Goldi Sands Hotel

I stayed at the Goldi Sands Hotel in the summer of 2005 and had a wonderful experience. The staff was always smiling and eager to help. I could no more have carried my own bags than I could speak the language. There was always someone around to help with directions, get a bus, or just ask how I was. It was a nice surprise for a hotel of that cost. The community areas were cleaned each morning and remained that way throughout the day. The walk from my room to the breakfast buffet was always refreshing. It's hard to beat waking up to a sea breeze in a quiet and clean hotel. Once I got to the buffet, there were fresh fruits, breakfast treats, an assortment of local foods, and best of all, a smiling chef waiting to prepare an omelet. The staff was also around to serve coffee and tea. The food was excellent for breakfast and dinner. I never had lunch there. Located just off the dining area was the beach. There is about 100 yards of sand separating the hotel from the water. The beach is clean and safe. I was surprised at the friendliness of the locals. I had several great conversations with people who lived nearby and who were enjoying the beach just the same as I was. They did not treat me like a tourist at all (this does not include the local sales people. There were always people wanting to sell t-shirts, necklaces, etc. I found that to be standard wherever tourists tended to be. Beaches are public property, so just be prepared to say No Thank You on your trip) The individual rooms were very pleasing as well. You definitely get more than for what you pay. The beds may not be pillow top tempurpedic, but they are comfortable no less. The rooms are cleaned each day, new linens are put on the beds and fresh towels hung in the restrooms. You have to remember that this is a beach resort. Your room is going to get sandy and damp even if it is the Four Seasons. The staff did an excellent job each day to clean up my mess. I felt perfectly clean and comfortable at night after taking a shower and getting into bed. Additionally, I felt safe and I knew my belongings were secure as well. Each room included a personal safe. You make up your own combination each time you lock it, so there is no way anyone can access it (and given the weight of the safe, I don’t think anyone is going to be walking off with it). My balcony faced the ocean and was as good as any hotel that I've ever stayed. Goldi sands is located at the end of a charming beach and any view you can get is worthy of what time you have to watch. Bottom line is this: If you are looking for an ultra expensive and lavish resort with all the luxuries to remove you from the place you are visiting, then this may not be your hotel. If you want extremely comfortable and relaxing accommodations mixed with a genuinely caring staff and all the culture you can handle, then this is your place. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. The accommodations were more than I wanted, and if I ever make it back to Sri Lanka, I will definitely stay at the Goldi Sands.

I stayed at the Goldi Sands hotel for 7 days. It was my first trip to Sri Lanka, and all the staff were very helpful! They met my every request, even allowing me to turn on the air conditioning during the day when I was not feeling well. I felt safe and comfortable there. Goldi Sands is an open air hotel, so don't be surprised at the mosquitos and the damp feeling in the room. I requested and received a mosquito net to sleep under- highly recommended! I even had my laundry done... nothing was damaged which is more than I can say for my cleaners here in the states! I hope to return to Sri Lanka soon. I would definitely stay at the Goldi Sands again.

I stayed at the Goldi Sands last summer with a large group (80 people). I was very pleased with the service and the rooms. The staff was amazing, very friendly and wonderful nightly entertainment. The food was amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about this hotel. If I am ever in Negombo, Sri Lanka again I would stay here. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to travel there. Thank you to all the wonderful staff for all your help. You did an amazing job especially with such a large group. God bless. Texas

At the beginning I was not too impressed with the hotel, but after the first day of staying there I thought the staff were very gracious and accomodating, the food was great and the scenery was beautiful. I loved being able to go outside and see the water right there and to be able to walk along the beach. I loved the location where I could walk down the street to several souvenour places. The next time I come to Negombo I would definetly stay here again.

We had a wonderful stay at the Goldi Sands hotel! The staff are incomparably kind and accomodating. The rooms are basic, but very comfortable. The location is incredible! The beach is beautiful and the swimming pool, beach chair area and sand volleyball courts provide excellent time/space for relaxation and fun. The food was excellent and the people who work there wonderful. Please try this hotel for yourself!

