Perched on a clifftop in Mirissa overlooking the Indian Ocean, more or less at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, Pointe Sud is a privately owned villa where actress Elizabeth Hurley and cricketer Shane Warne (plus assorted offspring) holidayed in happier times. Jude Law's visit was rather more low-key. Anyone whose appreciation of such glitterati is limited to leafing through Hello! magazine, which reported on the Hurley-Warne visit, will be relieved to hear that Pointe Sud, a 40-minute drive from the Unesco World Heritage Site of Galle Fort, is open to pretty much anyone who wants to enjoy a beautifully designed villa in a stunning location.
A private villa delivers all the facilities of a hotel with none of the hassle, such as other guests and their opinions. There are six permanent staff at Pointe Sud, a private beach, three hectares of tropical garden and - most importantly - complete privacy. While five-star resorts and boutique hotels may trumpet their luxurious appointments, a private villa is infinitely more intimate and devoid of bland corporate mission statements.
Pointe Sud was designed and built in a blend of European and Oriental styles by a French architect as a thoroughly Gallic and romantic surprise birthday present for his wife. Many of the fittings, such as window and door frames, are antiques, sourced from various parts of Sri Lanka. The current owner, a British entrepreneur, installed the 15-metre infinity pool (top) and excavated the cellar, which had been sealed up for years.
Pointe Sud can sleep 10. The drawing room - where century-old teak floors and 16-metre-high vaulted ceiling exude a palatial feel - is the villa's fulcrum. Four double bedrooms are set to either side while a gallery hosts television, a DVD player and an iPod dock. The master bedroom opens onto its own small walled garden while the library (home to 1,600 books) contains a double bed. The villa is air-conditioned but sea breezes keep it cool for much of the year. The terrace at the front of the villa is an idyllic spot for morning coffee, evening aperitifs or, indeed, loitering at any time of day. The staff are quartered to the rear of the villa, far enough away from the guests for privacy but close enough to come and help when required.