1. Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa is probably the closest thing Sri Lanka has to a mega resort. It’s a large resort in terms of size (the largest resort in Sri Lanka), with a wide range of activities, amenities, and dining, but it still retains an intimate, luxurious feel, as there are only 274 rooms (including 20 suites). It’s also home to the island’s only 18-hole resort golf course, making it the best beach resort for golfers.
The rooms and suites are luxuriously appointed, and all have great views – some look out onto the lush tropical gardens, some have golf course views, and some face the ocean. They all have a tropical style with the Asian influence the brand is known for.
More than just some pools and a beach, the Shangri-La has a wide range of activities. There’s a circus trapeze and a full water park. There’s also an artisan village, which supports local craftspeople. You can visit and learn about (and buy) local artwork and crafts, and at night there are music and dance performances.
Kids are welcome at the Shangri-La with a kids’ club supervised children’s program. They stay free in your room, and kids under six eat free at the buffet (kids six to 12 are charged 50 percent of the adult price). Bojunhala is the resort’s casual all-day dining restaurant (three meals a day) and Sera, open for dinner, serves Southeast Asian cuisine.
2. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort
This resort is also in Tangalle, but closer to the town itself. The Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort occupies a 42-acre former coconut plantation on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Like a postcard, it sits on a magical crescent-shaped stretch of golden-sand beach with turquoise water, backed with a line of palm trees and grassy areas.
There are 152 rooms and villas; all face the ocean. The villas are freestanding luxury units with their own private plunge pools. Some face the ocean, and some have direct ocean access. All the villas come with a butler, called a Villa Host.
All rooms have a large, furnished balcony or terrace with ground floor rooms providing direct beach access. The resort is wrapped around a central ocean-facing infinity pool. Sun loungers are lined up on an expansive wooden deck.
Anantara Resorts are known for their spas, and the Anantara Spa has a wide range of beauty and body treatments. A selection of Ayurvedic healing treatments are also available. The spa has a yoga studio and a schedule of yoga classes.
