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

What a name- the Last House?! This enchanting villa is so named (only in Ceylon!) as it is the famous Geoffrey Bawa‘s last architectural masterpiece, if not his grandest. The Last House is located on the south coastline near Tangalle, a long six hour drive from Colombo- so we do recommend you break up the journey on your way. The villa is positioned on an idyllic strip of land with a lagoon on one side and long white sand beach on the other.

Geoffrey Bawa perhaps needs no introduction to those are familiar with Sri Lankan cultural history, renowned for his mix of eclectic and modern architectural styles. The layout of this, his last project, is shaped like a horse-shoe, with kitchen, living rooms and courtyard bedrooms surrounding the idyllic swimming pool on three sides.

The advantage of this design is that while the various verandas, dining and sitting rooms are well-suited to social occasions, the property also offers privacy to friends or generations of a family. At the back of the main building there is a lovingly-tended garden with an expansive stretch of lawn leading down to the beach.

There are four double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, as well as a twin and a single that share a bathroom. Bedrooms are beautifully furnished, airy and light. The rooms can comfortably accommodate up to 11 guests.

Master Bedroom: situated on the upper floor with a balcony overlooking the pool and the sea beyond, this is an exquisite suite furnished with a king size bed. The ensuite bathroom has a Victorian bathtub and shower.

Family Room: Located upstairs and has twin beds with an attached second room with both sharing one bathroom.

Turquoise Room: Located on the ground floor opening out to the gardens and the sea beyond, this is a spacious room with a private garden and ensuite bathroom. The room is furnished with a king size bed.

White Room: Situated on the ground floor next to the Turquoise room, this also has sea views and a private garden.

The living and dining areas overlook the 10-meter swimming pool. The interiors are tastefully designed with a mix of antiques and contemporary furniture, local art and artifacts. The many courtyards, verandas and balconies offer much privacy and many secluded spaces for guests to relax in. Local rice and curries and western dishes are served according to guest’s wishes in the gardens, the main dining room or in your own private courtyard or balcony.

As Flee Winter says quite rightly:

“Some may feel a little isolated this far round the coast, so it is important to bring company and entertainment with you. The Last House is absolutely perfect for family gathering and friendly reunions. No local restaurants or gift shops to pop out to.“

There is a full complement of staff, including an excellent chef. Unlike most villas, the Last House is sold on an “all-inclusive” basis with a per person fee charged each day for three meals and all your beverages, including house wine Prices come in at around $1,000 per night for the whole villa and in this case we recommend booking directly with the villa.

Image via Sri Lanka in Style

In our opinion, there are few hotels more luxurious than those of the Aman group, and luckily in Sri Lanka, you have a choice of two fantastically luxe places to visit. Previously, we talked about the colonial-inspired gem that is Amangalla in Galle Fort, and now we bring you another slice of Aman-heaven, this time in minimalist splendor on the pristine beaches of Tangalle.

Guests staying at Amanwella will enjoy the way the modern design blends seamlessly with the eco-friendly surroundings (think of sea turtles, waterfalls and coconut groves) creating a comfortable feeling of tranquility with stone, timber and clay touches.

The restaurant, for instance, is perched eight-meters above sea level and thus has excellent views toward the ocean and the coconut trees by the idyllic pool. Inside there is also a grass-covered courtyard awash with frangipani trees and reflecting pools – the perfect setting for a meal any time of day. If al fresco dining is more your style, you can also opt to dine in the Beach Club area, where homemade churned ice cream and coconut charcoal barbecues are a specialty.

After a hard day spent beachcombing, exploring the sites around the vibrant seaside town of Tangalle, or on a nature tour (there are several gorgeous national parks nearby), The Spa at Amanwella is the perfect place to unwind sore, suntanned muscles. The spa here provides restorative treatments using local, organic herbs and can take place in secluded locations around the resort’s gardens or in the privacy of your suite. A long soak in one of the spa’s deeply indulgent baths, complete with a bottle of champagne is also highly recommended!

Every room at Amanwella is a suite, sleekly minimalist, with a good Bose player (bring your own cd’s please!) but with no television, so be warned. There is a common tv area, however, as well as a lovely library well equipped with books and games for all ages. If being close to the sea is important to you, we advise you to request for an ocean suite which may cost a bit more, but is well worth it. All suites have a little private plunge pool, and some also share a connecting door on the terrace, which makes them ideal for families traveling together.

The flawless service, charming staff and delicious food are among the highlights of a stay here, along with the gorgeous beaches and comfortable, spacious suites. The only complaints reported by guests was the plunge pool, which faced a wall and was not heated. Unfortunately, there was also an incident of a burglary which took place in March of this year. The resort has since assured us that the matter of security has been dealt with accordingly, and that it was an isolated incident that isn’t likely to happen again.

Prices at Amanwella range from $325 to $400 per night, which includes breakfast for two persons- very good value for an Aman resort. As usual, we recommend you book directly with the hotel. The current manager, Jonathan Blitz, is very amenable and friendly.

Image via Sri Lanka in Style