Kenya

Concierge.com's insider take:

You won't spot a sign for these sumptuous villas discreetly tucked away from the tourist bustle of Diani Beach, 30 minutes south of Mombasa. Since opening in 2000, Alfajiri has prided itself on keeping a low profile—with just a bit of reverent word-of-mouth from celebs like Brad and Angelina to nudge it along. Set among tropical gardens with a powdery beach just steps away, each of its three private villas is fully staffed and self-contained to keep the clamor of Diani Beach at bay—a perfect setup for families looking to wrap up their safari with some quiet R&R. The breezy Beach Villa features two en-suite doubles with rustic flourishes (the furniture is hand-carved from driftwood in the on-site workshop), plus two smaller bedrooms set aside for the kids. The Garden Villa's four bedrooms have international themes, with gold-threaded tapestries in the Indian room, minimalist black-and-white in the Japanese, and intricate white coverlets in the Moroccan that make the beds look like four-poster wedding cakes. The two villas share an infinity pool, bar, and an open-air lounge nestled beneath a makuti-thatched roof, but most parties are here for the privacy. Separate dining areas are fully catered by Alfajiri's chefs, and you can very well spend a week without crossing paths with other guests. For an even more exclusive getaway, opt for the four-bedroom Cliff Villa, which has its own pool, a gazebo facing the sea, and a spectacular turret suite with floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor—carved Swahili doors, Danish ivory floors, and African objets d'art—spares no attention to detail. Included in the price of each villa are a butler and driver—and even a nanny for the kids. Golfing and snorkeling are easily arranged.

Cliff Villa closed May through June; Garden and Beach Villas open year-round.