• Think of it:  a warm welcome amongst swaying palms, superb 5-star service and accommodation surrounded by lush tropical flora; long stretches of golden sand, and an ocean that stays at about 27ºC all year round... 
   
• Admit it:  it would be pretty difficult not to get utterly blissed out on eight nights on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, staying at none other than the Taj Exotica resort in Bentota.

• Situated about and hour and half drive along the coast south of Colombo, Taj Exotica Bentota is a resort that strikes the balance between natural beauty and top-notch comfort.
    
• You will be staying in a deliciously named ‘Orchid’ room on the sixth floor with panoramic views of the ocean and the beach, furnished with elegant Asian furniture and vibrant fabrics.  Fruit and wine will greet you on arrival and the hotel has even thoughtfully thrown in a 30 minute treatment for each of you at the resort’s beautiful spa.  

• What’s more, as Orchid room occupants, you even get your own special customer services desk to take care of all your needs - from reserving a table at one of the resort’s excellent restaurants to arranging a taxi for you to experience local attractions
    
• And if we can tear you away from the pool, the beach and the spa for a moment, there’s plenty on offer:
  
  
  • Historic Galle Fort and Kande Vihare,
     
  • Head for Ambalangoda for wood carving, the mask factory and if you feel like splurging: some superb colonial Dutch antiques.
     
  • Try elephant riding, or tea tasting
     
  • Or visit the Kosgoda Turtle hatchery... 
     
  • And the jewels!  Beautifully crafted gold jewellery and glorious gem stones abound and to leave without a breathtaking sapphire (one of any five colours) would simply be criminal!
      
• Then there’s the clothes shopping.  Sri Lanka is a centre for global clothing manufacture and Colombo’s fashion stores stock up on unsold export stock … and well,… do we really need we say any more?

So get bidding now!