Taru Villas The Long House

A single corridor runs the length of the house, and it gives The Long House its name and its logic. Ten rooms open off it, each fitted with local woodwork and stone, and each keeps its own private terrace facing either garden or pool. Bentota's beach lies a short walk beyond, down a garden path bordered by palm and hibiscus. Guests cross a stretch of railway track to reach the sand, and the passing train has become something of a fixture at breakfast. Family Suites pair a king room with a twin room around a shared living area, at 872 sq ft the largest configuration on offer. Premier Rooms sit at a slight elevation, so the pool, the garden, and the ocean line up in view from the terrace. Superior Rooms are smaller at 603 sq ft but keep the same private terrace and rain-shower fittings found throughout the house. Dining happens poolside or on the sand, with tables set directly on the beach after dark. Spa treatments come to the room rather than the other way round, booked 48 hours ahead. The property is part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World's Considerate Collection. Security staff keep the gate through the night. It sits on Galle Road in Alawatugoda, Bentota, on Sri Lanka's southwest coast.