Staycation: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka
The stunning Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort on Sri Lanka’s South Coast is nothing short of exotic luxury living at its finest. Anantara Peace Haven resembles what the family of Anantara Resorts are globally renowned for achieving; connecting you to the indigenous, grounding you in authentic luxury and hosting you with passionate expertise. Elevated above Sri Lanka’s southernmost coastline boasting stunning Indian Ocean views framed by coconut palm trees and soft white sand, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle truly embodies the phrase “slice of paradise”.
The check in process was a breeze as we had our own villa host on hand to walk us to our room, show us around, and talk us through handy information about the facilities and restaurants. What’s also great is that your villa host is only a whatsapp message away at all times – ours was super efficient at making our dinner reservations, sending us reminders about activities we had booked, or just checking in to see how we were! Once all the formalities were done and dusted, we were able to unpack and fully make ourselves at home in the rather spacious room complete with its own balcony. It was all so idyllic, I found it very hard to prise myself away from our room and I frequently found myself on the balcony daybed, just daydreaming…
I really liked the style of our room as everything was luxurious and sleek without feeling pretentious. From the huge bed and lush linens, to all the indoor and outdoor spaces to lounge or work, and the ample bathroom with his and hers sinks and separate bathtub, the room was comfortable and functional. There were plenty of little extras too such as providing a beach bag for every room, the most comfortable woven slippers, nightly turn down service, and reaffirming their commitment to the environment by using refillable toiletries. There was a distinctly local feel to the decor, which is in part due to the fact that all the furniture is inspired by classic Sri Lankan design and made by some of the best local craftsmen. Part of the Anantara brand ethos is to connect its guests to the indigenous and ground them in authentic luxury, and I think they have excelled with the Anantara Peace Haven!
When we weren’t unwinding in our room, the place we were most likely to be found was at the pool, sunning ourselves or taking a very necessary cool-down dip. The waves at the beach can be a little rough so while it’s a stunning spot for a sunrise or sunset stroll, the team don’t recommend swimming in there. The pool suited us just fine though, particularly as the poolside service included sunscreen, water, oranges, as well as being super efficient in taking food and drink orders. A certain someone got the hang of raising the ‘green flag for service’ very quickly and he was never long without a beer in hand!
For those feeling more active, there is a very well-equipped gym and daily exercise sessions, all of which are complimentary to guests. After your workout (or just whenever) you could really pamper yourself with a treatment at the Anantara Spa; after taking a tour through the tranquil facilities I really regretted not having the time to book in one of their popular massages! Families are also properly catered for with a games room for the teens and a children’s creche onsite where parents can drop off their little ones and know they will be well cared for. But if you really wanted a few moments of calm and quiet, I would suggest heading up to the library where there are plenty of cosy chairs and books to help you whittle away the hours!
Anantara Peace Haven has three main restaurants which deliver Sri Lankan and International cuisines, Italian fine-dining, and pan-Asian specialising in Japanese teppanyaki, as well as private dining and wine matching options. There really is something to suit all tastes and as expected, the prices are on par with what we would expect to pay in London. Breakfast is served at Journeys everyday where the buffet options can are quite generous. There was always a selection of Western and Sri Lankan offerings (the hoppers are a must-order), plenty of pastries and fruit, and fresh juices made to order. Other restaurants also include Il Mare and Verele.
There was a lot to love here, but what really stuck with me was their commitment to ensuring their guests’ comfort while also respecting the natural surroundings.
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is located 220 km from Bandaranaike International Airport, 190 km from the capital, Colombo, and 70 km from Mattala International Airport.
https://www.anantara.com/en/peace-haven-tangalle
Written by Connie C.
