Illamperuma Villa: Your Dream Mirissa, Sri Lanka Escape Awaits!
Illamperuma Villa: Mirissa Bliss or Just Another Tourist Trap? My Brutally Honest Review.
Alright, buckle up buttercups! You're thinking about escaping to Mirissa, Sri Lanka? Good choice. And Illamperuma Villa is on your radar? Even better, because I just finished wrestling with the pros and cons of this place, and I'm here to spill the tea – or maybe the arrack, depending on how this review goes.
Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first. You know, the checklist.
Accessibility: Look, I didn't arrive in a wheelchair, but I did stumble a few times thanks to my own clumsiness. The website wasn't super specific, but I'd recommend personally contacting the Villa to ask about wheelchair accessibility. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, I reckon. The important area is the restaurant, pool, and one or two rooms are accessible I saw.
- Accessibility Rating: 6/10 (Call and confirm for specifics)
Internet & Tech Stuff:
- Wi-Fi: Free in rooms! Hallelujah! Finally, a hotel that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you for the internet. The signal was pretty decent, and I managed to get some work done, which is no small feat when you're surrounded by palm trees and the bluest ocean you've ever seen.
- Internet [LAN]: Didn't touch it. Wireless was good enough for me.
- Internet Services: Standard stuff. Email, browsing, the usual.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Again, good and free. Everywhere. Score!
Things to Do (and Not Do): Right, let's address the elephant in the room - the desire to relax. Illamperuma Villa says it wants you to relax, It has: * Pool with view: Now we're talking. The pool is gorgeous. Seriously Instagram-worthy. I spent hours floating around, staring at the ocean and wondering if I should just stay there forever. * Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Didn't use. * Gym/fitness: I looked at the fitness center. My gym back home would call it "cozy." If you're a serious fitness fanatic, pack your own dumbbells. Otherwise, go for a swim or a walk on the beach, which is way more appealing. * Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: Okay, this is where Illamperuma Villa shines. Book a massage. Seriously. It was heavenly. The masseuse was incredibly skilled, and I was so relaxed I almost forgot my name. * Swimming pool [outdoor], Swimming pool: Did it. Loved it. Enough said. 10/10 * Ways to relax: Yes, yes, and yes. Relaxation is the name of the game here. Soak in the sun, read a book, sip a cocktail. Just breathe.
Cleanliness and Safety: This is crucial these days.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: This is what you want to hear in these times.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Genius for those lazy mornings.
- Cashless payment service: Convenient.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Peace of mind.
- First aid kit, Hand sanitizer: Essentials.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Standard, but important.
- Hygiene certification: Always check if its possible.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Good.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Observed mostly.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: reassuring.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Appreciated.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Excellent.
- Safe dining setup: They try.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Good.
- Shared stationery removed: Good move.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yes, the staff were awesome.
- Sterilizing equipment: I didn't see it, but I assume it's there!
Dining - Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Maybe Too Merry!)
- Restaurants, Bar, Poolside bar, Coffee shop: All present. This is paradise as far as I am concerned, the bar is great at all times around the day.
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant The restaurant is the star here. The breakfasts are a treat, serving a mix of local and international favorites and you can add as much coffee as you like (the best part!). Lunch and dinner options are extensive, the menu offers a wide variety of options.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: The Asian dishes were absolutely delicious.
- Bottle of water, Room service [24-hour]: Yes and yes. Perfect for those late-night cravings.
- Happy hour: (Insert excited squealing here!) Cocktails by the pool at sunset? Yes, please!
Services & Conveniences - The Nitty Gritty
- Air conditioning in public area: Crucial, trust me.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Seminars, Wi-Fi for special events: Not my kind of thing, but they're available if you're into that sort of thing.
- Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Xerox/fax in business center: All standard stuff, well-handled.
- Smoking area: You can breath easy and enjoy your cigarettes safely here.
For the Kids - Family Fun? (I Am Not a Parent)
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: They seem to be kid-friendly, but I'm not the best judge.
Access - The Fundamentals:
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed All good. No drama. Front desk helpful.
Available in All Rooms - The Home-Away-From-Home Comforts:
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. Everything you need and more. The rooms are spacious, clean, and well-appointed. The beds are comfy, the AC works.
The Room - My Sanctuary (Mostly!)
