The Priests Houses

Feel at one with nature in 3 restored 19th-century Portuguese dwellings (each sleeping 4-6) on an idyllic beach

Goa is known for its live-in-the-moment lifestyle, but here, the isolation creates a sense of timelessness. Tucked into a coconut grove between a mile of privately owned beach and the olive-green salt waters of Otter Creek, these 3 red-roofed villas are Goan gems. Built in the late 1880s, they were restored in 2006 by the fashion photographer Denzil Sequeira. His great-grand uncle was the priest in question; he lived in the largest house (which now has 3 double bedrooms), and baked bread and kept pigs in the other, smaller 2 (aptly named The Bakery and The Piggery).

Not that you'd guess it now. Interiors possess the same stylish flair - cobalt-blue bathrooms, muslin-draped four-posters, open rafters, turquoise wooden shutters - as Denzil's other properties, The Captain's House and Otter Creek Tents, both of which lie nearby. Security guards guarantee your peace and safety, waiters and room cleaners melt into the scenery, and a bevy of chefs conjure up Goan delights in the beach shack restaurant nearby.

Highs

• The white-sand beach is perfect for long, romantic walks
• The open-air beach shack restaurant has idyllic river views and delicious food
• Sitting back on your veranda with a glass of wine, listening to the clicking of crickets in the coconut grove, is a fantastic experience
• There are no cars in the vicinity to disturb the tranquility - you walk the last 500m to the houses across a rickety-looking bamboo bridge over Otter Creek (although your luggage is carried by staff)

Lows

• There's a longish walk (150m) along dark paths from the houses to the dining shack
• Crossing the slatted footbridge across the creek to reach the houses may be daunting for some
• There are occasional power cuts for short durations, with no back-up generator
• Stays of at least 7 nights are preferred
• Beware of the very strict cancellation policy