Emildale Villa

The villa has a lovely rustic, vintage feel, with open vents above the windows and netted beds. It's a quaint place in the Wadduwa district, about a five-minute walk from the beach, close to Cargill's Food City. The nearby railway tracks mean you can clearly hear trains passing. The rooms and bathrooms were tidy, though the bedrooms could be cleaner: we saw cockroaches now and then and some cobwebs. Only one upstairs bedroom has air conditioning, and the water pressure may disappoint if you like a strong shower. There were quite a few lizards, but with all the greenery around, that's understandable. The kitchen has plenty of plates and glasses, a microwave for reheating food, and a fridge. A hot plate or two-burner stove would be a useful addition. The pool is a nice place to relax, but there are lots of mosquitoes, so use cream or spray. Sheila, or Sheila Aunty, is a lovely, soft-spoken host who brings breakfast on time and is always happy to serve more coffee. She's very accommodating. We had a good stay. Thank you, Emildale Villa.

Breakfast under the shade of the lush tropical canopy was the best, and Madam Sheela made us an excellent dinner of rice and curry, especially for my parents. Milindu helped us throughout, keeping in touch by email and phone, and I want to thank him for all his assistance. We came from Colombo in the middle of the evening and were greeted by a friendly staff member. The rooms were spotlessly clean, with an annex room for my parents. We loved the accommodation, especially the shared bathroom with an outdoor view and the fish tank in our room. Thank you for everything, Milindu and Sheela.

The garden and swimming pool were really nice. Staff were very friendly and helped us with everything we needed, and the rooms were spacious and clean. Amazing place.

A charming place in an ideal location, with friendly owners. It felt like a home away from home, a real hidden gem.