Luxurious Jetwing Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka

Rupert Parker stays at Jetwing Beach Hotel in Negombo, on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Negombo has miles of long beaches and is a destination in its own right. It’s also close to Colombo International Airport so a good stopover for arriving or departing flights. The Jetwing Beach Hotel, designed by world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, is considered a masterpiece of tropical modernism. It sits on its own stretch of sand, amidst coconut palms, and exudes understated luxury.

There are 75 deluxe rooms and three exclusive suites. Each has a private balcony or terrace with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Bathrooms contain double sinks and a large bathtub and separate rain shower. Add large screen TV with satellite channels, DVD/CD player, and tea and coffee-making facilities.

The suites also feature an exclusive lounge area, a long balcony with a day bed, and an open-air courtyard with rain shower, Jacuzzi and two sun beds. Of course, there’s a personalised butler service to attend to your every need.

There are two restaurants, a bar and a beachside café. The Sands features open-air dining, and the restaurant opens onto the beach and the sea. It specialises in flavours from Sri Lankan as well as international dishes. For a more elegant dining experience, Black Coral offers fine dining with a range of local and international cuisine. The Terrace Bar serves tropical cocktails and fine wines from the in-house cellar

The Deck is a beachside café with an extensive menu of snacks and beverages while you enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze. There are also six signature dining experiences where you take your meals in a number of unique settings. These include a BBQ by the beach, a meal in the spa, or outdoors under the starlit sky of Negombo. There are two swimming pools, a fully equipped gym, open-air tennis court, and spa. There’s also a modern conference hall with advanced facilities that can accommodate up to one hundred people.

A few minutes away, the sister Jetwing Lagoon hotel hosts a professional water sports centre for adrenalin-filled jet-ski and boat rides as well as other aquatic activities. Negombo town is 2.5 miles away and has interesting shopping. For birding enthusiasts, there are excursions to the open aviaries of Muthurajawela’s mangroves and the Anawilundawa Sanctuary. It’s only half an hour’s drive to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.

Although Jetwing Beach Hotel is perfect for flopping before or after a long flight, it also works for longer stays. There’s plenty to do in the surrounding area, and the hotel makes a great base for longer day trips. After tiring travel, relax with a cocktail at the Terrace Bar and enjoy the sunset over the Indian Ocean.