Hotel Mermaid & Club

Despite the fact that the hotel opened in the early 1980s, many areas of the property have been refurbished, including the reception area with its sleek white seating areas, and colorful murals of lily pads and lotus flowers. The driveway is lined with tropical foliage and arched columns, and the open-air lobby lounge overlooking the pool is the center of the property, housing the snack bar, lobby bar, and stairs to the second-level restaurant and evening bar. Rooms are located in wings on either side of the lounge, facing the pool and lawn; most have not been refurbished and have outdated tiling. 

Many guests (who are mostly couples) claim loungers in the morning and then stretch out with a book. Cushions, towels, and umbrellas are provided, and a small hut acts as the beach bar with a friendly bartender who serves beer in German-style mugs. Service, especially considering the hotel price, is good -- there are many long-time employees and repeat guests. The spa and and activities areas on an adjacent lawn include a smaller outdoor pool for games, and both lawns have a fence that separates the property from the public beach. There may be vendors wandering up and trying to sell wares, but they take no for an answer.

The pool and open-air lounge are attractively lit at night, and after sunset many choose to have a drink in the bar before heading up to the buffet. There is entertainment a few nights a week, though some of the music performances can be dated and might turn off younger guests. It suits most guests just fine, though, especially the long-term travelers who like routine and consistency.

Hotel Mermaid & Club is located in the Kalutara region, a large coastal area in Sri Lanka about an hour south from Colombo. The resort is north of the Kulu Ganga River on a wide part of the beach, though the ocean can be unsafe for swimming. The Kulu Ganga River leads almost 100 miles to the Sri Pada sacred mountain, believed to be the footprint of the Buddha. In addition, Kalutara was once the base for the island’s spice trade, and the area boasts colonial-era plantations (open for tours), temples, and the world’s only hollow Buddhist shrine. The village is mostly local, with a few shops for handicrafts and essentials. The hotel also has its own jewelry shop, and there are a few souvenir shops at the end of the driveway across the road. Other than the occasional excursion or trip to town, guests will likely stick to the resort, especially those who booked an all-inclusive rate. Tuk-tuk drivers are reliably outside the front of the hotel for easy access to nearby sights (the front desk can arrange pricing). 

Parking at the resort is free for those who rent a car, though guests typically choose to arrive by taxi service, which takes just under two hours from the Bandaranaike International Airport. More adventurous types can save money and take the train from Colombo to the Kalutara North Railway stop a short drive from the hotel. 

There are 88 rooms located in three-story buildings that wrap around the pool and lawn area. Standard Rooms are the most common (54 in total) and have simple teak wood furniture with blue and green textiles against white bedding. All rooms have a king bed, balcony or terrace (with partial views of the pool or ocean), air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen TV, CD player, and free minibar with items like Red Bull, Diet Coke, Pringles, and chocolate. Tea and instant coffee are also provided, and drinking water can be found in the hallway water coolers. Bathrooms have walk-in showers and eco-friendly toiletries (but no conditioner -- ladies, take note). These rooms may show their age with dingy tiles and outdated fixtures, but the hotel is making plans for updates in the future. Minor maintenance issues might occur and are typically met with prompt response.

For a slight price increase, there are 18 Superior Rooms that offer better views of the beach from the balconies. These rooms have more space, as well as bathrobes and slippers. The Deluxe rooms are the best, and are located in a separate section of the hotel closer to the beach. These rooms have the most modern decor with wood floors, stocked minibars (including quite a liquor selection), and large bathrooms with jetted tubs next to the window and separate glass walk-in showers. Balcony furniture also has white cushions.

The hotel is situated on a wide public beach in Kalutara. The sand is beige in color, and may show gray backwash from the ocean in the morning. It is great for long beach walks, but red flags often warn against swimming due to a strong current (particularly May through August; swimming is typically better the rest of the year). A few regular vendors sell items close to the fencing, but they are not intrusive and take no for an answer. Guests are asked not to bring hotel property past the fence, so lying out in the sand is not really an option. There are wooden lounge chairs situated on the lawn and staff members are there to assist with cushions, towels, and umbrellas. Palm trees also provide shade or there are areas of direct sunlight for catching rays. 

The main pool is the center of the hotel and is rectangular in shape -- most choose to swim here, and there are sun loungers, tables and chairs, and umbrellas provided. There is a smaller pool in the lawn next door where activities like water polo or volleyball take place.

The spa has three treatment rooms (including a couples rooms) for massages, manis and pedis, and facials. There are a sauna, steam bath, and whirlpool, which are free to use when booking an appointment. The free fitness center has a few treadmills and weight machines, and other daily activities include table tennis, volleyball, darts, bocce ball, and croquet. We didn't see many kids during our visit, but there is an outdoor playground next to the activity pool. Squash, badminton, and billiards will cost a small fee for equipment use. 

The upstairs restaurant serves buffet spreads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (two hours increments each) with a varied selection of European and Asian dishes; terrace seating is available. A snack room is open for nibbles in the mid-morning and mid-day (juices, tea, coffee, and fruit are available all day). Guests can book breakfast, half-board, and all-inclusive rates; note that all-inclusive rates include local alcohol but not wine.

Three bars include the lounge bar, beach bar, and resident bar. Three times a week, guests can enjoy live evening performances that may include DJs, musicians, cultural shows, and fire shows. Guests seeking a quieter evening can play boardgames or watch sports on TV. 

Next to the entrance is a business center and reading room with a computer terminal and chess tables. Free Wi-Fi is available here. There are also two stores: one for jewelry, and one for local handicrafts and souvenirs. A few more shops are across the road. 

Management puts on a weekly cocktail party with guests.