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TRAVEL
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January15
A
sk the parent of teenagers
what makes a good family
holiday and they will more
than likely tell you to choose
a multi-faceted destination. A holiday
based on a single activity, such as
temple touring in SiemReap, or a beach
retreat on a remote island, may leave
some teens bored rigid.
Enticing my 14-year-old away from
his PlayStation was hard enough. I had
to make sure that our family holiday
would be packed with new experiences
and plenty of fun. At the same time, I
was personally longing for some true
pampering and relaxation in serene
surroundings.
Sri Lanka had long been on my
radar; I knew that the island’s beautiful
KARIN GALLEY-DICK finds
family fun galore – and the
ideal accommodation – on Sri
Lanka’s south coast.
countryside, stunning beaches, wildlife,
rich culture and vast choice of activities
would check the right boxes for all of
us. So off we went, with accommodation
bookedat thenewSri Sharavi BeachVillas
&Spa on the southern coast near Mirissa,
a luxury boutique property promising
peace and tranquillity but with ample
scope for exploring the coastal belt.
After a flight of only four hours we
were met by Susil, the resort’s friendly
driver who had been waiting patiently
after a computer glitch at the airport
caused delays at immigration. The drive
to the resort was a breeze and took
about two and a half hours, courtesy
of the new Southern Expressway that
has halved the time it used to take to
reach Mirissa.