Talpe South Coast Villas for Rent | Sri Lanka Luxury Rental Villas - list view

Ambalama

We found Ambalama to be a very flexible beach villa, suitable for families, groups of friends and even decadent couples. It is spacious enough to host larger groups and its sociable layout maximises party potential (as does the iPod docking station and Bose sound system). Each bedroom is similarly sized which saves arguments about who sleeps where (although the bedrooms to the far sides of the villa perhaps offer the most privacy and are a little more special with their tropical outdoor showers). There is plenty of space inside the villa and outside on the pool terrace for dining, and every meal is an occasion, reflecting chef Roshan’s five star hotel training in a wide range of delicious fusion cuisine. Ingredients (on guest account) are bought fresh from the market each day.

The staff at Ambalama are proficient and present service with a smile; offering to unpack our suitcase on arrival and serving us chilled G&Ts on the pool terrace overlooking the sea at sunset. A pair of non-resident managers drop by to welcome guests and make sure they have everything they require, and are on call if advice is needed about where to eat out, or to help with any travel arrangements (Roshan doubles up as an in-house manager and can also assist with most guest queries).

Whilst there isn’t a TV or DVD player at the villa, these can be organised with prior arrangement – although it’s probably best to bring your own DVDs with you, as well as childrens’ games if needs be. Whilst the narrow beach outside Ambalama isn’t great for swimming, you only have to walk five minutes to the nearest swimming beach. That said, there are few villas on the Galle coast better located than Ambalama; beaches, restaurants, shops and attractions are all within a short walk or drive.

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TBA

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 10.0

Auraliya

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

This is a fabulous villa. Standouts include the stunning sea views, gorgeous beach, expansive outside space and heartwarming team of staff, not to mention the great food. Everything about the villa is very family friendly and group orientated - the sky blue swimming pool with its shallow ledge; the huge garden with plenty of space for the kids to indulge in cricket or football; the interconnecting rooms; and the lovely beach with calm sea ideal for paddling.

We thought the staff were excellent; friendly, experienced and capable. The chef was particularly enthusiastic and his cooking was fabulous. He’ll even make snacks for kids such as jammy dodgers, an all-time favourite. He will also stock the kitchen with basic provisions prior to your arrival, and prepare your first two meals so that you can arrive relaxed and at ease. There’s a Nespresso coffee machine in the villa, but as you can’t buy the capsules in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to bring some with you. If we needed anything else, the staff shopped for us and they were able to arrange transport for us to visit attractions, restaurants and the fort at Galle.

Visiting in March 2013, three years after our original review, we were pleased to discover that the villa has the same lovely staff team and is as immaculately presented as before. Each master bedroom has its own mini fridge and the villa is also now equipped with a generator.

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TBA

Bedrooms 6

Sleeps 10-13*

Our
Rating 8.3

Footprints Villa

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

Since it didn’t look huge from the outside, we were delighted by how spacious Footprints actually was. With living areas spread over two floors, it’s big enough for large groups to scatter themselves about, and the overall feel of the place is very personable and homely. To one end of the pool is a shaded dining area that’s a breezy (if slightly gloomy) all-day sea view spot to sit, and there’s bench seating so you can squeeze quite a few people around the table. The swimming pool area currently (March 2012) looks a little bare, but the management told us that they are soon to spruce it up with lush greenery.

There’s a small staff team of a cook/maid and a security/maintenance man who also doubles up as a waiter and gardener. The cook is shy to speak English and service is fairly laid back, yet both are friendly and when large groups stay at the villa another staff member is drafted in to help. There’s a small menu, which continues to grow as the cook learns more dishes; our evening meal of chicken korma was delicious. Two managers (a couple) drop by every now and then to ensure the smooth running of the villa and assist with any enquiries, which really helps; WiFi wasn’t working when we arrived, however they quickly arranged for the appropriate people to come and fix the problem.

We felt that Footprints would particularly suit groups of friends looking to chill out and spend time together within treading distance of restaurants and bars (there’s a very popular one just 100m down the beach). Anyone who lusts after air conditioning would also be happy here – there are few fully air-conditioned villas along this stretch of coastline. It’s a good family house too (although some may grow tired of wandering up and down stairs to reach the bedrooms). Note that one of the bedrooms is fitted with waterbed. Although it looked (and felt) comfortable, we opted for a more traditional mattress!

