There’s nothing better than drinking in the sea air after a long and hot flight to the teardrop island of Sri Lanka.
At the Sentido Heritance Negombo, the beautiful blue Indian Ocean is literally a 30 second dash from the hotel and the long beach in front of it, ideal for everything from relaxing to catamaran racing and power kiting.
A 40 minute drive from the capital, Colombo and just 13 km away from Bandaranaike International Airport, it’s a great place to unwind and explore before heading off on a big adventure.
With 139 rooms, including a presidential and junior suite, the modern accommodation has lovely balcony views across the lush gardens, pools and to the Indian Ocean.
Arriving at the pastel coloured hotel to a warm welcome from staff keen to ensure the stay is perfect, starts the stay off well and after a fast check in, it’s straight to the rooms.
All the rooms have a maximum occupancy of two, but there are inter-connecting ones for families, and all are decorated tastefully and as is Sri Lankan tradition, in bright colours.
Facilities include tea and coffee making facilities, a mini fridge, TV with cable channels and international dialling telephone.
There’s air conditioning, an in-room safe, complimentary Wi-Fi, ironing equipment and bottled water. The open plan bathrooms are large and have a powerful rain shower, hair dryer, bathrobe and slippers, plus fragrant toiletries.
Out of the bedroom, it’s all about the fun, with a gym, spa, lagoon and kids’ pools, sun beds, free towels and umbrellas and live music.
Parking, laundry and medical help is on hand as well as special facilities for children and the disabled, making it a really perfect hotel.
Dining in the Sentido is special too, with award-winning chefs rustling up fantastic dishes uses local produce, with one of the most popular, a Negombo crab curry, lagoon mud creatures simmered in a spicy, tangy gravy tempered with coconut milk, tamarind, curry leaves and a blend of roasted spices.
Seafood dinners filled with local daily catches from the nearby huge Lellama fish market are served with panache and in the elegant Bluetan restaurant perched on the edge of the beach and with intimate lighting which shows off the dark skies and stars.
An upstairs lounge is a special place to enjoy Sri Lankan cocktails and enjoy the views and B-Bums pool bar is a great spot to taste drinks and snacks.
Across the road from the hotel there is the sister Banyan Negombo restaurant which features three specialised venues. Mad Dogs offers fusion Italian flair, a Swiss bakery for nibbles and a wine bar and lounge for fun at night. And the big hotel has enough capacity to host weddings, conferences and big hospitality events.
Another great asset is the fact the hotel is close to the main centre of Negombo, with the attractions of a huge lagoon where boat safaris can be enjoyed, a canal and fort, built by the Dutch East India Company in 1672 to protect Columba and the 300 year old Angurukaramulla Temple and a number of historic churches.
Probably its most famous attraction is the Muthurajawela mangrove and wetland, meaning “swamp of royal treasure” and Sri Lanka’s largest saline coastal bog, which merges with the lagoon and is known for its rich mangroves, diverse birdlife, crocodiles and water monitors.
The Details
Sentido Heritance Negombo, 175, Lewis Place, Negombo, Sri Lanka.
Tel: + 94 317 431 431
Website: www.heritancehotels.com
Email: info@heritancehotels.com
Situated on Sri Lanka’s enchanting west coast, Sentido Heritance Hotel in Negombo offers a unique blend of seaside tranquility and urban vibrancy. Just a short drive from the Bandaranaike International Airport, the beachfront hotel boasts all ocean-facing rooms, ensuring every guest wakes up to the serene views of the Indian Ocean.
Type of Hotel: 5-Star Hotel
Number of Rooms: 139 rooms and suites.
Price Band: For the latest offers for overseas and Sri Lankan visitors, check out their website.
Insider Tip: Tuk Tuk drivers offering good value city tours are parked at the entrance to the hotel.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8/10
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Sentido Heritance Negombo
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