Name: Amanwella
Address: Boddhi Mawatha Wella Wathuara Godellawela, Unakuruwa, Unakuruwa, Unakuruwa, 82200, Sri Lanka
Rating: 9

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Mawella Lagoon Airport

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Amanwella

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Averall a beautiful property where we spent a few relaxing days. There are though two improvement points:

1) breakfast was extremely slow, so long waiting times for the orders are unucceptable, is aman understaffed despite the very high prices (3-4x compared to the anantara nearby).

2) the hotel does not have a gym. What happened to me is that it was not possible to swim in the ocean because of sea condition, I could not swim in the very beautiful and long swimming pool because of unpleasent high water temperature (pool is dark and heats up top 32-34°), you cannot run since the resort is to small, so it is kind of boring. 

Trasform a suite in a gym, as they did for the spa, would be more than enough.

Excellent yoga lessons in the morning.

Very good but...

The moment you step into the hotel, you feel you have been transported to somewhere out of this world. Minimalistic design, never crowded (only 50 villas!), sea breeze and crushing waves 24/7. It is as close to paradise as I can imagine. But what stands Aman apart from the rest is service: always friendly, always efficient, never intrusive, and they remember everything. 

Two things to note about the villas: they are right by the ocean and the waves are strong, so there is a constant sound of crashing waves despite the French doors are firmly shut. It wasn’t a problem for us, as we found the sound of waves in fact very soothing, but if others can’t tolerate any sound during sleep might find this an issue. The same with lighting, as the sliding doors are porous, so at dawn some light will creep in, which wasn’t a problem for us, but again if you require total darkness during sleep it might be a problem.

Wish we could stay and not leave

I recently returned from a six-night stay at Amanwella and it was truly magnificent. It really does tick all the boxes in terms of my expectations regarding an Aman property.

The hotel is picturesque and well maintained in terms of the buildings, pool, and gardens. It consists of a main area consisting of a reception, a library, spa “suites”, a bar, a restaurant, and pool that boasts nearly uninterrupted views of the sea (albeit for an unsightly shack that local villagers erected near the beach – but I understood that there is little the hotel can do about it). Getting from that central area to your suite and the beach involves a bit of up- and downhill trekking (but nothing nearly as taxing as the Everest-like expedition of descending to the beach club at Amankila). Fortunately, the hotel always has a tuktuk on hand to transport guests around the resort. However, we actually always opted to walk and quite enjoyed doing so.

The suites are comfortable, kept impeccably clean, and beautifully appointed with lovely nods to local materials and craftsmanship as would be expected by an Aman hotel. From what I gather, the only difference between suite categories is their view and I really think it’s worth splurging for a sea view as there is something quite magical about opening your shutters to the beautiful palm tree adorned sea vistas. Each suite has a private plunge pool which, oddly enough, is at the back of the suite enclosed by a wall, thus not allowing for any view. I assume that they were designed this way to guarantee total privacy. While the many lovely trees around the property contribute to its overall beauty, so to do they unfortunately contribute to leaves, insects, and the like falling into your pool, which becomes less and less inviting as the day progresses. I used the pool once during my entire stay.

Moving on to the common areas next. The hotel has two restaurants: the aforementioned main one above the pool where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served as well as a beach club where only lunch and dinner are served. I only dined at the main restaurant as I was determined to eat mainly Sri Lankan food throughout my stay which was not served at the beach club. The food was excellent and the breakfast was a delight to wake up to every morning. The menu consists of both Western and Sri Lankan/Asian fare with plenty of options, so you will not bore easily. The only thing I missed was, while they had Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes consisting of multiple components, I would have liked them to also have offered a more celebratory multi-course Sri Lankan menu consisting of lots of dishes in little bowls so you can taste how diverse the cuisine is (similar to the Rijsttafel experience at Amankila or the Sri Lankan rice and curry menu at Amangalla). I think a lot of guests would be willing to even reserve in advance for such an experience as it would be quite special! 

