Taru Villas - 906 - Hikkaduwa

It’s a lovely villa in a beautiful spot, with well-appointed rooms, a nice pool, and a great enclosed sandy garden. But it wasn’t the right fit for us. With the air conditioning on, the rooms were pitch black because they only had shutters and no windows. The internet was slow and patchy. The two rooms are separated by the lounge and a corridor. We were there with our two young children, and didn’t feel able to relax in the lounge or kitchen because hotel staff were often in the space, waiting to help. It was a kind gesture, but we’d expected to feel more like we had the whole place to ourselves, with help available when we asked. We had lunch and breakfast there. Lunch took nearly two hours to arrive, which wasn’t great with two hungry children. In hindsight, we wish we’d gone out to eat.

The three nights we spent at this villa were easily the highlight of our recent 12-day trip to Sri Lanka. We were surprised by how much we liked it. It felt like a private hotel, with our own spot for breakfast in front of the ocean, comfortable loungers in the sun, and easy access to a beautiful, quiet beach with stunning sunsets. Rohan and his team, especially Mohan, really made the place. They created a warm, welcoming atmosphere while respecting our privacy. Ring the bell and Mohan would come running to help. Our room was immaculately cleaned, and the property was kept tidy throughout the day. We visited during monsoon season. The waves were sometimes a little strong, but the water was still swimmable for a confident, capable ocean swimmer. Other parts of the beach are rocky and shallow, and not suitable for swimming. I wasn’t quite sure about the food setup before booking. Breakfast and dinner were included, with fixed menus to choose from. Breakfast had about 10 options, including some Sri Lankan dishes. Dinner changed daily, with two starters, three mains, and dessert, and leaned more international. Lunch came from a mostly international menu at reasonable prices. There were also a few specials, like a lobster feast and whole fish. We tried those at lunch. They were pricey but delicious, as was most of the food we ate there. Kudos to Chef Shauther. Just keep in mind it’s a hotel-style food service with priced options, not a private chef cooking meals at grocery cost. Wine and beer were available onsite, but I found them expensive. We brought our own wine, and Mohan was happy to serve it through the day without a corkage fee. There was a hot water problem when we arrived, but it was promptly fixed the next morning with a replacement water pump. After that, we had no further trouble with hot water, despite what a previous review had said. If anything, it may have been overcorrected because the water was VERY hot, so take care. One improvement would be better outdoor lighting for dinner after dark. The cool white light feels a little sterile, though it does give you the option of eating by candlelight. I’d also been concerned by a review mentioning the common area. The staff did their best to keep the inside space clear and respected our privacy, leaving it for us to enjoy. We didn’t use it much because it was hot and there’s no air conditioning outside the bedrooms. We mostly stayed in our room or outdoors. The kitchen does get light use for meal prep and serving, since the staff area seemed quite small. We’d absolutely stay again and recommend it. I do think Taru could invest a little in separating guest and staff areas better, so the issue is fully resolved and the team has a larger, more comfortable space. Thanks for a great stay. I hope we can visit again soon.

Rohan and Mohan made our stay feel extra special. They arranged a candlelit dinner and a fire on the beach, and the food was delicious. We loved the beautiful room, dipping pool, outdoor shower and dining area, all right by the beach. There was an indoor lounge and kitchen too. It was our first trip to Sri Lanka, and this was one of the best places we’ve ever stayed. Very, very happy with it, thanks to those guys.

Everything was neat and clean, and the staff took such good care of us. Rohan, Mohan and the chef did a great job accommodating our special requests, with extra care for the kids too. We had a fabulous time at this lovely property and hope to come back.