Ayurveda and Spa*, swimming pool, children’s pool, fitness centre, boutiques, salon
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Perfect for a post-tour beach break this popular hotel has a unique setting where the Kalu River meets the Indian Ocean, just across the lagoon from the lively town of Kalutara. Those relaxing on the peaceful palm-dotted terrace can enjoy the cooling sea breeze and take a refreshing dip in the ocean view swimming pool. Rejuvenating treatments are available at the spa, which is located at the neighbouring sister hotel Anantara Kalutara. Other facilities you will have access to at the Anantara include both a kids' and a teen's club, a fitness centre and watersports centre. And if you’re wishing to be a little more active there are a selection of watersports, an overwater zipline, rock climbing as well as a weekly complimentary yoga session. At the main restaurant Mangrove you can dine either indoors or out on the terrace overlooking the lagoon. There is a wide variety of choice and rotating themed buffets ensure you experience a range of international specialities. Alternatively, arrange a romantic dinner on the beach. Sip on cocktails, beers and wines at either of the two bars, one of which is pool side, just steps from the beach, with views of the lagoon. The Pantry is a cool deli serving artisan sandwiches and refreshing salads as well as cold-pressed juices. The comfortable Avani Courtyard Rooms offer great value for money and have a balcony or terrace which looks over an inner courtyard. We highly recommend upgrading to an Avani Lagoon or Sea View Room, especially if you want to wake up to views of the river or the sea. For a little more space and enhanced amenities you can opt for the new Avani Deluxe Rooms or Avani Ocean View Suite which has a seating area and Indian Ocean views.
This Centara resort provides a fresh and modern choice in this popular region of Sri Lanka and is set on a thin peninsula between the mangrove-fringed Bentota River and a golden sand beach. A host of facilities such as a spa, watersports centre and large swimming pool await you, and families are well catered for with both a kids’ and teens’ club. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to dining. At the main restaurant Café Bem, Sri Lankan, Asian and international buffet dishes are served at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant also has an à la carte menu and a number of live cooking stations. At the casual 360 Restaurant, which is open each day for dinner, you can sample local seafood dishes which have been created with a Sri Lankan twist. Here you can enjoy either river or ocean views while you dine. Those feeling peckish between meals can head to the laid-back all day café, the Ceylon Club, and sample fine Sri Lankan teas as well as refreshing drinks and snacks. Set on the river side of the hotel, but without a view of the water, are the simply-designed Superior Rooms. Overlooking the resort’s grounds toward the sea (vegetation growth has obscured the view of sea in many of the rooms) are the Superior Oceanfacing Rooms. The slightly larger Deluxe Poolside Terrace Rooms are located on the ground floor close to the pool. We particularly recommend the Deluxe River View Rooms which overlook the water as they are delightfully peaceful. If you choose an Exclusive Spa Deluxe Ocean Facing Rooms, which are only bookable through Kuoni in the UK, you can enjoy a free one-hour massage or a body wrap (choice of a selection of treatments, please ask for details) on every second day of your holiday.
This hotel is famed worldwide for its colonial charm, amazing location and over 210-year history. Once the home of British Governors, it overlooks a stretch of private beach and oozes old world-style elegance and ensures a high level of service as well as excellent food. You can really get a sense of the hotel's history during a guided tour of the hotel; this intriguing look behind the scenes takes you down into the secret tunnel that was used by the governor to meet his lover, Lovinia. With its relatively close proximity to the airport, the hotel is also a fantastic choice for your first night or two on the island; it is often used as the start or end point of a small group escorted tour or a private car and driver itinerary. The hotel has quite a few options for foodies, and if you particularly love seafood, The Seafood Cove will be a little slice of paradise. Serving fresh fish and other delights down on the beach, you can pick your dinner, request how it’s cooked and then dig your toes into the sand as you’re serenaded by the calypso band. Another popular spot is the Fish Tale Bar, a relaxed Cajun-style beach tavern where you can order a range of beverages for your enjoyment down on the beach. This is the perfect stop-off before or after your visit to Seafood Cove. The historic charm continues into the rooms with those in the Governor’s Wing being particularly in keeping with the history of the hotel. There are a range of comfortably furnished rooms in the modern wings which have views of the hotel’s grounds or the ocean.
