The name of this blog post is verging on ridiculousness. Because its a downright silly question. There is no other answer but YES, Ani Villas is for you.
Unless of course you just can’t stand having too many choices of infinity pools to swim in, or of being waited on hand and foot. And yeah, I get it, some people want adventure and tiny beat up huts on the beach with no hot water, and the risk of getting a sneaky hand in your pocket as you ride on the local bus, and don’t get me wrong, for as long as I can remember that person has been me! Like many, I love a good adventure, but even I like a little pampering now and then.
So this is what I want you to picture now, a whole lot of pampering. Think Four-Seasons-on-crack, think as-good-as-something-can-possibly-get, think I-cant-even-get-my-damn-camera-to-do-this-place-justice. It’s a little bit like that. Its we-pick-you-up-at-the-airport and you-never-touch-your-wallet-again, not even for a drink, for a massage, or for a personal training session. It puts a whole new spin on all-inclusive. There is no luxury spared, no corner cut, everything you could ever want is available right at your feet. And after an Ayurvedic foot massage, I can guarantee your feet will be a pretty nice place to be at.
Before I left for Sri Lanka I worked my way around trip advisor and found that every Ani Villas experience had been rated excellent, and given five stars. (Take a look for yourself here: Trip Advisor Reviews for Ani Villas). And I mean EVERY review. Not one gave anything other than a raving, ranting, this-place-is-nothing-short-of-heaven type review. I read accounts of dream weddings, trips of a lifetime with thirty closest friends, and all the ridiculous luxury that dots every corner of this place. But that still didn’t prepare me for what I was actually about to experience.
You see, it isn’t just the spare-no-expense, all-inclusive luxury of Ani Villas that really warmed my heart, it was the people. It was the staff. It felt kinda like a family. And I know that probably sounds a bit cheesy, but really, they actually watched me eat, and they grinned like it was Christmas at any sign I gave that I liked it. And the one time they put olives in my salad (I had forgotten to tell them I don’t really like olives), my main girl Harshini (Harshini and Arjuna were my dedicated butlers for the stay) looked like I’d just told her I was about to lose my fist born child. She looked so crushed she made me want to just eat them. I mean they care, like they really really care. They wanted me to be happy. They wanted me to have everything that I ever wanted. And we talked and learned about each others lives. I learned that Harshini is a “bachelor”, so she lives with her mother and studies hospitality and that she loves dogs. I learned that Arjuna travels twenty minutes to work, has a wife and young child and that they have a small Stupa in their own home.
And all this overlooking the brilliant blue ocean, and I mean it is right there, just below you, so you can lie with the sound of the waves rocking you into a sweet sleep. And just to be sure no one misses out, every single villa is designed and placed perfectly so that the bedroom doors open to its own ocean view. Every single one.
So here’s to another equally ridiculous question, am I excited to be helping plan a SwellWomen and then a SwellCo-ed retreat here? YES! I get butterflies in my tummy every time I think of how magnificent this experience is going to be for everyone. Like really, truly, absolutely, I am so completely head over heels with faith that you’ll love it as much as I do. That it will be a retreat filled with wonder and luxury and deliciousness for all, and that once you’ve experienced it for yourself you’ll be writing your own raving review that goes something like this one, only it’ll be better cos you’ll have your own stories to tell.
And as for why you might want to go to Ani Villas on retreat? Well that answer is simple. Because you can’t get to Ani Villas on your own any other way! The resort only rents out to large groups. So in addition to adding surf, yoga and a whole lotta bliss-following into the luxury ridiculousness, don’t forget that the Swellness Retreat numbers are capped… so you can bet your bottom dollar you’ll be sharing half of this resort with around ten people, not thirty, and since I personally dipped my feet and or body into over ten different pools.. well… you do the math…
Experience written by: Kate Duncan, Team Leader at SwellWomen
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