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Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka

4 STARS COLONIAL HOTEL | 275 A/C ROOMS & SUITES

The Mount Lavinia Hotel is a legacy of Sri Lanka ‘s Colonial Heritage. It stands as a monument to the forbidden love of a Governor General and a local mestizo dancer who cast a spell on his heart.

Time stands still in the corridors of this grand old building that whisper legends of love and adventure.

Step back in time to experience old Ceylon and enjoy grandeur and mystery, her intoxicating beaches and most of all the enchantment of her people at this premier heritage hotel, 12 kilometres from the Colombo city centre and an hour and half from the Colombo International airport.

The History

Old Ceylon was under the rule of the British crown. Sir Thomas Maitland was leaving the shores of a country he had called home for over six years. He was also leaving behind the woman he loved. Social convention and duty to his King was taking him away from her.

But what he did not know, was that he was leaving behind a legacy to their love that would be immortalized.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel is built up around the original residence of Sir Thomas Maitland who was the Governor General of Ceylon from 1805-1811. It was at a welcoming party held in his honour on his arrival in the island that he set his eyes upon Lovina whose father was the Headman of the troupe.

Sir Thomas was smitten by her smile and charms and soon found himself obsessed by her and taking any measures possible to see more of her.

And thus was built, what is now, the Mount Lavinia Hotel. As it was highly unconventional for an unmarried British Officer to be seen associating with a local dancing girl Sir Thomas and his lover met in secret. She was smuggled into his mansion through a secret tunnel that led from her fathers well into a wine cellar in the house.

Thomas Maitland ultimately left the country (in 1811) for Malta where he lived and died as a bachelor. The tunnel was eventually sealed up in 1920 and the Gypsy village that surrounded the Governor’s mansion developed into a modern bustling city that took its name from the beautiful Lovina. But the Governor’s home which he named Mount Lavinia House and his monument to his only love has been preserved within the walls and high ceilings of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, where its staff and management alike take pride and glory in its rich history.

ACCOMMODATION

Set foot inside the Mount Lavinia Hotel and be engulfed in the breathtaking beauty of the premises. All 275 rooms have an individual personality where colonial architecture and modern amenities blend perfectly with the lull of the ocean. A stay at the hotel is an extraordinary and unforgettable experience.

Majority of rooms with Sea View and private balcony

Air Conditioning
IDD Telephones
Wireless Internet
24 hour room service
24 hour safety locker service
Laundry valet service
Satellite Television
Hair dryer
Mini bar

CUISINE

With restaurants and bars with varying atmospheres and cuisines, The Mount Lavinia Hotel offers one of the widest choices in dining in Sri Lanka. Fine dining at The Mount Lavinia Hotel reflects the hotel’s exclusive luxurious feel and includes traits of Sri Lanka’s powerful dining traditions. Dining at The Mount Lavinia Hotel is truly an experience to be cherished.

Seafood Cove
Dine on the most exquisite seafood freshly caught, straight from the Indian Ocean. The Sea Food Cove is a restaurant located on the Beach which has a Sea Food market concept. You are able to choose the Sea Food of your choice prepared to suit your individual taste right there, be it grilled, cooked, sautéed, fried or baked…..

Governor’s Restaurant
The Governor’s restaurant is open 24/7 and is a place to enjoy the luxury and a quintessential traditional meal in an old style Ceylonese restaurant. A fusion of Western and Eastern menus conjures up the magic of a bygone era.

The Terrace
Dine under the stars and be seduced by the soft tropical breezes that will make your evenings even more enchanting when you choose the Terrace. Lounge by the pool in this cool and airy setting or enjoy a snack while taking in the view of the Colombo city skyline in the background. Named by Newsweek as one of the “World’s best gathering places” this is a location sort after by tourists and locals alike. The Governor’s High Tea is served on the terrace while you watch a spectacular sunset. Sip fresh Ceylon tea served with traditional English fruit cake, butter cakes, scones with strawberry jam and fresh cream, sandwiches, asparagus rolls fresh tropical fruit, and in the evening, enjoy movies by moonlight.

Café Lavinia

Fancy lattes & smooth mochas, an exclusive variety of great European breads, yummy chocolate bakery, fun snacks & sandwiches anytime, healthy salads and daily changing soups, smoothies, milk shakes & freshly squeezed juices to go, premium teas, coffee mornings and late night desserts.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel has a range of bars, including the Lobby bar where you can relax and sip your drink while the Hotel’s grand piano serenades you with magnificent views of the vast Indian ocean and the Terrace bar which is open till late and is the best place to get yourself a cocktail while watching the sun dip over the horizon. The tropical bar which is a beach cabana style tavern is where you can savour the taste and aroma of traditional blues as well as the world’s finest beverages. Located on the sandy beach you can always hop out of the sun and into the shade of the bar for a cool refreshing beer or cocktail.

