The four-pearl Cantaloupe Aqua is a calm and intimate oasis featuring chic, minimalist decor and gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean. The 15 stylish rooms and suites feature flat-screen TVs, LED mood lighting, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and minibars, and most have furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the crushing waves. Food is a highlight, with guests raving about the Sri Lankan, Thai, and Western fusion cuisine, plus all rates include breakfast. A small plunge pool overlooks the water and a spa offers a variety of treatments, but there's no gym and the beachfront can disappear during high tide. Travelers looking for a better beach hotel should check out the Calamander Unawatuna Beach hotel, which also has a ton more kid-friendly amenities.
The four-pearl Cantaloupe Aqua is a calm and intimate oasis featuring chic, minimalist decor and gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean. The 15 stylish rooms and suites feature flat-screen TVs, LED mood lighting, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and minibars, and most have furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the crushing waves. Food is a highlight, with guests raving about the Sri Lankan, Thai, and Western fusion cuisine, plus all rates include breakfast. A small plunge pool overlooks the water and a spa offers a variety of treatments, but there's no gym and the beachfront can disappear during high tide. Travelers looking for a better beach hotel should check out the Calamander Unawatuna Beach hotel, which also has a ton more kid-friendly amenities.
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
Ideal for couples or small groups of friends, CoCo Bay Unawatuna is a fresh and stylish spot along a quiet bay on the Indian Ocean, next to a fishing village. It's a five-minute drive to the main Unawatuna Beach area, and the Galle Fort takes about 15 minutes to reach by car. This small and upscale, 16-room boutique hotel offers crisp and bright rooms with hardwood floors, minibars, large jetted tubs, and options for private plunge pools or big decks. Oh, there's also those ocean views. Top features include a narrow pool, sundeck, a small pop art- and jazz-themed bar, and a casual restaurant serving international fare. For something with even more local character, it's worth considering the Thambapanni Retreat. Rates there are lower, but it's not on the beach.
Ideal for couples or small groups of friends, CoCo Bay Unawatuna is a fresh and stylish spot along a quiet bay on the Indian Ocean, next to a fishing village. It's a five-minute drive to the main Unawatuna Beach area, and the Galle Fort takes about 15 minutes to reach by car. This small and upscale, 16-room boutique hotel offers crisp and bright rooms with hardwood floors, minibars, large jetted tubs, and options for private plunge pools or big decks. Oh, there's also those ocean views. Top features include a narrow pool, sundeck, a small pop art- and jazz-themed bar, and a casual restaurant serving international fare. For something with even more local character, it's worth considering the Thambapanni Retreat. Rates there are lower, but it's not on the beach.
The 14-room, upper-middle-range Pledge 3 is a boutique property located on a side street near a main road lined with restaurants and shops, and a five-minute walk from Negombo Beach. Rooms are chic and modern, outfitted with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles, but windows overlook the exterior hallways and hinder privacy. Features are limited to a courtyard with a lovely swimming pool, open-air restaurant and bar that serves top-notch local and international cuisine, and free Wi-Fi throughout. The quiet, relaxing ambience is better suited to couples, though low-key families are still frequent guests. If ocean views and wellness facilities are a must, check out Jetwing Sea, which has a furnished beachfront and rooftop spa.
The 14-room, upper-middle-range Pledge 3 is a boutique property located on a side street near a main road lined with restaurants and shops, and a five-minute walk from Negombo Beach. Rooms are chic and modern, outfitted with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and kettles, but windows overlook the exterior hallways and hinder privacy. Features are limited to a courtyard with a lovely swimming pool, open-air restaurant and bar that serves top-notch local and international cuisine, and free Wi-Fi throughout. The quiet, relaxing ambience is better suited to couples, though low-key families are still frequent guests. If ocean views and wellness facilities are a must, check out Jetwing Sea, which has a furnished beachfront and rooftop spa.
The Palms Hotel is a 106-room upper-mid-range option with a dated and slightly abandoned colonial vibe. A large pool, huge backyard, wide stretch of beach, three restaurants, and two bars can be found throughout the beautiful garden grounds. All rooms have personal terrace space with ocean views, but upgrades to Suites get you more contemporary decor and luxe features. There's also a small pool for kids, event and meeting space for business folk, and a relaxing (if relatively simple) spa. The Palms is best suited for groups of friends or families who don't need a lot of privacy.
The Palms Hotel is a 106-room upper-mid-range option with a dated and slightly abandoned colonial vibe. A large pool, huge backyard, wide stretch of beach, three restaurants, and two bars can be found throughout the beautiful garden grounds. All rooms have personal terrace space with ocean views, but upgrades to Suites get you more contemporary decor and luxe features. There's also a small pool for kids, event and meeting space for business folk, and a relaxing (if relatively simple) spa. The Palms is best suited for groups of friends or families who don't need a lot of privacy.
