Hotel Goldi Sands

Hotel Goldi Sands is one of the more affordable, well-maintained properties located along the beach in Negombo. The three-pearl hotel has a design that blends wood, gray slate, and white stucco for a contemporary vibe, plus it's packed with palm trees, lily pad features, and flowers to reflect the waterfront setting. The open-air lobby is filled with earth-tone furnishings and large works of art, and has a lily pond separating it from the restaurant and bar. From there, nearly all features are situated facing the Indian Ocean, and most guests tend to be around the pool or on the stretch of sand with loungers and palapas that's roped off from the public beach. The hotel primarily sees couples and families, but the two event spaces and wide beach mean the hotel also gets a lot of weddings and groups.

Hotel Goldi Sands has a central Negombo location, situated off a main road lined with other hotels, restaurants, and shops. On the other side is a huge stretch of golden sand, though it's open to the public and beach vendors are widespread and a bit of an annoyance. A large positive for the hotel is that Sri Lanka's main airport -- Bandaranaike International Airport -- is just 25 minutes away by car, while the capital of Colombo is about 45 minutes away. 

The 71 rooms at Hotel Goldi Sands have the same contemporary decor -- think simple dark wood furnishings, black-and-yellow-striped bed runners, and large colorful works of art above the beds. Two-floor suites featuring wood floors instead of tile, modern living areas with geometric-print throw pillows, and tan chaise lounge chairs are even more attractive. Many of the rooms have private furnished balconies or terraces with views of the ocean, though others have small windows that overlook a weathered roof. All rooms have a knob next to the bed that turns on music -- though guests can't choose the tunes being played. 

All rooms are equipped with mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and small safes. Nondescript bathrooms have walk-in glass showers and toiletries, while suites add separate jetted tubs. There have been reports of some bathrooms occasionally having a foul smell. Also noteworthy is that live music by the restaurant can sometimes be heard late at night from the rooms.

Though the beaches in Negombo are public, Hotel Goldi Sands has a roped-off area lined by wooden loungers and straw umbrellas facing the ocean, so that guests can more easily avoid the vendors that walk along the sand and can be a nuisance. The beaches in Negombo are often plagued by riptides, and signs are posted to not go swimming. For a dip, there's a long outdoor pool with lane lines painted on the bottom and a connected whirlpool tub; the deck is lined with loungers and umbrellas. There's no gym, but there is an on-site Ayurveda spa that offers hot oil treatments and massages, including some for couples. 

Dining-wise, the on-site restaurant serves buffet-style meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a contemporary space that looks out to the ocean. The food receives positive reviews, particularly the changing themed dinner buffets, but breakfast is not included in all rates. The attached bar has an adjacent room with a billiards table, and occasionally there's live music at night. An outdoor Beach Hut is also available, serving dinner under a pretty pitched ceiling. Two event spaces are available and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.