Products & Services: Extensive secluded beach frontage, 24 Hour coffee shop, Indoor and outdoor bars and dining facilities, Seafood restaurant on the beach, Other specialty restaurants, Spacious terrace overlooking the bay and Colombo skyline with dining facilities, Swimming pool, Banquet and conference facilities, Shopping Arcade, Business Centre, Sports facilities – tennis, beach volley, pool table, other indoor games and animation, gymnasium, international hotel school.

Check-in/Check-out Time: Check-in is 12.00 noon and Check-Out is 11.00 a.m. An earlier Check-in Time or later Check-out time can be requested on a case by case basis and the resort may agree depending on availability.

Address: Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

Airport: Colombo International

COMPARE PRICES AND BOOK MT LAVINIA HOTEL FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

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Sri Lanka

Elephant Reach Hotel, Yala, Sri Lanka

DELUXE NATURE RESORT | 21 A/C CHALETS

Elephant Reach Hotel is a new property located at the southern most point of Sri Lanka and approximately 265 km from the capital city of Colombo. The hotel is conveniently located with easy access to all the wonderful sites in the region.

This unique nature resort sits on 4 acres and consists of 21 well appointed chalets which are built under the shades of tropical trees such as Palu, Kohomba, Mango & Kadju (cashew) and is in close proximity to Yala National Park, Bundala Bird Sanctuary, historic town of Kataragama, Kirinda and Sithulpahuwa. Kataragama is older than history – a holy city that draws Buddhists, Hindus and followers of Islam. It is a city that is closely associated with the culture of Sri Lanka, a place where thousands of pilgrims from all three faiths flock for thanksgiving and to request favours of the God.

You will experience the most picturesque drives in Sri Lanka along the endless span of ocean on your way to Elephant Reach from the Bandaranayake International Airport and as you continue further you will come across many historical places of interest and breathtaking vistas.

From the moment you step into the Elephant Reach Hotel, you will served on by a gracious staff, that believe that making you feel at home is their divine destiny.

ACCOMMODATION

The accommodation at Elephant Reach consists of twenty-one [21] well appointed chalets, most of which are interconnecting and decorated to blend with the natural surroundings whilst assuring privacy and security. All chalets are equipped with Electronic Safes, fully stocked Mini Bar, 20inch TV with satellite channels, DVD Player, Hair Dryer, Complimentary Tea & Coffee making facilities, spacious bath with Hot & Cold water, and of course Air Conditioning.

CUISINE

At meal times there’s absolutely no shortage of choice. From international cuisine of almost any variety to a spread of local delicacies, the hotels chefs are experts in every kind of culinary delight.

Products & Services: 21 well appointed air conditioned chalets, Bath/Shower, WC, Telephone, Radio, Satellite TV, Room service, Activities and sites in the surrounding areas.

Check-in/Check-out Time: Check-in is 12.00 noon and Check-Out is 11.00 a.m. An earlier Check-in Time or later Check-out time can be requested on a case by case basis and the resort may agree depending on availability.

Address: Kirinda, Sri Lanka

Airport: Colombo International

COMPARE PRICES AND BOOK ELEPHANT REACH HOTEL YALA FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

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Sri Lanka

The Tea Factory Hotel | Nuwara Eliya | Sri…

COMPARE PRICES FOR TEA FACTORY HOTEL FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

UNIQUE 4 STAR HOTEL | 4 DELUXE ROOMS | 53 STANDARD ROOMS

Surrounded by hills and tea plantations, the town of Nuwara Eliya is the perfect getaway from Sri Lanka’s tropical heat. Nuwara Eliya enjoys spring like weather throughout the year. A favourite retreat of the British during colonial times, Nuwara Eliya is dotted with English country style houses and sprawling gardens, earning it the name Little England. Stop by the well-maintained Central Park, which is awash with flowers between March and May. Make time for an evening stroll on the numerous walking paths around Gregory’s Lake, which is located just south of the town.

The hotel is one of character and star-class, set in an emerald teascape 6,800 feet above sea level, only six degrees from the equator, the Tea Factory is in the mountain range famous for producing the worlds best Pure Ceylon Tea.

The hotel began as a factory built in the days of the British Raj. It has been converted so that much of the original style and machinery remains as a reminder of the past which is in perfect harmony with innovations of the present.