Thaproban Pavilion Resort and Spa, part of small local hotel group, has 16 villas and suites that are decked out in stylish and modern Dutch-influenced design, and decor pays homage to the famous Galle Fort just across the harbor. This upper-middle-range property may be small, but it looks and feels big. Between its towering facade and the powerful waves crashing against the large rocky coastline out back, the hotel packs in a restaurant, two bars, a pool, multiple sunning spots, a gym, and spa. While its not the best choice for beach bunnies, it's ideal for those looking for a chic and quiet, private oceanside vacation.
Thaproban Pavilion Resort and Spa, part of small local hotel group, has 16 villas and suites that are decked out in stylish and modern Dutch-influenced design, and decor pays homage to the famous Galle Fort just across the harbor. This upper-middle-range property may be small, but it looks and feels big. Between its towering facade and the powerful waves crashing against the large rocky coastline out back, the hotel packs in a restaurant, two bars, a pool, multiple sunning spots, a gym, and spa. While its not the best choice for beach bunnies, it's ideal for those looking for a chic and quiet, private oceanside vacation.
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.
Stretched out on Negombo's beige sand beach near the Colombo airport is this modern, upscale 112-room hotel and spa with history -- it was the brand's first of 22 properties (circa '72) and has grown considerably since then, with a major renovation completed in 2011. This particular Jetwing tends to attract business travelers, wedding attendees (the hotel has a ballroom that can fit up to 800 guests) and couples in transit. Restaurants include one with an open kitchen and impressive tasting menus; guests are also within walking distance to cafes and restaurants for more choice. Spacious and modernly simplistic rooms have bold blue-green tiles against crisp white linens, and a respectable eco-friendly mission, hence LED lights and solar panels. Vendors wander around the beach and sun loungers near the infinity pool, but they're a part of the local culture.
Stretched out on Negombo's beige sand beach near the Colombo airport is this modern, upscale 112-room hotel and spa with history -- it was the brand's first of 22 properties (circa '72) and has grown considerably since then, with a major renovation completed in 2011. This particular Jetwing tends to attract business travelers, wedding attendees (the hotel has a ballroom that can fit up to 800 guests) and couples in transit. Restaurants include one with an open kitchen and impressive tasting menus; guests are also within walking distance to cafes and restaurants for more choice. Spacious and modernly simplistic rooms have bold blue-green tiles against crisp white linens, and a respectable eco-friendly mission, hence LED lights and solar panels. Vendors wander around the beach and sun loungers near the infinity pool, but they're a part of the local culture.
This 340-room, mid-range hotel is sometimes overshadowed by its sister property, Cinnamon Grand, but is a major Colombo player in its own right. Lakeside Colombo sits on seven pretty acres overlooking Beira Lake and contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, free bottled water, coffee/tea, and spacious bathrooms with tub/shower combos. Common for all Cinnamon properties, food and drink options are a standout, starting with the breakfast buffet and ending with late-night dancing at the classy library-turned-nightclub. The Executive Floor lounge is stocked with gourmet snacks and cocktail-makings, and has a balcony for impressing clients. Paying for breakfast and a crowded fitness center are downsides.
This 340-room, mid-range hotel is sometimes overshadowed by its sister property, Cinnamon Grand, but is a major Colombo player in its own right. Lakeside Colombo sits on seven pretty acres overlooking Beira Lake and contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, free bottled water, coffee/tea, and spacious bathrooms with tub/shower combos. Common for all Cinnamon properties, food and drink options are a standout, starting with the breakfast buffet and ending with late-night dancing at the classy library-turned-nightclub. The Executive Floor lounge is stocked with gourmet snacks and cocktail-makings, and has a balcony for impressing clients. Paying for breakfast and a crowded fitness center are downsides.
This relaxed mid-range hotel is located along a beige-sand beach in Negombo, near the Colombo airport. One of Jetwing’s 22 properties (all local-owned), the Sea is typically lower in price than sister properties nearby, and tends to attract leisure couples. Two restaurants include the main buffet with a wine cellar, as well as a romantic seafood option on the beach. Guests are within walking distance to cafes and restaurants for more choice. Modern rooms have central air-conditioning and balconies that face the ocean; the majority are Deluxe Rooms with more space, bathrobes, and jetted tubs. Vendors may wander around sun loungers at two outdoor pools (one that is infinity). Eco-friendly practices (a brand trait) include the use of solar power. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
This relaxed mid-range hotel is located along a beige-sand beach in Negombo, near the Colombo airport. One of Jetwing’s 22 properties (all local-owned), the Sea is typically lower in price than sister properties nearby, and tends to attract leisure couples. Two restaurants include the main buffet with a wine cellar, as well as a romantic seafood option on the beach. Guests are within walking distance to cafes and restaurants for more choice. Modern rooms have central air-conditioning and balconies that face the ocean; the majority are Deluxe Rooms with more space, bathrobes, and jetted tubs. Vendors may wander around sun loungers at two outdoor pools (one that is infinity). Eco-friendly practices (a brand trait) include the use of solar power. Wi-Fi is free throughout.