94 • LIFESTYLE

Tag: BnB

  • 18 Faces Boutique Hotel – A hidden bliss you can escape to

    With a living monument, the city of Galle has transformed itself to become one of the most visited and revered historical sites in Sri Lanka. A stroll in the fort will show you how the old buildings have converted this iconic fortress into an epic tourists destination.

    Although there are numerous hotels & villas to stay at Galle Fort, staying there could be quiet expensive. Earlier this year, I visited 18 Faces – an upcoming boutique hotel that not only fit my budget but also cozy and intimate. Keep reading to find out more about this newbie in Galle!

    Location

    18 Faces hotel is located just 3km away from Galle Town. Once you get to the main town of Galle, in less than 15 minutes you can reach 18 Faces hotel. Spoiler Alert – the hotel does not treat you for a magnificent beach view yet you will be treated with a well-maintained garden and an Instagram worthy pool.

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    Architecture

    Like any other boutique hotel, 18 Faces hotel has paid keen attention to detail on the interior and exterior of the hotel. The rooms are spacious enough yet cozy. Each room has its own attached bathroom with hot water facility, a cupboard, a TV, a Bluetooth speaker, a mini fridge with beverages, a large mirror and of course a very comfortable bed. Each room has it’s a distinct aroma that surprisingly calms and soothes you, especially in the night. To keep in line with the name of the hotel, headboard of the bed is decorated with the faces of uniquely Sri Lankan masks and characters from old folklore. I must admit, it was creepy and scary at first but I feel like it added more character and dimension to the interior of the hotel.

    The restaurant also carries the same rustic but modern style. The yellow and blue furnishing added a nice pop of colour while the wooden stairs and white walls balance the interior out. As mentioned, the pool at 18 Faces hotel is one of my favourite pools. It’s small yet cozy and intimate. There’s even a huge floating flamingo to keep you accompanied. The pool, to my knowledge, is open even during the night.

    Accommodation & Food

    18 Faces Boutique hotel offers stays only on B&B thus far. But with plenty of eateries in and around Galle Fort, you will get the perfect opportunity to explore the dynamics of authentic Sri Lankan Southern cuisine. Pictured below is the English breakfast I had and even though it looks like I had little to nothing, it was filling. Also, you can always ask for more.

    Additional

    If you wish to explore the city faster, 18 Faces Boutique hotel can provide you with scooters (motorcycles) at a reasonable daily flat rate. All you have to do is asking the staff and they will assist you. With under 120 USD, I was able to get the best out of my mini vacation.

    If you have been to 18 Faces, let me know your thoughts about this place and if you haven’t do definitely pay them a visit.

     

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  • City Stay – Stay closer to Galle

    If you have any plans to travel in Sri Lanka, Galle is one of the destinations you must visit. It is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful cities in the country filled with ancient value and a mesmerizing coast line. The Dutch Fort in Galle stands out than anything else in the city as it is one of the finest human creations which even survived the 2004 Tsunami disaster.

    If you want to experience Galle at its best, spare one or two complete days for it. There are many places you can visit and engage in a variety of activities. If you are a nature lover and want to experience the habitat of sea creatures and sea turtles in particular; Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre in Mahamodara is the place for you to be. If you are a historian; Galle fort is certainly for you as it has several museums and old churches which show case the architecture of old Ceylon. Several outlets inside fort rent out bicycles and I believe it is the best way to explore the city without a hassle. How can we forget the infamous light house? Be sure check it out too!

    While everything awaits you at Galle, be wise when choosing your accommodation. You are privileged if you get to stay in the Dutch Fort, yet the amount you have to pay for a night would make you think twice about staying at the Fort. The best option would be to have your overnight stay outside the Fort. It will surely save you some cash which can be used to travel a bit more or try out the local cuisine.

    Recently I stayed a couple of nights at “City Stay”  – a small affordable luxury hotel located few miles away from Galle City near the Southern Expressway entry road. City Stay is a newly opened compact, yet a cosy hotel with a very friendly staff. There are only four rooms in total  – one triple room and two double rooms. Interior wise no two rooms are same as each room has its own colour theme. The one we stayed was in orange theme and the other rooms follow colour themes of red, blue and purple. I personally prefer the red room which is a double room as I find that room to be a bit of romantic than the rest. The rooms are clean and tidy and the paintings in the rooms create the perfect ambience to relax. The rooms are quite spacious and enough for two. A large wardrobe and a mini fridge can be found in each room. The bathroom is equipped with modern fittings and is relatively large. Even though it is a newly opened hotel it is disappointing to see some of the bath-ware broken. However, no major damage was there in the bathroom and of course, there’s hot water to compensate! There is also a rooftop, but the access would not be easy and there is not splendid view.

    Their restaurant, Orangery has a red and black theme which I loved. They do not have a buffet but the Chef at City Stay doesn’t fail to satisfy your taste buds. A friendly Chef who first feast your eyes through the presentation of food. We got to choose from a variety of food items from their a-la-carte menu. The food was freshly prepared and was not too oily or too dry. Food at City Stay contains authentic Sri Lankan spices like cinnamon, cloves, curry leaves, lemongrass etc. and you can get your favourite dish in the way you want it with just a simple request. Definitely recommend you to have at least one meal from their restaurant.

    At the entrance of the hotel you will see a white Tuk-tuk. Do not hesitate to ask for a ride and be sure to engage in a conversation with the driver and he will share tales from this legendary city like the one which local believe that Jungle Beach is the part which was brought down by Hanuman from India.