Great hotel! All rooms have ocean views! Cleanliness, high level of service, delicious food! There is an a la carte restaurant. Live music in the evenings. On the beach, the coral reef dampens the waves- it is comfortable to swim in any weather and at any time. There are restaurants near the beach where fish and seafood are deliciously prepared. One of the disadvantages is that the exchange rate is unprofitable, and they only change into local currency, but not from local currency into dollars. There is no fruit shop, tea shop, supermarket, etc. nearby, you have to take a tuk-tuk, taxi to the city.
There are guys working on the beach at the hotel who organize excursions, trips to the city, tell you where to buy what, recommend restaurants. Ask Rami on the beach - a very decent, obliging person, everything he recommended to me - tea, an auverdique store, a jewelry store, a spa, a fruit shop, restaurants - everything was of excellent quality! Rami organizes interesting excursions, very friendly service!
We're resting here now.
The hotel is very pleasant, lots of greenery, large territory, 2 swimming pools.
The staff is very pleasant, all are nice and friendly, some speak Russian.
Good cleaning, there are all necessary hygiene supplies.
They update the water regularly, as much as you ask.
The repair is outdated, but generally not critical.
Delicious and varied food for breakfast, lots of fruit (we only took breakfast)
Of the cons, there is no normal coffee for breakfast.
There are not many cafes/restaurants nearby, it's delicious only at the Coral Reef on the beach next to the hotel, you will need to go to other places (5-10 minutes by tuk tuk)
Among the disadvantages: the beach and the ocean.
It was a disappointment for us, the ocean seems to have no waves, but the depth is waist-deep, then the reef, it's unpleasant to walk on the sand - there are a lot of rocks and shells.
But this also did not become a problem, we go to Benton beach (7 minutes by tuk tuk), there really is a fairy tale 🌴🌊 the beach was suggested by the guide Nadish
Excursions were taken through it (you can find it on the beach) +94 77 576 1468
I conducted individual excursions at an affordable price, a rich program, a large selection
The rest at the hotel was wonderful. The fauna on the territory of the hotel is diverse. Monitor lizards of all sizes, cute squirrels, peacocks, beautiful birds fly in. In general, the eye is happy and life is wonderful in this place. We trusted Cherry on the tour part (+94 76 133 7323 ). The guy didn't let me down. We went on a river safari (we went with our family of four with two children aged 5 and 10 in a comfortable minivan), fishing (with the subsequent preparation of the catch-see photo), we received an excursion to the lighthouse as a gift. We drove at sunset, beauty. The guy who drove us (from Cherry)-he led our children by the hands all the way, lifted his daughter up the stairs to the lighthouse in his arms, and held his son by the hand. In the end, I collected beautiful shells for them as a gift. Cherry is a decent guy. On the eve of a fishing trip, a child fell ill. They informed him in the evening. Despite the season and the workload, I postponed fishing a day later, without any additional expenses, fines and other things. It's worth a lot! Thanks Cherry! On a call, he took me to the city on a tuk tuk for free. In general, we were satisfied with everything!
Hello everyone. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country, we were here for the first time. I was very pleased with the hotel. The distance from the ocean is minimal, the food is delicious, the territory is large and beautiful, the pool is large, the rooms are well cleaned, live music in the evenings. There is a cafe with the freshest seafood on the shore, there is a beach with a small reef nearby and it is convenient for both adults and children to swim without waves. Just walk along the shore and the waves are already rising decent, you can surf. From Russia, I found a wonderful tour company, Cherry Tours. Charindu, he's Cherry))) speaks excellent Russian, is a very responsive and kind guy. We chose a 2-day tour in advance with a good car and a Russian-speaking guide from Piu. They wanted strawberries on the way, asked for them, and stopped. We wanted to take a picture at a tea plantation and stopped to take a picture. He even went up to Pidurangalle Rock with us to take pictures of us with my husband. We made an advance payment back in Russia, which is very convenient. Then he took us to the city on a tuk-tuk for free. +94761337323 Cherry's phone number. Beachboys on the beach are very intrusive with excursions, so it was easier for us to arrange everything in advance. We also went fishing with Cherry, caught it ourselves, and then ate it with pleasure on the shore. Mmmm yummy.. In general, I highly recommend a trip to this country, and what fruits, nature, elephants, monkeys, iguanas walked right across the street if you go.
