When we arrived, Nalin the friendly Villa Manager, welcomed us with a delicious fresh fruit drink. He prepared a different one for us every day. The breakfast was good, with plenty of exotic fruit and a choice of eggs. At our request, he prepared some tasty Sri Lankan dishes which you have to order the day before.

The beautiful courtyard was full of tropical plants which Nalin takes great care of. The house is airy and spacious, and colourfully decorated in the style of the Fort. The bedrooms are comfortable and clean, with good bathrooms. The air conditioning in the evening helps you to cool down. The roof terrace is simply amazing with its views of Galle Bay and the Indian Ocean. A perfect setting for evening drinks and a wonderful place to relax during the day.

Villa Aurora is very close to many good restaurants in different price categories, and it was fun to try them all out. In the mornings and evenings we went swimming at the local beach at the foot of the lighthouse, just across the road.

Our two-year-old son loved playing on the beach and there was plenty of space across the road for him to play ball games. A couple of times, we went to the beautiful Lighthouse Hotel (designed by Geoffrey Bawa). It takes 10 minutes by tuktuk and you can spend the whole day at their big pool and spa on a large lawn for LKR 1000 (€6) per person per day.

We had a wonderful time and Nalin treated us like royalty. An unforgettable stay. We’ll be back!