Striking a perfect balance between natural beauty, luxurious comforts and the renowned Taj service, this hotel is one of the finest choices in Bentota. With its beautifully maintained gardens, a setting on a headland between two golden sand beaches and views over the Indian Ocean you’d be forgiven for spending all your time relaxing. But be sure to make the most of the hotel’s facilities and activities which include a large freeform swimming pool and a selection of land sports. Alternatively, at the beachfront Jiva Spa you can unwind with therapies and treatments inspired by Indian traditions and rituals. The main buffet restaurant, The Palms, is where the meals that are included in the price of your stay are served. For a supplement you can choose to dine at any of the hotel’s three à la carte restaurants which include the fine-dining spot Sea View, and the seafood speciality restaurant S.H.A.C.K. This is a laid-back venue has an enviable setting overlooking the headland and Indian Ocean. The rooms and suites offer garden, partial or full sea views from their balcony or terrace. Superior Rooms are located on the hotel’s lower floors while the Superior Seaview Rooms are found on the higher floors. The modern Deluxe Rooms have a variety of views and the Premium Rooms provide a more spacious choice – ideal if you are travelling with children.
Anantara Kalutara Resort is a stunning beachfront retreat on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka – just an hour and a half from Colombo. The vibe is off-grid tranquillity, infused with a slice of laid-back luxury. Based on a blueprint conceived by Sri Lanka’s famed architect Geoffrey Bawa, a huddle of low-slung, terracotta-roofed buildings sit at the tip of a narrow peninsula, wedged between ocean and river. The resort is located at the point the Kalu Ganga river flows into the Indian Ocean, so you can go river cruising one day, then embark on lazy beach hangouts the next. The beach is a seemingly untamed sliver of sand that’s removed from the crowds. Back at the heart of the hotel, you’re not short on food and drink options – three excellent restaurants span cuisine from Sri Lanka to Europe, Asia, Arabia – and beyond. You could even book a lantern-lit dinner right on the beach or facing the lagoon for a romantic experience. Rooms are decked out in a creamy colour palette, accented with vibrant pops of turquoise and Sri Lankan wall art. Pick a Deluxe Lagoon View Room for a tranquil haven – with its freestanding terrazzo bathtub, private balcony and lush vistas – or go all out with a One Bedroom Anantara Suite for uber-slick digs with ocean views, an al fresco dining space and your own villa host to hand. Couples should book a Pool Villa for a little sanctuary with private enclosed garden and plunge pool.
Cinnamon Bentota Beach is creating quite the stir on the hotel scene after a huge renovation, the new-and-improved beachfront retreat brings a slice of luxury to the south-west coast of Sri Lanka. It occupies a sliver of land between golden sands and mangrove-edged river, nestled among wild coconut groves. Palm-strewn gardens wrap around a curvaceous swimming pool, and tumble down to the beach below, where a toes-in-the-sand bar can be found. A string of three low-slung wings house the new rooms and suites, whose interiors are warm and welcoming – think a creamy palette brought to life by burnt terracotta hues, a smattering of Sri Lankan wall art and lots of gleaming wood. Choose a Premium Room or Luxury Room in either the South Wing (close to the pool and resort gardens) or the West Wing which is located closer to the beach. The Mahawasala Wing is home to the resort’s 16 lavish suites that have separate living rooms and views over the garden towards the sea. While much of the existing hotel (the famed Bentota Beach Hotel) has been completely rebuilt, one thing has stayed the same: the original lobby by famous architect Geoffrey Bawa. It is a space rooted in place: dark wood columns stretch up to a ceiling cloaked in a colourful patchwork of intricate batiks and hand-loomed textiles. Polished concrete floors and warm, earthy colours create a sense of a home-from-home – a nod to the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan life. Around this focal point unfurls the incredible design of the new spaces, from soaring grey columns and leaf-etched ceilings in the plant-filled restaurant, to elaborately patterned frosted glass and claret sofas in a lantern-lit lounge.
This recently revitalised hotel certainly lives up to its name with numerous water features, including tranquil pools and waterways, set throughout the grounds. The beautiful gardens provide the backdrop for a relaxing and laidback holiday – perfect for recharging your batteries during a post-tour beach break. There’s an oversized swimming pool surrounded by shade-giving palm trees and plenty of loungers. We highly recommend heading to the hotel’s beautiful spa and indulging with a signature treatment that has been inspired by ancient healing traditions. International and Sri Lankan buffet dishes are served at the main restaurant the Admiral’s Room, which offers a casual setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner and options for both indoor and al fresco dining. There is also an à la carte restaurant, The Nautilus, at which you can sample locally caught seafood and a variety of beautifully presented meat dishes. Coffees, fine Sri Lankan teas and light snacks are served all day at The Seven Seas Coffee Shop which is open around the clock. The Blue Water has classically designed rooms and suites each with a balcony or terrace which has views over the resort’s gardens or overlooks the pool and the Indian Ocean beyond. Choose a Deluxe Room or opt for a Superior Deluxe Room which have pool and sea views and a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. If you choose one of the spacious Club Suites you can enjoy access to an exclusive executive lounge.
Avani Kalutara Resort
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa
Mount Lavinia
Taj Bentota Resort & Spa
Anantara Kalutara Resort
Cinnamon Bentota Beach
The Blue Water Hotel & Spa
