Asia - CMB Hotels - accommodation near Columbo airport

There's bits of information in lots of places for those needing overnight accommodation near CMB. I thought a thread to collate the information might be useful. In particular, there don't seem to be many booking links. Perhaps people could write reports of places they've stayed at, and I'll update this post as an index?

AIRPORT HOTELS

The Taj Airport Garden Hotel
This appears to be the closest major hotel to the airport. The hotel's own website is here (http://www.tajhotels.com/Business/Airport%20Garden%20Hotel,COLOMBO/default.htm). Beware that the hotel can sell out - I emailed for a rate (thinking, incorrectly, they may offer something better than on their website), and the availability disappeared in the 24 hours between them quoting a rate, and them receiving my email to book that rate.

The Tamarind Tree Hotel
I think this is the next closest to the airport. wandering_fred mentions it here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9145812&postcount=8) - if anyone can supply a website that would be great.

NEGOMBO HOTELS (beach resort c20 mins north of airport)

Browns Beach Hotel
This is in Negombo, the nearest resort area to the airport, and apparently considerably closer than Colombo itself. My review is here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9077925&postcount=2) and the hotel's own website is here (http://www.aitkenspencehotels.com/browns/index.htm).

The Beach
This is an upscale resort property in Negombo. The website is here (http://www.jetwinghotels.com/ht_gi.php?htl_id=8&&cat=gi).

DOWNTOWN COLOMBO HOTELS

The Hilton and The Hilton Residence
These properties are in Columbo proper. SanDiego1K's detailed review (including other useful CMB info) may be found here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=779716).

Casa Colombo
Mentioned in passing by Guy Betsy here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9078340&postcount=4) and also in more detail with a mini-review from stephenm here (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7841053&postcount=3).

Park Street and Galle Face
Do see this thread (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696105) for info from stephenm on these hotels including links to reviews in his travel blog.

I stayed at Browns Beach Hotel on a weeknight in mid-January. I booked it on the morning of arrival through Travelocity for USD93 including breakfast and taxes. The hotel is a 20 minute cab ride from the airport (1630 and 0730 in terms of traffic). The hotel advised me to get a cab at the airport as it would be cheaper than them sending one, and to not pay more than 1000 rupees.

The foundation stone says the hotel was opened in 1970, and I have to say that not much has changed since (in the main building, at any rate). The rooms weren't dirty, but were very worn and a bit tatty. The hotel is right on the eponymous beach, and it seemed to me than the rooms numbered 101-125 were more recent buildings (I could even spy such new-fangled inventions as televisions inside). These rooms opened directly on to the beach and I'm sure are more expensive. There are also a selection of cabanas, all of which appear to be named after birds, but as far as I could tell none of them were occupied. They too seem quite modern (I'd put them between the original hotel and the 101-125 rooms) but didn't on the whole have seaviews.

Dinner was good (1000 rupee buffet, there is an a la carte as well) although I was there on "Indian Nite" - I wondered whether the kitchen would have coped quite so well with "Italian Nite" which was advertised for the evening of my departure. Breakfast was also a buffet, and was also good. The staff were very friendly, and the highlight for me was a swimming pool whose 33m length made up for its slight cloudiness. Wifi in the lobby (vouchers from reception, from 125 rupee / hour of use - ie not an hour from first log-on).

There is entertainment nightly, last night was a keyboard and vocal duo crooning their way through "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me". Not ideal if you're trying to get to sleep before 11pm, but nothing that airline earplugs wouldn't take care of. Lumpy old mattress (again, I suspect 1970s vintage) but I slept sound enough.

The clientele seemed to be English couples in their 50s who have run out of things to say to each other, younger German couples who are still communicating, Indian families and nuns.

I suppose it's fine for a nightstop providing your expectations aren't too high. I'd go there again if I couldn't find an alternative. But I'd look for an alternative.

looks like hostilities have been upscaled as of today by all accounts
. we still havent finalised our flight in yet.

still have the Hilton residence booked for 2 nights and havent heard a peap from our email to Park Hotel.:mad:

spose we had better make up our minds soon we fly out next week.

There's always the CASA COLOMBO.

Nice website once you get the hang of it ! :p

Does anyone have a preference between the Hilton Residence and the normal Hilton? If you're arriving near midnight, what's a taxi to these properties run?

TA reviews put Hilton above H Res. #3 vs #11.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293962-Colombo-Hotels.html

Hilton and Hilton Residence (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=549904)

Also within a five-ten minute taxi ride of the CMB airport is the Tamarind Tree Hotel. They have both rooms and three suite detached bungalows. Restaurant and pool etc. Very quiet with a largish garden surround.

http://www.sirlanka.com (when you click on hotels) will give you a reasonable snapshot of what is available. Jetwing is the largest local hotel group with a couple in the Negombo (beach) area about 20-30 minutes from the airport.

Happy wandering

Fred

Anyone on their way to CMB this week?

If you haven't finalised your decision, join my party and tinkybelle's at none of the above. I'm playing tag-team with the tinkys so can catch up with you in Colombo from 1 February.

Galle Face Hotel - Regency Wing (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=opera&rls=en&hs=52m&q=galle+face+regency+review&btnG=Search) (note decent pricing ~$99USD, though reviews mixed)
Boutique Sri Lanka (http://www.boutiquesrilanka.com/hotel-overview.php?HotelId=185) listing

kiwi collection is another good way to quickly compare

theres also discussion in lux hotels forum including >
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696105

Has anyone returned from a stay at the Mt Lavinia hotel?

It might be a better option than the Galle Face.
tinkybelle had to fight for the room she booked (ocean view) and I tried to for our stay.

Each of us had a less than satisfactory experience with our bookings.

I was lied to by the duty manager and was unhappy that our room did not have a real ocean view - and that he refused to allow us to change to tinkybelle's 'new' room once she had departed.

tinkybelle had even tried to arrange this, independently, before our arrival, so we would not be stuck in a room where the view is by going right up to the window and looking a 90 degrees to the left.

We both independently ended up visiting the Mt Lavinia hotel and agree it would be further out of harm's reach yet close enough for a shopping trip into the gem exchange or clothing/bag outlets of CMB.

How was your experience at the Mt Lavinia?