Inspired by the recently published article on Telegraph UK, the team at Blue Lanka Tours, together with our knowledge and experience, have come up with our own review of the best family-friendly hotels to stay in Sri Lanka.
In this article, we will discuss why your kids will love each of these hotels as compared to other basic facilities offered by the hotels.
1. Shangri La’s Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa
Beautifully set on a former coconut plantation, Shangri La’s Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa offers a wide range of activities for every member of the family. From Golf to archery to aerobics, nature walks, trapeze, and more, this stylish resort is massive in size, yet feels warm and intimate. There are three swimming pools at the resort: one for adults, one for families and one for children (which also has a couple of enjoyable slides. Younger children can enjoy all day at the kids club with many activities lined up for them while the older kids can spend a few hours reading books, playing video games, board games, table tennis and more at the teens club. Bojun Hala is the all-day dining restaurant that lines up a child-friendly buffet spread and the friendly bunch of chefs are more than happy to cater to any food-related needs of children of all ages.
2. Riu Ahungalla
Riu Sri Lanka is located on the stunning beach of Ahungalla and designed in a way that makes it the ideal place for enjoying an authentic Sri Lankan luxury holiday together with your family and friends. The package at Riu is an all-inclusive 24 hours a day service, with free access to several amenities such as WiFi throughout the hotel, swimming pools for the entire family, a kid’s club, diverse
entertainment activities and more that are perfect for guests of all ages to enjoy their vacation. All 500 rooms at the resort give you a homely feel and are equipped with a television, air conditioning, a safe and a minibar. The entertainment activities at the hotel cater to both adults and children. While the kids can hang out at the RiuLand Kid’s Club and the playground, taking part in a wide range of activities throughout the day, the adults can enjoy live shows and activities at the RiuArt workshop. There is also the Vision Karaoke nightclub for teens and adults to enjoy a fun evening together.
3. Weligama Bay Marriott Resort and Spa
The Marriott in Weligama provides experiences that suit every traveler. ‘Tides’ at the ground floor is a happening social zone for guests to mingle with other vacationers, while the ‘Individual Zone’ caters to those who wish to lounge by themselves. The gorgeous beachfront access of the resort is much spoken about and loved by children for being able to make creative sandcastles, play beach
volleyball or simply jump in for a swim. There’s also the swimming pool area to unwind after much carousing on the beach. Marriott Weligama has three swimming pools, one for laps, one for lounging, and one just for the kids – with its own water slide. The Kid’s Club is pretty much every child’s dream on a vacation. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor games, craft activities, a mini theatre, mini-library with a range of books, a wall climbing setup, a movie center which is brightly lit to resemble spaceship spaces, and even a karaoke machine! The innovative menu at the all-day dining restaurant caters to kid-friendly items such as burgers, smoothies, samosas, pizza, ice creams and more – making your kids want to stay here forever!
4. Camelia Hills – Dickoya
Camelia Hills is a traditional tea bungalow transformed into a highly contemporary villa with five bedrooms set amidst lush gardens and marvelous lake and hill views. Large and spacious gardens are welcoming for toddlers and older children for all sorts of outdoor activities. Particularly with the pleasant weather in the hills, being outdoors is always a welcomed treat. Camelia Hills offers
all-inclusive packages with delicious and healthy food. Presentation is on par, especially breakfast – which includes nuts, bananas, chia seeds, toast, hoppers, seeni sambol and lunu miris (local side dishes). They also have a special menu for children so you don’t have to worry about their taste buds not suiting the hotel menu. An interesting collection of books is available for adults and children to enjoy, along with the stunning views of Mother Nature.
5. The Walawwa – Kotugoda
The Walawwa is a stylish boutique hotel that is much appreciated by both parents and kids. The warm and friendly staff are so very helpful that kids of all ages are immediately accustomed to them, making them feel at home. The hotel offers Family Suites as accommodation, complimentary baby cots on request, in-room games such as Uno, Jenga, and Rubix cube, as well as a special kids menu at all mealtimes. The Spa also has a massage treatment designed specifically to relax the little ones. The garden is a nice place to enjoy outdoors, cricket bats are available, the library has
many board games, and there’s a computer that kids can use on rainy days. The Walawwa is just a few minutes’ drive from the Bandaranaike International Airport, so you don’t have to worry about another long drive after an already stressful flight. Because the stay at The Walawwa is so simple and easy with kids, you could base yourself here for a few days during your family holiday in Sri Lanka. Blue Lanka Tours can arrange Sri Lanka day tours to nearby destinations such as Negombo, Kandy and anything else that you would like to include in your itinerary.