To stay at the Tea Factory is to experience a hotel like no other. Step into the reception, and you are standing where the factory’s leaf drying process was carried out. The atrium is latticed with steel and at its top are two giant wooden fans capped with brass remind you that the bedrooms are on floors that used to be the withering lofts. The tea packing room is now the hotel’s popular bar. Where tea was sifted and graded is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant; its modern kitchen used to be the engine room. The cuisine is definitely “my cup of tea”, and I’m sure you’d love it too.

The withering lofts have been transformed into 57 bedrooms of cosy, carpeted comfort. Wood is the main material used, with doors, shelves and cupboards (plenty of them) left in their natural colours. The windows remain as they were in their original square wooden frames and these provide a glorious view from all bedrooms and bathrooms. Each bathroom has both a bathtub and shower, while the bedrooms are all centrally heated and boasts built-in dressing tables with wrap around mirrors, and beds designed for a perfect night’s sleep.

The view from the rooms at the front of the hotel give a wonderful panoramic view of the tea plantations and at its rear, a peaceful pastoral scene of hamlets, hills and forest, as well as more tea meets your gaze.

History of the Tea Factory
In 1867 a Scotsman by the name of James Taylor first introduced tea to Ceylon (as the island was then known). Within a decade, the plant had become a popular crop covering over 5000 acres. As the number of requests to open tea plantations grew, the government sold virgin crown land to pioneer planters in the 1870s. Among the bidders was Mr. W. Flowerdew who became the first proprietary planter of what was to become ‘Hethersett’.

Mr. Flowerdew chose for his plantation the name Hethersett, after a village in England, which provides a clue to his origins. In Tamil, the plantation is known as Pupanie, which when translated into English means Flowers of Frost – a picturesque way of describing the cold mist that occasionally descends on Hethersett. By 1881 however, Flowerdew had sold the plantation, which then passed through the hands of different owners, each of whom contributed to its development.

The Hethersett tea plantation has played an important role in the development of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The Hethersett factory was the first to fetch the highest price in the world for silver tip tea from Ceylon. This exciting achievement ensured that the Hethersett mark would become synonymous with quality Pure Ceylon Tea.

In the mid-1930s a hill was scalped to create a plateau for the new factory, which is the hotel today. When it was first built it was regarded as a remarkable work of engineering. The factory was ingeniously powered by an oil fired engine with flywheels and pulleys to operate the large fans for withering the tea, and also the rollers and sifters. By 1968 however, the Hethersett factory had passed its heyday and was finally closed in 1973. It stood disused, among the surrounding tea bushes, a silent monument to the great days of Pure Ceylon Tea.

In 1992, Mr. G.C. Wickremasinghe, a Director of Aitken Spence & Co. Ltd., happened to observe the tea factory through the mist covered hills. He immediately had a vision of transforming the superbly sited factory shell into a unique, luxury hotel, an idea brought to realisation through the talent of Sri Lankan architect Nihal Bodhinayake.

Now restored, the Hethersett Tea Factory is poised to regain its former glory, this time not for processing tea but for serving it.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Merit Award 2001
The UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the Pacific announced the awards for the year on 17th September 2001. The Tea Factory, a unique hotel concept, received one of the five merit awards for the impressive conversion of a dilapidated tea factory into a luxury hotel complex, demonstrating a challenging adaptive reuse project, executed with commendable skill and vision.

All winning entries demonstrated understanding of the issues of conservation in relation to the cultural, social, historical and architectural significance of the building, employment of appropriate building and artisan techniques, use of appropriate materials, and a significant impact in the surrounding environment, contributing to the cultural and historical continuum of the community.

South Asian Architecture Award
South Asian architecture awards were initiated in 1995 to recognise the world of architectural excellence in the whole of South Asia. Being the first award of its kind in the SAARC region, this has earned great prestige, status and confidence of the fraternity of Architects in the sub-continent. Mr. Nihal Bodhinayake received a commendation award in 1996 for converting an abandoned tea factory into a unique theme hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Most Innovative Product
The Tea Factory was awarded the “Most Innovative Product” marketed at the TTF fair in Ahamadebad, India in 1998. This unique accolade was conferred on the hotel after evaluating other unique products featured at the fair from many Asian countries.

The Tea Factory Wins RICS Award 2000
The Tea Factory was awarded the prestigious RICS award conferred by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London In October 2000. This award is presented to encourage and recognize the outstanding achievements and technical ingenuity in the field of conservation and enhancement of built and natural environment.

