Club Palm Garden

After a 10 hour flight from Heathrow with Air Lanka the last thing you need is a 3 hour transfer through the hustle and bustle of Sri Lanka where the whole population seems to drive and all at the same time. Upon Arrival at the hotel we were meet by the hotel staff who from the outset made us feel welcome,we were asked which floor we wanted to be on we picked the ground floor as this gave us access to the pool area through patio doors the room was average but kept to a reasonable standard by the room boy. The restrauant was again average the food was not kept hot in the bay marine type heaters,if the food was not covered up the local fly's tended to come and join you for your meal,the main bar area upstairs was kept nice and cool in the evening time where the Animation team did there best to keep you entertained there was a variety of different entertainment both from them and from outside. When we meet our Rep we knew that on the return journey we would have to face the 3 hour drive plus the 3 hours at the airport so we asked him to get us a nights board in a hotel nearer to the airport which he got for us at a cost of approx 50 dollars well worth it . This hotel could be a lot better if they spent some money on decoration and general tidying up. All the staff at the hotal are friendly and are always asking if there is anything else they can do to make you stay more enjoyable.

We stayed at club palm garden for 2 weeks. There was 10 of us all together as my Mom was getting married. The hotel staff were very friendly on arrival. The rooms we were allocated were on the bottom floor and did smell a little damp but we requested to move and they moved all 10 of us to new rooms straight away. The standard of the rooms were average. The cleaners cleaned every day and and they also came at night. We have a 7month old baby and the hotel staff could not do enough fo us. The wedding was spectacular and meeted all the needs my mom could have wished for. We went on trips with the local taxi man shirley who was very informative and well worth the cost. Entertainment was good every night with different activies every day for all ages to participate in. I would highly recommend this hotel for couples and families and we would definately go back to this hotel in the future. Gerorgina, jon & hayden 11-25 oct 06 manchester

this hotel and all its staff is great and me and my wife would not hesitate to both recommend and return.ask for bambu on the beach also ranga we went on various trips with them found them honest and far cheaper than the reps food and entertainment was spot on a special mention to lally in the bar.great place lovely people go now.

transfer - we arrived at colombo after a long tiring flight with sri lankan airlines which were fantastic. We had a private taxi take us to our hotel. we wasnt looking forward to the long 3 hour transfer but with the taxi being air conditioned it was ok. check in - we got to the hotel and were sat on the sofas straight away with a nice cool drink which i felt was really good service. It was quick and easy and we were in our room within 10 minutes. rooms - our room was on the ground floor which i would recommend because you can open the patio doors and you have a lovely terrace with chairs on. To your left is the beach and sea and to your right is the restaurant. straight in front of you is your pool and snack bar. We found having a ground floor room was easier than walking all the way round to get to things. The bed was ok, 2 together, room was quite spacy but basic and cleaned twice a day with clean towels every day. restaurant - good choice of food with themed evenings and i would definitely recommend to payt extra for the seafood buffet which is on a thursday night around the pool all lit up, food was excellent. eve entertainment - evening entertainment wasnt that great, fire eater and dancers and singers which some people liked, we were there for world cup so every match was on a wide screen massive tv in the bar, good atmosphere. beach - beach was lovely and wide, we walked all the way along either side, we couldnt swim in the sea as we were there when it was rough. we wree right next to bentota beach which you have to get a small boat to which we fone every day. this beach was very quiet. trips - we booked our trips with ranga and raj the best beach boys, they took the 2 of us in a 7 seater air con mini van for 2 nights to see turlte hatchery, galle national park, elephant orphanage, elephant ride, spice gardens and kandy which was the best aprts of our holiday. overall - best holiday so far loads to do or you can do nothing.

Me my wife and daughter have just returned from club palm garden (9th Sept), the hotel is basic but clean and good food. Friendly staff and lots of activities, which to be honest at times does give it a slightly butlins/pontins feel!! We liked it that much we have booked to go back for christmas and we have not been back a week!! We are however not staying at club palm, we are staying at a guest house about 500m away, this was after we made good friends with a group of "Beach boy's", we travelled with Mercury direct and did not arrive in resort until 22:00 on monday after leaving at 09:30 the previous sunday, but our rep called us at 07:45 the next morning asking us to meet him in reception! We politely said wait and we will be up after brekkie. When we meet him he was welcoming and pleasent and warned us about the beach boys and not to go on trips with them as they had a bad reputation and i had a young teenage daughter to be careful, and becareful of going on the beach at night, great i am now thinking i am going to be a prisoner in the bloody hotel for three weeks, this was our first trip outside europe and after this warning wish we had'nt have bothered.We also booked two trips with rep, one to kandy and various sites with an overnight stay at a 5* hotel, and a another day trip to galleand elephant orphange, and turtles and hikkaduwa to go on glass bottom boat this was a one day trip. We paid £116 each for the two day overnight trip and £29 for the one day trip, we then go to the beach and are now dubious of the beach boys trying to sell us trips and the like, a week goes past and we got to kandy vatious places and it was a good trip. We then found we will test the water and the next day we booked a river trip with a beach boy, about £20 for the three of us for three hours, we got talking to them and said we had been to kandy and booked this other day trip with our rep and they said they could take us to kandy for £65 each and the single day trip for £16! Half price, we then booked another trip with the boys to a waterfalls were they cooked prawns and fresh fish for us and played the bongos whilst we all a had good party with much arrack consumed. This trip was one of the highlights of our holiday and was a fanastic day out for £20 each we had fresh prawns and fish, plus all our drinks. We then become very friendly with the lads and spent the rest of our holiday with them, we went a sri lankan house warming party, and again was blown away by the kindess and welcome we received and what a night, 60 sri lankan's, me my wife and our daughter, but by far a great night and defintly as we experienced the local way of life, we were cooked traditional rice and curry b y the older women of the family and they could not do enough for you. We enjoyed our time with these local beach boys and become very good friends with them that we are going back to spend christmas with them at they're guset house, please do not be put off by the beach boys the majority of them are fine and just trying to make you happy and make your holiday fun and all for cheaper than the rep does!! If you are travelling to Beruwela and need to to arrange trips or tours please email and i can put you in touch with the friends out there, who will make it a holiday you wont forget, unless you drink to much arrack with them!!

