Aprota Villas

We stayed for four days and three nights, and it seemed like the place may have been renovated and the staff trained after I read the earlier reviews. From the moment we arrived, we were well looked after. Room 10 was exceptional, clean, and large, with a fruit basket the kids loved. We could relax in our room while the kids played in the plunge pool. The shared pool was one of the nicest we’ve been to, and the kids had fun with the ‘waterfall’. The food was tasty and nicely presented. We were traveling with kids and had requested specific meal times, which they followed promptly. It’s a great place to unwind away from the main beach stretch. The drive to Arugam bay takes about 20 minutes through lush green paddy fields.

The location isn’t the best since it’s a little far from town, but driving there takes only a few minutes. We had a great stay. The room was very nice, and the staff were kind and helpful. Special thanks to Mr. Priyantha for making extra arrangements that made the experience memorable.

We should’ve done more due diligence before booking Aprota Villas. It isn’t in Arugam Bay proper, so you won’t get a luxury resort close to the action. Town is at least a 20-minute ride away. The property felt abandoned and as if a hurricane had just hit. We were greeted with a drink and somewhat cold staff at the front gate. At our suite, the adjacent Villa’s fence had collapsed, and repair staff began using a hand saw as soon as we checked in. We tried to reserve judgment while looking around, but after about five minutes we realized we were the only guests there. The beach is fenced off and inaccessible from the resort, so you have to leave the property to get in the water. There were empty bottles around the pool bar and no staff tending to things. On the way back toward the restaurant and bar, we saw more staff working on stairs and railings that were generally in disrepair, along with splintering walkways. The room’s floors clearly needed replacing, and its mountain-themed decor, with pine trees and deer, just didn’t feel right. We got a welcome fruit plate and some special treatment since it was our honeymoon, but the whole experience was off-putting, so we decided to leave and stay elsewhere. The manager tried to persuade us to stay, offering transport to Arugam Bay and saying we weren’t the only ones staying that weekend. Later, we found out the next check-in was three days away. The place felt spooky and poorly maintained, and our guide decided to stay nearby in case we changed our minds. I’m glad he did.

The serving staff are lovely, but the property is rundown and dangerous, at best a three-star resort. The photos online are nowhere near what you find in person. I’d really like the owners to update the whole place, because it could be a five-star resort to be proud of. We stayed five days and had a lovely time until our final night. Our children, aged 2 and 11, had no AC in their villa room from 4pm until roughly 10pm. Workmen were in the villa the whole time, and we were expected to thank them for the privilege of installing a new unit by 9:51pm. We asked for a refund for that night’s stay, but they flatly refused. I’m utterly disgusted with management. Having workmen in your villa from 4 to 10pm on a paid, stress-free holiday isn’t luxury service. I’m appalled.