What You Get
Air-con
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
Washing Machine
The Experience
West coast Bentota is famed for its long sweep of sandy beach and its first-rate water sports facilities but less renowned for its meandering mangrove-fringed river that snakes its way far inland. It is beside this mesmerising waterway that Apsara sits, not far from where the river enthusiastically empties itself into the sea. As it gazes over the shimmering surface of the river to the verdant riverbank across the way, three-bedroom Apsara quietly soaks up the tranquillity that this peaceful position brings. During the day, boats gently motor by,whilst in the distance neon-bright windsurfers can sometimes be seen traversing the choppy waves.
Apsara makes the most of its riverside situation by having its living and dining areas at the front of the villa, and the three bedrooms more privately tucked off a courtyard just behind. The villa’s interior design is striking yet simple and its overall finish is immaculate – as if brand new. Polished cement tiles in the bedrooms and exterior walkways are cooling on your feet whilst the timber floorboards of the living areas impart a warm, cosy feel. Wardrobes, ceiling rafters and pillars are painted blue but otherwise the colour scheme is light and earthy, making it easy to relax and unwind. The villa is furnished with a mix of contemporary and antique furniture, and the living room is air conditioned for comfort, wired for sound and facilitated with a wall-mounted HDTV with Blu-ray DVD player.
The bedrooms at Apsara are fairly equal in size and each comes with a four-poster king-size bed and ensuite bathroom. The dining area beside the living room is open sided and just footsteps from the emerald green lawn and swimming pool that languishes under the crackly shade of a stand of precious teak trees. Towards the back of the living room is an open-plan kitchen topped with marble from where Apsara’s chef cooks up the most fabulous cuisine all at a very economical cost-of-groceries price. The staff are friendly and discreet, leaving you to enjoy the villa on your own as much as possible. The manager is a keen wind surfer and a fountain of knowledge on the local area, which boasts a wealth of opportunity from diving, fishing and water-skiing to inland bicycle rides, visits to fish markets and trips to ancient temples.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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8
- Reviewed:
- 19-Jan-2012
It's hard not to love a chef who creates such incredible cuisine.
There’s a wall-mounted DVD and Blu-ray disc player in the living room (loads of DVDs) and a surround-sound music system with iPod dock set up so you can hear your favourite tunes inside or by the pool. There’s also a good WiFi connection throughout the villa so you can easily get online if you bring your own kit.
Apsara has its own private jetty and is well connected with a locally renowned water sports outfitter who can come and pick you up from the villa in their boat. There’s a good supermarket just up the road from the villa that stocks loads of imported goods and the fresh produce market is right on your doorstep too. The staff will buy groceries for you though, and with such an amazing chef to feed you (and a wonderful menu) it’s unlikely you’ll be doing much more than ‘window’ shopping.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 8 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 8 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 9 |
| Value: | 8 |
Highlights
Apsara is only a couple of years old but it still feels brand new, such is the standard of finish and careful maintenance in the villa. I loved the simple yet luxurious design that’s full of cushy contemporary furnishings and eye-catching antique pieces. The staff were excellent and looked after us beautifully; they were also fountains of knowledge on the local area and were able to give us plenty of ideas about what to do. We grew especially fond of the chef as he created such incredible cuisine. What a gem. Mention must also be made of the villa’s location. Although it’s within walking distance of town and just a five-minute drive (or boat ride) to beach where water sports activities abound, it’s still lovely and serene and feels a million miles away from anywhere.
Surprises
Mosquitoes in the evenings were the only things that bothered us at Apsara. If you’re sitting outside or have the doors open then make sure you apply plenty of repellent. The bedrooms and the living areas are all air conditioned so if you close the doors at dusk you can prevent them from coming indoors.
PROs
- Tranquil lakeside situation
- Just five minutes to the beach
- Excellent staff and amazing chef
- Water sports on your doorstep
- Beautifully finished and maintained
CONs
- Occasional evening chanting from temples
- Distant traffic noise in the day
- Mosquitoes at dusk!
Guest reviews (1)
- Sreeram Viswamani, India checked out on 03-Oct-2012
- Overall Rating:
-
9.1
- Reviewed:
- 17-Oct-2012
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 9 | Bedrooms: | 9 | Bathrooms: | 9 |
| Kitchen: | 9 | Facilities: | 10 | Staff: | 10 |
| Value: | 10 |
Gallery
Location
Apsara is situated in the village of Seeni Watta beside the Bentota River with stunning views out over this serene aquatic scene. By day, fishing and tourist boats traverse the softly shimmering water and sail around the headlands, where palm trees vie for space alongside feathery mangrove forests. Beside the villa sit other private homes that share in the views and lead off from a road that takes you into Bentota via Aluthgama on the Galle Road. Within walking distance of the villa are a sky blue church and a fresh produce market that’s at its busiest on Mondays. Walk a little further and you’re in Aluthgama where a range of tourist shops, supermarkets and banks can be found. The beach at Bentota is just a five-minute drive or even shorter boat ride away.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Fresh produce market | 0.6 |
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| Aluthgama | 1.0 |
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| Bentota Beach | 2.0 |
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| Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery | 6.0 |
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| Beruwala | 7.0 |
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| Kalutara | 20.0 |
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| Galle | 57.0 |
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| Colombo | 61.0 |
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| Bandaranaike Int'l Airport | 91.0 |
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About Bentota
Bentota's sandy beaches, extensive lagoon and exciting water sports have made this resort town famous. Located on Sri Lanka's west coast, its palm-fringed beach stretches along a dramatic sandbar washed on both sides by water; that of the Indian Ocean and the Bentota Lagoon. Jet skis whizz atop the tranquil waters of the lagoon dodging windsurfers and kayakers as well as speed boats pulling jet skiers, wakeboarders and inflatables topped with soaked sun-seekers. Many diving companies also operate from Bentota during the west coast season (November to April) whilst boatmen offer eco-adventures further upriver.
