Mermaid Hotel & Club

An exceptional value inclusive holiday through Mercury, with no solo surcharge. The free transfer to/from airport was direct by taxi (paying optional extra for taxi transfer seems pointless). The buffet food choice and quality was excellent. The Management and staff were helpful and pleasant. The rooms are adequate in size and furnishings. Everywhere was clean and well maintained including the pool and garden (the chipmonks are cute), with no shortage of loungers. There is a good adjoining spa. The nightly entertainment is limited to rather subdued live music. Only drawbacks, shortage of shops,bars and restaurants near to hotel. Also trains pass near to front of hotel. I could not hear them in my room which was at the back (towards the sea). Plenty of interesting excursions available through Mercury Representative or the Beach Boy fixers. I enjoyed going to Galle, river safari, turtle hatchery and a 2 days trip to elephant orphanage and Kandy. The overnight 5 star Kandy hotel, Mahaweli Reach, was superb and the Mercury mini bus modern and comfortable. Therefore, better value than a similar excursion bought through a beach boy, cheaper, but with inferior transport and accomodation. Getting to Colombo by train or bus is easy and costs only pence, but it is essential to avoid rush hours. Sri Lanka is a lovely country, but poor, so beware that many locals will seek to make as much money as they can out of tourists.