Thanks to Sri Lanka and the Cinnamon Hotel for a wonderful stay. Spacious, well-maintained territory, many chipmunks, monitor lizards, beautiful trees, flowers, very friendly and courteous staff, promptly fulfill any requests. Delicious breakfasts, a nice beach surrounded by a reef, there is an opportunity to swim without waves. We would like to express special thanks to Cherry's guide, who was found by recommendations on the Internet. He speaks excellent Russian, helped us get acquainted with the nature and sights of Sri Lanka, there were many positive emotions after swimming on the beach with turtles, walking along the river where you can feed the monkeys. You can exchange currency at Cherry's, you are always in touch and ready to help. We do not recommend contacting beachboys, they are very intrusive and unreliable, contact Cherry, can organize both group and individual excursions
We stayed at this hotel in January 2025. A very nice hotel, especially the location, with children is just perfect. Friendly staff, very diverse cuisine. There is a cool cafe nearby on the shore, where you can eat seafood very tasty and inexpensive. We met the guide, whose name is Auchan. Highly recommend it! Thanks to him, we traveled half the island, showed a lot of things. He drove us in a comfortable minibus with a very stylish and cool driver! We could say there were individual excursions. The price is two times cheaper than from a tour operator! I recommend it!
Excellent hotel, good service, varied food. The ocean is wonderful, you can go further and surf, or you can relax near the hotel. There is a reef, huge moray eels have been seen there)) and colorful fish. We met a wonderful and kind local tourism manager, Auchan, on the beach. He diversified our vacation in the best possible way, went on various amazing excursions, on an individual transfer, just gorgeous! Shops, an exchange office, souvenirs, tea, etc. , will organize everything in the best possible way +94 779590011 , as well as a huge greeting to our guide "Chala" , we will remember you for a long time with great gratitude!!! He will tell you everything, show you and explain. Excellent command of the Russian language. We returned to winter Moscow, but our thoughts and pleasant memories are still there. 🩷
Very good service. Daily cleaning service. Clean linen and towels. Beach towels are always available by the pool. We had an ordinary but nice room on the ground floor, everything was working, everything was clean and very decent. There were slippers in the room (very nice, because the tiled floor is icy), soap and soap accessories, toothpaste and a brush, even a shaving machine and shaving lotion.
The breakfast was average, but there were few familiar foods, such as sausage and cheese. But scrambled eggs, omelets, Pancakes, croissants, jams, hash browns are very decent. You won't stay hungry.
Sometimes, even in the evening, they offered water to the room and clarified what was needed.
There was animation every evening - songs and music, for an amateur, of course, but people tried their best))
The beach is quite narrow, but there seemed to be enough room for everyone on the territory of the hotel in the shade on the sun beds. Fortunately, the beach was less than 50m away, the first line. Going to the beach is also not ideal, so I advise a careful dive))
There was a bit of pressure from local people offering tours, dresses and other nonsense, but these are local realities that no one can influence. In general, they are harmless and do not bother with their stuff from the best of life.
Overall: the hotel is good, the service is very good, the food is good, the staff is trying very hard, the territory is nice and green, the beach is normal, because of the reef it was possible to swim safely. It won't be scary for the children. Therefore, I recommend it.
We had a rest in January 2025. There are, of course, not significant shortcomings in the hotel, but in general, I really enjoyed my stay.
Among the advantages: a comfortable beach, the presence of a reef - it is very convenient for families with children, good food, nature - this is what it is worth coming here for.
