ROOMS

From the outside they resemble glorified concrete bunkers; inside they are slick, high-ceilinged and sharp-edged. You enter via a minimalist courtyard with a private plunge pool and a cushioned outdoor lounge area. Sliding timber doors - clever in design but complicated to operate - open into the airy open-plan bedroom and living area, and a further set across the room leads to an elongated terrace with a dining table, chairs and a double sun lounger.

Interior décor borders on corporate, with dark-wood writing desks, armchairs with footstools, and minibars enshrined in sideboards. The feel is a little stark, but you will love the cool silky smoothness of the crisp white linen, the magnificence of the view, and the exceptional comfort of our king-size bed - you are bound to sleep well here as long as you do not mind the natural light filtering through the latticed walls in the morning.

Sliding screens divide the bedrooms from generous bathrooms, which have splendid freestanding tubs, twin sinks, a dressing area, snow-white towels, flannels and robes, as well as Amanwella-branded toiletries and mosquito repellent. The loo and shower are partitioned off in the corners.

The lowest-lying Ocean Suites enjoy uninterrupted views of the beach and coconut grove, and in our opinion are worth the higher price tag. The cheaper Suites overlook the buildings beneath and are a steeper climb from the beach and restaurant (though a couple of tuk-tuks are on standby to whisk you back and forth). Three of the Suites share connecting doors and would be perfect for those travelling with children or another couple.
•    Phone
•    CD player
•    Safe box
•    Air-Conditioning
•    Fan
•    Baby Cots
•    Extra Beds
•    Plunge pool (private)
•    Terrace/balcony (private)
•    Bathrobes
•    Complimentary toiletries
•    Minibar
•    Hairdryer

FOOD & AMENITIES

•    Restaurant
•    Room Service
•    Bar
•    Vegetarian Menu
•    Walk to restaurants
•    Minibar

The best thing about the food here is that you can enjoy it in the immaculate split-level restaurant overlooking the pool and ocean, or al fresco anywhere of your choosing - on the beach, in the coconut grove or on your suite's terrace.
You can also dine at the hotel’s beach club - as delicious as it is decadent. Seafood here is cooked the local way, over a coconut charcoal BBQ, and served with a fresh garden salad and local relishes.

Breakfast options range from traditional Sri Lankan curry to continental spreads to the smartly presented ‘hearty English-style platter’ of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms. Drinks, light meals and cocktails are available all day from the lounge, adjacent to the restaurant, and on the pool terrace.

For a change of culinary scene, try the no-frills seafood restaurant on the Amanwella’s doorstep. Beyond that there are few alternative dining options owing to the undeveloped nature of the area; your best bets are small hotel Maya Villa and the larger Buckingham Place, both British-owned and within a 30-minute tuk-tuk ride (ask staff to call ahead and book you a table).

ACTIVITIES NEARBY

•    Laze on the beach, have a facial treatment or massage (best enjoyed in the coconut grove) at the Spa, then cool down with a few laps in the 47m pool
•    Learn how to make an authentic Sri Lankan curry under the guidance of the hotel’s chefs. They will even arrange for you to accompany them to the early-morning fish markets to source produce, and will pack difficult-to-find dry herbs and spices for you to take home
•    Observe majestic sea turtles at the Rekawa Turtle Conservation Centre, a 10km drive from the Amanwella. Combine this after-dark (and ideally full-moon) excursion with dinner at neighbouring Buckingham Place
•    Relish the vivid late-afternoon light and spot an abundance of monkeys, birds, deer, monitor lizards, hares and mongooses in the traditional village of Wella Wathuara, which surrounds the hotel
•    Visit Mulgirigala Rock Temple, perched on a 210m-high rock rising out of thick forest 35 minutes north of Tangalle
•    Ask the manager to arrange a round-trip helicopter ride up over the lush green hills of Kandy and on to the World Heritage citadel of Sigiriya (‘Lion Rock’) - the medieval capital of Ceylon, which soars 200m above Sri Lanka's dry interior plains
•    Go whale-watching (best from December to April) to see blue whales breaching off the coast. The hotel can organise trips on restored Indonesian fishing boats from Mirissa Harbour (a 90-minute drive from the Amanwella)
•    Browse the hotel’s boutique for jewellery and souvenirs, or ask staff for recommendations from their well-researched list of local shops and antiques dealers
•    The sea here is often too rough for swimming, but surfing and snorkelling can be arranged nearby
•    Go whale watching. Between December and March when the seas are calmest, blue whale spotting is ‘95% guaranteed’ and spinner dolphin spotting is ‘100% guaranteed’

UPS & DOWNS

Ups
•    Massive, exceptionally comfortable suites: you will love luxuriating in the quality of the soft white towels and linen
•    Splashing around in your private plunge pool. Each Suite has one
•    Soaring down the drive in the hotel’s gleaming tuk-tuk to go for fresh seafood at its beach club
•    Gazing at the bay over a latte, a newspaper and a game of backgammon in the vast guest lounge
•    Turtle-watching and long walks at nearby Rekawa, southern Sri Lanka’s most epic and unspoilt beach

Downs
•    The quality and service fell a little short of Aman's usual supreme standards. If you are combining it with a stay at the Amangalla, we recommend saving the latter until last
•    Although stylish, the modern interiors feel a bit simple
•    You will wonder where everyone is, as the hotel can feel deserted even when full - but perhaps that is exactly what you want
•    The sea can be treacherous here (lifeguards hover over you when you go for a paddle)

RATES

Valid from 1st November 2012 to 30th April 2013

From 630 US$/night per Room. MINIMUM 3 NIGHTS BOOKING IN THIS PROPERTY OR IN A COMBINATION OF PROPERTIES.
Please enquire for specific rates and periods. All our rates include taxes, Service charges & Tourism taxes (if applicable). In the event it is not included, we will be stating it with our holiday quote.
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