Club Palm Bay is a hotel located in the heart of a charming fishing village in Marawila, providing a peaceful escape from the busy city life of Colombo. The hotel offers modern amenities and comforts, while still maintaining the authentic charm of Sri Lankan coastal life.
One of the highlights of Club Palm Bay is its large swimming pool, which is the second largest in the Puttalam district and a favorite among foreign tourists. The hotel has a variety of accommodations to suit any guest’s needs, including deluxe rooms and junior suites, all designed as cozy chalets with tasteful decorations and standard amenities.
The deluxe rooms offer stunning views of the lagoon and gardens, while the junior suites offer a private terrace, a jacuzzi, and VIP amenities. Guests can request baby cots and iron boards if needed. The hotel’s standard check-in time is 2 pm and check-out time is 12 pm, with room service available until 11 pm.
Club Palm Bay is also a versatile venue for weddings, conferences, parties, and day outings. The hotel has a spacious ballroom and conference hall that can accommodate up to 400 guests and 200 attendees, respectively. Special packages and menus are available for day outings, making it a great destination for a memorable day trip.
So, shall we take a moment to explore our stay at Club Palm Bay?
A Warm Welcome with a delightful stroll to our Junior Suite:
Upon arrival at Club Palm Bay, the General/Cluster Manager, Mr. Gamini Keerthisinghe, and his staff welcomed us with hospitality, including lighting an oil lamp and offering delicious chilled watermelon juice. Our luggage was taken care of, and we were guided to our Junior Suite. The chalets were thoughtfully constructed to ensure privacy and breathing space between them.
The Junior Suite was tastefully furnished, featuring a dining area with a table, mini fridge, and cozy sofa with a TV, setting the tone for a luxurious stay. The bed was adorned with flowers and a welcome note, and the bathroom featured a lavish Jacuzzi and shower compartment, with a beautiful view of the lagoon when the windows were opened.
The Junior Suite provided every little detail of comfort for a truly luxurious stay at Club Palm Bay, with amenities including a well-stocked mini fridge and a blissful Jacuzzi.
Resort Tour and an intro to the Recreational Activities:
The in-house tour guide, Mr. Saman, showed us around Club Palm Bay’s impressive property, highlighting its charming features, recreational The in-house tour guide, Mr. Saman, showed us around Club Palm Bay’s impressive property, highlighting its charming features, recreational activities, and stunning aesthetics. The resort spans 30 acres and boasts a range of activities for guests to enjoy, including a large pool, golf course, and various sports like tennis, basketball, badminton, squash, mini soccer, water volleyball, and even table tennis. Not limited to these outdoor sports, the resort also has an in-built snooker room as well. Guests can also explore the tranquil waters with kayaking, paddle boats, or fishing. Entertainment options like live music, magic shows, and cultural displays cater to guests of all types, while the exceptional fitness center and Ayurvedic center cater to those seeking wellness. The attentive and expert staff at Club Palm Bay demonstrated remarkable hospitality to every guest, ensuring a truly unforgettable stay.
Private Beach:
We took a peaceful walk through the old wing of the property, where we saw Local Toddy tappers on top of Coconut trees, tapping toddy out, and pots of tapped toddy tied into those coconut trees, which was a splendid sight for us as well as for a few foreigners walking by. Passing the toddy tappers where toddy tapping is taking place in the New Wing of the property, we found ourselves at Club Palm Bay’s private and secluded beach, located right across the road. We were right on time to catch the magical golden hour, and must say, the beach was breathtakingly stunning with its serene waves hitting its expansive shoreline. The vibrant hues of the sunset bid us farewell as we capped off our first day at Club Palm Bay on a truly magnificent note.
Seafood Market and Friday Night Grooves:
On our first night at Club Palm Bay, we had the pleasure of attending a delightful seafood market organized by the hotel staff. They offered a wide selection of premium seafood, freshly caught from the lagoon, at reasonable prices. The variety of seafood available was impressive, including prawns, cuttlefish, lobsters, crabs, and different types of fish. These weekly and monthly markets provide a unique culinary experience for the guests.
