Club Villa

The location is hard to beat, right on a dreamlike beach. Frangipani trees, a beautifully kept garden, and a pleasantly warm pool give the grounds a lovely tropical feel. The staff were wonderful, friendly, helpful, and professional. For the setting alone, I'd give it a 10. The rooms and bathrooms felt cramped, with too little storage or shelf space in the bathroom. There was mold there too, and our windows didn't shut properly, which affected comfort. Having stayed in other Bawa-style hotels, I came with higher expectations and left disappointed by the comparison. We were at the hotel for New Year's Eve and were told to expect a gala dinner and a big entertainment program. We had to pay USD 100 each in advance. The actual program was around 10 minutes of cultural dancing, then a DJ playing mostly Indian and local music for an international crowd. The buffet was a letdown, and my fish and kottu were cold. There were five of us, so we paid USD 500 altogether, which didn't feel justified. We asked for some Western music to help get people dancing, but the DJ kept playing local songs. The food quality was poor, wine cost extra, and while other hotels along the beach had bonfires, ours didn't. Everything wrapped up shortly after midnight. The whole evening felt disrespectful and extremely disappointing, and wasn't worth the price. It's shocking to see such a beautiful property with such poor planning and execution.

The lawn is pleasant, the pool is nice, and the beach is easy to get to. The rooms are poorly equipped, with no hand shower or drinking water, and breakfast choices are limited. Staff were unhelpful with requests and seemed clueless. I wouldn't choose it for a trip with a child.

The beach is just a short walk over the railway line behind the property. The train tracks surprised us at first, but we ended up finding them charming. Back at the hotel, it feels peaceful and secluded, with distinctive architecture and original colonial touches. Those features can make the rooms seem a bit dated, though they're clean, stylish, and smart. Breakfast is generous and great value, especially the Sri Lankan option. The staff quickly learn who you are, find you a sun lounger, and seem to appear whenever you need them. A relaxing, special place to return to.

What made our stay especially lovely was the staff. They were attentive, polite, and always around when we needed help. The pool and grounds are fantastic, the beds are big and comfortable, and the beach is a short walk away. Food was delicious and nicely presented every time, with either Sri Lankan or Western breakfast included in the nightly price. Club Villa is a bit of a hidden gem, and the website photos don't really show how good it is.