Wallawwa

We loved CLUB Ceylon in Negombo for its fresh, delicious seafood. The hotel's own restaurant was excellent too. This was a lovely place to spend our first few nights near the airport. Our hotel-arranged driver was waiting when we arrived with cold towels and water. The hotel itself is beautiful, with great service, a relaxing pool, fantastic cocktails, and an amazing spa. We recommend the signature massage. Our garden suite was comfortable and charming, with a large bathroom and an outdoor area looking onto lush greenery.

Everyone working there was so friendly, and we felt comfortable right away. The grounds are green and peaceful, the food was delicious, and the spa was very reasonably priced. We were even checked in early and given a room upgrade. We spent our first night after landing in Sri Lanka here, and it was perfect for relaxing straight after the airport. Apparently the company has eight other resorts, and after this stay I'd try one of them too.

We only had one night at Wallawwa, our first in Sri Lanka, but had a really enjoyable stay. The grounds are beautiful and well cared for, with lots of places to sit. It's about a 25-minute drive from Colombo airport, which made the location very convenient. The staff were friendly and attentive. One of them showed us around the vegetable gardens. Our room was very comfortable, with probably the biggest shower room we've ever had. We were on half board, and both dinner and breakfast were excellent, some of the best food we ate in Sri Lanka. There were lovely extras too: complimentary tea, cakes and biscuits on the veranda in the afternoon, complimentary drinks from 17.00 to 18.00, and body lotion with insect repellent in a shower-room dispenser. Many thanks to the Wallawwa team for a great stay.

What made our first two nights in Sri Lanka, on our honeymoon, so special was the team at Wallawwa. Everyone was wonderful from the moment we arrived. Prasad, in particular, went out of his way to help when I realized I'd left my headphones in London. I found a shop in Colombo with the pair I wanted in stock, and he handled the calls and all the delivery arrangements so they could reach the hotel that same day. Thank you so much. Kolpata and Rick in the dining room also handled my several allergies and dietary restrictions perfectly. The kitchen made delicious gluten-free bread that was always warm from the oven. If you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, you're in good hands here. We also loved the sound bath and yoga with Simona. The wellness package was thoughtfully put together and helped us adjust to the time difference and feel rested at the start of our trip. The location worked well too, just 20 minutes from the airport, and our stay included an airport transfer. Wallawwa is a lovely boutique hotel with about 20 rooms and lots of different spaces: a library with books and board games, a veranda with comfortable wicker sofas where they serve complimentary tea and cakes in the afternoon, a shaded pool with plenty of loungers, a brand-new state-of-the-art yoga studio, and a beautiful open-air dining room. Thanks, Wallawwa team. You've made a very high bar for the start of our honeymoon in Sri Lanka.