Pros

  • Gorgeous, colorful boutique with adult-only policy
  • Friendly owner and staff, plus gay-friendly attitude
  • Few minutes' walk from main strip of restaurants and shops
  • Individually decorated rooms have tea/coffee, minibars, and air-conditioning
  • Rooms have flat-screen TVs and a collection of DVDs for borrow
  • Pretty freshwater pool surrounded by cushioned loungers
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast included in room rate
  • On-site restaurant serves food until early evening
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • Dinner not served on-site
  • Two-night minimum stay required
  • Rooms suffer from noise on occasion
  • Entrance with small sign is hard to spot
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Bottom Line

The mid-range Dickman Resort is a stunningly designed, adult-only boutique located on a quiet street just a few minutes' walk to numerous restaurants and bars. This LGBT-friendly property has nine individually decorated rooms -- almost all of which are named after a color and have coordinating furnishings -- that feature minibars, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with DVD libraries, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Some are also equipped with furnished balconies or outdoor bathrooms. Facilities aren't extensive, but they do include a lovely freshwater pool, garden with plentiful seating, and a pool table by reception. A quality cooked-to-order breakfast is included in room rates, but the outdoor restaurant stops serving food in the early evening. This is easily one of the top hotels in the area, but if beach views are a necessity, consider the nearby Jetwing Beach.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Dickman Resort

Scene

Adult-only, gay-friendly boutique with colorful, chic design

The Dickman Resort's gay-friendly and design-conscious attitudes combine to create a stunning boutique that's colorful at every turn. A tiny sign marks the orange-and-pink gated entrance, which leads to a koi pond under a wood-vaulted pathway and then an open-air reception. The high-ceilinged lobby features a billiards table, red and blue walls, and a rainbow-colored shade against the stone desk. There, friendly staff will provide a welcome drink and rundown of the property, and the owner is frequently around to chat and give local advice. As its only a nine-room boutique, the grounds aren't extensive, but they're certainly lovely -- multiple benches and chairs are set on the rocky garden, amid palm trees and quirky frog and donkey-head sculptures. 

Every area seems to have been thoughtfully planned, from the pool wall's mirror flanked by blue doors that gives the illusion of the pool continuing farther, to the outdoor restaurant's wicker chairs topped with tree trunk-patterned cushions. The adult-only policy means most guests are couples or solo travelers. This is one of the best options in the city for those that are willing to sacrifice beach views and agree to the two-night minimum stay.

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Location

On a quiet street, just a few minutes' walk to main road

Dickman Resort is located on a side street in Negombo that's mostly quiet -- though there may be barking from stray dogs heard at night. The entrance is not well-marked -- just a tiny sign on the corner of a gate -- so look out for an orange and pink exterior. It's just a few minutes' walk to the main road, which is lined by restaurants, hotels, and shops, and has the beach on the other side. The beaches are public in Negombo, so travelers can walk five minutes to a public entrance -- though it should be noted that the water is often too rough for swimming and the sand can often be littered with trash. The hotel is conveniently located a 25-minute drive from the country's main airport, Bandaranaike International Airport. Tuk-tuks are a popular and inexpensive way to travel in Sri Lanka, and can be hailed off the main road, or the staff can call one for guests. 

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Rooms

Colorful, well-outfitted rooms, some with balconies or outdoor bathrooms

The playful yet chic trappings continue into the nine rooms, eight of which are named after colors and one which is called the Mango Suite. Each room has furnishings in a color scheme that reflect its name, utilizing lots of wood, painted concrete floors, and hand-crafted objects. All rooms have two twin beds pushed together, topped with quality sheets and throw pillows, as well as seating areas and desks. Other amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, DVD players and a collection of DVDs, minibars, two free water bottles, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and a welcome tray of tropical fruit. Every room has big windows, while those on the top floor also have furnished balconies overlooking the pool or garden. 

The Green Room is the smallest, while the three suites -- Blue, Red, and Mango -- are the largest. A few of the bathrooms are outdoors, but all have showers or shower/tub combos, sleek glass sinks, hairdryers, and a full range of toiletries; the Blue and Red Suites also have jetted tubs. Wi-Fi is free and there's a knob by every bed that turns on music played throughout the property. 