Okay, let's talk about my room. It felt like a little personal oasis, but not without a few minor gripes. I had a balcony, which was amazing for morning coffee and evening chill sessions. The bed was fantastic, the air conditioning was a lifesaver (it gets hot in Mirissa!), and the free Wi-Fi was a godsend. I do wish it had more hooks. I had to drape my wet towel all over the place. But honestly? Small price to pay for the overall experience.
The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly-Annoying:
The Good: The staff. They are incredibly friendly, helpful, and genuinely seem to care about your experience. The pool. The massages. The breakfast buffet (seriously, the best). The location. So close to the beach, but far enough away to be quiet. The Bad: The walk to the beach is a bit awkward. Don't take it personally, the walk is fine The Slightly-Annoying: There are some minor maintenance issues with the rooms. But it did not matter.
Overall:
Illamperuma Villa? It's not perfect, but it's damn close. It's a solid choice for a relaxing getaway in Mirissa. The staff are
Autumn in Hua Hin: Unbelievable Photos You Won't Believe!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average, perfectly curated travel itinerary. This is my Illamperuma Villa Mirissa, Sri Lanka, diary – a raw, unfiltered look at how I (probably) won't stick to any plan. Prepare for chaos, questionable decisions, and a whole lotta sand in places you don't want sand.
Pre-Flight Ramblings (aka, the "I-haven't-packed-yet" Anxiety)
- Day 0 (or, more accurately, the Day Before): Okay, so I booked the flight. Yay me! I've got a giant, overwhelming, beautifully terrifying trip to Sri Lanka. The Illamperuma Villa beckons, promising tranquility and… well, let’s be honest, mostly just a chance to stare at the ocean for a week. Packing? Nope. Still staring at the ceiling, wondering how many mosquito nets are too many. Oh, and I definitely need to remember my passport. (Checks under the bed, just to be sure).
The Illamperuma Villa Whirlwind
Day 1: Arrival and Shell Shock (and Food Coma)
- Morning: Flight from somewhere-with-terrible-weather (probably raining) to Colombo. The sheer volume of smells in the airport hit me like a brick wall. A good brick wall. In a good way. Then, that long ride to Mirissa. Thankfully, I've got some good tunes - or maybe a good podcast, because my brain gets overwhelmed fast after a plane ride.
- Afternoon: Arrived at Illamperuma Villa. First impressions? Holy. Freaking. Gorgeous. The photos online didn't even do it justice. This place is legit paradise, with all the frangipani trees and swaying palms. Immediate need to get inside the ocean.
- Evening: Dinner. Oh. My. God. The food. The flavors. I swear, I could weep. Think fresh seafood grilled to perfection, curries that make your taste buds sing, and enough rice to feed a small army. I overate. Regretting it slightly. But no regrets.
- Quirky Observation: The lizards. They're everywhere. Cute, tiny little things that scurry around, judging your every move. I've already named one "Kevin."
- Emotional Reaction: Overwhelmed by beauty. A little homesick. Mostly just… blissful.
Day 2: Beach Bumming, Whale Watching (and Sea Sickness)
- Morning: Beach day, baby! Lounging on the sand, soaking up the sun. The waves here are insane. I attempted to surf. Failed miserably. But, I'm trying and I'll get better (maybe.)
- Afternoon: Whale watching trip? Yes! I'm gonna love it! The ocean, the sun, the whales, the… wait. I've started to get sea sick. I was the only one. The whole trip, everyone saw whales. Me? I was hugging the side of the boat. "Is everyone okay? I'm not sure," I heard. I was not okay, but at least I was entertained by it!
- Evening: Back at the villa, attempting to re-hydrate and eat something, anything! That's right! My body has been betrayed, and it's demanding food. I had a light dinner and went to sleep.
- Messy Moment: Lost my sunglasses on the beach. Possibly in the ocean. Definitely regretting that purchase.
- Opinionated Language: Whale watching is amazing, but if you get seasick, maybe bring some of those ginger candies. Just sayin'.
- Emotional Reaction: So much beauty, then so much barf.
Day 3: Turtle Time and a Little Bit of Zen (and a Bug Bite from Hell)
- Morning: Headed to a turtle hatchery. Witnessing these tiny turtles stumble their way to the ocean gave me the feels. So precious. And then I had the epiphany that, maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay in the world.
- Afternoon: Attempted yoga on the villa's deck. Attempted is the operative word. More like a series of clumsy poses punctuated by me swatting at Kevin (the lizard) who kept giving me the side-eye.
