Sri Lanka boasts of numerous beachfront properties that will suit just about anyone’s taste. You’ll find quaint boutique hotels to fully serviced busy luxury hotels, all offering great access to one of Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches. If you have made your rounds of the various beachfront properties in Sri Lanka though, you might have noticed that one thing that’s usually true for most is the lack of a sprawling garden. This is not a real disadvantage, given that most stay in beachfront properties to obviously stroll on the beach, but having one sure is nice.
The Mirissa Beach is 2 minutes from Talaramba Reef by tuktuk.
Talaramba Reef is one of the rare beachfront vacation rental properties you will find that has a huge tropical garden featuring local tree species. The garden is a really nice quiet place to meditate and is the perfect setting for the two villas – Villa Sulanga and Villa Vatura – located in the property. Both villas can accommodate a large group of people with 4 bedrooms each, featuring fourr-poster beds and en-suite bathrooms. The villas are both designed to let the light and the air in, with meals taken in a verandah overlooking the garden, and huge lounge areas that con comfortably seat a huge crowd. Beautiful french doors and Sri Lankan furniture and art pieces complete the simple yet luxurious feel of the villas.
Garden and Pool Outside Villa Sulanga and Villa Vatura
The main difference of the two villas is perhaps in the target market, with Villa Vatura being more child-friendly with a TV room and a pool specially designed with a shallow end for toddlers. Villa Sulanga’s pool is deeper, and with a bar area in the living room, obviously focuses more on catering to the needs of adults on vacation.
Note that if you interested in staying in Talaramba Reef for your vacation, it will set you back anywhere from $400 to $1500 per night, depending on how many villas you rent (Yes, you can rent just one or both.) and the season when you book it.
Photos via Talaramba Reef Website
Written by Hannah on December 28th, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Beach Holidays, Villas
The whole world may be aware of the famous Buckingham Palace in London, but what many do not realize is that there is another Buckingham that would satisfy your travel cravings half a world away at Tangalle, Sri Lanka.
The Buckingham Place in Sri Lanka may sound like old-world grand but it is actually the opposite being contemporary in design. This is not surprising since the hotel is named not after the Buckingham Palace, but after owner/manager Nick Buckingham. Although the hotel is not as grand as the palace itself, it does not mean that it does not deliver in terms of luxury.
A tuktuk at the entrance of the Buckingham Place
The hotel is a pretty exclusive place, featuring just 11 bedrooms and suites all with its own balcony/veranda, bathtub (only 2 rooms do not have a tub), 6ft x 6ft double beds with sprung mattresses and high quality linen, mini-fridges, and picnic menus. Choice suites also feature open air bathrooms and a satellite TV.
Open air bathroom in one of the suites
The atmosphere of the Buckingham Place is also truly tranquil, appearing idyllic even, with a view of Rekawa Beach’s lagoon. The beach right in front of the hotel, is however, more pretty than swimmer-friendly due to big waves and unpredictable currents. Despite this, swimmers need not go too far to get wet since the hotel has its own pool. If you wish to swim on the beach though, you’ll need to walk for about 15 minutes to get to a safer beach.
The beach
With the hotel getting rave reviews for excellent service, my only real beef about the hotel resort is that they have a 10 year-old and above policy, which means that it will be a full decade before our family will be welcome in the place. The policy is something that any guest who relishes the peace and quiet that only resort hotels like this provide, will truly appreciate.
Photos courtesy of the Buckingham Place
Written by Hannah on November 23rd, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Beach Holidays, Hotels, Tangallle
One of the best things about Sri Lanka is the beaches. They are idyllic and wonderful. Another perk is that they are available during the winter months in the northeast. Hunting around for the best beaches is not difficult, but you might find the following tips helpful as regards finding the right beaches on this large island.
Bentota
A resort area called Bentota, located in the southwestern part of this island country, is a large resort area and has a lot of hotels. There are many beaches in this area but they may be crowded. Your best bet if you want to access these beaches and avoid some of the large crowds is to take advantage of smaller boutique style hotels like the River House, Taru Villa, and Club Villa. These smaller hotels are better situated for an easy access to great beaches and also have swimming pools to enjoy. More »
Written by Wayne Ernest on November 6th, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Beach Holidays
Finding a place to stay in Sri Lanka is not a problem with countless establishments that offer accommodations for a great price. Good hotels can be booked easily and without fuss, but the problem is that with all the tourists coming in and out of the country year round, you will find that most hotels are just not cozy nor personal enough to make your stay truly unforgettable.