6. Jetwing Beach – Negombo
Jetwing Beach in Negombo ticks several boxes that families are looking for in a holiday destination. The luxurious atmosphere, fantastic food, top-notch spa and so much to do for the kids. Infants, toddlers, and young children will enjoy at the kids club which is open from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm daily. They can spend their days painting away, making crafts and also spend plenty of time in the children’s swimming pool. Teenagers are going to enjoy water sports activities such as jet-skiing, windsurfing, banana boat rides, snorkeling, sailing and more. For an out-of-the-box experience, you could request a local fisherman to give you a ride in his traditional catamaran while you help him with his catch. Once the kids are done with the outdoor activities, the rooms have a DVD player to watch as many movies as they like!
7. Jetwing Yala
If you want to explore the wild, Yala is a must-have on your tour itinerary in Sri Lanka. Children aged 4 upwards will be thrilled to go on a jeep safari ride and watch out for big wild animals at the Yala National Park. When in Yala, Jetwing Yala is a recommended family-friendly hotel to stay at. The hotel has catered to an adult pool as well as a children’s pool so you could opt for rooms facing the pools and let the kids freely wander in and out in between swimming pool time. Jetwing Yala also has an exclusive Family Room which features a furnished living area, plush bathroom and a private terrace overlooking the coastal wilds of Yala. Modern luxuries such as free Wi-Fi, a minibar and satellite television are also available to make sure in-room entertainment for kids is sorted. Mealtimes are amazing – with plenty of selection for both adults and children. The restaurant staff takes extra effort to make sure kids appreciate mealtimes. The beach is also equipped with facilities such as a bar, café and water sports so you could spend hours on the beach with your family.
8. Centara Ceysands – Bentota
The popular Bentota Beach also has a five-star beachfront property that is absolutely family-friendly. Yes, Centara Ceysands Resort and Spa offers a massive swimming pool for families, one pool dedicated just for children, a spa, Jacuzzi, health club and also a kids club. Each one of the 156 rooms at this resort is creatively designed with contemporary amenities for maximum convenience of guests. The in-house dining premises offer several cuisines being prepared at live cooking stations that are always exciting for the children to observe.
9. Sri Sharavi Beach Villas and Spa – Mirissa
Sri Sharavi Beach Villas is an ideal location for a group of families traveling together. Four almost identical villas are available at this stylish hotel, along with a swimming pool and spa, offering relaxation beside a gorgeous beach. The swimming pool is designed with shallow wading areas at both ends, making it very convenient to have kids and adults in the same pool. Each villa. offers three bedrooms and communal dining and living areas, giving a feel of a mini-hotel, while the management tries their best to accommodate each group in one villa. This setup is perfect for families whose children bond well so they have the freedom to do as they like in the common areas of their own villa. For much larger group bookings, the entire property can be booked exclusively.
10. Cinnamon Lakeside – Colombo
Cinnamon Lakeside is often acknowledged as one of the best five-star hotels in Colombo, providing supreme quality in all its 346 rooms – exclusively designed with luxury and comfort in mind. The hotel also houses the largest city swimming pool in Colombo, while providing several recreational options such as two air-conditioned squash courts and three clay tennis courts. In addition to these, the hotel has dedicated kids play area, video games, board games, wildlife excursions, nature walks and organized poolside BBQs. Another unique highlight at Cinnamon Lakeside is the Aqua Lounge that lets kids experience the ocean from within the comfort of the resort. More attractions include nine options for dining, an indoor spa, sightseeing services, and magnificent terrace views for a romantic dinner. The hotel is located at the heart of the city center, making it a favorite for families on the lookout to save commuting time.