Jetwing Beach Hotel

Jetwing Beach, Porutola Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka

Buzz trips opinion
Jetwing Beach Hotel is a beautiful, boutique hotel on the outskirts of Negombo town where consummate good taste meets Sri Lankan simplicity in an oasis of calm. This is no budget hotel for someone looking for cheap accommodation near the airport, it’s a Sri Lankan sapphire of a hotel and will forever hold a place in Buzztrips hearts as being our very first Sri Lankan destination.

The Jetwing Beach Hotel lies in palm tree studded gardens alongside the beach in Ethukala, a 20 minute transfer from the airport. The hotel lobby is like the portal to another world. You enter one side, from the hot and dusty Porutola Road, into a cool, creamy interior with teak and marble floors, minimalist style and vibrant contemporary art, to arrive out the other in Paradise as the palm framed Indian Ocean stretches endlessly before you.

Rooms:
Accommodation is in cool, chic, trendy ‘deluxe’ rooms with Sri Lankan teak furniture, a glass frontage leading onto a patio or balcony with beach, gardens and Ocean view and a stylish glass panelled bathroom with a powerful shower large enough to run around in. Décor is simply cream which compliments the teak furnishings and trims; floors are tiled and the overall ambience is one of luxurious sanctuary from the heat of the day and free WiFi as a bonus. Three suites push the indulgence boat out with sunken bath, private courtyard, Jacuzzi and your own ‘rain’ shower – you may never leave the room.

Facilities:
Meals are in the Sands restaurant with a glass frontage which looks out over the pool and gardens. The food is of a good standard and with plenty of variety including both Sri Lankan and Western dishes. Theme nights every night take you on a culinary tour of the globe. For special occasions, the Black Coral a la carte restaurant offers gourmet dining at a price that would have another zero on it in the UK. But no matter how nice it is, Buzztrips, as always, recommends that you get out of the hotel and venture down the road to try some of the local hostelries where you’ll find quality, character and a buzz at a fraction of the hotel price. Rodeo, Lords and Serendip are all just a few minutes walk away and well worth a visit.

Prices from €167 per night for room and breakfast.

Andrea (Andy) Montgomery is a freelance travel writer and co-owner of Buzz Trips and The Real Tenerife series of travel websites. Published in The Telegraph, The Independent, Wexas Traveller, Thomas Cook Travel Magazine, EasyJet Traveller Magazine, you can read her latest content on Google+