A good option for tourists who want a quieter time away from the regular crush of tourists that come with big hotels is to rent private villas. Vacation rental homes, such as villas are great because you either get the entire place all to yourself, or get to share it with only a handful of other guests.
Auraliya, a family holiday home turned vacation rental property, is one such place. Auraliya features 6 tastefully appointed bedrooms surrounding a dining hall and swimming pool, and located right in front of a beach that guests can access anytime via a private gate.
Statue of Ganesh at Auraliya
The Sitting Pavillion at Auraliya
Auraliya guests find themselves returning to the place not only for the beautiful and serene atmosphere, but also because of the very personalized and excellent service of the staff. In Auraliya, you can have your meals planned for you ahead of time, or even ask the staff to shop for you with them returning with fresh produce and receipts in hand. The staff always on-call, ensuring that guests never lack for anything any time of the day. If there’s one word that will describe Auraliya, that would perhaps be “hospitality”, a luxury that not many hotels truly know the meaning of.
Photos courtesy of Auraliya
Written by Hannah on October 31st, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Beach Holidays, Villas
The last time we wrote about the Aman Resorts was back in 2009, and till now our awe at this super luxurious group of hotel resorts hasn’t diminished. The Aman group continues to not only open one spectacular hotel property after another, but also manages to keep their “old” resorts and hotel at the top of the luxury list all over the world.
Our review of the Amangalla was definitely positive, but we have failed to extol the equally luxurious Amanwella, a seaside resort that is the epitome of opulence.
Amanwella, is a beachfront resort that boasts of 30 contemporary suites all with its very own private walled-in entry courtyard that features a plunge pool and banquette, as well as individual terraces with open views. Each suite is reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s famous architect, Geoffrey Bawas, style; seamlessly meshing Western modern sensibilities with his country’s culture and style.
A visit to Amanwella will also find you not lacking in things to do since they can arrange special activities for you from the sedate to the more adventurous kind. You can relax and get a spa treatment anywhere in the resort, from your suite to a secluded garden in their coconut grove, or you can opt to get wet while whale watching in Mirissa Harbour, which is a mere 90 minute drive from Amanwella. Food lovers can also not just taste, but learn how to cook authentic Sri Lankan meals courtesy of the resort’s in-house chefs. Of course, you can also just do the usual things you would do on a beach resort, from sunbathing to snorkelling and surfing.
A visit to Amanwella will set you back at least $400 per night during off-peak seasons. A substantial amount that anyone who’s ever stayed in this resort will tell you is worth every penny you spend.
Written by Hannah on October 17th, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Aman Hotels, Beach Holidays, Luxury
Fort Printers is an unassumingly stylish hotel. Unpretentious and quietly chic, it is for people wanting to feel like they are staying at a town villa and yet still be spoiled with a hotel’s services. If you stroll down Galle Fort‘s popular Pedlar street (great shopping), you’ll find the Fort Printers at the corner of Church street- you would immediately think the elegantly restored building was the home of some lucky expatriate and not a small luxury hotel!
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Written by Antonella on July 8th, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Beach Holidays, Boutique Hotels, Galle Fort, Hotels, Luxury Travel, Restaurants, Villas
The Fortress Hotel is perhaps the grandest hotel in Sri Lanka of all. Owned by reputedly the richest family in Sri Lanka, it is part of the Per Aquum group of resorts, who also have a large presence in the Maldives and the Seychelles. The Fortress only opened its doors in 2007 and has certainly started with a bang, often being fully booked (especially for weddings and large functions) despite the negative news coming out of the Sri Lankan tourism industry.
The hotel is in a glorious location, set right on the Indian Ocean seaside and close to Koggala Lake, about a 20 minute drive from Galle. What sets apart the hotel from many of its competitors is not just its location, though, but its magnificent architecture and ambience, both outside and inside. We don’t often like to quote off a hotel’s own website, but in this case they have it spot on: More »
Written by Antonella on May 4th, 2011 | Comments Off
Filed under Ayurveda, Beach Holidays, Hotels, Luxury, Luxury Travel, Sri Lanka, Tea, Tips
