Although Baan Suriya is definitely family-friendly, the ‘floating’ stairs leading to the mezzanine lounge, the sliding doors opening directly to the pool, and the ungated beach access mean it would be wise to keep small children closely supervised," says The Villa Guide.
Rating: 9.2
Price: From US$1,942 per night
Bedrooms: Six
Staff: Three 
Pros: Facilities that go the extra mile to please; knowledgeable, helpful villa manageress; delightfully indulgent bathrooms; and fabulous views out to Angthong Marine Park.
Cons: A few toddler-unfriendly features to watch out for; occasional traffic noise; and a big group is needed to fully appreciate the villa.
More on CNN: Best of Koh Samui

6. The Edge, The Bukit, Bali

"We are hard-pressed to find anything to complain about at The Edge," says The Villa Guide. "Still, the price is high by anybody’s standards. This is a villa for people who have so much cash that it doesn’t matter … or someone else is paying."
Rating: 9.3
Price: US$18,150 per night
Bedrooms: 10
Staff: Eight
Pros: Top-of-the-line luxury; eye-boggling views; state-of-the-art spa; and tailor-made cuisine.
Cons: The price. And there will be monkeys.

5. The Shanti Residence, Nusa Dua Bali  

"With three pools (four if you count the jacuzzi), fantastic views, great staff and a home cinema that will rock your world, The Shanti Residence is simply a beautiful place to spend a vacation," says The Villa Guide.
Rating: 9.3
Price: From US$1,668 per night
Bedrooms: Five
Staff: Nine
Pros: Amazing home cinema; great views.
Cons: Inconvenient beach access.
More on CNN: What to do in Bali

4. Villa Sapi, Tanjung, Lombok

"All in all, this is a villa where you will want to bring your friends so they can see it for themselves," says The Villa Guide. "Photos and tall tales just won’t suffice."
Rating: 9.3
Price: From US$924 per night
Bedrooms: Five
Staff: Seven
Pros: Three swimming pools; desert island setting; private absolute beachfront; incredible architecture; chef is a culinary genius.
Cons: Quite remote; outdoor showers not for the modest.

3. The Istana, The Bukit, Bali

"Cliff-top means cliff-top -– there is a 60-meter drop down to the sea below," says The Villa Guide. "The edge does not have fencing to ruin that magical view but is protected by a wide bed of extremely sharp and very uninviting ground shrubs."
Rating: 9.3
Price: From US$2,512 per night
Bedrooms: Seven
Staff: Seven
Pros: 60-meter cliff-top views; fabulous staff; suites and bathrooms to die for.
Cons: Remote location far from most attractions; usually booked up solid.

2. Latitude, Karang Kembar, The Bukit, Bali

"Such a spectacular 180-degree ocean view already singles out Latitude as special," says The Villa Guide. "Add the space-age architecture, seriously long swimming pool, the beach club, and the promise of gourmet meals day-in day-out, and Latitude is clearly in a league of its own."
Rating: 9.4
Price: From US$2,252 per night
Bedrooms: Five
Staff: Seven
Pros: Excellent chef; incredible views; private beach club.
Cons: Remote location.

1. Ariara, Calamian Islands, Palawan, Philippines

One could easily spend weeks, even months here and have a new adventure each day –- or simply do nothing but lie back and drink cold San Miguel brews all day.
Rating: 9.4
Price: From US$5,868 per night
Bedrooms: Eight
Staff: Eight
Pros: Private island; personal dive guide; delicious gourmet meals; plenty of watersports; great design and craftsmanship.
Cons: Pool access unsafe for families with young kids; pier is lacking a handrail.