- Evening: Massive bug bite. Seriously considering amputation. Found a little bug and was like, "I'm going to get revenge."
- Minor Category: Sunscreen application: Failed. I burned.
- Quirky Observation: The way the light filters through the palm trees is breathtaking. Almost makes the bug bite worth it. (Almost.)
- Emotional Reaction: Mostly calm. A little itchy. Mostly defeated.
Day 4: Cooking Class, Market Mayhem, and a Curry Overload
- Morning: Cooking class was the absolute highlight. Learning to make authentic Sri Lankan curries was an experience! I’m not sure I'll be able to recreate the magic at home, but I'm definitely going to try as soon as I get back from the trip.
- Afternoon: Wandered through a local market. The sights, the sounds, the smells… it was a sensory explosion! I bought way too many spices and a ridiculously oversized straw hat. Regrets? Zero.
- Evening: Ate all the curry I learned to make. Again. And again. I think I might actually become curry at this point.
- Messy Moment: Spilled curry on my new hat. Because of course I did.
- Opinionated Language: Forget fancy restaurants. The real food magic happens at these markets.
- Emotional Reaction: Utter joy. And a slight feeling of impending heartburn.
Day 5: Mirissa or not Mirissa - that is the question
- Morning: Contemplating staying in Mirissa or exploring the area around it. I haven't decided yet. But it feels like there are a million options and I want to do them all.
- Afternoon: Decided to stay at the villa and enjoy the infinity pool. I'm not sure if I've ever been happier than when I was just swimming in the ocean or contemplating the next move.
- Evening: I'm going to eat whatever I want. Food is great
- Quirky Observation: I'm feeling calm and I haven't even left the place. I feel more relaxed than I've felt in years.
- Emotional Reaction: Happy and calm.
Day 6: Adventures, Adventures - and a Little Bit of Doubt
- Morning: Decided to be very adventurous and go someplace cool. I am feeling good about my decision. But I'm very aware that I'm by myself and that makes me feel a little bit uneasy.
- Afternoon: Had a great time. I can't even explain how much I enjoyed my time.
- Evening: Headed back to the villa, had dinner, and slept.
- Minor Category: The food was amazing.
- Quirky Observation: I think I'm going to be here forever.
- Emotional Reaction: Very happy.
Day 7: Farewell, Paradise (and the Dreaded Journey Home)
- Morning: Packing. (Finally!) Trying to cram all the memories and the sand into my suitcase. Wishing I could stay forever.
- Afternoon: Last swim in the ocean. Heartbreaking. Last look at the waves. Saying goodbye to Kevin the lizard.
- Evening: Long drive. Airport. Tears. (Okay, maybe not tears, but definitely a lump in my throat.)
- Messy Moment: Realized I forgot to buy any souvenirs. (But at least I have a straw hat.)
- Opinionated Language: This trip… it changed me. Even if I did spend half the time slightly seasick. Go to Illamperuma Villa. Just go.
- Emotional Reaction: Sad to leave. Overwhelmed with gratitude. Already planning my return.
Post-Trip Musings (aka, the "I-miss-the-curry" Blues)
- Day 8 (and Beyond): Back home. Everything feels… less vibrant. But the memories, the food, the sheer magic of Illamperuma Villa, they're still there. And so is the itch from that damn bug bite. But hey, at least I have a story to tell. And honestly, it was all worth it. Now, where’s that curry recipe…?
Okay, spill it. What *actually* is Illamperuma Villa? Is it as dreamy as those Instagram pics?
Right, let's be real. Illamperuma Villa? It's a *vibe*. Picture this: Lush green everywhere, like, REALLY green. Palm trees swaying like they're in a cheesy music video. The villa itself? Stunning. Whitewashed walls, pops of vibrant blue, and a pool that looks straight out of a magazine.
But, and this is a big BUT, the Instagram pics? They're curated, people! My first thought walking into the villa? "Wow, it’s gorgeous!" But then, after a few hours, reality starts to sink in. The *slight* imperfections. A leaky showerhead that sometimes gives you a surprise cold splash. A few ants that clearly think they're entitled to the buffet. And… well, let's just say the Wi-Fi isn't *always* your best friend. But honestly? It’s part of the charm. You learn to embrace the imperfections. Focus on the gorgeous ocean views and forget about the ants (mostly).
Is it family friendly? Kids are… well, kids.
