Stylish Pool Villa F5 at Malee Beach, Koh Lanta

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Note: This post was originally published after our stay in 2014 and was updated in 2020. It has since changed ownership.

Malee Beach is a complex of luxury villas and stylish apartments on the southern end of Long Beach on Koh Lanta, Thailand. Many have pools and all are steps from the beach.

They are a great option if you’re looking for Koh Lanta accommodation for families or for longer stays. 

We’ve stayed before at the Sai Naam apartments and the beachfront villa A2 (one of our favourite places to stay anywhere in the world).

This review is of Villa F5, an ultra modern stylish villa one house back from the beach. The villa features three bedrooms, a large private pool and jacuzzi, and a sea view from the upstairs terrace. 

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Entrance

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

F5 stands out from the other villas in the area due to its angular shape and mysterious black wall.

It’s not obvious where to enter at first—the large black door blends into the wall and you push it open to enter the garden.

It feels very fortress like, complete with a moat—the pool wraps around the front of the house and you cross a bridge to enter the house. It’s certainly a dramatic entrance and we knew this was going to be special.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

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Living Area

Inside it doesn’t disappoint. We felt like we’d stepped into the pages of a glossy magazine.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

The living area is open plan with high ceilings and big glass windows letting in lots of light. The decor is modern with black tiled floors and white walls.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

In one corner there’s a cosy living area with a black leather sofa and flatscreen TV, DVD player and a selection of DVDs. The red rug and mural liven the otherwise minimalist space.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

We loved details like how one of the stairs on the floating staircase extended to become the long stone dining table. This is where we worked with the constant temptation of the pool next to us, as the sliding glass doors lead straight to the pool and create a flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
Us working with our friends Tom and Jenny
F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
Simon and Tom working

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Kitchen

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

The shiny black kitchen has tons of space with an island worktop, two fridges (!), oven, microwave, dishwasher, and fancy fixtures.

There’s a water machine for cool filtered water, and a welcome pack greets you with information about the island and some fruit, snacks, and drinks to get you started.

There is plenty of kitchenware, although being picky I would have liked a blender, rice cooker, and wok.

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Bedrooms

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
Downstairs bedroom

Downstairs there are two comfortable double bedrooms, a bathroom, and a laundry room (you can even send dirty clothes down a chute from the master bedroom).

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
Master bedroom upstairs

Upstairs is a large loft style master bedroom with attached bathroom and a small adjoining room with a cot and bed for a small child.

There are no windows up here but two frosted glass doors do let in some light. The bathroom is very stylish with his and hers showers and a porthole window with a sea view.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
The view from the sink in the master bedroom

Each bedroom has air conditioning and a flatscreen TV.

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Terrace

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
The walkway that connects the master bedroom and terrace, with views downstairs

A walkway from the master bedroom leads to the upstairs terrace with a table and chairs where you can enjoy sea views and watch Koh Lanta’s spectacular sunsets.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
The terrace
F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta
Sunset from the terrace

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Pool

The outside area is a tropical paradise.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

The long pool wraps around the front of the house and you have to swim under the bridge to get from one end to the other. There are seating areas built into the pool and we spent every afternoon cooling off here.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

Water cascades from the jacuzzi in a giant rock under a frangipani tree.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

The wooden sala next to the pool is perfect for swinging in a hammock or lounging on the cushions, or you can work on your tan on the sun loungers.

My favourite place to work was curled up on the huge comfortable sofa overlooking the pool.

F5 Villa, Malee Seaview, Koh Lanta

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Area

We love Long Beach on Koh Lanta and think the Malee Beach villas have the perfect location on the quiet southern end.

The beach is just a one-minute walk away and there are plenty of shops and restaurants within a few minutes’ walk. Try May’s for great Thai, Red Snapper for delicious tapas, and Fruit Tree Coffee Shop (just next door) for excellent coffee, cakes, and breakfast. 

See our Koh Lanta guide for more recommendations.

It would be easy not to venture far from the villa but having your own transport is the best way to explore further afield.

I recommend heading to the quiet beaches in the south of the island or across to the east side to the stilted wooden houses of Old Town.

Luckily use of a tuk tuk is included with the villa—these motorbikes with attached sidecars are a popular way for families on the island to get around.

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Video Tour

Have a look around villa F5 in our video tour:

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Highs

  • Stylish design
  • Lots of space and light
  • Close to the beach
  • Gorgeous pool and jacuzzi
  • Various comfortable seating areas
  • Well equipped, spacious kitchen
  • WiFi throughout the house
  • Use of tuk tuk

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Lows

  • There is only air conditioning in the bedrooms and it gets really hot in the living area. We were there in the hot season (April), though, and it wouldn’t be as much of a problem if you were spending most of the time in the pool or on the beach. As we were working it was an issue and we had to retreat to the pool in the afternoons (poor us!).
  • There’s not much natural light in the master bedroom.
  • No blender, rice cooker or wok.

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Summary

F5 at Malee Beach is a stunning villa with a unique modern design and plenty of space and light. The pool area is a tropical paradise and we loved the flow between inside and outside spaces.

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Recommended For

Families with older children and groups of friends looking for a special place to stay.

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Cost

Villa F5 sleeps up to seven people. 

It costs from 25,000 baht ($772) a week in the low season (April to October) and up to 68,000 baht ($2007) a week in the high season. Electricity and water is extra. There are discounts for stays longer than three weeks.

For more information about F5 contact Sai Naam Lanta or you can book direct on Airbnb (minimum rental 3 nights). 

16 Comments

  1. We enjoyed your journey very much, especially the vidoes. The F5 Villa would be a special treat for us but certainly too pricey for a couple: up to 68,000 baht ($2007) a week in the high season. Electricity and water is extra.

    We are in the process of taking another discounted Air Asia Airlines flight deal to Krabie from our home base in Bangkok. We’ll try to squeeze in the time for a few days Koh Lanta.

    M and G
    NYC USA

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  2. I can’t believe you guys were on Koh Lanta at the same time as me. I spent a few weeks there in April, and it was because I had read your glowing reports of the place. It didn’t disappoint :) I took a lot of inspiration from you guys on my trip to South East Asia, so can’t thank you enough! Wishing you continued safe and enjoyable travels

    Peace

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  3. That is quite possibly the most amazing jacuzzi I have ever seen! What a beautiful and stylish place, thanks for sharing :)

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    • It was really a special jacuzzi! Not hot water though but then we didn’t need that in Thailand’s hot season.

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  4. Wow, this place looks amazing! How peaceful and beautiful. If I find myself in Thailand, I will definitely have to try to get a group together for a nice splurge week. : ) Thanks for all the useful information as well. It is always so nice to come across such a helpful and informative review.

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    • It’s actually very private. The villa is surrounded by a wall and you can’t see the pool or inside the villa from outside.

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  5. Looks amazing. We’re going to Thailand next year and this place is looking very tempting… might have to get a group of people together to be able to afford it though ;-)

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    • It’s definitely pricey for a couple but in the low season it’s a bargain for a group. Thailand is one of the cheapest places in the world to splurge on luxury accommodation so I definitely recommend doing so at least once!

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    • It really is one of the most stunning places we’ve ever stayed (the beachfront villa from the same owners is the only place that tops it!).

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  6. Wow – this looks beautiful! It makes me just want to sink into that pool. Glad you had an amazing time :-)

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    • As there are huge sliding glass doors everywhere the pool was constantly inviting us in! We spent every afternoon cooling off in it for hours.

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