We enjoyed having the complimentary afternoon tea at the bar each day though I wouldn’t have minded it having a bit more of a Sri Lankan touch. Somehow eating scones both here and at Amangalla felt a bit out of place, but perhaps that’s just me! Hats off to the gentleman behind the bar (I believe his name was Viraj?) for taking such good care of us every evening.

While on the topic of service, the hospitality I experienced at the hotel was second to none. Firstly, let me thank the manager, Mr. Sonam Wanagchuk for being such a gracious host. He took the time each day to check in on us and provided excellent recommendations based on his experiences and expertise both with regard to Sri Lanka, as well as Aman in general (and in particular Amankora in his native Bhutan).

We also received wonderful service by the gentlemen by the pool (I’m sorry- I forgot their names)! They anticipated our needs, were efficient, and so friendly. I also would like to thank Piyumi, who worked at the restaurant. During a casual conversation at breakfast, I happened to mention loving the fruit ‘mangosteen’ which we do not get back where I live. She took it upon herself to ensure that every day I was served fresh mangosteen at breakfast (which they normally did not include). On days she was not working, she phoned her colleague to ask them to execute this on her behalf – such a thoughtful gesture! I would also like to thank Mahesh who worked at the coconut grove for taking the time to get to know us and for being so friendly. Lastly, I wish to thank Jeewan who, when I injured my back, went out of his way to arrange the medicine I needed even though it was getting late. He also did such a great job ensuring that the experiences we booked (see below) were truly world class.

We booked two experiences during our stay: the elephant safari at Udawalawe national park and the lagoon floating one, and I highly recommend both. I was a bit apprehensive about the elephant safari as it was quite expensive, however, in hindsight, I would book it again without hesitation. The hotel arranges for an entirely private safari experience with transfers, a guide, and a secluded private picnic breakfast in a truly beautiful location. We saw plenty of elephants, so that was great. The floating lagoon experience is nearby and simply MAGICAL. Imagine gently floating on a private catamaran in a massive lagoon filled with waterlilies, with a wide array of wildlife in the trees and water around you, while sipping wine and nibbling on canapés. You CANNOT MISS this experience– it’s well worth it. Also, I loved doing morning yoga on the beach – the views are stunning and the yoga instructor was lovely.

Was there anything at all that I liked less about my stay? One thing which has less to do with the hotel itself, but something for other travellers to consider is the beach area. It is not truly private, which is fine – the hotel has a large number of sun beds spread over a vast area that are reserved strictly for guests but you sometimes have non-guests encroaching on the area, trying to snatch up some of the shade of the palms and sometimes getting a bit too close, obstructing the view. While I understand that the beach is not private, I think greater initiative can be taken to dissuade these people from setting up camp right in front of the sun beds and perhaps moving along a bit further instead. Regarding the sea- I think it’s important to highlight that the tide is more powerful than you may initially think and especially getting in and out of the sea involves a lot of being chucked about by waves which can even at times be daunting even for an experienced swimmer. I injured my back when a particularly large wave engulfed me, crashing me into the sand – this was of course at my own risk, but I do think that a more proactive stance with clear communication from the lifeguards would be helpful. On the day the accident occurred, I recall only being told that “the waves are big today”. Adding the crucial sentence of “We therefore strongly advise against you entering the water” would have been appreciated. Lastly, the only other thing that I found a bit annoying were the exorbitant prices Aman charges for car transfers (we travelled to this hotel from Amangalla and considered also using their car transfer back to Colombo but ultimately booked a more reasonably priced option instead). I get that these resorts will add a markup to everything they do, it is to be expected. However, when I am proposed prices nearly triple what I pay in Dubai and Amsterdam (for the type of run of the mill, not particularly spacious car that shuttled us between Amangalla and Amanwella), I find it rather hard to justify.

Overall, would I recommend Amanwella? Absolutely, without a doubt. In fact, I very much plan on returning. I cannot commend the team enough on what is truly an untouched paradise and gem of a hotel.

Simply magnificent!

