I actually booked this hotel, simply because it was the cheapest in Negombo Beach on hotels.com and I where just planning to land on my feet after the long flight down there on this hotel. But I was really pleasently surpriced, what I got for my money here and ended up staying for one week. At the front the hotel reception and restaurant is one tall and typically Sri Lankan open plan building, where you can go and eat, use the WiFi or talk to owners, staff or guest in a relaxed atmosphere. Down a narrow road is the actual rooms of the hotel located to one side at a big wellmaintained garden with a gate to the beach and all guests actually has a little terrase from where he or she can overlook the beach and still be in shade or away from the rain. The famous Browns Beach is only a 15 minutes walk up the beautiful beach, but I recommend to rent a bicycle on the hotel, simply to avoid all the hustlers on Negombo Beach. If you stay in Sri Lanka long term, you can actually buy brand new bicycle or moped in Negombo town for very little money, which I intend to do next time. The scoop of Ceylonica Beach Hotel is however, that this hotel probably has the friendliest staff and owner couple at any hotel, I have ever been at anywhere. The rooms do need an overhall, but don't let this put you down, because they are getting a renovation just now and should be completely done already in March 2015