Cocoa Island

Rooms

Of the 33 villas and suites, half are dhonis, built like traditional fishing boats. Set on stilts, with baby sharks and reef fish circling them, they're reached by a serpentine wooden walkway from the island. All the rooms are filled with light, thanks to the floor to ceiling windows facing the ocean. They're also full of creature comforts (air-con, ceiling fan, minibar, coffee machines, flatscreen TV/DVD, Italian bedlinen on ridiculously comfortable beds) inside a minimalist shell of natural fabrics. Bathrooms are enormous, with separate shower and tub, large wardrobes and lots of deliciously scented COMO Shambhala products. There are lots of thoughtful touches, from the separate AC in the bathroom to the strategically placed porthole near your bed for a cooling night-time breeze. A member of staff is assigned to your room 24/7, but we doubt you’ll need to call him.

The equivalent of a standard room are the open-plan Dhoni Suites - the bed is raised on a platform next to the sitting room, facing your own sun-faded deck, with steps into the sea. If you can afford it, it's worth spending a little extra for the double decker Dhoni Loft Suites. They have a large mezzanine creating an ensuite bedroom, meaning double the space downstairs. The more conventional-looking Villa Loft Suites have the same layout, with the addition of an outdoor shower. From these you have a fantastic view without even having to lift your head from the pillow.

If the rooms lack anything, it's privacy: they're lined up alongside each other along the walkway without any vegetation between them. However, your sundeck is private from the adjacent properties. For more space and seclusion, the villas - a choice of 4 one- and 2 two-bedroomed - offer a larger living room, several sun decks, outdoor shower, all set apart from the other properties. The two-bedroom villas are enormous, also equipped with kitchen and private butler. From the Sunrise Villa you can walk through the lagoon for what feels like miles; from the Sunset you have fantastic (and virtually private) snorkelling outside your room and even a private jetty for that special arrival.