THE PATHWAY LEADING TO THE HOTEL

is strewn with coconut palms reminding you that you are near the coastline. The salty smell in the air confirms this. Everywhere you look it is beach and sea. The soft white velvet carpet of sand invites you to slip off your shoes and dive into a Persian blue ocean - laid out like a carpet before you.

Opened in 1974 Nilaveli Beach Hotel is on one of the finest stretches of Sri Lanka's renowned eastern coastline. High season runs eight months of the year - March to October - when fine weather and calm sea make it a truly pleasurable holiday destination.

The hotel, simply constructed and airy, helps you focus on what's important - the beach and the ocean. Everything centers around these, particularly the sports, entertainments and excursions - for example, beach volleyball, boat rides, snorkeling and fishing. The scuba diving enthusiast can also find assistance at the hotel. There is also badminton, tennis and table tennis available.

If you've got some time to linger, a trip to Pigeon Island is a must. A ten-minute boat ride will get you there. There is also the old Dutch fort to see and the view from Swami rock of the Trincomalee Bay is spectacular.

The hotel offers a variety of packages to suit any purse, from the basic economy rooms with fan only, to standard air conditioned rooms and deluxe rooms, which are larger, fully carpeted, air conditioned and with a mini fridge.

Three super luxury suites set close to the beach offer a breath-taking view of the sunrise every morning. A plan to upgrade all the rooms and facilities is on the cards for the future.