LF Says: ★★★★.5
I checked into Saman Villas post-midnight courtesy of an odd timed flight, and as I was entering my villa, the first thing I heard was the sound of water. Curious I asked my butler if this was the river or ocean, and he confirmed it was the latter. Naturally then, the first thing I saw at daybreak was the stunning view of the ocean and the beautiful waves crashing into the rocks at the edge of the shore, framed perfectly against the private pool in the room.
With an introduction like this, I knew this was going to be an amazing break in Sri Lanka. Incidentally, The Indian version of the web series, The Night Manager starring Anil Kapoor, was filmed here. The property is in Bentota in the South of the country and all the 27 villas here have a view of the sea. I stayed in a Grand Deluxe Suite with an attached in-room pool that overlooked the sea. The rooms are spacious with a large furnished veranda, a living area and bedroom, a large dresser space and a huge bathroom complete with an open-to-the-sky bathtub. There is also a private bath space as well as a washroom in the space.
This happens to be the first boutique hotel in Sri Lanka and the property has seen four to five refurbishments over time, the last one being in 2021. In October 2021, the hotel reopened under the Jetwing management and ownership. “The main thing here is that we are in an area where you can see the ocean from two sides and can also swim in low tides. Every suite is designed to give you a view of the ocean,” explains Wester Felthman, the General Manager of the property.
Maintaining local, clean aesthetics with modern automation, Jetwing Saman Villas offers varying room categories, including the 13 Superior Suites, four Deluxe Suites at the South side that have a courtyard, eight Deluxe Suites with a pool, one Grand Deluxe room and one Duplex Suite called the Saman Villa that has a closed private plunge pool space.
The library has an artistic drawing of the hillock before the hotel was built that gives you an idea of the beauty of the space. The scenic vistas of Saman Villas have ensured repeat guests. Children below 11, however, are not allowed due to the topography, as well as to ensure that the calmness of the space is maintained.
The hotel has a large restaurant with alfresco seating where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. There is a small bar that is attached to the restaurant. The location of the restaurant is great to see some of the stunning sunsets. A sunset bar on the top floor is also a great place to see some marvellous views of the sunset as well as the ocean. A pro tip would be to wait for a while post sunset when the sky bursts into magical colours.
The food served here is a mix of Sri Lankan cuisine as well as international fare. Vegetarians have several options as well including a separate menu. If you are vegan, this is a great place as the traditional dishes mainly use coconut milk. There are several special locations for dining as well, especially if you are looking to celebrate. The hotel staff does an excellent candlelight setup at a private table that overlooks the ocean, which is a great bespoke experience that you must try.
When you are here, it is a good idea to book a spa session at the in-house spa. There are two couple treatment rooms that have a soothing open design that seamlessly integrates with nature. The spa offers traditional Ayurvedic and Western massage treatments. If you are hard pressed for time, the 30-minute foot reflexology is one treatment that you must not miss.
With a lot of attention to detail, the property is designed to be an oasis of calm and offers a dedicated butler service for each room. The staff is attentive and available on call. The hotel has no reception, but you will notice a calling bell that you can ring for attention. There is a small store in-house that stocks local varieties of organic rice that are quite rare, speciality teas as well as recycled bags and coconut treacle (which is like honey) that makes for perfect souvenirs to take back home.
If you are looking for a holiday in the lap of nature, look no further than Saman Villas, it is bound to make you come back recharged and refreshed to take up the challenges of the urban world. Which is exactly why this is what a perfect holiday must be.
LF Says: ★★★★.5
Coordinates: Aturuwella, Bentota, Sri Lanka.
