Grand Sunset Residence, One&Only Reethi Rah, The Maldives

Laid-back luxury doesn’t get better than in the barefoot Maldives. This is one of the region's glitziest resorts, with a superb series of beach and overwater villas. Our pick is the The Grand Sunset Residence, with a private stretch of powder-white beach, outside cinema and two pools.

Completely secluded, its airy rooms are divided across two thatched-roof houses, sleeping six adults and up to four children. While you can pop over to the resort's restaurants – garden-to-fork Botanica is a must – you also have your own chefand butler on call. Mojito at midnight? No problem. Fish tacos at first light? Done. Best moment? Watching the sunset from your outdoor tub.

Villa Isa, Trisara Thailand

When it comes to secluded living and lavish luxury, it's a push to find finer than Trisara, a stylish hillside resort in north-west Phuket. There are 30 private pool residences in total, spread across 16ha of verdant grounds, but the most impressive is multi-storey, six-bedroom Villa Isa.

Housing a staggering 18 guests (with a kitchen, bar, cinema and pool room), it peeks out from its jungle setting, the Andaman Sea within striking distance. The design is based around an alfresco dining pavilion, infinity pool and terrace. Inside, white-on-white interiors blend with teak furniture and stone carvings. Authentic Thai touches, such as local art and bowls of floating lotus flowers, root you in place. Guests can book a chef to cook local dishes, such as deep-fried crab, tom som soup and ginger-infused grouper. Or perhaps try the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant Pru, which focuses on sustainability, local suppliers and age-old recipes.

Presidential Overwater Villa, Conrad Bora Bora Nui, French Polynesia

Soaring Mount Otemanu provides the backdrop to the Conrad Bora Bora Nui when approached from the turquoise water. With three restaurants, three hotel bars, an infinity pool, kids club, water sports, golf and the exclusive use of private island Motu Tapu, guests will find plenty to do. The spa is found at the peak of the dramatic, volcanic hillside, providing incredible panoramic views of the resort's surrounding scenery alongside myriad treatments using sustainable, locally sourced ingredients such as headily perfumed monoÏ oil. But, for those seeking privacy or plenty of room for the whole family, there's the expansive two-storey Presidential Overwater Villa.

It has three outdoor terraces for alfresco dining 'at home', a pool, plus the services of a butler. Best of all are the uninterrupted views of the horizon.

Ian Fleming Villa, GoldenEye Jamaica

With a gin-and-bitters in hand, and gazing out onto the impossible azure of the Caribbean Sea, you’ll perhaps be just as inspired as Ian Fleming was when he stayed in this infamous villa, part of GoldenEye.

Overlooking Oracabessa Bay, near Ocho Rios, this is where the writer created the world’s most notorious character – James Bond – and wrote all 14 books in the Bond series. It is found within its own parcel of land, and the three-bedroom villa comes with two ‘baby’ cottages, a private beach and pool. In fact, the whole, mini estate is big enough for your own entourage of ten (Russian spies, optional).

There’s a resident chef, who will conjure up jerk chicken or lobster burgers on demand and take you to local food markets for a hands-on experiences, while the in-house butler will ensure drinks are shaken, not stirred. A claw-footed tub in the garden and Fleming’s original writing desk are some of the details which have kept this property on speed dial with a starry guest list, wanting to check-in and chill out Jamaican-style. Sleeps ten, from £4,790pn (£479pp), three-night minimum. theflemingvilla.com

Tamarind Guest Villa, Como Parrot Cay Turks & Caicos

Caribbean’s ultimate escape, Como’s private-island resort is stylishly pared back, proving that less really is more. Here, you fall asleep to the gentle lapping of the Caribbean Sea, content from an alfresco supper of coconut-infused lobster, and wake to sunshine-fuelled days in a paradisiacal setting.

Tamarind, a two-bed residence, comes with a private beach and is located a 12-minute buggy ride from the resort. Light-filled rooms (including your own gym) open up to large sundecks, a pool and garden showers, and four-poster beds are draped with Italian linen. Your private butler can organise family-friendly sailing trips around 'Provo' – the local terms for the island of Providenciales – as well as meditation classes and yoga sessions.

The Retreat, Six Senses Uluwatu Bali

Teetering on a clifftop, with views of the crashing waves below, staying at The Retreat villa, which sleeps up to eight adults and two children, is as heavenly as having your own personal paradise in the clouds. A longstanding champion of sustainability and wellness, Six Senses Uluwatu calls upon the local Balinese culture and surrounding flora and fauna to create a peaceful and thoughtfully arranged retreat. The mega-watt villa – a ‘resort-within-a-resort’ – echoes this sensibility.

This being a Six Senses property, it goes without saying that the spa offering is standout, with yoga, locally inspired treatments and rejuvenation therapies on tap. For those wanting to raise the pampering to the next level, private treatments are available in the comfort of your villa. Try the two-hour Royal Lular, an ancient beauty ritual comprising a full-body massage, scrub and herbal bath, which will leave you feeling on top of the world. Perfect for groups of friends or large families, there are three pools, a wine cellar and private dining. Indonesian architecture gives this home a sleek and moody feel. Best of all are the views from the high vantage point. It’s as if you can reach out to touch the starry skies at night while, by day, sunlight glistens, mirror-like, on the ocean below. Sleeps ten, from £5,394pn (£539pp). sixsenses.com

Residence Villa, Four Seasons Desroches Island Seychelles

Those looking for a castaway moment – albeit with staff to cook and clean for you – should head to this Indian Ocean idyll. Set on its own deserted island, the Four Seasons resort may be far-flung but its renowned service levels are as sharp as at any urban outpost.

Tickling the beach, the top-notch three-bedroom Residence Villas – with an additional bedroom in a separate pavilion – come with a full kitchen, separate dining room and scullery. Open-air living and dining areas, outdoor showers in the en-Suites and a pool provide a laid-back island vibe. Creole architecture and African artefacts add interesting features and give a nod to the heritage of the region.

Above all, the focus is on offering guests exquisite experiences – from your own chef cooking up a gourmet barbecue to private yoga with an in-house yogi. There are boat charters to explore the Seychelles’ exceptional reefs and a conservation team on hand to educate on the marine riches found here. Guided snorkelling tours are not to be missed, with typical sightings including several species of ray, colourful reef fish such as butterflyfish and angelfish and gentle sea turtles, which cruise around the seagrass beds surrounding the island. It’s precious stuff.