This is the first government financed and run hotel to open on the east coast after the end of the war. Visually from the brochure and web site, it looks OK but in reality is not.
http://www.maalumaalu.com
Not only does it take 8 hours to get to by road from Colombo airport (so factor in a night's hotel expense on route if you can't bear such a long and tortuous journey), but the area is one vast building site. Scores of hotels are semi constructed and in very close proximity to each other around this bay, including next doorto Maalu Maalu.
Corals are being smashed up in the bay (and used as hard core foundations which is scandalous) presumably to give a smoother foot fall when swimming. The rainey season here is November to March.
I was at the hotel end November 2011. There were only 2 rooms booked by 8 Sri Lankans, no foreigners.
Maalu Maalu has 40 palm leaf cabana type apartments which, even after 6 months from opening, are showing signs of wear. It will be interesting to see the state of this place after the first monsoon has finished.
The rooms are basic Sri Lankan style but with an added flat screen TV. The best front line apartment with sea view is US$324 per night for 2 persons, or US $420 if 3 persons: half board. There is nowhere else to eat in the area so you are committed to eating dinner here too at US $27 each person, or US$30 if "BBQ style" meal. Factor in 10% service charge and 12% VAT on top. There is nothing to do in the area except explore the building sites all around you.
The sea is rough so there is a large swimming pool to compensate. Take lots of books as none are available and hope the TV works !
On no account order a cappuccino as this conists of a sachet of coffee and creamer that has had a quick whip with a fork and will set you back a staggering Rs300 (for a 10cent sachet of coffee).
As the new hotels will provide 2000 beds (eventually), one wonders just how awful this area will be.
A once magical bay, now being destroyed by insensitive over development for which there will be no tourists happy to climb off a 10 our flight and drive 8 hours to get to.
Even if and when the new airport at Hambantota opens, the drive will still be tortuous.
My advice is stick to the south coast of Sri Lanka. The newly opened southern express highway means it is just one hour's drive from Colombo, whereas it used to take 5 hours. Ths south coast has the infrastructure - it will be years before the east coast does.
http://www.maalumaalu.com
Not only does it take 8 hours to get to by road from Colombo airport (so factor in a night's hotel expense on route if you can't bear such a long and tortuous journey), but the area is one vast building site. Scores of hotels are semi constructed and in very close proximity to each other around this bay, including next doorto Maalu Maalu.
Corals are being smashed up in the bay (and used as hard core foundations which is scandalous) presumably to give a smoother foot fall when swimming. The rainey season here is November to March.
I was at the hotel end November 2011. There were only 2 rooms booked by 8 Sri Lankans, no foreigners.
Maalu Maalu has 40 palm leaf cabana type apartments which, even after 6 months from opening, are showing signs of wear. It will be interesting to see the state of this place after the first monsoon has finished.
The rooms are basic Sri Lankan style but with an added flat screen TV. The best front line apartment with sea view is US$324 per night for 2 persons, or US $420 if 3 persons: half board. There is nowhere else to eat in the area so you are committed to eating dinner here too at US $27 each person, or US$30 if "BBQ style" meal. Factor in 10% service charge and 12% VAT on top. There is nothing to do in the area except explore the building sites all around you.
The sea is rough so there is a large swimming pool to compensate. Take lots of books as none are available and hope the TV works !
On no account order a cappuccino as this conists of a sachet of coffee and creamer that has had a quick whip with a fork and will set you back a staggering Rs300 (for a 10cent sachet of coffee).
As the new hotels will provide 2000 beds (eventually), one wonders just how awful this area will be.
A once magical bay, now being destroyed by insensitive over development for which there will be no tourists happy to climb off a 10 our flight and drive 8 hours to get to.
Even if and when the new airport at Hambantota opens, the drive will still be tortuous.
My advice is stick to the south coast of Sri Lanka. The newly opened southern express highway means it is just one hour's drive from Colombo, whereas it used to take 5 hours. Ths south coast has the infrastructure - it will be years before the east coast does.