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TBA

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 7.3 Guest Rating 9.2

IF Villa

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

IF is one of my favourite villas in Sri Lanka; it has such a lovely feel to it and benefits from a great layout, not to mention a fabulous beach. I’ve been here a few times and have experienced it à deux as well as with a group of friends. Like any large villa this one welcomes company and is better when full . On each occasion that I’ve stayed at IF the huge living room was rarely used and perhaps this was because there were a number of alternative, more personable, sitting spots, some of them pleasingly outdoors; the ocean-side terrace was wonderful at sunset whilst the dining pavilion’s open-sided design was delightfully breezy and sitting in here felt sociable, even when alone, as it overlooked the entire property. I like the position of the TV area as it is in a sociable spot near the bedrooms which, themselves, were breezy and comfortable (although the skylight in bedroom 1 didn’t allow us much of a lie in). The smallest double room is perhaps best for a single traveller than a couple since its bathroom is separated from the sleeping area only by a partition wall. On our stay, fishermen came to the gate to sell fish, lobster and prawns which we got the chef to cook exactly to our liking. Meals were discussed rather than chosen from a menu, and the curries and seafood come highly recommended. The staff shop on your behalf here if you give them cash, and you can check receipts with the cook every day. Because the kitchen is set back in its own building away from the house, it gave us privacy from the staff; but even so, we found them discreet and helpful.

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TBA

Bedrooms 5

Sleeps 10

Our
Rating 8.0 Guest Rating 8.9

Kikili Beach

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

Kikili Beach is one of a kind; fresh, fun and fabulous. We loved its bright and bubbly design but also its emphasis on complete and utter rest and relaxation away from the crowds. It was a real privilege to stay here as it felt exactly as though we had walked into someone else’s well loved home. The atmosphere is totally stress free and we felt truly pampered. The housekeeper is an excellent chef and his culinary creations made us unwilling to go out; we picked out daily menus of succulent seafood, crisp salads and wickedly tempting desserts that were also economical as groceries are bought by the chef and charged at cost price. Although there’s an iPod dock we enjoyed listening to the owner’s collection of CDs, and found the book collection captivating (foodies will adore the cookery books). There are also plenty of magazines to get stuck into, as well as lots of information about the house and the local attractions – very useful. Whilst the house is quite small, it doesn’t feel that way as the generous verandah provides further scope for relaxing and dining. With only one bedroom, Kikili is really designed for couples (will suit younger couples best), but with the addition of a spare mattress or cot (on request) families with young children could be comfortable staying here too (babysitting can be organised on request). Kikili is also a wonderfully social house (especially with Kumara – the chef/housekeeper – taking care of everything from the shopping and cooking to the serving and cleaning up!) so if you want to have friends round for drinks and dinner it is entirely possible. Certainly Kikili’s guestbook is filled with superlatives from visitors who have not only enjoyed the tranquillity of the house but also the company of Kumara. He has a couple of nights off a week, so use this time to wander down to Wijaya to enjoy the chilled vibes and excellent food of this rustic beach restaurant or take your pick from the ones in Unawatuna.

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TBA

Bedrooms 1

Sleeps 2

Our
Rating 7.6

Olanda Beach House

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

If you love lounging as much as we do then you’ll find Olanda Beach House a great place to just put your feet up, sit back and enjoy the sea views. By day, languish by the pool or in the garden ambalama; at dusk, grab your place on the built-in sofa beside the sea to watch the sun set over the palm-tree fringed headland as the staff whip up a cocktail (best to byo). The beach seems to get a few more visitors by late afternoon so, for even more privacy, you could head to the crow’s nest lounge (above the swimming pool) to watch the fishermen and swimmers from above. The villa is very child-friendly in that the lawn spreads out very visibly to the front, whilst the shallow end of the pool is a great place for toddlers to splash about. For diversion, a pool table is available as well as a TV with DVD player but there’s no dedicated TV Room. There are only a few books and board games, and while there’s no actual stereo you can play your iPod courtesy of a cable link to the DVD player.

Meals can be served indoors or out; just talk to the staff about your preferences. There are no menus at the villa so you need to be imaginative, however bear in mind that fish and seafood are plentiful. Discuss your meal requirements with the chef daily and the staff will then go out to shop for fresh produce (at market prices) and drinks. It’s best to furnish them with cash on arrival and then keep topping it up as appropriate (they will provide receipts).

