Jetwing Beach is the former Royal Oceanic Hotel in Negombo. As the name implies it is owned by Jetwing Hotels, whose roots being in Negombo, also own the adjoining a 3 star Blue Oceanic Hotel and a basic 2 star Seashells hotels. After 2004, Royal Oceanic hotel underwent a total renovation to convert what was a 4 star into a 5 star luxury hotel. The main building underwent a facelift with a considerable degree of success. As a starting point, The Beach inherited the large rooms of the Royal Oceanic which were some of the largest on the Sri Lanka coast as well as the pools and, unfortunately, the semi open Sands dining area.

The Beach is now a member of the small luxury hotels of the world, joining its sister hotel on the South Coast; Lighthouse Hotel Spa. We last visited Royal Oceanic in 2002 before the renovation, returning to its reincarnation as Jetwing Beach in January 2010 after a gap of 8 years. Jetwings Beach, formerly Royal Oceanic now aspires to the same grade. We review how far this is the case. Beach was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the legendary Sri Lankan architect whose touch is unique. In its suites Beach is heaven, only the Sands dining area and the creaking doors on the standard rooms on the 2nd floor let its down.

SETTING: Royal Oceanic is set around 3 inter connecting pools. Fromt the reception you look down onto an unusual attractive semi covered shallow pool with islands in the middle that runs down the length of the main block. Plants on the square islands impart further character to the pool. A second pool is outside the garden rooms. The main long but narrow pool, is further down closer to the beach has  been landscaped with terraced steps.

ACCOMMODATION SUITES: The 3 Suites, all located, on the top 4th floor with the best sea views, offer lap of luxury accommodation. They create a stunning first impression on entry. The suites are much larger than the deluxe rooms; the open air bathroom itself is nearly the size of the deluxe room. The suites include a bed area, lounge, study and open air bathroom as well as a terrace with magnificent Indian Ocean views all in one open area plan. The large open air bathroom area consists of large bathtub on a wooden deck, twin basin wash deck, shielded toilet area and open air shower with a bench. It gives the immediate impression of lap of luxury which could only be enhanced by a small private plunge pool.

DELUXE STANDARD ROOMS: In contrast the deluxe rooms like Room 308 in which we stayed offer minimal furnishings and glazed cement flooring which actually enhances their character. The rooms, though standard, are spacious. On entry the open bathroom with windows looking into the room, impart a first impression of restrained luxury. One can, of course, lower blinds for privacy to hide the bathroom area with large bathtub, and single basin deck, rain shower etc from the rest of the room. The glazed cement floors are effective in imparting class to the rooms. Here again, the terraces of the deluxe standard rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors look out into the magnificent stretch of golden sandy beach. Deluxe rooms on the ground floor have the advantage that one can step from one’s room into one of the smaller pool areas or reach the beach in a few strides.

The wooden doors of the deluxe Room 308 both those leading to the balcony as well as to the bathroom had warped and thus emit an annoying rasping scraping noise whenever opened or closed. The sound is loud enough to awaken not only one's partner in the room but even the guests next door. As this happens often, with similar sounds coming from other rooms on the floor, we have to conclude that this warping afflicts rooms generally. Ironically, maintenance parties are at work all the time, which is a plus point, as it is neither easy nor cheap to keep such a large hotel exposed to the salt air spick and span all the time, but they do need to attend to the noise factor and close the doors more quietly. The hotel maintains a sailing boat outside the hotel as it imparts character.

DINING Sands is the general coffee shop of Jetwings Beach. It is embodies a semi covered area with ceiling fans and an open area under the stars. This is convenient when barbeques and grills are held close to the beach. The pleasant aspect of being on the beach disappears if it rains. Though there are ceiling fans, there is the added nuisance of mosquitoes. In our opinion a 5 star beach hotel should also offer the choice of an air conditioned dining area. The a la carte restaurant one level higher is fully air conditioned but results in additional cost being incurred for full board and half board guests, although a nominal 25% discount is offered. The General Manager; Hyacinth Gunawardena pays a courtesy visit to all diners in the evening or at breakfast; a pleasant and personal touch found at five star Sri Lanka hotels. At dinner, I was asked no less than three times whether I wanted wine with our dinner; a not too subtle form of gentle sales pressure. I was charged for coffee which should have been included with dinner.

Private beach dining with a table in a netted tent by the waters and flame lighting is available and is taken up mainly by wedding couples. In fact, for wedding couples whose special day is to be graced by the presence of friends and family, The Beach so close to the international airport is an ideal location. So too is the Beach’s siting on the magnificent Negombo beach, one of the widest beaches in Asia. The beach is superior to some of the less up market hotels also sharing the same stretch of beach (On one side Blue Oceanic, a 3 star also owned by Jetwing Hotels and by the 2 star budget Goldisands) and whose loud disco music on Saturday nights somewhat spoils the upmarket ambience of The Beach. Hotels in Negombo are also within easy reach of Kandy, the hill capital in the island interior. See our sister site www.srilankaweddings.co.uk

CHECKOUT which is the last impression a guest has of the hotel is as important as the Check In Welcome Drink: We were booked in half board by Jetwing Hotels central reservations. On check out I was surprised to see that my basis was shown on the bill as Bed & Breakfast only. I had been charged not only for the dinner that was to have been included but for coffee as well! My check out was delayed by 20 minutes whilst these errors were corrected.

In summary, a reincarnated luxury hotel of great character on an attractive Negombo beach front with minor deficiencies that can for the most part easily be corrected.