AMAN SRI LANKA TRIP REPORT
Apr 23rd, 2005 | 08:25 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20
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AMAN SRI LANKA TRIP REPORT
Aman Sri Lanka Trip Report Part I
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This was our first visit to Sri Lanka though it would be more accurate to say that we were visiting the Amanwella rather than Lanka itself as we never intended to leave the resort.
Part of the decision to visit Amanwella was influenced by the 50% discount on the rack rates by Amanresorts to promote tourism in SL. So we paid 275 USD for a pool suite instead of the usual 550 USD. On top of this we got upgraded to an ocean pool suite. So we were quite lucky to pay only 275 USD for a 700 USD room.
Our Sri Lanka experience started with the Sri Lankan Airlines flight which took off just in time from Delhi and 3 hours later we landed in Colombo. We were pleasantly surprised to find a modern airport at Colombo. It was no Changi but was certainly better than Indian airports. Anyway the airport was empty possibly due to the time (3 in the morn) and we managed to get a visa and retrieve our luggage within 20 minutes of landing.
We had previously arranged for the transfer from the airport to the resort with Aman and their representative met us outside the airport. We were shown to a Toyota Corolla and then we started off.
The airport is about 45 mins from Colombo and 3 hours from Galle, where we intended to stop for breakfast. It was still dark and raining as we reached Bentota, halfway to Galle.
At Galle, we stopped at the Amangalla, Amanresorts’s outpost at Galla. We had initially planned to have breakfast there before continuing to Amanwella which was a further 1.5 hour away. We arrived at Galle around 6.30 in the morn. At Amangalla, we got a warm welcome and a short tour from one of the butlers there. He showed us around the gardens and the swimming pool and the library. Only one room was occupied at that time but they were expecting some guests soon.
Amangalla which used to the New Oriental Hotel in its previous avatar had got a top to toe renovation and was classy. The swimming pool was large (21 m) and generally the hotel very elegant.
As it was only 7 in the morn and Amanwella was only one and a half hour away, we decided to skip breakfast, and after having some juice and tea started on our journey to Amanwella at Tangalla.
The road from Galle to Tangalla was much narrower with lost more turns and my wife quickly started feeling nauseous. Anyways there was nothing we could do but had to stop a couple of times on the way.
The road was just next to the coast and the damaged by the tsunami to the houses along the coast was very severe. In most of the places, the walls had been completely washed away.
We reached Amanwella around 9, 2 hours after starting from Amangalla. The last mile of the journey was on a very narrow road in the jungle leading to the resort.
Amanwella looked bigger and was much more modern in terms of design than Amangalla. We were shown to the reception area and were greeted by the managers, Tania and John there, who run Amanwella.
It was surprising to find them so relaxed and welcoming. The whole atmosphere was very relaxed starting with the managers themselves who were interacting with the guests personally. They had no airs about them and were very friendly.
We were shown around the place starting with the library, swimming pool and the restaurant and lounge. Then we were shown to our room No.107 which was on the other side of the main area. We were tired and wanted to rest for sometime. The room was quite large and the design and layout was splendid.
Every room was a stand alone unit with a pool. The pool was located right at the entrance with a daybed for lounging and a table for dining along with it. Next to the pool was the indoor areas consisting of a long room (40 feet long and 15 wide) separated into 2 equal parts (of 20 feet long and 15 wide). One was the bedroom area and the other the bath. Adjacent to the indoor area was a terrace as long as the room (40 feet) and 10 feet wide. Another day bed and table with two chairs for private dining were located there.
Bedroom area had a very comfortable and large bed, a chaise lounge and an armchair. Bathroom had twin vanities, 2 person deep soaking tub and separate shower and toilet.
Overall the room was very luxurious and the attention to detail was fantastic from the Bose radio and CD player to the Artemide lamps. There were no wall along the two long sides of the room. Privacy was provided by latticed sliding doors on these sides.
We had a very nice view of the ocean and the beach from our room and terrace. We later learnt that our room was an ocean pool suite rather a pool suite and we had been upgraded as we had booked for 7 nights and there was very low occupancy (2 rooms other than us).
Amanwella has 140 members of staff for a maximum of 60 guests. At the time we arrived there were only 4 other guests. In some respects we were very lucky. We were treated like kings from the moment we got there. We got personal attention from everyone from the General Managers right to the stewards. We were the only ones besides the main pool which was amazing. 45 metres long and situated right above the beach. In fact there was hardly anyone by the pool during our whole stay and we spent so much time there that we didn’t use the private pool on more than two occasions.
There were two reasons for this. When you can use a 45 m infinity edge pool as your private pool the plunge pool in your suite starts looking very inadequate. The other was the superlative service by the main pool. From cold towels to drinks, it was service with a smile all the way.
Continued ……..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was our first visit to Sri Lanka though it would be more accurate to say that we were visiting the Amanwella rather than Lanka itself as we never intended to leave the resort.
Part of the decision to visit Amanwella was influenced by the 50% discount on the rack rates by Amanresorts to promote tourism in SL. So we paid 275 USD for a pool suite instead of the usual 550 USD. On top of this we got upgraded to an ocean pool suite. So we were quite lucky to pay only 275 USD for a 700 USD room.
