Emel's Retreat Villa

The host Margaret and staff were sublime - they went above and beyond to provide anything we needed. They rushed to handle every trouble we had, e.g., a small cut on the foot of one of our children. They catered to our individual breakfast preferences, and the wishes of our children were considered when making dinner for us. And there was always the good ice cream! :D The interior of the living spaces is very beautiful with a lot of personal touches from Margaret. Everyone enjoyed the pool (around 1,2m deep) and the lovely resting area around it. Also, the wi-fi was very good, and the hot water pressure was of no issue.

There was an issue with AC in one of the rooms however, it was swiftly taken care of. Same with cockroaches (we had a couple of encounters).

Emel's retreat was an amazing home away for home. I was staying here with my extended family and it was undoubtedly one of the most relaxing places during my 10 days trip in Sri Lanka. To start with the villa is built with some amazing attention to details and is located such that within a short 10mins Tuk-Tuk ride you can be enjoying the beach side cafe on pristine Bara beach, within 20mins ride to shopping in Galle downtown and 30mins and you are into the vicinity of some great surfing schools. But then when you need you have the calm and quite of the Emel's retreat and can relax and spend a day by the amazing pool side. And finally to add, the real hidden gem to this villa is the owner Margaret who puts an amazing attention to detail to help you with your itinerary (in my case with the tuk-tuks, the surf schools to go to, the beach cafes to hang out at Bara beach and some of the local must explores in Galle) and everything you need to make your stay an unforgettable experience. Margaret is also one of the most amazing cooks and the breakfast (Scottish porridges, poached eggs, hoppers) and the dinners (scrumptious Italian pasta, fresh fish from local markets, chocolate desserts) were some of the best highlights of our stay and some amazing memories that we took away with us during our stay. A big thanks to the house help (Tushari, John and Shamini) who were always around to help us with anything that we needed during our stay a pleasant experience

Nothing. It really felt like the 5 days really went in a breeze and we were really able to relax, unwind and enjoy the holidays at a slow pace vs the rest of the holidays where we were constantly on the move Please consider that you will need your own vehicle (car, scooter) or to get a tuk-tuk if you want to get to the closest beach at Bara (3-4kms), Galle and some of the other surf destinations. If you need a quiet place in the midst of the very busy beach side setups - this is the place for you.

The pool is very nice. Margaret is very friendly and nice.

No AC.

Returning to this magical place we were greeted by Margaret and her adorable rescue dogs Victoria and Abdul. We felt immediately very welcome and at home. The dinner, local fresh fish with ginger, lemon and garlic, served in a banana leaf, was delicious. Sitting there at the table, surrounded by beautiful tropical plants, was so magical, that we always will remember it. Thank you, Margaret, that you created, together with your wonderful staff, this place, full of harmony and beauty.

It was sad to leave

Ambience, the place itself and surroundings, calmness and the owner and staff went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. We will definitely come back again.