Outstanding property and experience at Amanwella. It is very well run and the staff are excellent, personable, and seem happy to be there. We loved the food at the beach club and the main restaurant, and there is a good selection of vegetarian, asian and non-asian dishes. This was the fourteenth Aman for us and truly one of the heritage properties that carries on the original Aman spirit. The hotel design is timeless and gorgeous.

Fantastic

Coming off a 16 day trip that included stays at a 5 star hotel in London, both Aman properties in Sri Lanka. and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives.  We have stayed previously at a similar price point in South Africa, the Netherlands, the Caribbean, and Canada.  Everything considered, Amanwella rates, for us, as the best that we have stayed anywhere in the world.  

The important caveat is that you must have your expectations set properly — this is a mature hotel set in a tropical location.  Expect heat, insects, spiders, and lizards.  Some may even make their way into your room.  A quick phone call to housekeeping will solve any such issue immediately,  in our experience anyway.  Accept this, and the hotel is likely to rate as the destination of a lifetime.

For us, the staff are easily the greatest asset of the hotel, starting with the general manager of the resort, Sonam.  Every day he checked in on us, usually at breakfast, but sometimes more often than that.  He was easy to speak to and we felt he was genuine in every respect.  We missed a connection in Dubai and arrived late in the evening (11pm); regardless, he was present at our arrival along with a full contingent of staff for welcoming!  Janith, our Guest Assistant, while only 26, rated as leagues above anything else we experienced on this trip or anywhere else.  He is, without doubt, a rising star for Aman.  Every need was anticipated and every request acted on in a timely fashion.  Janith has continued to message us on WhatsApp since our departure, checking in on the rest of trip, and we feel that we made a real friend in Sri Lanka.  Dinusha, who we met at the main restaurant, well, his smile is simply contagious, and he came across as down to earth, friendly, and eager to do whatever is necessary to make our stay memorable.  His memory for our preferences  is impeccable, which is something we did not find elsewhere as often as we would have liked.  Ruwon, often a driver for us, treated us with consideration and spoke candidly while behaving professionally at all times.  Again, we feel that we made another friend here during this trip!

The resort is beautiful, well maintained, and while we spent more time on activities than on the beach, I assure you this is a beach resort first and foremost and that the beach is world class.  The vibe is laid back but there is no element of luxury missing.  Of everything we did, the lagoon experience was our favourite activity.  Highly recommended.  Make time also for a private dinner at the beach club.  You will not regret it.

I see that that past reviewers have expressed concern about the cost of food.  The solution for us was to book the Fort & Beach package which included half board, experiences, and transfer between resorts.

Perfection, Amanwella.  Book it and enjoy!

Perfect for Us

It's a fantastic Aman as to value in room rates. One of the more affordable ones globally in comparison to the insane rates being charged in other areas of the world by Aman. This is the only reason I chose it, while still a stretch for me as to value.

The service is polished. The rooms are beautiful and aging well. And we loved the beach with a blend of local feel mixed into the nice Aman area for lounging. It's a truly lovely hotel.

The only puzzling thing is the pricing of food. It's become insane. I spent a month in Sri Lanka at many varying level of hotels and I never saw anything like this. It rivals even Maldives in pricing. A CheeseBurger for $52? That's just one example. In 2019 that same burger was like $20 on their menu. I asked the staff and they just said, "Since Covid the prices of food have risen tremendously."  OK? But three times nearly? I ate two other Burgers during my trip, one in Kalpitya and another in Colombo at the Shangri La. Both equally as good. And they were $20. Not just the Burgers. A chicken satay at $30? A Pizza at $40? Again, these are Maldives prices on an island that is ultimately very affordable otherwise. I don't get it and I think Aman needs to really look hard at its pricing. Anyone who travels in Sri Lanka, even at the top locations, knows full well that this is way over the top.

The food was wonderful though. If that helps? But the food is often wonderful in Sri Lanka.

Polished and Lovely...and a $52 Burger.

