Draw a line from your pool deck to each neighbouring deck, balcony and path on a map or plan. If a clear line exists and nothing solid blocks it, that is a sightline you may want to avoid.
This guide is part of our privacy rooms topic. It takes about half an hour per villa and needs no special tools.
What is a sightline?
A sightline is a straight line between your seat on the deck and a place where someone could stand or sit. Neighbouring decks, upper balconies, public paths and boats on the water all count.
What blocks a sightline matters as much as the distance. A solid wall, a full hedge or the villa’s own roof all break it.
Step 1: what does the map view show?
Open a satellite map and find the resort. Zoom in on your villa and look at the direction your deck faces.
- Which villas sit within an easy line of the deck?
- Is there a path, a beach or open water on the open side?
- Does a taller building stand close to the villa?
Note each one on a sheet. Do not guess heights yet.
Step 2: what does the floor plan add?
Ask the resort for a layout of the villa or the villa cluster. A plan shows where balconies, windows and walls sit.
Mark the deck on the plan and draw a line to each neighbouring window or balcony. Count the lines that cross a gap with no wall or planting.
Step 3: what do we ask the resort?
Send one clear question: “For villa number X, which neighbouring villas, balconies or paths can see the pool deck, and what screens the view?” Ask for the answer in writing.
If the resort names specifics, trust grows. If it repeats the word “private”, ask again with the villa number.
How do we score each villa?
Fill in this sheet for every shortlisted villa. The lowest total is the most private.
| Sightline | Clear (2) | Partly screened (1) | Solid screen (0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbouring deck | |||
| Upper balcony | |||
| Public path | |||
| Beach or water |
Total the numbers. Villas with a total of two or less tend to feel secluded. Compare the totals with the same villas side by side.
What about trees and planting?
Young planting can look full in the photo but remain thin in person. Ask whether the screen is full-grown and when it was last trimmed. For more on screens, see the villa gates, fences and hedges check.
What if the sightline is unavoidable?
Sometimes a hillside villa overlooks a path, or a beach villa faces boats. Compare the trade-off in beach villa versus hillside villa privacy, and consider a different villa number instead of a different resort.
What should we do next?
- Print or screenshot the map and plan for each villa.
- Fill in the score sheet together.
- Read pool villa photos versus real privacy to cross-check the images.
- Send us your top two, and we will ask the resort for the best villa numbers for two.