Cons - "tired" rooms, lack of animation, entertainment program in the evenings, service is far from 5*
I would also like to mention the excellent work of the guide Chanak (+94 767543861). If you plan to go to this hotel, you can safely contact him, he will help you with everything, will orient you on any issues and can organize leisure activities at the highest level. I contacted him before the trip to arrange an individual transfer from the airport, he offered the best price. everything went very comfortably. We also went on individual excursions around the island and were delighted. Chanaka turned out to be a very creative and creative person, treats tourists with a soul and sincerely tries to make your vacation memorable. He also organized a fishing trip and a barbecue by the ocean, where our catch was very tasty, with music, candles and even fireworks! Thank you for a wonderful stay!
The hotel is wonderful, the food is very tasty and there are two beaches, one calm and the other with waves where there is surfing, seafood is often served for lunch and dinner, which is very good
They are cleaned every day, the bed is very huge and the mattress is gorgeous, the price and quality are super simple
Cherry's guide was on the beach, organized an excellent safari boat tour and a great fishing trip in the evening with dinner, cooked the fish perfectly, in addition there were musicians and a bonfire and fireworks on the ocean, it was simply amazing, the best guide! He speaks Russian very well, and I would like to thank him very much.
Then the next day we went to the Elle Mountains, rode the train over the devitearic bridge and looked at the tea plantations, we really liked everything too. A day later, we went to Galle to swim with turtles.
I recommend it 100% to everyone, on the beach other guides cheat on prices and say cherry is a bad guide, in fact he turned out to be the best and the cheapest prices, cheaper than everyone else.
Thank you Cherie for our vacation
We stayed at this hotel from 09/19/24 to 30.09.24. The view from the hotel is simply excellent. The food is top notch. Everyone is very friendly, smiling, greeting, always helping. The access to the ocean is excellent, there are no waves, as the reef divides the beach area.
Separately, I would like to thank the person who showed us Sri Lanka. Cherry, that's the name of the guy who always came to the rescue. He organized excursions for us, helped with mobility in cities, and most importantly, when my husband became ill, he drove us a car and a Russian-speaking escort to the hospital in the early morning at a very fast time. I was always in touch and delivered safely to any point. You can find his number in groups about Sri Lanka.
In general, our vacation turned out to be simply gorgeous, with gorgeous weather and emotions. Sri Lanka is beautiful!
The hotel is great. We were out of season, there are no queues at the restaurant, everything is very tasty (seafood, meat and local dishes. There are a lot of sweets and they are delicious, although I am not a fan. The staff is friendly, cleaned well every day. Animation was tight (out of season, apparently). Although there were musicians for dinner every day.
On excursions: Sri Lanka is a country where it is worth going on an excursion. When you arrive, you will have a choice - to get a guide or find yourself a local "tour agency". Naturally, we immediately dismissed the guide (spoiler alert - the prices were all the same, plus or minus) . As a result, I talked to three people who offered excursions, and they all offer them. I think, if desired, it was possible to go through the local chipmunks who live on the territory. Cherry turned out to be the nicest of all. We went once with him, once with his guide. Both speak Russian well, both feel confident. There was also a water safari - it was almost for nothing, as a result, it was a very cool water trip. In addition to excursions, he made us a barbecue evening and helped us in every possible way on all issues (I went to the city with him on a tuk-tuk every day for all sorts of different things). In general, I advise you.
