Great villas don’t run themselves. We spoke to our villa manager in Koh Samui to find out what it takes — and who makes it happen.
The best stays are a bit like the no-makeup makeup look — relaxed, natural, and suspiciously effortless. Which, of course, means there’s quite a lot going on behind the scenes.
One of our villa managers in Thailand, ‘Tik’ Ladarat Lersakprasit ensures nothing is left to chance. Before you wake up, she and her team are already at work ensuring Ban Suriya is in tip top shape.
Set at a beachfront location in Koh Samui’s idyllic Taling Ngam, this sea-view villa epitomises that effortless toes-in-the-sand lifestyle, with relaxed island timing and warm Thai hospitality. Think late brunches, poolside lounging, fresh sheets daily, and barbecue feasts served by a private chef.
This fully-staffed villa is also a popular wedding venue and it’s easy to see why. Once you step into the bright living room, with a view of the infinity pool and glorious sea view beyond, you can immediately understand why it’s so appealing. “I fell in love with this job! And with Ban Suriya,” says Tik, who has helmed the villa team since 2009. Here, she shares a glimpse into the daily rhythm of managing a villa in paradise.
Click for More Inspiration: Villa of the Week: Ban Suriya
Meet the Dream Team
Like most well-run villas, Ban Suriya has its own dedicated team. Villa manager Tik leads a team with a private chef, villa attendants, a gardener, as well as pool maintenance staff and a security guard. She knows this six-bedroom sanctuary like the back of her hand; the villa manager is fondly referred to by her team as Khun Tik (fun fact: Khun is a gender-neutral Thai honorific).
Before joining the Ban Suriya team, Tik had honed her numerous skills while working her way up to the villa manager position: from babysitting, handyman’s work and housekeeping to being a chef and bartender. Did we add that this talented villa manager is also an expert mixologist? Her mango passionfruit daiquiris are highly-requested by guests, even past the welcome-drink greeting.
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What’s a villa manager’s daily routine like?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Tik typically checks in with the guests the night before on their preferred breakfast time and informs the chef and housekeeper accordingly to prepare the villa. “I’ll check if anyone wants coffee and eggs for the first or second day. After that, the staff will usually remember their orders,” she smiles.
“If the guests choose to have their breakfast early, I ask about their preferred menu and activities for the day. Such as the time for lunch and dinner; and the time the chef should go to shop for groceries.”
This includes arranging for in-villa massage appointments, which are the most popularly requested service. Whether enjoyed in the open-air poolside pavilion hearing the ocean waves in the distance, or in the privacy of the air-conditioned bedrooms.
Once the afternoon rolls around, the bilingual manager works closely with chef Teddy to plan dream meals daily (both are fluent in both Thai and English). Cooking classes by the chef are also available, conducted in the villa’s large kitchen with the culinary expert guiding guests through the steps of cooking authentic Thai recipes.
After the lunch service, the villa manager takes a short break, before getting back to guests’ requests that can range from dining recommendations and grocery shopping to itinerary arrangements.
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On the day of check-in, Tik will have welcome drinks ready for guest arrival. Tip: while her mint and lime smoothies are kid-friendly, parents can also request to turn these into frozen mojitos at cocktail hour. “I once made 20 glasses a day of banana milkshakes for the kids. I also served cocktails with up to 20 litres of rum on another occasion!”
While the guests are enjoying their day, turnover service typically commences in the afternoon, while Tik and the chef start preparing for dinner. If there is a wedding the following day, Tik typically suggests an early breakfast to the guests so that they are well-nourished for the momentous day ahead.
The Extra Touches
To deliver The White Lotus worthy service, the villa manager anticipates the needs of every guest and trains her team to do the same. “I’ll teach my team to ‘overestimate’. For example, if the guests need to work on the second floor and they ask for a pen. I would say to my team: prepare not just a pen, but also paper and water for the guests.”
Guests describe her as a swan, gracefully handling it all, regardless of the situation. Book the villa to experience it for yourself!
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