Ideal for those not worried about watching their wallets or who are willing to spend a bit more to have the expected upscale hotel comforts of the Western world, The Fortress is a solid pick. Located in a quiet, yet convenient spot 30 minutes south of Galle, this 53-room boutique looks much larger from the street. Designed to resemble the famous Dutch Fort, here you'll find modern decor mixed with architectural styles from the Dutch and Portuguese colonial eras along with two pools, a narrow and un-swimmable beach, tasty meal options, a ton of activities, family-friend features, a gorgeous spa, and huge rooms with all the fixings.
Ideal for those not worried about watching their wallets or who are willing to spend a bit more to have the expected upscale hotel comforts of the Western world, The Fortress is a solid pick. Located in a quiet, yet convenient spot 30 minutes south of Galle, this 53-room boutique looks much larger from the street. Designed to resemble the famous Dutch Fort, here you'll find modern decor mixed with architectural styles from the Dutch and Portuguese colonial eras along with two pools, a narrow and un-swimmable beach, tasty meal options, a ton of activities, family-friend features, a gorgeous spa, and huge rooms with all the fixings.
With a peaceful beachfront location and a welcome lack of crowds, the three-pearl Koggala Beach Hotel caters to travelers looking for a laid-back holiday. Common interior spaces look dated, but many open areas offer breezy beach views. The 78 rooms, all with sea-facing balconies, are more updated, with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. The one restaurant on-site offers generous buffets (breakfast must be booked with room rates), and two lounge/bar areas feature live music. Leisure activities include a full-service spa and water sports for fees. The outdoor pool isn’t huge, but guests can also use the pools at the sister hotels. For a more upscale experience, The Fortress has three restaurants and super modern amenities, but the beach isn’t as pleasant to walk on.
With a peaceful beachfront location and a welcome lack of crowds, the three-pearl Koggala Beach Hotel caters to travelers looking for a laid-back holiday. Common interior spaces look dated, but many open areas offer breezy beach views. The 78 rooms, all with sea-facing balconies, are more updated, with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. The one restaurant on-site offers generous buffets (breakfast must be booked with room rates), and two lounge/bar areas feature live music. Leisure activities include a full-service spa and water sports for fees. The outdoor pool isn’t huge, but guests can also use the pools at the sister hotels. For a more upscale experience, The Fortress has three restaurants and super modern amenities, but the beach isn’t as pleasant to walk on.
Citrus Hikkaduwa is a 90-room boutique resort with its face to Hikkaduwa's main road and its back right against the beach. This is an ideal spot for guests who want a simple, yet contemporary spot with no-frills but convenient features like a pool, restaurant, spa, and -- most importantly -- a large beachside lounging area. Rooms are simple and basic, with IKEA-style furniture, dabs of color, minibars, flat-screen TVs, coffee and tea facilities, and private balconies. This hotel is a good mid-range compromise for those who definitely want a resort-style hotel, but are on a budget.
Citrus Hikkaduwa is a 90-room boutique resort with its face to Hikkaduwa's main road and its back right against the beach. This is an ideal spot for guests who want a simple, yet contemporary spot with no-frills but convenient features like a pool, restaurant, spa, and -- most importantly -- a large beachside lounging area. Rooms are simple and basic, with IKEA-style furniture, dabs of color, minibars, flat-screen TVs, coffee and tea facilities, and private balconies. This hotel is a good mid-range compromise for those who definitely want a resort-style hotel, but are on a budget.
This five-pearl luxury boutique has 12 huge suites with polished concrete floors, imported Indo-Asian antique furniture, private plunge pools, top-shelf snacks and drinks, ocean or garden views, and outdoor lounge space. On-site, guests have access to open-air public spaces including a large lobby, breezy restaurant, small poolside bar, gym, and gigantic spa treatment room. There's also a large stretch of wild beach out back and a few traditional puppets hanging in the halls. It's the best, and priciest, hotel in the Hikkaduwa area. Saman Villas up the coast is a comparable property worth considering.
This five-pearl luxury boutique has 12 huge suites with polished concrete floors, imported Indo-Asian antique furniture, private plunge pools, top-shelf snacks and drinks, ocean or garden views, and outdoor lounge space. On-site, guests have access to open-air public spaces including a large lobby, breezy restaurant, small poolside bar, gym, and gigantic spa treatment room. There's also a large stretch of wild beach out back and a few traditional puppets hanging in the halls. It's the best, and priciest, hotel in the Hikkaduwa area. Saman Villas up the coast is a comparable property worth considering.
This off-the-beaten-path, five-room boutique has more of
a home-away-from-home guesthouse vibe than most of the larger and less personal options you'll find along Hikkaduwa's main beach strip. Notable for its serene lakeside atmosphere and tasty Asian and British
This off-the-beaten-path, five-room boutique has more of
a home-away-from-home guesthouse vibe than most of the larger and less personal options you'll find along Hikkaduwa's main beach strip. Notable for its serene lakeside atmosphere and tasty Asian and British
The upper-middle-range Lavanga Resort & Spa is a mostly contemporary property along the beach, just outside the tourist enclave of Hikkaduwa. The 60 spacious rooms have local-inspired decor, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers, but not all have balconies. On-site features consist of an ocean-view pool, all-day restaurant serving local and international cuisine, fifth-floor bar with pleasant vistas, a spa, and gym. A water-sports center and kids’ play area are also available. Free Wi-Fi and parking are pros, but some dated or worn decor and rough seas that making swimming unsafe are downsides. Travelers looking for a resort closer to Hikkaduwa center could compare rates with Citrus Hikkaduwa, a resort with most rooms offering ocean-view balconies.
The upper-middle-range Lavanga Resort & Spa is a mostly contemporary property along the beach, just outside the tourist enclave of Hikkaduwa. The 60 spacious rooms have local-inspired decor, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers, but not all have balconies. On-site features consist of an ocean-view pool, all-day restaurant serving local and international cuisine, fifth-floor bar with pleasant vistas, a spa, and gym. A water-sports center and kids’ play area are also available. Free Wi-Fi and parking are pros, but some dated or worn decor and rough seas that making swimming unsafe are downsides. Travelers looking for a resort closer to Hikkaduwa center could compare rates with Citrus Hikkaduwa, a resort with most rooms offering ocean-view balconies.
