What You Get
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
The Experience
Araliya, Nisala and Sagara are Sri Villas’ trio of boutique properties that stand shoulder-to-shoulder facing the sea. Sharing a tropical palm-shaded garden, an expansive swimming pool and a welcoming staff team these villas can sleep up to 18 people and are ideal for hosting large companies of families and friends. The three owners of Sri Villas, themselves lifelong friends, built the property with this in mind since they had always enjoyed the sociability of communal holidays. The shared surroundings and collective facilities benefit many larger mixed age groupings whilst the fact that each villa is self-contained gives individuals or family units their own privacy and individuality too. The villas can be rented individually or as a group of three.
Each contemporary villa comes with its own living and dining space, fully-equipped kitchen and terrace that spills onto the tropical garden beyond. A little rickety gate to the front of Sri Villas leads onto a wide golden beach that stretches for half a kilometre between two rocky outcrops; it’s mostly deserted except for the odd fishermen, the occasional turtle and a scattering of strollers at sunset. You can swim and body board in the sea here during the November to April season although the villa’s inviting lap pool is an absolutely glorious place to while away the hours of the day, and faces right out towards the sunset; its generous size is definitely a bonus, as you can really enjoy a proper swim.
Sri Villas is a great place for entertaining since the palm-shaded garden and glorious wide sandy beach offer ideal locations for celebrating birthdays, reunions and of course, hosting intimate tropical weddings too. Offering nine rooms in total these cosy villas can conveniently accommodate all party guests which makes the effort of organising an event much easier whilst the villa’s grocery system for food means that it’s very economical as you pay for all food and drink at cost price. The chef has his own kitchen so when you do choose to be catered for, you still have the run of the villas to yourself. There’s an efficient staff team looking after the whole property with one houseboy assigned to each villa for continuity and ease.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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7.4
- Reviewed:
- 30-Jul-2010
This is Sri Lanka’s best choice for large groups and for entertaining.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 8 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 7 | Bedrooms: | 7 | Bathrooms: | 7 |
| Kitchen: | 7 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 8 |
| Value: | 7 |
Highlights
The villas are genially designed for groups and nearly all bedrooms have views of the sea. They are situated on a great beach which they have direct access onto and there are lots of activities, attractions and conveniences nearby. The staff are used to hosting functions – they can arrange for elephants, Kandyan dancers, drummers, registrars and caterers for bigger parties - so these villas are perfect for celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, reunions and weddings.
Surprises
We didn’t think that there were enough sun beds to go around but, as there never seemed to be a time when they were all being used, it wasn’t an issue. Araliya is the closest villa to the staff area and as such has a little less privacy than the others. The hot water tanks in Nisala were evidently too small as there was not enough water for two consecutive showers.
PROs
- Excellent set up for groups
- Nearly all rooms have sea views
- Set beside an idyllic sweep of sandy beach
- Staff versed in hosting functions
- Turtles visit the beach
CONs
- Too few sun beds
- WiFi signal and mobile phone reception erratic
- May to October rough seas
Gallery
Location
Sri Villas are located between the main Galle Road and an extensive golden sandy beach to the south of Induruwa, only a ten minute drive to the famous resort of Bentota. Village homes in Induruwa are generally strung out along this stretch of coastline with small boutique hotels and bigger resorts scattered in between. Because of the southwest monsoon, it’s best to visit between December and April as the sea can be rough and the winds strong at other times of the year.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Bentota | 6.0 |
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| Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery | 7.0 |
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| Lunuganga | 12.0 |
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| Madhu Ganga River | 15.0 |
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| Brief | 18.0 |
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| Ambalangoda | 19.0 |
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| Hikkaduwa | 30.0 |
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| Galle | 47.0 |
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| Colombo | 69.0 |
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| International airport | 99.0 |
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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
Each villa has a different room configuration and is sited around the swimming pool. They come with their own equipped kitchens, a veranda to the front and a sea view balcony on the first floor that’s shared between the upstairs bedrooms. All bedrooms come with their own bathrooms which feature granite sinks and hot water showers.
Araliya is the largest villa having four air conditioned bedrooms. On the ground floor is a spacious living and dining area with folding glass doors that open onto a front and side veranda furnished with easy chairs. Sofas are placed inside looking towards the swimming pool whilst the dining table for eight is positioned a little further back beside a semi open-plan kitchen. There are two bedrooms on the ground floor – a double and a twin - both of which are best suited to children. The twin bedroom features a TV with DVD player so could be used communally for watching movies. On the first floor are two identical double master bedrooms.
To the far side of the swimming pool is three-bedroomed Sagara . Each of the bedrooms in this villa is equitably sized and opens to views of the sea. The two upstairs bedrooms are air conditioned doubles whilst the ground floor bedroom that opens from the shared living and dining area is fan cooled with louvered doors to the front allowing the breezes to circulate and cool. Relaxing loungers scatter the living area that overlooks the swimming pool and sea whilst a dining table for eight is placed privately towards the rear of this room. The kitchen leads off from the living / dining area.
Nisala is situated between the other two villas and is set a little further back. Nisala has two upstairs air conditioned double master bedrooms and a huge open plan living and dining space on the ground floor that makes a great location for inside entertaining; three dining tables can easily be pushed together here for special occasions. To the rear is an open kitchen with front bar whilst a dining table for eight to one side and comfortable lounge seating to the other all overlook the swimming pool and sea through louvered folding doors.
Key Amenities
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Internet (WiFi)
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Swimming Pool (Private)
Other Amenities
- Air-con (Bedrooms)
- Baby Cot
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Bicycles
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- Ceiling Fans
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress)
- Food Menu
- Hairdryers
- Iron/Board
- Laundry Service
- Main Dining (20 persons)
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Swimming Pool Toys
- Towels
- TV (Local channels)
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
- Security
- Service Staff
- Shopper
Sri Villas, a fully-staffed trio of boutique seaside properties, share a tropical garden, a large swimming pool and direct beach access. Sleeping 18 in total, these villas are perfect for large groups and for entertaining. Each is fully self-contained with its own living areas, dining space and kitchen.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/sri-villas.aspx
