With 4 stunning, open-deck luxury villas shrouded by palms and dotted around a gorgeous pool, Coco Shambhala plays off the South-Asian tradition of inside-outside living while offering discreet service by staff for whom no request is too much to ask.

Although built on a relatively small property in the fishing and farming village of Nerul, Coco conjures a glorious natural environment that’s so private you can go through your entire stay without bumping into another guest.

It’s a feat achieved by the combination of extensive planting, where tall palms surround you in a perfect wall of seclusion, with intelligent architectural design that sees the living decks up on the first floor wonderfully exposed to the elements, emphasising a tropical life spent in nature.

But it’s not only the villas that make this such an outstanding place; Coco is elevated by service that’s personalised, engaged, always available and never intrusive, with the staff uniformly excellent. On arrival we were given a local mobile with pre-programmed numbers, shown to a fridge with complimentary beer, juices and a bottle of Champagne, talked through the facilities and dining options, and made to feel like a welcome guest in someone’s perfect home.

It’s important to remember though, that Coco is not a hotel. There’s no bar or restaurant and no common area aside from the pool, and while looked after you’re also left to your own devices, encouraged to shop and stock up, cook, eat out and explore. Happily, with the inclusive car and driver, and the wonderful guidance of owner Giles and his team, discovering Goa from Coco is a real pleasure. And you always have your villa to come back to at the end of it.