Amanwella

Very nice very clean beautiful beach good food

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.