Goodbye overwater bungalows, hello floating villas at Banyan Tree Bintan resort

When Singapore-based Banyan Tree Luxury Hotels and Resorts recently launched its latest luxury villas, it was literally fishing for compliments.

These new eco-friendly villas are afloat in the ocean – albeit securely anchored in one spot – and have been directly inspired by offshore kelong, the more rickety, roughly-hewn age-old timber fishing platforms that dot coastlines of Southeast Asia.

The first few floating kelong villas, along with an existing kelong-style restaurant for up to two dozen guests, recently opened for bookings at the Banyan Tree Bintan resort on the eponymous Indonesian island, just 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore.

After landing on the luxury kelong's expansive deck, guests receive a ritual foot bath in their novel accommodation, which contain almost all of the mandatory mod-cons you'd expect from a typical five-star villa back on terra firma, 250 metres or so away.

There's a king-sized bed, reliable hot and cold running water in a semi-al fresco bathroom, plus a twin wash-basin bathroom.

There's even a fully stocked minibar and espresso machine in the villa's living room.

Delicious Indonesian-style delicacies arrive from shore via pokchai, a traditional small motorised barge, for afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast.

Sea breezes substitute for air-conditioning and while the villa, crafted from local timbers, can get a little creaky during high tides and high winds it's all part of the soft adventure experience (lighter sleepers: pack earplugs).