LUXURIOUS COMFORT, AWARD-WINNING DESIGN,

acres of beautifully landscaped coconut grove gardens and a beach front location just 40km south of Colombo - Royal Palms Beach Hotel has all this and much more. Built in 1996 in the more recently developed Kalutara area, the hotel is thoughtfully designed, inside and out, for maximum comfort and relaxation.

Bright splashes of green foliage on the balconies contrast with the attractive, warm, red brick of the building and the tiered, pagoda-style, tiled roofs. Balconies are large and private, angled to look out onto the palm-fringed beachfront. Inside, the rooms are plush, spacious, decorated to the highest standards and with all the facilities you would expect in a five star hotel.

This is a place to relax in style, pamper yourself with a Japanese shiatsu massage or just focus your attention on the spectacular swimming pool. A huge fluid, meandering, lagoon-style pool, it winds its way around and even under the hotel with bubble baths, jacuzzi and a swim-up bar. With no organised activities during the day, guests can relax completely. Even in the evening the entertainment is gentle and low key, often a pianist or calypso band. The main restaurant serves a combination of set menu and buffet meals while "The Orient" à la carte restaurant specializes in South East Asian seafood.

After dinner a little light musical entertainment often continues in the lounge bar and open-air terrace. Those looking for a little more action will find it in the Disco Pub, which is great for a rendezvous, for checking out the cocktails and dancing late into the night.

Though Royal Palms Beach has a mellow, calm air during the day, for ultimate relaxation, there are also plenty of facilities tucked away for more active moments. All the facilities of the adjacent Tangerine Hotel (under the same management) are also available to guests here and between them there is tennis, squash, volleyball, badminton, snooker and a gym.

A stay at the Royal Palms Beach is an excellent way to enjoy the natural beauty of Sri Lanka's coastline in style and luxurious comfort.