Mixed bag. My kid? LOVED it. The pool was basically their personal giant bathtub. The staff are incredibly lovely and patient, which is a GODSEND when you're wrangling a toddler. They’d even bring him little snacks and fruits, which helped tremendously, because food is never a fight when they're in charge, of course!
However, there are some potentially tricky spots. The villa has multiple levels, which could be a hazard for younger kids and I had to tell them to do nothing and stay still, (which, let's be honest is never going to happen). The stairs? Treacherous. Seriously, pack baby gates if you have little ones. And the proximity to the beach? Fabulous, but also means you need to be on constant lifeguard duty. Oh, and the constant need to bring the kid with me? Definitely a workout.
What's the food situation? I need my caffeine fix *and* good food.
The food. Oh, the food. Buckle up. Breakfast is included, and it’s fantastic. Fresh fruit, perfectly ripe mangoes, and the best pancakes I've ever tasted (honestly, better than my own!). Then, you're on your own for lunch and dinner, but the staff will usually help you cater from nearby restaurants or prepare a meal. And you can even arrange for a chef! That was a splurge for my last trip, which was worth it.
BUT. And it’s a big but. The coffee? Okay, I need a disclaimer. I'm a coffee snob. I require a proper espresso, not some instant muck. The coffee at the villa is… well, it's Sri Lankan. Which means it's strong. *Very* strong. I’m not complaining! It definitely did the trick and kept me alert the whole day!. Consider bringing your own fancy coffee if you're as picky as I am, or be prepared to embrace the intensity.
Mirissa itself... what is there to do, besides lying around the pool, which I am okay with.
Mirissa is awesome! I mean, the beaches are incredible. The main beach is bustling, full of restaurants, and surfing, so it's great for people-watching and action. Then there's Secret Beach, which is a bit more… well, secret. More chilled out, and a good place for a swim and a cocktail. Whale watching is a huge draw (I highly recommend it – the whales are incredible!), but it’s a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. I went twice and I saw the whales the both times: once it was a little bit boring, the second time it was spectacular! The boat was crowded though. Pack your seasickness pills! And if you're feeling adventurous, take a day trip to Galle Fort. It's stunning.
But honestly? Sometimes, I just wanted to stay at the villa with a book and the aforementioned infinity pool. The hardest decision was whether to go for another tea or juice.
What about getting around? Do I need to rent a car?
No, you don't need to rent a car, especially if you are staying at Illamperuma Villa. Tuk-tuks are everywhere! They're cheap, cheerful, and the perfect way to zip around Mirissa and get to the beach. Be prepared to haggle a bit for the price. And if you're feeling brave, you can rent a scooter. I tried that once. I got a flat tire within an hour and had to have the tuk tuk rescue me. So, maybe not for me. Uber and Pick Me are also options for longer distances (like trips to Galle).
Okay, fine. But REALLY, what was the *best* part?
Okay, deep breath. The *absolute* best part…? Let me tell you... one morning, I woke up to the sound of the ocean. The sun was streaming through my window. I had a fresh fruit plate and coffee in my hands. I walked outside, and I had the infinity pool to myself. Absolutely no one there. The gardener, Mr. Silva, came to me with a smile and said "Madam, the best view from the house". He wasn't wrong. I could see the crashing waves, the swaying palm trees, the whole world in front of me
And I thought, "This is it. This is what I needed." Then I spent the next two hours, with my book, just sitting there on the deck, alone. No kids, no demands, no obligations. Just peace. Pure, blissful peace. It’s those little moments that you remember. Even the leaky showerhead couldn’t ruin *that*. It was absolutely perfect. After all the chaos, the mess, the ups and downs of life, there was peace.
And the worst? Don't sugarcoat it.
Okay, honesty time. The worst? The one time I decided to be "eco-friendly" and leave the windows open at night. DO. NOT. DO. THAT. I woke up with a mosquito army buzzing in my ears. I swear those mosquitoes were the size of small birds. And then there's the issue one night where the power went out and, (again) the mosquitoes. It took forever for it to come back on, and I spent half the night waving my arms around in the dark. I think I killed about a hundred, but they just kept coming! So, yeah. Bring bug spray. And maybe a hazmat suit. The mosquitoes are relentless.
Is it truly worth the price? It looks expensive.
Worth it? Hmm… that's a tough one. It *is* an investment, no doubt about it. But, you are paying for a whole experience. You're paying for the privacy, the incredible views, the staff who actually anticipate your needs. You’re paying for a level of relaxationInfinity Inns
