Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Service is superb |
| Disadvantages: |
Location a bit remote |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
We stayed at the Dolphin from the 4th-18th July and booked through Eclipse Direct (this is First Choice's sister company, so basically everything Eg: the rep, flight etc was First choice.
We had a great holiday and this hotel went way beyond our expectations. The atmosphere is friendly and the clientelle are young couples, honeymooners,wedding parties, families with children (although they may struggle getting toddlers to eat the food). Luckily there weren't any lager louts etc.
OUR ROOM: was room 84, a cottage room near to the beach front. The room was more than adequate, having a semi-open air bathroom (quite fun!) air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities,water left by the "room boys" (as they called themselves) daily and a little terrace outside with a table and chairs.
It was cleaned twice a day and flowers were frequently left on the beds. In the evening, they came to spray the room with mosquito repellant and were very pleasant and helpful.
THE FOOD:
For a 3 star all inclusive, the food was excellent. They had a wide variety of Sri Lankan dishes, salads, barbecue style meats, soups etc. Please don't go there expecting lots of English food, because it isn't there, apart from an alternative lunch available at the snack bar consisting of burger and chips etc. We looked on this as a good thing as we wanted an authentic holiday.
The desserts are fabulous: traditional Sri Lankan desserts, cakes, mousses and a wide range of fresh, tropical fruits.
Another bonus is that if you are going to miss lunch because you are going out for the day, you can organise a "lunch packet", which consists of quite a hearty (but can be a rather random mixture-perfectly nice and edible though). If you are leaving early in the morning for a trip and there are more than a couple of people, they are also willing to open the restaurant early.
Unlike some all-inclusives where snacks are readily available, the snack times at the Dolphin are a little rigid and only consist of either a cake or a sandwich (apart from lunchtime-as mentioned above). This is probably a good thing as it is a deterrant from constant face stuffing!!!!
THE DRINK:
Local beer only- I don't drink it but my partner said it was perfectly OK, perhaps a bit watered down. You can get most spirits and soft drinks, but apart from Coca Cola,they are local brands (again, fine by me!)
They also do Soursop juice in the bar by the restaurant-gorgeous!!
You have to pay for wine and diet coke because they aren't widely available. In addition, I think you have to pay for soft drinks such as Ginger Beer if they are available.
The bars are open from 12-12, which we were slightly disappointed about as sometimes when we fancied a coke and a cool down mid morning, we weren't able to. However there are tea and coffee machines available 24/7.
THE SERVICE:
The best service I have ever had by everyone who worked in the
hotel. Everyone from the receptionists to the gardeners are extremely friendly, greeting you with a smile and "Hello how are you?" at every opportunity.
Because of my hip problem and the fact I was using a crutch and needed help, everyone bent over backwards to help me. In the restaurant they would make sure I had a table with easy access and constantly asked me if I was OK.
In addition, the waiters are absolutely brilliant. As soon as you finish your drink, they are asking if you want another.
THE ENTERTAINMENT:
In my opinion, this (and the beach-which I will discuss further on) is one of the few areas which lets the hotel down. The evening entertainment is a bit cheesy (lots of musicals and bingo etc), however I did enjoy the quiz. I would have appreciated more authentic Sri Lankan entertainment.
In the day the entertainment team (who are all lovely and hard working) provide different activities such as golf, tennis, darts,volleyball etc with limited equipment. This is all great for the able bodied and my partner liked it. However there wasn't much for me to do hobbling on my crutch!!!
HOTEL SHOPS:
Mostly nick nacks but quite reasonable prices considering they are in a hotel!. For some reason they don't sell Buddhas though?!
THE HOTEL GROUNDS:
Very pretty, clean and well maintained. The pool is spotless and very inviting. I'm sure you've read that it's supposed to be the largest in South Asia. The crows can get a bit irritating but there isn't much the hotel can do about that, as they're everywhere in Sri Lanka!!!
There is a grassy area near the pool bar, which blends into the beach. This is where all the sun loungers are. It's very relaxing and the pool attendants are great. You pick your wooden sunbeds and they very quickly bring mattresses and towels for you to lie on.
THE BEACH:
I would like to point out that because I went in Monsoon season, that the sea is rough so no swimming is permitted. In addition, the sea is further in so the narrow beach is even narrower. Apparently it is man made and isn't really worth the bother for lying on because it is a public beach with quite a bit of litter on it.
However it's worth a walk because some of the kosher locals offering discount tours can be found there.
THE TRIPS:
If you book with any tour operator, they will offer you tours at similar prices with a company called Hemtours. You can opt to do the tours in a private car, mini van or coach. Some of the better guides/drivers also work freelance and I have the details if anyone wants them, as well as local men who have Tuk Tuks and do great tours round Negombo etc.
The problem with Hemtours (and our First Choice rep who was useless) is that in my opinion, they see us tourists as cash cows and are quite unwilling to tailor the trips. This is because they are receiving commission from some of the places visited on the tours that are also basically waiting to fleece tourists (explained further on)
With Hemtours we went on two trips: One day trip to Kandy and one overnight trip to Yala National Park and then Galle and Benota on the way back.
With a taxi driver in a mini Van (that we got from outside the hotel), we went to Colombo- he isn't recommended and was a bit sleazy
We went on a tour of Negombo (for next to nothing) with Jhon who works at Harald's tours. He took us in a Tuk Tuk, drove very safely (considering most of the driving is CRAZY in Sri Lanka).
My partner also went on a boat trip with Jhon down the dutch canal-much more exciting than the official trip i'm told, as they stop for Moonshine Arrack, spear fish and spot Monitor Lizards.
Harald's Tours shop is also worth going in because the souvenirs match the hotel quality and they are cheaper. The lady is lovely and also gives free souvenirs!
If anyone wants full iteneraries of the trips, more detail or the names and numbers of drivers then please contact me.
