If there was ever a villa built to lift your spirits, Villa Napalai is it. Upon entering Napalai, we were most struck by its vibrancy – so many bright colours in every room – and the stark beauty of its sheer-white chic terrace contrasting with the vivid blue of the pool, sea and sky. Then, in addition to its cheering tones, Napalai is laden with fun facilities for all ages, so many in fact that we were sadly unable to try them all on our brief stay! Spoiled for choice, we decided to skip the gym and spa and opted for swimming and relaxing poolside, plus spending a lot of time in the games and play rooms. Our kids, six and eight, loved frolicking in the playroom, though most of the toys and plastic slide were better suited to toddler-aged children. The pool table in the games room saw a lot of fierce competition, too. Overall, we felt that Napalai, which means “a place in heaven”, offered a lot of choice and space to satisfy guests wishing for a peaceful place to lazily unwind in the tropics as well as those seeking a fun, active holiday.
At the time of our visit (June 2013), Villa Napalai was new to the rental market and as such the service was a tad spasmodic at times. The staff seemed more preoccupied about getting logistics right than anticipating their guests’ needs. However, since we were among the first guests to visit we expect these issues to be ironed out as the team gains more experience under the guidance of the professional management company that operates the villa.
The villas within the estate are quite close together, and the terrace of the villa next door comes into partial view from Napalai’s pool terrace. However, since Napalai is at the end of the road, it benefits from having only one nextdoor neighbour and an unobstructed view towards the hills to the north.