What many do not know though, is that its best beaches can be found towards the south, near Induruwa. The crowds rarely head this way and the food is incredible in every aspect. Inland from Bentota, the scene is engulfed by rice fields, palm jungles, waterways and the odd hillock, often topped by a bright white Buddhist dagoba. Things to do in Bentota include visits to two very special gardens, both of which belong to the late Bawa brothers; Bevis, the artist and Geoffrey, the architect extraordinaire. Bevis' Brief Garden is at Kalowila and comprises intimate walled gardens plus a very special collection of art, whilst Geoffrey's Lunuganga is a bigger Italianate garden with views to die for.
Connections to Colombo and Galle can be made from Aluthgama train station, which is just a couple of kilometres north of Bentota. Here banks with ATMs, bakeries and pharmacies can also be found. A holiday in Bentota is sure to tick all the right boxes.
About West Coast
The west coast of Sri Lanka is the island’s original tourist hotspot, blessed with numerous picture-perfect gold sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. These wide beaches are fringed with hotels and restaurants often hidden below the tall, swaying palms. Sandy tracks lead to water-sport facilities, signs point towards intimate spa and Ayurveda centres whilst stone pathways take you to bijou shopping malls where a whole range of island memorabilia can be found.
Local residents are friendly and never fail to offer their services; whether it is to take visitors bird watching inland, to a marine turtle hatchery such as Kosgoda, for a special temple tour, on a surfing safari in Hikkaduwa or on a scenic adventure up the Madhu Ganga River for a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s lush interior.
Between the bigger resort towns, the beaches (Balapitiya to Kosgoda for example) are more unspoilt and often deserted except for a handful of sarong-clad fishermen and their multi-coloured boats. But no beach is ever too far from the main road. Look up to the skies and you will see that the coconut palms in this western region, especially around Bentota, are often connected by tightropes used by toddy tappers - men who climb into the trees to obtain the sweet, milky sap of the coconut blossom that is distilled into the local alcoholic brew, arrack, which you must try at least once!
Just a short distance inland the scenery bursts with different shades of green as paddy fields, coconut and rubber plantations, verdant hills, lush valleys, mangroves, lagoons and foliage-covered buildings represent an authentic Sri Lankan village scene.
Rooms
A pebble-strewn courtyard with fragrant frangipani tree lies at the heart of Apsara with an L-shaped pillared walkway giving access to the three bedrooms. Each bedroom comes with both air conditioning and ceiling fans, a four-poster king-size bed topped with cushions, built-in wardrobes offering ample storage space and ensuite bathrooms with powerful rain showers. The largest bedroom faces towards the living area and lake and comes with a cute cushioned window seat that looks into the private driveway (children under five could use the window seat as a bed). The second bedroom has the biggest bathroom and comes with twin sinks. To the front of the villa and gazing directly over the lake are the living and dining areas that lead onto the pool terrace and grassy terraced garden beyond. The dining table is situated to one side and has an open front so it feels as if you’re dining outdoors. A ceiling fan whirrs overhead. French windows lead from here into the spacious, open-plan, air-conditioned lounge and kitchen, with numerous sets of doors opening onto both the pool terrace to the front and the courtyard behind. The lounge features a wall-mounted LCD TV, a pair of white sofas that gaze out to the lake, plus a circular dining table with a stunning stainless steel chandelier hanging overhead. To the rear of the lounge, the marble-topped kitchen is kitted out with everything for the western cook. To the side of the house, tucked along a narrow walkway is a utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer that guests are welcome to use. A pool, framed by a stone terrace, lies just inches from the living areas and beyond it an emerald green lawn shaded by teak trees. A wooden deck and jetty are built out over the river beyond.
Key Amenities
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Air-con
-
Internet (WiFi)
-
Swimming Pool (Private)
-
Washing Machine
Other Amenities
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Bicycles (Extra)
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Ceiling Fans
- DVD Library
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress)
- Hairdryers
- Home Theatre System
- iPod Dock/Speakers
- Iron/Board
- Laundry Service (Extra)
- Main Dining (8 persons)
- Microwave
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Towels
- Tumble Dryer
- TV (Local channels)
Villa Staff
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager (Restricted hrs)
- Security
- Shopper
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Set on the banks of the shimmering Bentota River, Apsara is a beautifully finished 3-bedroom villa just five-minutes from the beach. An excellent staff team plus top chef attend to all your needs so you can relax by the pool, savour the aquatic views and enjoy the villa’s luxurious facilities.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/apsara.aspx
