Ginger Palm Villa

Ginger Palm Villa is a beautifully renovated four-bedroom house in Hiriketiya, near Dikwella on Sri Lanka’s south coast, just a few minutes’ walk from the horseshoe bay and its relaxed beach cafes and surf. White colonnades, carved timber louvres and cool polished floors give it a fresh, airy feel, with Sri Lankan touches throughout. It is made for families and friends travelling together, with a children’s bunk room and plenty of space for everyone.

The house wraps around an eighteen-metre salt-water pool with a wide timber deck, a shallow ledge for lounging and a row of sun loungers along the lawn. The shaded veranda and sunny terrace look straight onto the water, and there is a roof terrace for watching the sun go down over the jungle. Peacocks and monkeys are frequent visitors to the surrounding trees.

Indoors, the open living room has long built-in sofas and a carrom table, there is a separate media room for film nights, a reading nook by the stairs and a generous dining table, with a second table beside the pool. The bedrooms have air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms in polished concrete, including a super king room, a king room, a triple room with a queen and a single bed, and a bunk room for children. A team of seven handles housekeeping, the pool and security, breakfast is included, and the staff cook lunch and dinner from a menu.