Jetwing Saman Villas, A Luxury Reserve - Adults Only

Actual rating 4.5 We visited this property in Jan 2023 and loved the experience, so we decided to visit again. This review is on the second visit. This boutique hotel is situated on a slightly rocky outcrop giving it a different vibe from a typical beach hotel and offering spectacular views. The rooms are more like villas, with an outside veranda, a living cum bed room and a spacious bathroom. My favorite part was the tub with the semi open roof. (But was not a fan of the small step separating each area as it was difficult to get used to on a short visit). They have a nice looking spa where we got a 15 minute complimentary foot massage and a lovely pool. There are two large stretches of clean public beaches on either side of the property. The dining area too is quite spacious. The dinner was a set menu. The appetizer and the soup was rather ordinary. The mains were pretty good though. But there was about a 30 minute gap between each course which was surprsing considering it was a set menu with 3-4 options. The real let down were the cocktails which were quite watery. The breakfast we had on our previous visit was one of the best we've had anywhere. There were only two choices, local or western but there was a whole series of dishes under each option and the flavors were spot on. This time, while the spread was still the same massive spread and the food was good, the flavors didn't come up to the high standards set last time. The staff were very young, very pleasant and very enthusiastic. But we missed the subtle professionalism of the more senior staff we met last time. All in all it was a rather pleasant and relaxing experience. We would have given it 5 stars if not for the very high bar set on our previous visit.