OT Favourite hotel
Dinesh Karthik That&rsquos a tough one, but the hotel that definitely stands out is The Fortress in Galle, Sri Lanka. We didn&rsquot know that it was supposed to be one of the best hotels in the world. It is a beautiful beachfront hotel and, although it initially comes across as a run-of-the-mill hotel, it completely blows you away with its elaborate interiors and genuine fortress-like ambience. Since I travel a lot, I normally stick to hotels I have been to before &mdash comfortable rooms coupled with gentle and proactive staff, along with convenient locations, both in terms of proximity and surroundings. After the visit to Galle, I can definitely say that The Fortress is on my list for good. Lucky for me, I got a room that overlooked the sea.
OT Last visited
Dinesh Karthik I stayed there along with the Indian team in July 2008 while we were playing the second test against Sri Lanka. I was there for more than a week and loved every moment of it. I wish we could have stayed on longer.
OT The experience
Dinesh Karthik It was simply great. The wooden architecture of the hotel gave it an unforgettable ambience. Since the hotel is situated on a fortress, there was wood used in plenty. Although architecture isn&rsquot my forte, I couldn&rsquot help but admire the beautiful interiors of the hotel. From the pleasantly large rooms, to its beachfront location, to the über kind staff &mdash everything was just right. They even had a seemingly never-ending pool, in which I spent a whole lot of time.
OT The food
Dinesh Karthik As expected, it was mainly seafood. The food wasn&rsquot special, but I suspect this was because the hotel was so fabulous, I assumed the food would be equally good, and it turned out that it wasn&rsquot.
OT The hotel's 'USP'
Dinesh Karthik The thing that stands out the most about the hotel is the magnificent beachfront. The beach is clean and the water clear and the view is simply beautiful. Even the rooms are a great reason to be there. They are bigger than those in conventional hotels and have all the amenities you could possibly wish for.
OT Repeat visit
Dinesh Karthik Definitely But this time I&rsquod rather it is a vacation.
The Information