In evaluating The Tea Factory against entries from all over the world the judges were impressed by the factors such as utilization of an abandoned building by putting it into beneficial use at an economic cost, preventing the building from falling into dereliction, decay & causing damage to the environment and maintaining the entire facade of the original building as well as retaining numerous other features such as the old machinery, driving shafts and pulleys. The improvement of the socio-economic status of thousands of poor villagers living in the vicinity and ingeniously making maximum use of an existing asset by suitably modifying it for its new role in the tourist industry was implemented in a coordinated manner.

ACCOMMODATION

Plush wall-to-wall carpeting
Baths / showers with hot and cold water
View of the garden
Heating
Telephone
Television with satellite channels
Radio
Piped music
In room dining
Hairdryer
Tea / coffee making facility
Choice of tea in room
Babysitting – on request

CUISINE

Dining at the Tea Factory is an absolute delight; the food is great just as it is everywhere else in Sri Lanka. The resident Chef is a genuine expert in serving up delightful surprises that will keep you asking for more. The hotel will also cater to any special requests and also any specific diets and meal plans.

FACILITIES

Mini Golf (9 holes)
Horse / pony ride
Hethersett jungle trekking
Bird watching
Entertainment programmes
Indoor games – carrom, chess, darts, bingo, pool
Booking of sightseeing tours
Gymnasium
Nature trails
Pluck your own tea from the Hethersett estate and process it in the hotels miniature tea factory
18 hole golf course in Nuwara Eliya

Products and Services: 57 Well appointed rooms Including 4 Deluxe rooms, Room service, Conference facilities, Gymnasium, Mini Golf with practice nets driving range, Golf, Horse riding, Jungle trekking

Check-in/Check-out Time: Normal Check-in is 12.00 noon and Check-Out is 11.00 a.m. Earlier Check-in or later Check-out time could be requested on a case by case basis and the hotel may agree depending on availability.

Address: Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Airport: Colombo International – 190km

COMPARE PRICES FOR TEA FACTORY HOTEL FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

Maldives

Medhufushi Island Resort | Meemu Atoll | Maldives

COMPARE PRICES FOR MEDHUFUSHI ISLAND RESORT FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

FOUR STAR DELUXE ISLAND SPA RESORT		Rating:
	Location : Meemu Atoll Distance from airport: 128 km Transfer: 40 minutes by Seaplane No of rooms : 120

Medhufushi is a naturally quiet, serene and authentic Maldivian island. After a short seaplane journey, step onto the white sandy beaches surrounded by a crystal clear lagoon. The resort staff will tend to your every need and are confident that after your stay you will take away memories of a truly tropical paradise.

Medhufushi offers a calm and peaceful atmosphere and is renowned for it’s culinary delights.

Accommodation

A choice of accommodation is available from authentic beach villas to uxurious water villas which provide unobscured views of the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean. Choose from any of the 5 private Villa categories facing the sunset or sunrise side of the island that retains a traditional Maldivian look, while providing every modern comforts you’d expect.

Room amenities for all types of accommodation :

Satellite TV
DVD Player
Direct Dial Telephone

In-villa Safe
Mini Bar
Tea / Coffee Making Facility

Hair Dryer
Bath robes
Complimentary toiletries

44 Beach Villas (65 sqm)

Scattered around the island, facing the beach

Four Poster King size Bed or Twin Beds

Outdoor Rain shower
Private Outdoor Veranda

Sun Loungers
Maldivian Style Swing

14 Family Villas

Twin interconnected Villas
Two interconnecting Beach Villas with One Double & One Twin Bed.

Outdoor Rain Shower
Private Outdoor Veranda
Maldivian Style Swing
Sun Loungers

16 Beach Suites (178 sqm)

Built to face the beach with ocean views.
Two Beach Villas joined with an outdoor seating area.

Bath Tub
Outdoor Rain Shower

Private Outdoor Veranda
Maldivian Style Swing

Sun Loungers

44 Water Villas (60 sqm)

Built on stilts out in the lagoon, facing a sunrise or the sunset, glass fronted bedrooms allow for a spectacular view of the ocean.

King Size or Twin Beds
Separate Bathtub and walk-in shower

Private Outdoor Veranda
Large patio with steps leading down to the sea

Maldivian Style Swing
Sun Loungers

2 Honeymoon Suites (152 sqm)

Built freestanding in isolation over the lagoon

King Size Four Poster Bed
Large sitting area & sunbathing deck

Open Air Rain shower
Double bath tub offering sea views

Access by private ‘Dhoni’

Dining

Medhufushi Island Resort is famous for its exquisite range of culinary delights which can be described as unpretentious, diverse and creative.

Malaafaiy Restaurant

Located alongside the swimming pool and overlooking the magnificent lagoon we will take you on a culinary journey around the globe.

