Glam it up at this affordable jungle resort (with bonus turtles)

Hotel

Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort

A glam beach getaway … Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort.

Check-in

I should practise my strut. Walking through the Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort’s lobby should count as daily exercise; it’s big enough. It leaves a lasting impression. The hotel’s grand entrance – glossy floors, Christmas bauble-like chandeliers and abundant natural light – signifies what’s in store at the five-star hotel: a glam beach getaway.

Located on the south coast of Sri Lanka, 90 kilometres south of Colombo, the beachfront hotel opened in February 2020. These days, socialising happens poolside, beachside and sky-high in the hotel’s enormous rooftop lounge. It overlooks the Indian Ocean, with palm forests on each side and enough areas for all to comfortably unwind and catch an ocean sunset.

Adding to the hotel’s appeal is the nearby Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Centre and proximity to the UNESCO-listed fortified city of Galle, 57 kilometres south.

The look

Its open-air hallways weave contemporary fixtures with heritage design.

The 172-room hotel makes the most of its secluded locale: bounded by Kosgoda Beach, shielded by palms. Hardly a labyrinth, it is easy to get around the six-storey building without getting lost or needing a buggy ride. Its open-air hallways weave contemporary fixtures with heritage design throughout, creating a sense of place right from the entrance.

The room

The lead-in deluxe king room category feels spacious.

Walnut-brown tones give rooms a cosy charm, yet ample natural lighting and a balcony overlooking greenery radiate airiness and brightness.

Each classic-contemporary room features dark-wood flooring, fans with palm-shaped blades, and pops of colour while an oversized canvas above the bed depicts scenes across the island nation – a nice touch.

I have Galle’s famous brick lighthouse watching over my king-sized bed. I’m in a deluxe guest room with a garden view – the hotel’s lead-in room category but it feels bigger than its 42 square metres. Beyond the balcony doors is a blanket of palms below me and the ocean just to my left.

Lounge poolside … plenty of places to be a sun-kissed sloth.

The hotel has seven room categories including some with plunge pools and one- and two-bedroom suites. The largest – a two-bedroom presidential suite with ocean views – is 210 square metres.

Food and drink

Open-air Olive Restaurant and Pool Bar.

The resort features five food and beverage outlets, from the ground floor to the rooftop. The main eatery, S Kitchen, offers an extensive international buffet that snakes around half the venue. The dedicated seafood station is a highlight; I get my fill of prawns, scallops, crab and numerous Sri Lankan fish dishes such as curries and street-food snacks. For a treat, request the barbecued, marinated prawn skewers served in a hammered copper pot.

Go up as the sun goes down; rooftop lounge bar Blu3 offers plenty of seating to make the most of the daily spectacle.

Out and about

Meet local wildlife during a visit to the Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Centre next door. Established in 1978, the country’s oldest wildlife conservation centre helps to protect five of the seven endangered sea-turtle species – green, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback – found along Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

You may see newborn sea turtles, just days old, and get the chance to release them into the wild (I opt not to).

Visit charming, heritage-listed Galle Fort, an hour’s drive away, and learn about Sri Lanka’s history or shop for nicknacks. Make sure to visit the lighthouse, too.

The verdict

If the rest of your trip to Sri Lanka is jam-packed, take some time to unwind in this luxe oasis. It’s worth staying for the buffet alone, and there are numerous scenic spots to retreat to post-meal. After a week of sightseeing, I need just that.

Essentials

From $US100 ($148) a night. Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort, 1 Okanda Road Hiddaruwa, Naape, Kosgoda, Sri Lanka. Phone: [phone]. Wheelchair access in select rooms and commons areas, phone to discuss specific needs. See marriott.com

Our score out of five

★★★★

Highlight

The hotel buffet – it’s worth the holiday weight gain.

Lowlight

Bar service by the pool was on the slow side.

The writer stayed as a guest of the of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort.