Club Hotel Dolphin Experience!
by TripAdvisor Member Clare08
This was our first trip to Sri Lanka and it was an unforgettable experience. The staff at the Hotel were friendly and helpful and did everything to make sure you were comfortable. We tipped room boys at the beginning of each week but then had several changes so ended up tipping everyone!
Only negatives about the hotel were that the evening entertainment could be noisy from your room. On several occasions the main pool was overrun by local children (groups of 30-40). Best then to go to quiet pool. Not great for sea swimming but the pools make up for this. Most nights woken up by dogs barking. Also too many crows crowing during the day.
Went to the Elephant Orphanage with driver and guide arranged through "Harald". Guide "Blackie" was really good and stopped to show us pineapple plantation, rubber plantation, spice garden and other extras. Driving is an experience and not good for the nervous passenger!
Good idea to have a boat trip to Negombo and then be shown around the fish market/vegetable market/Catholic Church etc by the boat driver/guide.
We didn't haggle over prices - the local people were so welcoming and trusting and we were happy to pay the prices asked.
We had rings made for us at Sangem Jewellers opposite the Hotel. Chose stones and settings and collected 48 hours later. We were really pleased with the quality and price - much cheaper than anything in the UK.
Can't spend Sri Lankan rupees at Colombo Airport but you can make a toilet attendant's day by giving her your remaining rupee notes just before departure!
A lovely holiday at a lovely hotel which was made memorable by the friendliness of the people and their wish for you to enjoy your stay in their beautiful Country.
A fantastic hotel
by bekahl about Club Hotel Dolphin
Stayed in Club Hotel Dolphin in June 2006 for two weeks. It was totally amazing. I have never experienced such luxury. The staff were extremely friendly and really try to get to know you. They go out of their way to please you and to make your holiday special. The room boys placed freshly picked flowers on our beds each night when they came in to arrange the mosquito net! The bar staff remembered our favourite drinks. All the staff remebered our names. The food was absolutely deliscious and there was such a variety. The entertainment was a bit lacking in imagination but 100% effort was put in by the entertainment staff. The rooms were a good size and had all facilities needed. They were clean and comfortable. The pools were always perfectly clean and the pool attendants would reserve a sun lounger and towels for us every morning! There are also facilities on site for massages and beauty treatments. Theres a fully equipped gym, a snooker room, table tennis. Loads of activities during the day. I would recommend this hotel to anyone. Could not have asked for better accomodation or service!
The fantastic views from the hotel as it right on the beach!! Paradise!
The trip I will never forget
by A TripAdvisor Member
Dear All,
I should say that the quality of the hotel services was above my expectations. I have travelled to many countries before and usually visited 5-star club hotels usually on all-inclusive program.
Club Hotel Dolphin is one of the best hotels of such type. It offers good choice of activities and cuisine, comfortable rooms and client-friendly staff.
Sri Lanka is a very beautiful country, but you have to be ready in terms of 'what to expect' before visiting Sri Lanka. For some people it might be an extreme trip, but Hotel Dolphin is an oasis where everyone can feel safe, happy and relaxed.
if you have a chance - do visit Sri Lanka and do stay at this beautiful place. After you leave, you'll have a feeling that you want to return there and stay longer, and you will also feel that now you have true friends in that part of the world.
Sri Lankan people are very friendly and interested.
Please be kind to them, because their hearts are open for every guest.
Kind regards,
Anita
dream Wedding
by A TripAdvisor Member
we recently returned from a fantastic holiday at the Club hotel dolphin.
Where we enjoyed an unforgettable wedding. The staff are very friendly and cant help you enough.
We tipped the room boys on arrival as recomended and they look after you really well if they were late cleaning your room they would either decorate your bed with flowers or leave flowers for you. I was ill while out there and they came to see me with a vase of flowers as i wasnt well.
The only down side we felt was the variety of food. There was plenty to be had and it was always hot but most of it was curries or spicy food. Not much western food. What they do have is nice enough. The waiters are always wiling to help they even use to reserve us a table on an eveniong when the hotel got busy. The other problem i found was the fact i am diabetic and they dont tend to cater for this in sri-lanka. All the fruit juices have loads of sugar in and the deserts i could only look at. I was fed up with fruit salad after two weeks. When i mentioned the problem with drinks to the rep, she did mention it to the restuaunt manager and a jug of fresh fruit juice was ready for me at the pool bar every day when i wanted it. They do have diet coke their but you need to pay £1 a can for it .
As for our wedding it was out of this world. The staff could not have been more helpful and it was a day we will never forget. The flowers they did for me were stunning and the dancers, drummers, singers were wonderful. We even had an elephant there.
The team did try with the entertainment and there were nightly shows but some left a lot to the imagination.
There are two shops either end of the beech at one end you have "tescos" where they do good cannal boat trips. The other end is "Asda" where you will be able to get anything you want if they havent got it they will either get it for you or make it to your needs. She made me some lovely suits for my young grandsons. They are much cheeper than the hotel shops.
Be careful of the local lads that stand along the beech offering you rides into negombo they will continue to pester you unless you are very firm with them.
On the whole we would rate the holiday 9 out of 10 and made some great friends. We are certainly looking forward to going back.
Okay Hotel but beware of tour stop at jewel store Nations Tower by Rani Jewel
by TripAdvisor Member Moonmin
Myself and my fiancé stayed at the Club Hotel Dolphin for two weeks from the end of February 2006. To be honest, we normally shop around and manage to get excellent deals to stay at 5 star resorts, so was a little apprehensive about what to expect from this 3 star hotel, but was pleasantly surprised. The staff are indeed all very friendly and helpful. We stayed in the main block which are classed as the deluxe rooms, which are ok - you do not get complimentary toiletries in the bathrooms and, although they are changed every day, there is a real mix-match of old (with holes) and new towels. The room guys attend the rooms each day to make beds/change towels etc, but the room was still very dusty. The rooms on the beach are nicely placed as they are away from the pool bar/disco noise, which we could hear every night! The entertainment team provide some activities (pool aerobics, darts, bowls, volleyball etc during the day and karaoke, bingo, etc at night) which if that’s your sort of thing then fine, but it wasn’t really for us. The food in the buffet restaurant was initially a pleasant surprise as there was a good choice of dishes and creative desserts - but come the second week, it was all very repetitive. It can be difficult getting a table, especially non-smoking as that area is rather small. As far as drinks are concerned, local brands only are in the all-inclusive option - I would recommend the rum and coke which is very easy to drink and has a nice vanilla taste! The hotel beach was much better than expected as some information states that there isn’t a beach – it does kick up quite a bit of rubbish from the sea, which is very strong, so do be careful! The pool area is quite nice, but if the hotel is full, then you could find trouble getting a sun lounger. We were fine as by our second day we got to know the pool guys and every day they had our sun loungers ready for us and we simply tipped them 100 rupees. At weekends, the hotel is open to local families, who do tend to take over the pool bar area and can be a little noisy.
Moving on to the tours. Edward at Tesco is indeed a bit of a nuisance as he hassles you every time you approach the beach. The lad with him is very friendly and helpful so do give him the time of day. We met Harold who seems like a nice chap, but we found that the prices he charges can be quite expensive. Further down the left end of the beach where the canal meets the sea, we discovered Anthony who is based on the other side of the canal. He owns his own restaurant "Anthony’s" which was great for fresh grilled lobster and kingsize prawns - just tell him what day you want to have dinner and he will get the produce fresh that morning! We went on a few trips via Anthony as his prices were very good.
However, one piece of advice - as with all the trip organisers, by taking you to certain places they benefit from commission on your purchases and one place which Anthony took us to was a jewellers called “Nations Tower by Rani Jewel” at No – 118, Poruthota Road, Ettukala, Negombo. A very nice establishment, with a very hospitable and charming manager/owner. After spending an hour or so with him, I purchased an unusual white gold ring containing four diamonds, which was made for my sizing and delivered by hand to me by the manager the following day to the hotel - a great service. However, since arriving home one of the diamonds has fallen out of the ring and has therefore been lost. Having tried to contact the jeweller via e-mails, which all bounced back as undeliverable, and by fax on two occasions explaining the situation and asking for assistance to rectify the problem which was clearly down to poor workmanship, I have not received the courtesy of a response. I would strongly recommend therefore that you do not purchase any item of jewellery from that store, which could possibly cost you hundreds or thousands of pounds, to find that when you get home it falls apart and precious stones are lost!
Sri Lanka itself is a beautiful lush country with very friendly people. It is a shame that the tourists appear to get ripped off a lot of the time. I would like to have seen more of the real life, so it is a place I would return to, but would stay at a different hotel and resort area.
Fantastic holiday
by A TripAdvisor Member
We have just come home from 2 weeks at Dolphin hotel and what a fantastic holiday it was. We stayed in the main block which we are told had the better rooms. We had a beautiful view of the sea and pool.A mere 100 rupees each time {about 50p} would guarentee the pool attendant had our loungers ready for us in our usual spot everyday with umbrella and towels.
The buffet meals were excellent with curries and western choices, plenty of salads, fresh fruit and desserts to die for.
We went on a 2 day trip visiting the elephant orphanage {an absolute must} gem museum,watched a table being carved out of wood, saw how batik is done and we saw how tea is made at the pedro tea plantation. we stayed overnight at the 5 star tea factory hotel, although we felt alittle under dressed.
We also went to Negombo on a tuk tuk, driving is more luck than judgement in Sri Lanka.
One of the waiters invited us to his house for morning coffee. we met his wife and 2 children and were given freshly squeezed orange juice and proper Sri Lankan coffee. This was a real eye opener.The house wasnt even finished, just breeze blocks and a slated roof. No running water or drainage. Every morning he had to go out to get water. The toilet was an outhouse at the rear of the house. They made us feel most welcome and it was a learning curve of how much we take for granted here.
What really made our holiday was the people. We have never been anywhere else where the people are so friendly. The staff just love to talk to you from the room boys to the waiters managers and receptionists to even the head chef. The day we got home one of the receptionists rang our home as he didnt get chance to say goodbye which was a lovely gesture as he gained nothing.
All the staff were asking us to promote Sri Lanka as tourism has suffered dreadfully since tsunami. We will definately be returning to Dolphin hotel.
Fantastic hotel, location
by A TripAdvisor Member
we visited the 'dolphin' in November 2005.
It is in a great location with very friendly, helpful, honest and polite staff. Good choice of food for all tastes.
Do not have any concerns as to whether this hotel has been affected by the Tsunami, it was at the time but you would never know now.
The interior of the beach bungalows are not to the same standard of the main building but don't let that put you off.
Great value for money on an all inclusive. You can eat out but there are not too many local eating places.
The trip from the airport gives you an insight in to the local culture and is a real eye opener but again don't let that put you off.
Througout the island the people are on the whole friendly but can be a little pushy in the major towns, from experience, but again polite refusals will be acknowledged.
Forum Posts
club hotel dolphin waikal
by taff2
what is the hotel like i will be there middle of november will it be wet or dry at that time and is there any sea fishing
Re: club hotel dolphin waikal
by srupesh
Hi,
Currently we are having some rainfall in the late evenings in Colombo and some parts of the country. I think it will be the same as for another few days. But sometimes things could become better over here. And also keep in mind this the season that we will be receiving heavy rains from monsoon.
About the Club Dolphin Hotel it is a really good hotel and the service is also good. Not to forget about the variety of food and deserts. I hope you will enjoy your self as I did like all the times that I been there.
Regards,
Rupesh
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