Serving:

International & Asian cuisine
Sashimi/Sushi counter

Home-made pastries, breads and Jams
New World wine list

Al fresco Restaurant

Located over the Water, features a wide range of a la carte specialties in an open air setting which will allow you to enjoy the soothing tropical breeze whilst listening to the calming rhythm of the waves.

Tropical cocktails
Freshly blended juices

Extensive snack & munchies menu
Beers and spirits

Vilu Bar

Located over the Water, in the casual setting of the Vilu Bar enjoy tropical cocktails, freshly blended juices and spirits with a magnificent view of the island and the lagoon.

A la carte menu
Sensational cocktails

New world wine list

Spa

The over water spa on Medhufushi is designed to relaxe both body and mind. Releasing you of fatigue and allowing you to escape into a heaven of wellbeing and calmness. A place to recapture a sense of oneself; to rebalanced, relax and rejuvenate.

Pamper yourself – Unwind and enliven your body and soul with a selection of traditional Maldivian style treatments.

Full Body Massage : An aromatic body treatment to relax or energize from top to toe.

Back Massage : Designed to let loose stress from the back, shoulders, neck & scalp.

Feet and Legs : Focuses on those parts of the body that get heavy use on a daily basis.

Hands and Arms : A full manicure with a difference, including shoulder massage to alleviate stress and fatigue.

Natural Facial : A facial treatment that returns to nature, the therapist will choose the ingredients depending on your skin type.

Diving

The Internationally acclaimed Werner Lau Diving Center offers the complete package, from basic course for beginners to advanced diving courses.

Advanced courses up to CMAS and PADI Dive Master are available for more experienced divers, as well as Barakuda (CMAS), SSI and PADI diving courses continually throughout the year.

Werner Lau Diving Center with its international diving instructors will help you master the art of diving in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Activities

Tired of relaxing!
Venture out on a catamaran or snorkel over to explore the splendors of the island’s emerald green lagoon. Take a trip back in time; observe the minimalistic life style of the local islanders. Try your luck with the Maldivian hand-line fishing at dusk or simply enjoy a board game.

Water Sports

WDS Certified training centre for sailing on the island offers sailing programs for the beginner and the advanced sailor. There are also a wide range of aquatic activities to choose from:

Speedboat hire for fun activities and excursions
Banana, fun tubes & other towed toys
Water Ski, Wakeboard, Knee Board, etc

Catamaran Special Courses
Kite Surfing Courses
Canoe/Kayak

Catamaran Hire
Catamaran Special sailing trips
Windsurfing Courses

Life Jackets, wind surfing / water sports equipment, snorkeling equipment and water shoes are all available for hire.

Excursions

Weekly Excursions Programs
Big Game Fishing

Island Sunset Fishing
Island Hopping to the nearby local island

Dolphin Watching Trips
Snorkeling Excursions

Snorkeling Excursions – Snorkeling Trips half day excursions four times a week. Morning or afternoon (complimentary) Snorkelling safaris allowing you to Visit different set of reefs surrounding the island.

Recreation

Fresh Water Swimming Pool with sun deck – located next to the beach overlooking the lagoon and the sunset pavilion

24 hour Gymnasium

Library, offering a variety of DVDs and novels

Beach volleyball and Table Tennis

COMPARE PRICES FOR MEDHUFUSHI ISLAND RESORT FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

Maldives

Paradise Island Resort and Spa | North Malé Atoll…

COMPARE PRICES FOR PARADISE ISLAND FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

Imagine an island right in the middle of the Indian Ocean , with bright white beaches, a lagoon with multiple hues of blue and aquamarine and tall coconut palms swaying to the breeze. Who wouldn’t want to be marooned on one? All the more, when all modern comforts and formal professional services that one would expect on a five star hotel come together with it.

A network of paved pathways cut through the vegetation interconnecting the luxurious accommodation, a variety of restaurants, sports areas and a multitude of facilities that serve to make your holiday all the more complete.

This is Paradise – Paradise Island Resort & Spa to be precise, where you don’t compromise on luxuries or comforts to enjoy the atmosphere of a tropical island resort.

Paradise Island Resort, Maldives		Rating :
	Location : North Malé Atoll Distance from airport: 9.6 km Speedboat Transfer: 20 minutes No of rooms : 220

Location

This four star resort called Paradise Island has the local name Lankanfinolhu. Paradise Island, opened in 1994 is located in North Male’ Atoll, which is 9.6km from the Airport. Paradise Island is 1km long and 230 meters wide and has beach all around with an excellent marine life around.