We spend our last day in Sri Lanka at this hotel, the rooms are clean, cleaned every day. We took breakfast and dinner, the food was delicious, not all the food is spicy. We had lunch in a cafe near the hotel to the left of the ocean, there are many options where to have lunch, delicious everywhere! But, I will answer the most important thing, without which our vacation would not have been so fun and what I remember more than the hotel. I would like to say a special thank you to Cherry's guide. We wrote to him before departure and agreed to meet. He thanked us for writing in advance, because if there was a season, it would be more difficult for both him and us in time, since he is a very popular tour guide here. As soon as we got to know him, having found his phone number here in the reviews, we immediately went to exchange currency on his tuk-tuk (at the airport the rate was 295 rupees per dollar, and with it 305 came out). In the evening after arrival, we explored the hotel territory and the entertainment began!! On the second day, we immediately went boating with him on the river (the tour was a gift, since we agreed only to explore the island with him), met animals, went to the Buddha temple, treated us to coconuts, told us everything and showed us. By the way, the hotel has very expensive beer, Cherry drove us to shops, markets and souvenirs for free every day on the last day, as we were only with him. They called and 20 minutes later the tuk-tuk was already at the hotel (and, lo and behold, it was free! Since the men in our company drank beer every day, we tormented him every day with calls asking for a ride and everything is free, the rest have 150-200 rupees per trip). The next day, we went with Cherry's friend on an excursion to the city of Ella. Mountains, monkeys, tea plantation, train station, train and urban flavor. The coolest thing is that Cherry's guide helped us with everything, photographed us, told us the history of Sri Lanka and made us laugh all the way. We rode in a comfortable bus, in four, although the bus is for 6 people. All of Cherry's guides and he himself speak excellent Russian. The next day, Cherry went on Safari with us. We drove six of us, the Tayota brand bus is insanely comfortable, we slept all the way there and back. There are cushions and upholstered seats in the cabin. The tour was included in our top. Just a delight: elephants, monitor lizards, peacocks, a bunch of different birds, crocodiles, buffaloes, monkeys and all this at arm's length. Then we stopped at the elephant nursery with the kids on the way. On the way to the hotel, Cherry took us to the locals and treated us to yogurt. In general, we received something local from him as a gift from each excursion. What was important to me was that excursions with him were also insured, since he is the official guide here and of course his attitude towards us, it felt like we were traveling with a close friend. And just returned from the lighthouse, which is at the hotel. And again, of course, with Cherry. I highly recommend going there! The tour time is 2-3 hours, take it at sunset, you will not regret watching it. Especially on the last evening as the end of the journey. In general, as a result: - the food is delicious; - the rooms are clean; - the weather was great, even though it was out of season; - the staff is very kind and helps in everything (yes, everyone is kind here, ready to help); - free tuk-tuk with Cherry from the hotel (if more than 2 people, then 2 tuk-tuks will be brought); -profitable excursions again thanks to him (if it wasn't for him, we would have spent all the money with the first beach fight on the first day); - the ocean is warm, the city and shops are close to the hotel; - and the most unusual thing. If the currency runs out, Cherry accepts rubles and transfers from Tinkoff!! We are happy! Thank you Sri Lanka, we will be back!
P.S. The hotel has delicious donuts for breakfast and pastries in general! Beach Fights offer a very high price for excursions and for their services, be careful, check the price first! We spent $800 for two people per week, including excursions, souvenirs, lunch expenses, pizza and alcohol orders, pool bar! Drinks at the hotel are only for breakfast, water is poured in glasses at any time, but the rest of the drinks on the menu are for money!There are a lot of chipmunks on the territory of the hotel, take the nuts!
We visited Cinnamon in February, 2 adults +2 children (2 and 9 years old).
The hotel is really tired, but everything is well maintained, everything is being monitored. Monitor lizards and chipmunks were found on the territory.
There are two pools for adults. There are few sun beds by the pool, but there are plenty of places for everyone. There is a children's pool with a slide (fire slide during the day). There is also a type of children's room, they never got there.
There is no animation, which is normal for this direction.
The staff is friendly. If there are problems, they are quickly fixed.
We took a paradise room, but before that we were temporarily accommodated in a standard room. Everything is quite decent. Cleaned twice a day. Water is brought, towels are changed.
Food. Eat any kind of meat: chicken, lamb, beef, pork. Indian cuisine, Asian cuisine. Seafood: fish, crabs, shrimps, squid. Pastries, desserts. There is no children's table at all, there were difficulties here.
