Our three weeks in Sri Lanka were coming to an end. We had explored much of this small country, and we were tired. Thankfully, we had the perfect solution – a stay at The Sands, by Aitken Spence Hotels. This was a great place to just enjoy our last few days in Sri Lanka without having to worry about anything.

The Sands Review

The first thing we noticed about The Sands was its beachfront location. There were views everywhere as well as the sound of the ocean. It’s a lovely, clean beach with enough surf to keep it interesting as well as being safe for our kids as long as they stayed near the edge.

The next was the pool. We just loved this pool! It’s huge, but the best part was that it is quite shallow – Miss 4 (admittedly crazy big for her age) could touch the bottom just about everywhere. It has to be the most perfect pool for families we have experienced. The kids could have spent days in here exploring the different sections. There is also a shallow area that is just perfect for babies.

If you ever get sick of the pool and the beach, there are also lots of other things to do. There are activities that run throughout the day as well as some evening events, such as cultural shows. We even had the chance to watch fire dancing here!

There is also a gym, table tennis table, games, a library, shops and even a night club as well as a day spa. There is plenty here to keep you entertained.

Of course, you probably didn’t come all the way to Sri Lanka just to hang out by a pool (although I don’t blame you if you did!). One of the best parts about The Sands is its location. It’s in a great secluded spot where you won’t be bothered at the beach. However, its also just outside of Colombo, so a close commute to this city or the airport, and not far from Galle either.

This means that it is a great spot to take day trips to Galle, Colombo and anywhere else on the South or East coasts of Sri Lanka. The hotel itself is located about 10 minutes walk from a train station or you can hire a car and driver for a good price and go wherever you want.

They are extending the hotel at the moment. There is an extra building being built which was happening next to our room but didn’t disturb us at all. This is due to open in July and will come with even more restaurants, pools and facilities, so things are set to become even more enjoyable at The Sands soon.

Our Suite

Part of what made our stay so great was definitely our suite. We stayed in a family suite which is basically two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two balconies and a living area! It was just perfect for us. We are all happier when we have some space and this delivered that easily.

Our suite was very spacious and quiet. It also had cable TV, a mini bar, toiletries, tea and cofffee making facilities, etc. It was perfect for families. We also checked out the other rooms types and although I definitely recommend the family suite most of all, the deluxe and superior rooms are also quite big with plenty of room for an extra bed. The cabanas are perfect for a couple.

Eating at The Sands

Eating in Sri Lanka has been difficult for us. We have found the food in general to be without taste (apart from burning spice) and not very nutritious. We were so relieved to finally have a range of options that tasted good!

In the morning, we would eat the breakfast buffet. There was a good range of Sri Lankan and western options. For lunch and dinner, there were options of a buffet or a la carte dining. We generally ate lunch on our balcony via room service and then had dinner in a restaurant. There are three restaurants and three bars, and there is also an all inclusive option (these options are set to increase when the new building opens).

The vegetarian options were slim. I managed to eat something different every meal but I had run out of options after our couple of days. However, there were plenty of options for the kids which was a nice change after everything being so spicy elsewhere.

One of the big pluses of eating at The Sands was the cost. The prices are very reasonable starting at around 500 rupees. Although you can certainly eat at local restaurants for cheaper than this (if you can find them), this was about as cheap as any restaurant we had visited in the touristy coastal areas and much cheaper than we could find in Galle. Given the quality of the food, this was a total bargain.

The kids?

It is hard to imagine that the kids could be happier anywhere than in this pool! It really was perfect. Our family suite also worked very well and they loved having so many food options that weren’t spicy.

Our verdict

We had a great time at The Sands.

It was so nice to be somewhere that was just easy and relaxing after our whirlwind tour of Sri Lanka. I also think The Sands would be a great option if you are looking for somewhere where you can enjoy Sri Lanka without any hassle while quickly getting around some of its major sites. It’s an easy commute to places like Galle, Colombo and Mirissa’s whales. When you are not exploring, its a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean.

Our family suite was fantastic and we enjoyed just hanging out in our room. It was great having a bedroom to ourselves for a change!

We did have some minor problems, mainly that things do still move at Sri Lankan time in this resort. The staff were very friendly, but things moved slowly. After a couple of weeks in Sri Lanka we were used to this.

We had a great time lounging in the pool, exploring the beach, catching up on some sleep and enjoying some great food at The Sands. The kids were always made to feel welcome, and we would definitely like to go back.

Find out more about The Sands by Aitken Spence on their site or click here for the latest prices. We were guests of The Sands but, as always, my views are my own.

You can read more about our travels in Sri Lanka.

Tags:  Accommodation Sri Lanka Travel Blog