Kitelantis Hotel and Resort

Service was amazing, and even though our family were the only guests, staff joined us to make teams for volleyball. There’s a nice sandy court among the palm trees, and the resort itself feels like a tropical paradise, with landscaped plants, trees, and sandy paths. The pool was lovely. It’s by the bay, with a jetty stretching over the water, so it’s waterfront rather than beachfront, and there’s no beach on site. Kayaks, SUPs, and bicycles were included, which was generous. Breakfast was included too, with fresh fruit juice and a choice of Western or traditional dishes. The portions from the chef were generous, though the food was expensive. The chef was great, and made the most delicious garlic naan. The villas all have lovely outdoor garden bathrooms. It’s away from local shops and restaurants, but you can get there by tuk-tuk or a good walk.

The resort felt like a second home, and it was so hard to leave. The soft breeze through the palms and flowering bushes, the pool, and the very cute resort dogs Mally and the twins made it easy to love every moment. The staff were kind, welcoming, and helpful with arranging day trips. Thanks to their local connections, there were options for lagoon trips, a city trip, wilpattutrips, and whale and dolphin watching. We could have done them all. When our PickMe driver backed out of the deal, the manager quickly found a way to help. Our room was cleaned and refreshed every day. The men looking after the bar, restaurant, paddleboards, and beanbags gave great service, and the cooking was delicious. We’re grateful for all their help. We had the best time.

A heads-up for kitesurfers: you can’t get directly to the spot from here, so you’ll need an external boat service from a kite school. We still had a great time. The staff were lovely, the rooms were very nice and had mosquito nets, and the food was good with a great chef.

We had a lovely three-night stay in November. The food was amazing, and the traditional Sri Lankan breakfast was especially tasty. The rooms were clean and nice, with AC that worked well. Everyone on staff was so friendly and welcoming, and always happy to help. I’d love to come back one day.