Beach. Public. In the morning, the ocean is calm, very shallow, there are no waves here (this was a crucial moment in choosing a hotel). There are few people, tourists. You can see fish near the reef, and sea urchins on the reef. And in the evening, mostly locals are here. The beach gets polluted quickly. It is cleaned in the morning.
Sun beds are paid. The sand is corral. If you walk further away, the sand is very pleasant, just like flour, and there are waves. Those who are interested in surfing are also taught there.
About excursions. We read the reviews with recommendations about this in advance, and chose Cherry. He was contacted immediately upon arrival. We took two tours, individually. The first one: Ella, the nine-arch bridge, the waterfall, feeding the monkeys. The minibus was comfortable, clean, the air conditioner was working, and it was fresh. Our guide was Adid, who speaks Russian well, quickly focused on our needs, and gave us a story about the country and the places we visited. It was a long road, everything went well. Second tour: river safari, turtle farm, and swimming with turtles. Everything went according to plan, too. River safari- a walk along the river, monitor lizards, small crocodiles, monkeys were fed. The kids were welcomed at the farm for 1 day, 2 days, 3 and 4 days. And there were big turtles too. Bathing: 2-5 turtles swim to the shore, you can feed them (food is paid separately). You can also watch the fish there. Then there was time to relax on the beach. On the downside: it was crowded, just like in Anapa during the peak season (and at all facilities). If you have the opportunity to leave earlier, then this problem is solved.
Cherry also took us for free to buy fruits, souvenirs, and ride an elephant. Elephant riding itself is paid. A short but pleasant walk. The elephant could still be fed. Cherry is responsive, friendly and always ready to help. We didn't regret contacting him.
When we first came to the beach, we met Chanak. He also does field trips. He was very kind at first, treated them to coconuts, brought toys for the children to pick in the sand, and brought fruits. We decided to thank him, and took one tour to the Galla Fort+ turtle farm + swimming with turtles again. On the plus side: it was a good time, we went everywhere before the crowds of other tourists. And where there is a beach with turtles, a shower and a changing room were organized, breakfast by the ocean. The cons: the minibus was killed, but the most unpleasant thing is that the guide does not speak Russian, just a few words. And he doesn't understand the questions at all. He went everywhere with us, took pictures, and was helpful. But we never learned the history of the Galla fortress. The fort itself was impressive.
Later it turned out that Chanaka harbored a grudge against us, that we took excursions from Cherry. Although Galla didn't cost us cheap either, plus we took sun beds from him every day for 2 weeks, we paid for a walk to the lighthouse. Whether the service failed out of revenge, or whether this is the order of the day, I cannot judge. It was written on his business card: "Feel the difference." And we felt it.
As a travel agent who has specialized in excursions for over 15 years, it was interesting for me to compare the two competing guys. I have made my conclusions and there is no doubt who I will turn to next time. But everyone decides for themselves))
Overall, the memories of Sri Lanka were the most pleasant, and I would come back here again. I recommend the hotel.
A great cozy hotel for a family holiday , the most important thing is that there is an ideal place for swimming ,there are no waves ,a beautiful clean beach ,lots of sun beds on the lawn under the shade of trees ,chipmunks are tame (you can feed nuts)the food is excellent ,I recommend taking all inclusive 🥂👍rooms are clean ,new (recently renovated)there is animation, you will not be bored !!!
I liked the hotel, the territory is green. The food is excellent, the choice of dishes is large. Room cleaning every day. The beach is separated by a reef, so there are no waves. We went to the left to the beach. The sand is fine, the beach is wide, and there are waves.
Special thanks to Cherry, who diversified our vacation. I found it based on reviews. His number +94 76 133 7323 . He offered various excursions. We chose jeep safaris, river safaris (my son especially enjoyed feeding the monkeys), elephant rides, and fishing trips. I liked everything very much. In addition, Cherry drove to the city for free several times. Generally a reliable guy, he helped with everything. Thanks!