just got back from club palm garden 2 days ago, and had the most fun ever! this hotel is full of activities and fun things to do. the beach is beautiful and the locals are friendly and willing to help. the hotel facilities are great and ready to use. the staff were great for me as i am a teenager. all the staff are nice and helpful and easy to talk to. all in all i had a amazing time and experience. and i fully advice this hotel to any one. the entertainment was very light and funny most of the time and constited of caulture shows and discos for the younger guest.

We stayed in this place for a grand total of 5 hours, the rooms were dirty, smelly and in a bad state of repair. It was noisy from work being done outside, the aircon didn't work (just made a racket) an the fan was noisy and loosley attached to the ceiling. The staff were unfreindly and unhelpful. The food was awful and some things weren't even covered up! Luckily the local reps at the travel agent were great and got is into the tangerine beach hotel about 30 minutes away (in fact they said that they would never recommend this hotel to anybody), same 3 star rating but a world apart in terms of quality in every way! And it only cost us an extra £50 each to stay there.

Me and one of my best friends stayed at the Club Palm Garden in June of this Year. It was our first time to Sri Lanka but DEFINATELY not our last time!!!!!! We met some lovely Sri Lankan people there; Aruna the beach boy does fabulous trips at very good prices, and is well recommended by Brits who have been there before. The hotel staff are very helpful. The girl in the giftshop is very helpful as are the bar and restaurant staff; if you dont want whats on the menu that day, the chef will do you scrambled eggs on toast. Ive been to hotels in the many places wheres its a case of get on with it, i.e. eat whats there or go without. The hotel staff will do anything for you, BUT remember they are not slaves, and due to low wages should be tipped accordingly! When I stayed there, i could not fault the room, bed linen was changed ever day, with flowers or orchids left on the bed, cool water pumps with flasks to fill up. The hotel staff were very attentive to all guests. Ive read previous entries that were derogatory about this hotel, and I find them totally uncalled for, this hotel is 3 star but gives 5 star service!!!!! Yes the hotel was in the Tsunami, and maybe some people could smell damp, but we personally had a brilliant time there. As did other Brits we met, some couples go there year after year. I would definately suggest this hotel to anybody looking for a good holiday, if you want 5 star pay the extra, but I feel we were given 5 star service at 3 star prices. Unfortunately, I have booked to go to Croatia next June but the year after I will be back at club palm garden in June. As for rowdy behaviour, the only kind I witnessed was local Sri Lankans who were on a holiday provided by theior employer Mc Donalds, they were young and drunk, wasnt we all YOUNG ONCE and acted foolish when drunk!!!!!!!!! You can get very good clothes made to measure on the beach by the ladies who measure clothes made for you, and will copy any designs you take to them, I got 7 linen shirts for around £5 each. Please try this hotel as it is value for money with excellent service. And like any service provided, It cant please everyone. I cant wait to get back there

Booked up a trip for a group of 15 a year ago to see the island, three families with young kids, one request we had was the hotels had to have inter-connecting rooms. We arrived at the hotel late in the evening, on arrival they told us that they had given the inter-connecting rooms away that day! As an alternative they showed us some rooms at pool level, they smelt damp and musty, I personally think these rooms were effected by the tsunami and they only use them as a last resort. Luckily we had a tour guide from the travel company and after much ado we were transferred next door to the Riverina which was worlds apart from Club Palm. It was a shame because we had stayed at three top hotels on the first part of the trip, Mount Lavinia, Amaya Lakes and Earls Regency, maybe we were spoilt by the first three!

Me and my partner chose this hotel to take our families and get married here. I was delighted when we got there to find the hotel was better than the 3 star it says it is...the food was fantastic, the people and staff were out of this world, they were so nice and made me and my family feel very special. The hotel rooms are a little basic but good enough to sleep in. The pool was good and entertaining, you had chipmonks running around the trees and being very brave and coming right up to you! As i said we got married there and it was the best idea we have ever had. The ceremony was beautiful and very different, all the drummers and dancers made it very special. We have the elephant there too which made the wedding complete! I had breakfast in bed the day of the wedding and also the day after the wedding which was nice. I cannot stress how lovely these people were and how much we enjoyed our stay at Club Palm Garden