W15 | Weligama | anexpatabroad

“W15’s idyllic tropical setting is perfect for a visit at any time of the year, as sunshine reigns all year round.” W15 Weligama

W15 is a stylish beachfront boutique hotel located right on the shore of Weligama surf beach. It was an unexpected and surprising little gem that is right up there with some of the other stylish hotels that I have had the privilege to frequent around the globe.

With Sri Lanka offering all round sunshine (as long as you avoid monsoon season) W15 is a year round destination that is popular with tourists looking for a luxury stay or surfers with a higher budget. This little slice of contemporary elegance in Weligama, one of the Southern Province’s unspoiled resorts, offers its guests a choice of ten fabulous modern en suite rooms, delicious dining options and attentive personal service that can only be offered in such a small-scale surroundings.

Chosen by our friends for their beach wedding they had booked the hotel exclusively for the duration of our stay. Surprisingly this was the hotel’s first wedding and it was fascinating to watch it transform into the most special and memorable setting. All the couple’s fabulous ideas and requests materialised at the hands of the independant wedding planning team who transformed W15’s centralised lawn area into a stunning venue, even the forecasted tropical showers held off.

I stayed in a spacious upper floor ocean view deluxe room with a balcony overlooking the infinity pool and beach beyond. A comfortable king size bed dominated the room along with a large lounge area and lovely contemporary style bathroom. While the furniture and textiles were modern the accessories were of a more traditional Sri Lankan style. There are four different rooms types available from standard and superior doubles to deluxe and an executive suite priced according to size and view, each room has its own unique interior and colour scheme. My room was super luxurious and comfy, to be honest I loved everything about it.

Onsite alfresco restaurant Aura by W15 offers a menu of international cuisine with Sri Lankan influences, premium wines and great cocktails. Open all day it’s perfect for lunch, dinner and a poolside snack, everything was fresh and well presented, there were a few vegetarian options and they also cater to dietary options such as gluten and dairy free. An a la carte breakfast is included in the room rate and cooked to order as guests prefer. Surprising it was impossible to get a English breakfast tea (or a diet coke) at the restaurant even though we were in tea country but it was available in the rooms, go figure! You could spot all the British guests coming down every morning clutching tea bags (housekeeping and the restaurant clearly did not communicate). The iced coffee was probably the most ordered item during our group stay at W15, delicious and thirst quenching it was ideal for the regular respites from the harsh Sri Lankan sun.

As well as the infinity pool guests could use the surf boards provided and attempt to ride the waves as most of our more energetic party members did. The little fishing village of Weligama attracts many surfers who flock to the charming stretch of beach from dawn until dusk, it’s certainly busy but not overcrowded. Tall coconut palms sway in the welcome breeze while brightly coloured fishing boats bob in the sea and rental surf board outlets line the sand, the only chink it’s armour is the unsightly concrete of the yet unopened Marriott hotel that rises above all other dwellings and is quite frankly an eyesore. There are plenty of sunbeds and cabanas available to just sit back and relax in the landscaped gardens and watch the surfers. The family-friendly hotel also has bikes that guests can rent to explore the area and free wifi throughout the resort.

All the activities in Weligama are centred on the beach and surf, we did take a group walk into the town but it was just a riot of colour, chaos, noise and a lot of fresh fish. Just a short tuk tuk ride away is Mirissia another beach resort that has great bars and restaurants along the shoreline, check out Zephyr if you are in the area for food, drinks and live music on Sundays (read more about that here).

If you are looking for a well located chic hotel right on Weligama beach then W15 is perfect, add in good food and attentive staff and you have the ideal stay. It’s definitely not the most affordable option in the area but you get what you pay for and if like me you are a fan of boutique hotels then I would totally recommend it.

The Nitty Gritty

W15 Weligama, 506 New Galle Road, Weligama, Sri Lanka

Telephone: +94 41225 4422

Email: reservations@w15.lk

Website: www.w15.lk

Check-in: 2:00pm

Check-out: 11:00am

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The Good……..

Beachside location

Beautiful modern rooms

All day dining options at Aura restaurant