Hibiscus

These eight sea-facing houses are privately owned and individually furnished, but they do have a lot in common. Each offers inclusive cook service, and has its own plunge pool, a combined living/dining room, and three bedrooms, each en suite, air conditioned, and with a terrace or a balcony. All are built in similar style, their red clay roof tiles and whitewashed walls giving an outward appearance of rustic charm. And they group together on the cliff top around a twenty-one metre free-form swimming pool, its luxuriant tropical setting redolent of an oasis. It is here that an old maxim comes to mind, that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, for Merlin Bay has a very sociable atmosphere, particularly appreciated by families, but also fun for groups of friends. Hibiscus has an enviable advantage in that its open terrace is directly beside the pool, accessed by double doors from the attractive and airy living room. Adjacent to Eden on the Sea, the villas would make a fine pair if booked together for two families.