The Blue Elephant Boutique Hotel is a 3-star hotel in Negombo, Sri Lanka. It is close to the airport 8 kilometers away which is about a 15 to 20-minute drive. This hotel is a place to stay for travelers who want to experience the local culture and be near the beach.
The hotel has Sri Lankan art, comfortable rooms and a swimming pool. You can find bicycles to ride around the neighborhood. The hotel restaurant serves Sri Lankan food, seafood and curries.
### Blue Elephant Boutique Hotel: The Stay Experience
* The Design: The hotel has paintings on the walls made by a local artist named Roshan Sathyajith. The paintings show temple and cave styles.
* The Rooms: The hotel has air-conditioned rooms for two, three or four people. Each room has a mini-fridge, TV and a machine to make tea or coffee.
* The Balconies: Every room has a balcony with a special Sri Lankan wooden chair called Hansi Putuwa.
* Amenities: Guests can use Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and a bar for mocktails. There is also a desk open 24 hours.
* Bicycles: The hotel lends bicycles for free so you can easily explore the neighborhood.
* Dining: The hotel restaurant serves Sri Lankan food, seafood and curries.
### Top Things to Do in Negombo Around the Hotel
The hotel is in the heart of Eththukala, Negombos tourist area.
#### 1. Relax at Negombo Beach
* Distance from hotel: 300 meters, about a 5-minute walk.
* What to do: Walk on the beach watch the sunset or see traditional fishing boats.
#### 2. Explore the Negombo Fish Market (Lellama)
* Distance from hotel: 4 km.
* What to do: Visit the fish market see fishermen with their catches and watch fish drying on the sand.
#### 3. Cruise the Hamilton Canal & Dutch Fort
* Distance from hotel: About 3.5 km.
* What to do: Rent a boat to cruise on the canal built by the Dutch. See the old Dutch Fort.
#### 4. Visit St. Sebastians Church
* Distance from hotel: 2 km.
* What to do: Look at the Gothic-style church, one of Negombos famous landmarks.
### How to Get There. Around
* From the Airport: You can arrange a pickup from the hotel. Use a local taxi app like PickMe.
* Getting to Colombo: Take an air-conditioned bus or a train from Negombo Railway Station.
And
* Getting Around Locally: Use the hotels bicycles or a local three-wheeler (Tuk-Tuk).
### Quick Travel Tips for Blog Readers
* Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit is from December, to April when it is dry and sunny.
* Ideal Duration: Stay for one or two nights to rest or before you leave.
And
* Food Recommendation: Try the Sri Lankan breakfast at the hotel, which many travelers love.
