Mirissa, Galle and the South Coast, Sri Lanka

One our favourite coastal properties in Sri Lanka is this small, 5-roomed boutique hotel outside Mirissa. It looks unassuming from the front, but step in and you find yourself in a palm-shaded paradise, with direct access from its rear terrace to a particularly pretty stretch of beach – one of the quietest in the region.

The rooms are spacious, with correspondingly large balconies and you’ve the run of a good sized pool. Dine on international cuisine and top-notch Sri Lankan seafood prepared by your in-house chefs, or jump in a tuk tuk for the 10-minute ride to Mirissa’s bright lights.