Meda Gedara, Dickwella

A grand seven-bedroom beach villa just west of Dickwella, which has been beautifully and lovingly decorated by the owners to appeal to families and groups seeking a serene seaside stay in Sri Lanka. Six of the bedrooms are on the first floor of the house (including a six-bed bunk room) whilst a seventh very private room is located in a garden pavilion. The ground floor of the house is designed purely for feasting and socialising – dining areas spill from the spacey interior onto a deep veranda; there’s an air conditioned snug for the kids to call their own; and a cinema room with projector for watching movies on demand.

Outside, a big tropical garden tumbles down towards a stretch of near-deserted beach. Next to a freeform pool is a water slide and a yoga shala. Local activities include surfing at Hiriketiya and Talalla, and taking day trips to game reserves.

The villa is staffed by an efficient team including chef, and backed up by an on-call management company who can assist with local transport and tours.