Amanwella is without doubt the best hotel we have ever stayed in. From the moment we were greeted on arrival by the General Manager, we were made to feel welcome. The hotel buildings are light and airy. They blend beautifully with the surrounding landscape, with frangipani and coconut palms, and wonderful views across a secluded bay. Our ocean-view room was spacious and comfortable, with excellent amenities. Above all, the staff were professional, skilled, helpful and friendly at all times. Special thanks to Nirosh for his assistance. The food was of the highest quality, with a first class choice of Asian, vegetarian and Mediterranean dishes. We enjoyed spicy Sri Lankan curries, pomelo salads, coconut pudding and kithul, a local palm syrup. Thank you to everyone who made our stay so memorable.

The best

This was the last stop of  3 hotels we booked over the Christmas period , all situated in the southern part of the island .
The hotel is by all standards luxurious, especially in comparison to the general standard of hospitality on this island. 
The rooms are very large and comfortable. The staff is helpful and the food is also very good. However one thing what a hotel at that price level should have is a fully operational spa and gym . To my great surprise they don’t offer that , instead they send you masseurs to your room which is ok, but then I am a keen gym goer and I was feeling very let down not to have the possibility to train. Particularly as the weather this year was very mixed and rainy . 
Also bare in mind that any extra packages you decide to book are very very expensive 
All in all a lovely place but for what it stands for , in my opinion a bit overrated

Amanwella , Tangalle

Amanwella is in a really dreamy location on one end of Silent beach near Tangalle. The open architecture, pool area and beach views were just gorgeous.  

The beach club in the coconut grove was also amazing with charming service, regular rounds of complementary ice cream and the beach restaurant which served some very nice dishes. There is also another public beach cafe at the other end of the beach although we didn’t try it. The beach is public (as are all in Sri Lanka) but never got crowded even in peak holiday season. For those with young children note that the beach has waves and currents.

We had very nice food as well in the hotel where most people seemed to eat. You can also get a tuk tuk and eat out at nearby places (including for non Aman prices).  The best lobster we had was at Cactus Lounge a short drive away.

We booked are whale watching trip independently of the hotel given the prices being charged by the hotel. There is also a dive shop a short distance up the road which does diving trips departing from Silent beach.

This is one of the older Aman properties with some fraying around the edges and at times the service borders on the fussy.

Overall we had a lovely relaxing stay and would recommend.

Dreamy beach resort near Tangalle

It's a recurring theme with Aman, which sadly seems to be more focused on opening new hotels in oversaturated locations like Beverly Hills and Miami, than maintaining its (mostly amazing) existing ones, which in many cases are 20-30 years old, and Amanwella is no different. It's a nicely designed property which I have no doubt was spectacular in its heyday, but it's really starting to show its age. Combined with a price which is way too high considering the state of the hotel, the place is practically empty, making it feel a little dead despite it being near peak season in Sri Lanka (the next hotel I went to by contrast was at capacity). 

The highlight is definitely the absolutely spectacular beach and coconut grove it overlooks, although be warned that the sea here can be quite choppy, so only likely to appeal if you're a strong swimmer. The walk to the Aman beach club is not great, with no real path to speak of, and a route that takes you through a messy area which is waterlogged and actually quite muddy - the kind of thing that they should really do something about, but I'm guessing don't have the budget to maintain. On top of that, the area where the property meets the beach is staffed by armed police officers, which doesn't exactly make for the relaxing atmosphere you hope to have on holiday.

The rooms are nice enough, but again showing a fair amount of wear and tear. They are not properly sealed so expect insects to get inside: I also saw 2 lizards in mine, which didn't especially bother me, but if you're squeamish about this kind of thing you won't be happy. There are no blackout blinds, but rather wooden shutters which are designed to allow light in, so if you're sensitive to light expect to wake up early. The private pools are not worth it in my opinion, as they are enclosed in a small space with no view, and the main pool is actually one of the best things about the hotel in any event. 

If Amanwella were renovated and the price wasn't so unfairly high, I'd definitely recommend it as I think it would be a top tier place. As it stands though, I personally wouldn't return. 



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