Hikkaduwa has long been a haven for holiday makers irresistably drawn from all over the world to the warmth and beauty of the sunny beaches of Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. To meet the resultant demand for quality accommodation, a new deluxe property was built: the Coral Gardens Hotel, the most luxurious resort hotel in the region with 156 ocean-front rooms and suites.
Nothing But the Best
Fine craftsmanship and materials set the standard for the Coral Gardens. No compromises have been made in selecting the best of everything to satisfy the most discerning guests in the exclusivity of an ideal environment. Convenience and casual elegance are the hallmarks of the hotel, and its dedication to the best is what characterizes this unique resort with its established policy chat anything less does not belong at the Coral Gardens. The well-appointed rooms are simple and tasteful-clean in line and in fact-and have been created co provide you with the most comfortable surroundings for your stay. Commodious and centrally air-conditioned with piped-in music and 24-hour room service only a phone call away, each room affords one a spellbinding view of a vast panorama of dazzling surf and ocean and a seemingly endless expanse of coastline populated by towering palm trees.
Fine Wining and Dining
Within the hotel awaits an array of amen1t1es designed for your enjoyment and convenience. Start your morning at the Coffee Shop, which also offers a complete menu throughout the day. Or, if you prefer to eat al fresco on the luxuriant lawn, go out to the Poolside Snack Bar and your order will be brought co you wherever you are relaxing on the well-maintained grounds. A more elegant, but still casual, setting for dining is the cosy main restaurant which gives you a wide choice of Continental and Eastern cuisine. You can also choose from an excellent selection of fine wines and beverages, and there are two well-stocked bars to order from.
Shopping Facilities
In the hotel’s arcade you will come across several reputable and interesting shops carrying quality merchandise. Ubesiri exquisite handcrafted & Co. precious runs jewellery. two and Their outlets. other semi-precious The first shop is stones devoted features andtoa variety of curios and souvenirs fashioned from brass, silver, ebony and ivory.
Next door is Janab Jewellers, dealers in set and unset stones and fine jewellery either made to their own design or to order. They also carry an attractive assortment of ivory and tortoise-shell handicrafts.
Just outside is The World Crafts (TWC) which, in addition to an excellent jewellery section, carries a range of useful items to meet the everyday needs of the vacationer, besides lovely handmade lace and batiks, as well as souvenirs. 1WC also runs the adjacent beauty salon and the travel counter in the lobby.
Fun in the Sun
Outdoor activities abound. You can opt to swim in the sparkling fresh-water pool or in the inviting sea just off the pier, or even go snorkelling or scuba diving to the nearby coral gardens for which the hotel is named. Don’t want to get wet? – then go for a ride in one of the glass-bottom boats from which you can view the breathtaking colours and enchantment of the underwater world of the exotic coral formations and tropical marine life.
Additional attractions of the adjacent shoreline are searching for seashells, chatting with the local fishermen or simply walking along the beach in a world of tranquillity. Back on the lawn, you can hop atop a majestic elephant for a stately ride around the grounds. Other opportunities for outdoor enjoyment include a stroll along the strip of Galle Road which is the main artery of the small town of Hikkaduwa. There you will encounter myriad shops and bulging stalls overflowing with attractive merchandise and good bargains. You could also make a southward excursion to historic Galle, once Sri Lanka’s principal port, or even further to Matara, at the tip of the island, and be back at the hotel by dusk.
Activities After Dark
When the day draws to a close with the brilliance of a flaming sunset the bathing evening the ocean beckons and you rocks with in aa weekly programme of different night-time diversions including several speciality food nights and free magic, cultural dance and fire limbo performances. And don’t miss the underground Submarine Disco ‘where the music is electrifying, the lighting effects spectacular and the dance floor roomy. Alternatively, for a more sedate evening, you could retire to the TV/video every lounge night. where a different foreign movie is screened every night.
If all this isn’t enough, there is now a new and unique addition to the hotel: the Coral Club, Casino the only gaming establishment in Hikkaduwa. Open nightly, the club features Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack in a chic ambience that rivals any casino on the island.
So Let’s Go!
And what will all this cost you? Depending on the season, a double room is US $ 25 or $ 42, and a single US $ 28 or $ 38; suites are priced at either US $ 55 or $ 85. For the period March through October, special rates are applicable for Sri l.ankans and expatriates working here. What’s more, two world-class luxury hotel chains operating in Sri Lanka have chosen the Coral Gardens Hotel and its sister hotel, the Bentota Beach Hotel in Bentota, as their exclusive partners for their attractive beach package .
The “HILTON ESCAPADE” entitles you to a one-night two-day free stay at either beach hotel, including transport, if you spend a minimum of four nights at the Hilton International Colombo. The “FRANGIPANI BEACH PACKAGE” gives you two complimentary nights at one of these resorts, including transport, for the price of a three-night stay at the Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental. As the management of the Coral Gardens points out, “this recognition speaks for itself about the high standards and quality of the hotel’s services.
No matter how you go or how long you stay, the Coral Gardens knows how to make your holiday live up to all your expectations. A combination of informal elegance, superb service, gorgeous ocean views, sunsplashed days and dramatic sunsets, recreation and relaxation are woven into ever aspect of your visit to this exceptional deluxe resort hotel. Is it any wonder that so many visitors fantasize about staying on and on there forever …
Tourists help themselves at the Sri Lanka Night buffet table at the hotel.
River cruise along inland waterway.