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TBA

Bedrooms 5

Sleeps 10

Our
Rating 7.5 Guest Rating 6.3

Satin Doll

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

Satin Doll is a very well balanced villa; spotless, comfortable bedrooms, plenty of living space and a lovely, private front garden with sea views. The villa’s manager Thushara was also extremely eager to please and dealt with any issues that arose, quickly and discreetly. The contemporary artwork scattered around the villa, including the potentially authentic ‘Rage – The Flower Thrower’ Banksy by the dining area (the owner has no clue who painted it!) – also caught our eye, as did the beautifully soft palm-motif Indian bedspreads and cushions that were handpicked by the owners.

The villa has its own chef, and for lunch we ate gazpacho soup and tuna nicoise salad (our request; something light) and for dinner the staff prepared a house speciality, fish biryani, with brinjol pickle and salad. The suggestion menu was enticing, and included crispy pork belly, Thai curry, seafood options, and whole roast chicken. All food and drinks are charged at cost price (plus a 20% mark up), or you could opt to pay LKR 2,500 (around $20) per adult per meal (half price for kids). Breakfast is included in the rate.

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TBA

Bedrooms 4

Sleeps 8

Our
Rating 8.0

Victoria

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

As soon as we crossed the serene lotus pond into the house, Victoria’s tranquillity was obvious. The villa was built to exhibit the character of a traditional Sri Lankan home and although only 15 years old, it is still quite a few years older than many of its neighbouring villas. However, we felt that its classical build, elegant decor and pretty palm-dotted lawn made it feel timeless, whilst up-to-date facilities – movie room, iPod docking station – combined with the vivid blue colour scheme added necessary contemporary touches. The experienced staff also added to the enjoyment of our stay. They went about their work discreetly and we were impressed by their attention to small details, such as remembering how we took our tea and which foods we did and didn’t like. The cook was very amenable and able to cook a wide variety of cuisines – from typical Sri Lankan meals to Thai and Chinese dishes – with ease. The food was not only good but economical and the kitchen is also very well equipped for self-caterers . Each of Victoria’s bedrooms offers plenty of comfort although there’s only one with direct sea views. None of the rooms in the house is air conditioned except for the TV Room, which made watching a movie much more comfortableThe pool in the garden is a real treat and although not especially big, it more than makes up for the lack of sea swimming possibilities just beyond the villa wall.

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TBA

Bedrooms 5

Sleeps 10

Our
Rating 7.6 Guest Rating 6.8

Why House

Sri Lanka » South Coast » Talpe

We visited Why House with a few friends and organised a special surprise birthday dinner for one of them in the evening. The villa staff pulled out all the stops and made our simple request into a real occasion. Rum cocktails and dips on the veranda at dusk were followed by an authentic British roast. The meal was superb and it was difficult to believe that the chef wasn’t English given the delectable cauliflower cheese and bread sauce! The lemon birthday cake for dessert was equally divine and the setting – tropical flower displays adorning the table - further enhanced the occasion. The whole evening was a great example of exactly why Why is such a good choice for groups and for entertaining. The staff – headed by wonderful hostess Henrietta – are equally proficient at looking after guests’ day-to-day needs. I found the main house bedrooms and bathrooms to be more luxurious than the others but they all come with their own special charm and are equally well-facilitated – air conditioning, satellite TVs, mini fridges and baskets full of mags, sarongs and games all come as standard in the rooms. DVD players are available on request and there’s a library of movies to choose from. The main living room has sound wired into the ceiling so it makes a great spot for getting together and having a bit of a bash! Why House might not be on the beach but you’ll find a sandy selection just five minutes away. We loved the villa’s inland location and spacious surroundings that couldn’t have felt more tropical and serene. A number of restaurants are within easy reach although with the chef’s excellent cooking – the menu lists Sri Lankan and Thai dishes, seafood grills, BBQs plus other western cuisines – it’s very likely you’ll choose to stay in. Breakfast is included in the rate and all other meals are at cost price plus a 10% charge for service. The villa is great value since several other services such as laundry, fax and WiFi are included in the rate.

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TBA

Bedrooms 8

Sleeps 16

Our
Rating 8.3