Villa Sisindu C

Villa Sisindu C is a colourful, breezy beach house at Talpe on Sri Lanka’s south coast, with a gate from its garden opening onto a long, sandy and often near-empty beach. Galle Fort is an easy tuk-tuk ride away, and the livelier cafés of Unawatuna are close by when you want them. With two king bedrooms and a thoughtful, attentive team, it is a lovely choice for couples, honeymooners and young families.

The garden is laid out around a private swimming pool just steps from the living room, with cushioned sunloungers, umbrellas and a thatched ambalama pavilion for shade. The lawn is enclosed, which gives a feeling of safety for small children, and beyond the beach gate there is a hammock strung between palms on the sand. A beach bar along the shore makes a good spot for an evening walk at sunset.

Indoors, high ceilings and an open plan make the house feel larger than it is, with sea-blue sofas in the living room, a big dining table and a fully equipped kitchen. Upstairs, both bedrooms have four-poster king beds draped in mosquito nets, air conditioning, balconies facing the ocean and spacious turquoise-washed bathrooms. The chef cooks breakfast and other meals to your requests, charged at the cost of groceries, and massages, bicycles and a car with driver can be arranged.