#32 Tri Star Hotel consists in fact of two Hotels:
The old, original Tri Star with its large landscaped gardens has been around a long time.
It was managed by the family of the #16 Midbay Hotel for many years, on behalf of the Tamil owner, a doctor from Colombo.
Around 2002/3 the arrangement was terminated, the hotel refurbished and a small, oblong swimming pool placed in the garden. This was -and still is - the only pool in the Bay. A Jaccuzzi was place in a tiny room, under some stairs - a position in the open air would have been more popular maybe.
The first floor seen an a/c restaurant, a conference/cinema room and all the cabanas received a full face lift and furniture, imported from Indonesia.
The position of the old TriStar, however, remained land side, away from the popular beach.
It seems that the original owners entered into a partnership with a Muslim business man, Mr. Razak in 2004 or 2005 and a brand new “New” Tristar was constructed after the Tsunami. Opposite, on the beach front, in the (then) 50- 200 meter exclusion zone.
The new building has around 20 air con rooms, which many feel are somewhat too small in size. The hot air is blown into the hotel itself - which is a little unfortunate, maybe.
There is a good satellite TV system, a large flat roof top and a very small front, ocean facing garden.
Due to Muslim ownership it appears that there is no alcohol permitted inside the premises. This part of the Tristar is popular with NGO’s, government officials and other visiting dignitaries
Foreign visitors and tourists from abroad often feel that their preferences have not been fully addressed, but local visitors from Colombo and Kandy are said to be happy in the New Tristar Hotel.
We stayed at TRI STAR because the kids insisted on a swimming pool.
Apart from a bland rectangular hole in the ground there is nothing I can recommend about the place.
I doubt that the New Tri Star ‘Halal‘ Beach hotel opposite is any better.
I spent my time socialising in the usual hangouts or sampled the best draft beer I ever tasted in Asia at a nearby hotel.
Hillton was OK at first but slipped badly during our stay for whatever reason.
So, if the pool at Tristar is overated, where would you recommend staying with kids?
Is it do-able having a hotel without hot water?
There are plenty of child friendly places in Arugam Bay.
The 3 Star Hotel certainly isn‘t one of them. It caters mainly for Sri Lankan groups and has not addressed the preferences of Foreign Tourists.
You can always stay at any other more interesting and better managed places and use the pool at the Tri Star on a day - to day basis.
Aloha is great for kids, so is the Siam View because there are so many animals and the beach is right in front.
So sad to hear you didn’t enjoy the Tri Star. Let me tell you we had the most fabulous week there and would highly recommend it to anyone. If you think they only cater for Sri Lankans why not have a go at joining in with them. We were treated with utmost kindness and respect, they were friendly and very interested in finding out about Australia. We enjoyed fantastic Sri Lankan breakfasts - curry and roti Yum Yum. If you only go for the pool what a shame the ocean is warm, clean and pretty small. We will return one day and make our way back to the Tri Star.