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Features

Free breakfast and lovely pool

As expected with boutique properties, there's little in the way of facilities at the Dickman Resort. The freshwater pool is lovely, though, surrounded by yellow-cushioned loungers, umbrellas, and a cabana with shades that can be lowered. This area flows into the garden with benches and a hammock. The reception area has a pool table and adjacent cabinet filled with books for borrow. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and consists of a large plate of fruit for the first course and a choice of eggs for the second course served alongside toast, coffee, tea, and juice. The restaurant serves food only until early evening, but there are many eateries within walking distance. Guests can also order cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks poolside.

The hotel can provide airport transportation for a fee, as well as arrange excursions. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Dickman Resort

Scene

Adult-only, gay-friendly boutique with colorful, chic design

The Dickman Resort's gay-friendly and design-conscious attitudes combine to create a stunning boutique that's colorful at every turn. A tiny sign marks the orange-and-pink gated entrance, which leads to a koi pond under a wood-vaulted pathway and then an open-air reception. The high-ceilinged lobby features a billiards table, red and blue walls, and a rainbow-colored shade against the stone desk. There, friendly staff will provide a welcome drink and rundown of the property, and the owner is frequently around to chat and give local advice. As its only a nine-room boutique, the grounds aren't extensive, but they're certainly lovely -- multiple benches and chairs are set on the rocky garden, amid palm trees and quirky frog and donkey-head sculptures. 

Every area seems to have been thoughtfully planned, from the pool wall's mirror flanked by blue doors that gives the illusion of the pool continuing farther, to the outdoor restaurant's wicker chairs topped with tree trunk-patterned cushions. The adult-only policy means most guests are couples or solo travelers. This is one of the best options in the city for those that are willing to sacrifice beach views and agree to the two-night minimum stay.

See More Scene

Location

On a quiet street, just a few minutes' walk to main road

Dickman Resort is located on a side street in Negombo that's mostly quiet -- though there may be barking from stray dogs heard at night. The entrance is not well-marked -- just a tiny sign on the corner of a gate -- so look out for an orange and pink exterior. It's just a few minutes' walk to the main road, which is lined by restaurants, hotels, and shops, and has the beach on the other side. The beaches are public in Negombo, so travelers can walk five minutes to a public entrance -- though it should be noted that the water is often too rough for swimming and the sand can often be littered with trash. The hotel is conveniently located a 25-minute drive from the country's main airport, Bandaranaike International Airport. Tuk-tuks are a popular and inexpensive way to travel in Sri Lanka, and can be hailed off the main road, or the staff can call one for guests. 

See More Location

Rooms

Colorful, well-outfitted rooms, some with balconies or outdoor bathrooms

The playful yet chic trappings continue into the nine rooms, eight of which are named after colors and one which is called the Mango Suite. Each room has furnishings in a color scheme that reflect its name, utilizing lots of wood, painted concrete floors, and hand-crafted objects. All rooms have two twin beds pushed together, topped with quality sheets and throw pillows, as well as seating areas and desks. Other amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, DVD players and a collection of DVDs, minibars, two free water bottles, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and a welcome tray of tropical fruit. Every room has big windows, while those on the top floor also have furnished balconies overlooking the pool or garden. 

The Green Room is the smallest, while the three suites -- Blue, Red, and Mango -- are the largest. A few of the bathrooms are outdoors, but all have showers or shower/tub combos, sleek glass sinks, hairdryers, and a full range of toiletries; the Blue and Red Suites also have jetted tubs. Wi-Fi is free and there's a knob by every bed that turns on music played throughout the property. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free breakfast and lovely pool

As expected with boutique properties, there's little in the way of facilities at the Dickman Resort. The freshwater pool is lovely, though, surrounded by yellow-cushioned loungers, umbrellas, and a cabana with shades that can be lowered. This area flows into the garden with benches and a hammock. The reception area has a pool table and adjacent cabinet filled with books for borrow. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and consists of a large plate of fruit for the first course and a choice of eggs for the second course served alongside toast, coffee, tea, and juice. The restaurant serves food only until early evening, but there are many eateries within walking distance. Guests can also order cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks poolside.

The hotel can provide airport transportation for a fee, as well as arrange excursions. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Laundry

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.