Furthermore, on Friday nights, the resort’s resident DJ ensures that guests don’t miss out on their groovy vibes. The entertainment at the resort’s bar, “Ran Thambili,” creates a lively atmosphere with music and dancing, where foreign tourists and guests enjoy themselves and create unforgettable memories.
Restaurant, Bar and Food Culture at Club Palm Bay:
The main restaurant at Club Palm Bay, called “Kundira,” can seat 350 people and offers local and international cuisine with a buffet, à la carte, and set menus. It’s open for breakfast from 7:30 am to 10:00 am, lunch from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm, and dinner from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
The main bar, “Ran Thambili,” can seat 150 people and serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as bar snacks and finger food. It’s open from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.
The pool bar, “Mangrove,” can also seat 150 people and serves drinks and pool snacks. It’s open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and serves snacks twice a day, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
Dinner on the boat:
We had an amazing candlelit dinner on a decorated catamaran boat, served with a delicious three-course meal and champagne. The entrée was a mixed Hawaiian salad and garnished smoked salmon, which was the highlight. The main course was an artistic seafood platter with garlic rice, including jumbo prawns, lobsters, crabs, and barramundi fish with tartar sauce. The dessert was a slice of red velvet cake with strawberry mousse and syrup, which was good, but the mousse was the standout. It was a fantastic dining experience that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Breakfast Buffet Next Morning:
The breakfast spread at Kundira, the main restaurant, was delightful but could have been better organized. The items and cuisines were not sectioned in a cohesive manner. However, the action stations for omelets, waffles, and bacon were highlights of the buffet. The Sri Lankan breakfast favorites such as Milk Rice with Katta Sambol, String Hoppers, Pittu, and Hoppers were available, and there was an extensive bread selection. The buffet also offered fresh fruits, yogurt, cereals, and an array of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring everything was fresh and replenished promptly. The ambiance at Kundira was cozy and relaxed, making it an excellent spot to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with family and friends.
Bubbly Breakfast:
“Bubbly Breakfast” ; a delightful new concept introduced recently by Club Palm Bay, specially designed for couples who want to indulge in a breakfast as effervescent as their love. Guests can savor the delectable items from the breakfast menu while enjoying the serene and picturesque views of the lagoon from a beautifully set up garden area. This exclusive facility is available upon request, offering guests the option to skip breakfast and enjoy a warm and sumptuous breakfast instead.
Delightful and diverse Lunch Buffet at Kundira:
We had a satisfying lunch buffet at Kundira after a morning swim. The starters were refreshing and included fresh salads, delicious soups (both veg & non-veg), coleslaw, and cold cuts, along with a refreshing guava shooter. The main courses were abundant and had various action stations, where chefs cooked dishes to order. The Sri Lankan corner featured authentic curries and staples, and there was a section for Mildly Spicy/No Spicy food, specially catered to foreigners and children. We also spotted an Indian Corner with a few Indian dishes arranged across the space. The dessert section was limited to about 5-6 categories but the bread pudding was noteworthy. Overall, the Kundira buffet spread was impressive, leaving us happy and wanting more.
Conclusion:
We had an amazing staycation at Club Palm Bay Marawila, while relaxing, enjoying delicious food, and getting pampered with excellent service. The resort’s tour, sunset dinner, and breakfast were some of the highlights of our stay. The resort’s recreational activities and bars were impressive. However, we suggest improving the buffet selection and display. The staff, including personal butlers, chefs, and the general manager, Mr. Gamini, were exceptional. We highly recommend Club Palm Bay Marawila for both locals and foreigners and look forward to our return.
Location: Thalawila Wella, Thoduwawa, Sri Lanka.
For more information visit their website, Instagram page @clubpalmbay.sl and Facebook page @ClubPalmBay.
For reservations: reservations@clubpalmbay.lk
Phone number: 032-2255830/31
