17 Bentota

Helen writes,
Our plan had been to relax at the beach after our travels and leisurely make our way up the coast to Colombo with two stops en route. The Lighthouse Hotel in Galle had been fantastic and we’d assumed the Taj Exotica at Bentota would be really good too, but it was actually a bit disappointing. Certainly in comparison to other Taj Hotels we have stayed at in India
It is in clear need of refurbishment so we felt as though we’d landed in an overpriced, “once was but now isn’t” sort of place.
The local staff were very helpful, but the mainly Indian management were officious to say the least. We constantly felt we were under scrutiny in case we made off with an illicit packet of peanuts or some such thing.
The business manager asked us our views at dinner time so we told her. She said renovations were planned but that didn’t really help us there and then!
Never mind. We’ve stayed in some marvellous places on our tour so we shouldn’t moan too much!! And it wasn’t exactly Wormwood Scrubs.
On the positive side the food was good at both breakfast and dinner.
We’ve eaten my favourite foods here at breakfast time - Masala Dosas.
The pool here is also large and very deep.
Roshan thinks it is fantastic and has done 30 lengths each day.
He and I have also gone to the gym each day. It’s well equipped and the gym teacher is helpful and vigilant and plies us with water when we look as if we are beginning to fade.
Yesterday I was tempted to try the steam room after the gym.
It was so steamy I couldn’t see anything. I had to go on all fours to try to see where the benches were! Needless to say it was so hot I couldn’t stay long and groped my way back to the door and out into clear air!
Next stop Colombo and the famous Galle Face Hotel.