We had an excellent stay at Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo, Sri Lanka. There were 80 people traveling in our group and the hotel staff was very professional and accomodating. They went out of their way to ensure that our stay was pleasant and that our needs were met. THey were very kind. The hotel was very clean and beautiful. All of the food was excellent. The hotel put on a special cultural show for us on the beach with a barbecue dinner one night. They went out of their way to extend meal times to accomodate our large group. I found my stay very pleasurable and rewarding.

I must say, I was surprised to read the last (quite negative) review of Goldi Sands, written just a few weeks ago. Our experience at Goldi Sands has been very positive. We are independent travelers and, having spent the last two weeks in various hotels and guesthouses, we feel that Goldi Sands represents excellent value for money. The location is excellent, on a beautiful beach on the northern edge of Negombo, away from the chaotic, more populated, and dirtier part of the town. The hotel is located just down from several much more expensive properties and shares, basically, the same beach. This is not a luxury hotel; in fact it is formally rated a two-star hotel, but it has the amenities and "feel" of a three-star hotel, including the following: a beautiful, large swimming pool, an open-air restaurant that fronts the beach; air-conditioning in all 75 rooms (though it is central a/c and only turned-on from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m.; however, all rooms have fans, which we found more than sufficient;)constant hot water, with good water pressure; laundry; internet; 24 hour medical on-call; tea and coffee in the rooms; a safe in each room; a mini-fridge; telephone and piped-in music. The rooms and the grounds are spotlessly clean, and there are many kind and accomodating staff to attend to all of our needs, as well as attentive management. The rooms, while basic, are well-appointed; the beds are comfortable, TV with many channels in English, and all the comforts one needs to enjoy a beach holiday. The hotel offers room only, room with breakfast, or various meal plans. The breakfast buffets have been excellent, as have the evening meals. This hotel offers excellent service and excellent value, especially because there are not many accomodations throughout Sri Lanka and, in particular, in Negombo, that caters to mid-range budgets. We highly recommend it. Their website is ---

My wife and I spent a very pleasant week at the Goldi Sands. Our bedroom was basic but adequate - everything worked and there was a TV. The balcony faced the sea and we had fabulous sunsets. The food was plentiful and varied and although it was always "buffet-style" it was never repetitive. The hotel had a reasonable size pool - very clean - with sunbeds and sunshades. The hotel was on a long, wide, sandy beach, a section of which was roped off to keep the local beach sellers at bay. However, they were never unduly "pushy" and were happy to accept "No thank you" for an answer. There were plenty of sunbeds and sunshades available on this private beach area as well. Beach/pool towels were provided. All staff in the hotel - front desk, restaurant, bar, pool, room boys - were invariably pleasant and helpful. While we were there the weather was fabulous - which always helps! All in all an excellent holiday and, in my opinion the Goldi Sands outperformed its 2 star rating.

This hotel is disgusting. The rooms smell, blood stains on walls and bedding. The air conditioning is very poor, only on between 5:30pm - 8:30am.

My sister and I visited Sri Lanka in April 2004 and we moved to the Goldi Sands as the hotel we booked was disgusting. The Goldi Sands staff were brilliant. Very polite, accommodating and helpful. The food was fabulous and we upgraded to all inclusive from half Board for the equivalent of £6 per day. Fantastic value. The rooms were basic but comfortable, very clean and fresh. There was a sea view which was to die for and the whole beach area in front of the hotel was kept clean and was patrolled by security to ward off the beach sellers. The hotel had a swimming pool, cafe and the usual beach and sunbathing facilities. The bar area was pleasant and the bar staff very helpful and accommodating. The minibuses at the hotel door were particularly cheap, air conditioned and took us on a whole day out to the popular tourist areas (12 hours) for the equivalent of £22 (not each) all in. The guide was polite and knowledgeable and made you feel safe and secure. The local people are expecially nice and very welcoming. We had a wonderful holiday which was made all the more enjoyable by the staff of the Goldi Sands.