Our Sri Lanka experience started with the Sri Lankan Airlines flight which took off just in time from Delhi and 3 hours later we landed in Colombo. We were pleasantly surprised to find a modern airport at Colombo. It was no Changi but was certainly better than Indian airports. Anyway the airport was empty possibly due to the time (3 in the morn) and we managed to get a visa and retrieve our luggage within 20 minutes of landing.
We had previously arranged for the transfer from the airport to the resort with Aman and their representative met us outside the airport. We were shown to a Toyota Corolla and then we started off.
The airport is about 45 mins from Colombo and 3 hours from Galle, where we intended to stop for breakfast. It was still dark and raining as we reached Bentota, halfway to Galle.
At Galle, we stopped at the Amangalla, Amanresorts’s outpost at Galla. We had initially planned to have breakfast there before continuing to Amanwella which was a further 1.5 hour away. We arrived at Galle around 6.30 in the morn. At Amangalla, we got a warm welcome and a short tour from one of the butlers there. He showed us around the gardens and the swimming pool and the library. Only one room was occupied at that time but they were expecting some guests soon.
Amangalla which used to the New Oriental Hotel in its previous avatar had got a top to toe renovation and was classy. The swimming pool was large (21 m) and generally the hotel very elegant.
As it was only 7 in the morn and Amanwella was only one and a half hour away, we decided to skip breakfast, and after having some juice and tea started on our journey to Amanwella at Tangalla.
The road from Galle to Tangalla was much narrower with lost more turns and my wife quickly started feeling nauseous. Anyways there was nothing we could do but had to stop a couple of times on the way.
The road was just next to the coast and the damaged by the tsunami to the houses along the coast was very severe. In most of the places, the walls had been completely washed away.
We reached Amanwella around 9, 2 hours after starting from Amangalla. The last mile of the journey was on a very narrow road in the jungle leading to the resort.
Amanwella looked bigger and was much more modern in terms of design than Amangalla. We were shown to the reception area and were greeted by the managers, Tania and John there, who run Amanwella.
It was surprising to find them so relaxed and welcoming. The whole atmosphere was very relaxed starting with the managers themselves who were interacting with the guests personally. They had no airs about them and were very friendly.
We were shown around the place starting with the library, swimming pool and the restaurant and lounge. Then we were shown to our room No.107 which was on the other side of the main area. We were tired and wanted to rest for sometime. The room was quite large and the design and layout was splendid.
Every room was a stand alone unit with a pool. The pool was located right at the entrance with a daybed for lounging and a table for dining along with it. Next to the pool was the indoor areas consisting of a long room (40 feet long and 15 wide) separated into 2 equal parts (of 20 feet long and 15 wide). One was the bedroom area and the other the bath. Adjacent to the indoor area was a terrace as long as the room (40 feet) and 10 feet wide. Another day bed and table with two chairs for private dining were located there.
Bedroom area had a very comfortable and large bed, a chaise lounge and an armchair. Bathroom had twin vanities, 2 person deep soaking tub and separate shower and toilet.
Overall the room was very luxurious and the attention to detail was fantastic from the Bose radio and CD player to the Artemide lamps. There were no wall along the two long sides of the room. Privacy was provided by latticed sliding doors on these sides.
We had a very nice view of the ocean and the beach from our room and terrace. We later learnt that our room was an ocean pool suite rather a pool suite and we had been upgraded as we had booked for 7 nights and there was very low occupancy (2 rooms other than us).
Amanwella has 140 members of staff for a maximum of 60 guests. At the time we arrived there were only 4 other guests. In some respects we were very lucky. We were treated like kings from the moment we got there. We got personal attention from everyone from the General Managers right to the stewards. We were the only ones besides the main pool which was amazing. 45 metres long and situated right above the beach. In fact there was hardly anyone by the pool during our whole stay and we spent so much time there that we didn’t use the private pool on more than two occasions.
There were two reasons for this. When you can use a 45 m infinity edge pool as your private pool the plunge pool in your suite starts looking very inadequate. The other was the superlative service by the main pool. From cold towels to drinks, it was service with a smile all the way.
Continued ……..
Apr 24th, 2005 | 03:03 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
Hi Aviator,
I am glad to hear that they were up to Aman standards after opening just a short time ago. Can't wait to hear more!
P.S. I feel so terrible for your wife! Did she try to sit up front with the driver? That can be better than the back for some people since you have an unimpeded view of the road ahead.
Ericka
I am glad to hear that they were up to Aman standards after opening just a short time ago. Can't wait to hear more!
P.S. I feel so terrible for your wife! Did she try to sit up front with the driver? That can be better than the back for some people since you have an unimpeded view of the road ahead.
Ericka
Apr 27th, 2005 | 05:55 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Hi everyone
Thanks for appreciating
Ericka
No, she sat at the back. We'll try your suggestion next time.
She did try to sleep, but the scenery the whole journey was so nice, that I kept on waking her up.
Bye
Lyndie
Pricey but definitely worth it, IMO
Bye
Thanks for appreciating
Ericka
No, she sat at the back. We'll try your suggestion next time.
She did try to sleep, but the scenery the whole journey was so nice, that I kept on waking her up.
Bye
Lyndie
Pricey but definitely worth it, IMO
Bye
