Chaaya Blu Trincomalee is the refurbished Club Oceanic built in the 1970s when the East Coast basked in a  tourist boom before the onset of troubles of the
1980s to 2009.

This traveller has visited Club Oceanic Chaaya Blu three times, in 1998 during the war years, in 2003 during the ceasefire and after the 2009 end of the war in January 2011. Originally designed to resemble a great sailing vessel, Hotel Club Oceanic Trincomalee was refurbished and re-launched as Chaaya Blu in May 2010. The hotel now exudes a refreshing retro-chic design theme. All 81 rooms with a stylish retro design theme are decorated with bleached wooden decks, cut cement floors, rattan furniture and denim trimmings. A splash of bright orange contrasts the pleasing blue and white hues.

Refurbishment has totally changed the feel of Hotel Club Oceanic. The first impression on entering the Reception Lounge is so positive that the reassurance of quality lingers right through the stay. Chaaya Blu imparts character that the earlier cement jungle lacked. We rate Chaaya Blue as 4 star Deluxe and the finest hotel in Trincomalee. You can now choose from 36 beach chalets, 43 superior rooms and 2 suites. Beach chalets are the top end accommodation opening out directly onto the beach. Beach Chalets on the upper floor have open air showers which may delight honeymooners though there is some cost in loss of room size. The superior ground floor rooms have terraces looking onto the beach.  All the rooms are furnished minimally but tastefully with all mod cons to satisfy the discerning traveller and equipped with four star amenities such as Cable TV, telephone with IDD, tea and coffee making facilities, not to forget complementary toiletries.

Having visited every Keells Hotel in Sri Lanka as well as 52 other Sri Lanka hotels, what in my opinion stands out about Keells Hotels is the standard of management. This is evident at Chaaya Blue where service complements the high standard of accommodation. It is manifest in all the fine small touches from the first impression on entering the open lobby looking onto the pool beach, Reception Desk assisting with local excursion arrangements to the presentation of the buffets and transfer of luggage to the beach chalets. It was a pleasure to be at Chaaya Blu again and we were ably assisted throughout
by Lankesha Ponnamperuma, whose personal knowledge of Sri Lanka is extraordinary. It was Lankesha who suggested we ought to visit the Naval Museum and Girihandu Seya. The Travel Desk will also help you plan whale watching off Swamee Rock. They will also find you a reliable Tuk Tuk Driver as Tuk Tuk is the best way to see Trincomalee

'Captain's Deck' is the main restaurant. It offers very well presented and sumptuous buffet spreads. Grills including fried eggs and waffles are prepared to order. 'The Crab' nearby is an open air restaurant offering seafood cuisine right on the beach. The restaurant, considered the place to dine out in Trincomalee is renowned for its signature dishes, the aromatic crab preparations. It rained a lot whilst we were there, during the worst floods Sri Lanka has experienced for decades, otherwise "The Rum Hold Bar" is the place to beat the heat of the Eastern sun. Tread along the bleached wood deck to take a dip in the long infinity pool, sunbathe and relax on the wide golden beach or try out the PADI certified dive centre for unforgettable underwater experience of scuba diving over the ruins of the temple destroyed by the Portuguese. Our conclusion is that you will never be bored at Chaaya Blu where a new holiday experience is just around the corner. Definitely the best hotel in Trincomalee

The Excursion counter at the hotels promoted insights in to the locality. Not to be missed, if weather permits, to take your breath is the whale watching tour.  Explore Trincomalee's historical and cultural sites, or help traditional fishermen reel in their catch of the day. See images of landing fish on the beach Find spectacular diving and snorkelling opportunities surrounding the hotel and the famed Pigeon Island or journey to the lost city of Muttur.