Beruwala Travel Forum

Hi we have been moved from Bentota Beach to Eden spa hotel for our wedding in june, we are a little worried because the Eden is not an all inclusive which Bentota was, has anyone else been in this situation?
we are concerend that the all inclusive will not be the same as Bentota Beach, regarding drinks and meals,has anyone been in the same situation as us?

Regards

Jackie & Andy

Hi Jackie and Andy
Firstly, dont panic, while the Bentota is a nice hotel it isnt even close to the Eden which is one of the best hotels in asia.
I can understand your apprehension with losing all inclusive, but to be honest, unless you are the type who like to sit in the hotel bar all day and night drinking yourselves silly, then i dont think it will be a problem. When we were last there, we only ate in our hotel twice and we WERE all inclusive. We had dinner several times in the Eden and each was fantastic. There are also lots of local restraunts which are very cheap in the area - dont forget this is asia and you can eat very well for under £10.
I would regard the change as a positive upgrade

Thanks for your speedy reply,no we are not the type to sit in the bar all day but have budgeted for all inclusive meals and drinks so don't want to have to spend extra. will let you all know how things go.

Regards

Jackie & Andy

Hi Jackie & Andy,

I have replied many of these similar questions both on VT and Tripadvisor as Eden has been given as the alternative hotel since the Benthota is closing down for renovations. Eden is a great hotel out there are there will be many weddings in the hotels as I ve replied many similar posts here. Dont worry about the hotel as its a good hotel and facilities are great. Pls check out the alternative plans given to you by your travel agent as Eden is an all inclusive hotel and the food is lovely. I m sure you will have nothing to worry about..and pls be at ease...

Regards.

Treshi, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Dear Friends

you can directly write to the following email address of the Eden Resort & Spa, Beruwala and get the relevent information from them

web address http://asiatours.net/srilanka/hotels/eden.html

email addrerss

info-aseatica@asiatours.net

regards

eranda from Switzerland

Dont want to put down what Treshi has said, but the Eden no longer offers a all inclusive option. Though i think they do do a half board option. I know you have budgeted for all inclusive, but honestly, food is so cheap it shouldnt damage your budget too much.
In addition, i would assume you will do a tour to visit some of the sights - i would def recomend Syrigia and the elephant orphanage, a lot of people like Kandy as well though we werent too impressed, but that may be because we have seen a lot of asia, most people enjoy it. This would mean you been away overnight for at least one night from the hotel, possibly two.
If you want to book a tour, i would STRONGLY recomend one of the beach boys called Sam, dont worry about finding him, he will find you.
The only meal i would worry about in the hotel would be breakfast, as you may not be up to eating breakfast Sri Lankan style - Curry, but i am sure you could arrange a meal plan with your agent
Enjoy it

May be you already hv this.
But just incase this is the site

http://www.edenresortandspa.com/

Hi,

I am also due to go to the Eden Resort & Spa in June (3weeks time) and have been moved from the Bentota Hotel. I was also concerned by our board basis as we are also all inclusive, however I have been assured by Kuoni that we will receive the same as the Bentota. I am also not one to sit by the pool all day and drink but if I pay for all inclusive I expect to receive it - we shall see. Kuoni was recommended to me so I'm hoping they wont let us down.
Good luck with your wedding - maybe I'll see you there!

Hi,
I have spoken to kuoni and am waiting for a reply as to how many of the restaurants we can use, and how the all inclusive package will work, I will let you know what they say if or when I get a reply!
We are really looking forward to the wedding, not long now, maybe we will see you there.
Regards
Jackie & Andy

Hi,
This is the reply we had from Kuoni today.


I note from your letter that you have queries concerning the Eden all
inclusive package as to which restaurants you can eat in and what the
limitations are. Your all inclusive package at the Eden is identical to
that which was included at the Bentota. All meals including breakfast,
lunch dinner and snacks are included as per the Kuoni brochure. There may
well be restrictions as to where these meals can be taken as is the case
with the majority of all inclusive hotels and I am sure would have been
case at the Bentota Beach.
You will of course have use of the snack pool however it may be that any
snacks from here are at a supplement. I will of course double check this
for you and let you know.
We have recently sent a letter to you via your travel agent advising that
despite our letter advising of the change to the Eden, that the owners of
Bentota have since decided to postpone the closure of the hotel and hence
it will now go back on Sale until May 2007. If any of our clients that have
been changed to the Eden therefore wish to change back to the Bentota Beach
then this is of course an option available to you subject to availibility.
As mentioned above details of this have been sent to you by letter form.
Please let us know once you have made a decision and should you have any
further queries please do not hesitate to call operations on 01306 742544

Interesting reading, but we have decided to stay with Eden, a little late to change now!
Jackie & Andy

Hi,

Thanks for your response. I have not received the letter regarding the option to change back to Bentota but like you I think we will probably stick with the Eden. In terms of the all inc it was interesting looking at the new Kuoni brochure for 2007 which has the Eden Hotel now as an all inclusive option - and looks a very good package, however if we will receive this I'm not sure. I guess we'll just have to wait and see when we get there.
Hope you enjoy it anyway.
Best wishes
Suzanne

This may be too late as we're now almonst half way through June and it's unclear what date the wedding is.... Anyway, I've literally just (on Friday 9th June)got back from a 12 night stay at the Eden and I really don't think you'll be disappointed. I was similarly booked for Bentota Beach and was moved to Eden, albeit on a B&B basis only, but I definitely consider it to have been an upgrade. Having met and talked to 2 other couples who were staying at sister Confifi hotels (Riverina & Neptune respectively), I am sure I was in the best of the 3. Also to reassure you on the all-inc side of things, there were a number of people there on that basis and, whilst I didn't get a look at the separate menu they were given, all the food was excellent. All the staff I encountered very friendly and helpful - be sure to check out the cookery demonstrations at which you get a very tasty little plate of something stir-fried!

I suppose it may have been you in fact(!) but there was a wedding whilst I was there too - it looked beautiful set in the gardens and surrounded by palm trees.

I would also recommend the 2 day/1 night tour to Pinnewala, Kandy & Sigiriya; it's quite tiring as you have early starts and cover a lot of ground, both in and out of the minibus, but well worth it. The Kuoni rep can also arrange a half day local tour of a boat trip and a visit to the turtle hatchery which was really interesting & also well worth the fairly small fee.

Good luck - hope you have (or had) as wonderful a time there as I did!

Hi,
After reading your post I have to say we feel a lot happier now. We fly on Friday 16th and get married on the 23rd of June so no it wasn't us you saw getting married.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time, we will be doing the elephant orphanage for sure.
Many thanks for your information.
Regards
Jackie & Andy

Glad to have been of help, particularly as a newcomer to this! Hope all goes well and you have a brilliant wedding.

Best wishes,

Jenny