by Irosha Weththasingha
Heading for a well earned break from the mundane routine work of the office for few days fun and frolic in the sandy beaches of Southern Coast? Check out Bentota Beach Hotel (BBH) to experience the difference.

Surrounded by the charming blue sea that Sri Lanka is infamous for, and by the huge Bentota river and the enchanting lagoon where the two meets, the hotel has it all!. Tucked away in the serene environment and the ebbing and flowing waters BBH has something for everyone. The hotel which has undergone a major refurbishment job very recently is designed to resemble a Colonial Dutch Fort in keeping with its location. The sprawling 11 acre garden of the hotel which is being maintained flawlessly by the dedicated staff will make you loosen up instantly from the stress of the working life. There are plenty of space to sit back and relax and plenty of space to allow your naughty children to run about.

The hotel has 105 standard rooms, equipped with centralized smoke detectors, room safe, mini bar and entertainment via television. There are 25 superior rooms and 3 suites. All these romantically furnished elegance will make you forget your tight schedules and deadlines to meet, at least for the time being. Because of its location and the design you are assured a magnificent view whatever side your room is situated.

There is an exciting array of outdoor activities you can indulge in at BBH. Club Intersport, which is adjoining the hotel, caters to every fancy of the sports crazy. Wind surfing, jet skiing, speeds boat diving, banana boating and elephant rides are just some of the sports that the hotel offers to those who with more adventurous spirit. If you prefer recreation that is more laid back you can hit the gymnasium or take part in other sports like beach volleyball, tennis, squash, billiards, badminton, archery and table tennis or you can simply play a game of cricket. You can also take a swim in the magnificent rock pool of the hotel.

The night time is full of romantic views, overlooking the lagoon and the calm river water. You can let your hair down and enjoy the hottest night life activities with specially organized cultural shows and musical nights which dish out a fine blend of eastern and Western music presented by animators on a colorful back drops. You can literally dance the night away under the stars in the open discotheque.

The Peacock Restaurant offers you a wide array of sumptuous meals, with both mouth watering European and Sri Lankan delicacies are being catered. The Suriya Garden, Peacock Bar, Araliya Restaurant will provide you with every kind of snack, meal and beverage you can imagine while the Club Intersport Restaurant offers an exotic menu of sea food. And if those mouth-watering delicacies are not enough, take them in a boat in the middle of the river in romantic moonlight! The hotels floating restaurant, The Pontoon, adorned with colorful lights and floating in the beautiful serenity of the Bentota River is the closest you can get to riverboat romance. Enjoying the delicious meals while the Pontoon is gracefully gliding through the waters in the romantic moonlight, the stuff that dreams are made of!. You can arrange to have special occasions such as birthday parties, weddings and dinner parties in the Pontoon while staying at the hotel.

Bentota Beach hotel also accommodates top quality conference facilities with a conference hall to accommodate 125 persons. Most of all the hotel is blessed with a marvelously friendly staff who will make your holiday all the more beautiful.

The Keells Hotel chain has four more hotels in the Southern Coast, Hotel Ceysands, Hotel Swanee, Hotel Coral Gardens and Bayroo Beach Hotel.