The hotel fully matches the description, it stands right on the beach. In front of the hotel there is a small flowing lagoon without waves, on the left there is a long and wide sandy beach with surf, you can swim without fear of waves, as it is very shallow. To the right of the lagoon are small reefs with colorful fish and coral for snorkeling. The food is very diverse for every taste: there are local dishes with curry and pepper, and there are those we are familiar with. Barbecue and seafood every day. There are a lot of desserts, pastries and fruits. The pool is clean, the ocean is very warm. The staff is very friendly and smiling. The lack of animation is a huge plus, it's very quiet, just surf and ocean. Live music every evening. The territory is clean and covered with green grass, which is very pleasant to walk barefoot. Squirrels are scurrying all over the territory, monitor lizards are walking, Mosquitoes have not been noticed even once. The gym is small, there is a cardio zone and dumbbells. The beach is perfect for running enthusiasts, the sand is hard and it's a pleasure to run along the surf.
Only pleasant impressions from visiting the hotel. It is located 50 meters from the coastline.
An important advantage is the natural reef located next to the shore, which dampens ocean waves during waves.
The hotel offers three types of cuisine: local, Indian, European. A large selection of fruits and desserts. Ice cream is offered for lunch and dinner.
The staff is helpful and friendly.
Minor issues on the number were solved promptly (replacement of the watering can in the shower)
The room stock is "tired", but it is kept clean. Cleaning is daily. The territory is large. There is an outdoor swimming pool, sun beds only on site. Individual emotions - sleep to the sound of the ocean (the room overlooked the ocean)
The hotel is nice. Everything is wonderful! I would like to mention Cherry, the organizer of our leisure time, who speaks Russian. I want to express my gratitude to him for the excursions: comfortable (car, driver, guide, interesting in terms of: local, knows the history of his country, wildlife), great, original! Cherry helped us get used to the new conditions, unlike the numerous excursions of official tour companies. He helped with everything: change debts, buy groceries, find the right stores... tel. +94 76 133 7323 Cherry
We decided to visit Sri Lanka for the first time. And they didn't regret it at all!!!
We stayed at the Cinnamon Hotel, a comfortable hotel with a beautiful green area!!! A family-run hotel. We recommend taking lunch and dinner. Since the choice of cafes is limited.
Next to the hotel there is an ocean surrounded by a reef, where you can swim comfortably. If you go from the hotel to the right, you can swim comfortably with small waves. Go to the left of the hotel and you can jump on the waves.
We would like to express special thanks to Nadish for his wonderful tour of Nadish!!! Thanks to him, we got to know Sri Lanka.
He organized a two-day tour of Sri Lanka for us. He provided us with a guide who speaks Russian well.
We visited the beach with the turtles with whom we swam. We rode along the river, saw monkeys and crocodiles.
We also thank the tuk tuk drivers. They drove us comfortably. Funny and kind guys - Taraka and Taruka
Nadish will always advise you on what excursions you need to visit during your vacation in Sri Lanka. He will answer all the questions. He will advise you where you can eat delicious food and buy fruits and gifts inexpensively. You can easily exchange currency.
Many thanks to Nadeesh for the organized excursions.
I recommend contacting Nadish, you will definitely not regret it.
There are many advantages to this hotel. These are magnificent views, well-groomed territory, the ocean is 50 meters away. On vacation, I like to swim not in the pool, but in the sea. I chose this hotel because of the presence of natural reefs that hold back the waves and you can swim in the ocean. The hotel staff is smiling and attentive. The rooms are cleaned cleanly. Very tasty and varied food in the restaurant. There are many different dishes for vegetarians and meat and fish lovers, there are many local dishes. In the evenings, the hotel sings world hits. Everything in the hotel is organized at the highest level. Everything is very clean and safe. I liked the excursions, especially the two-day one. The tour was presented to us at the hotel. We received a lot of impressions and positive emotions. After a long flight by plane to Sri Lanka, we needed a therapeutic massage and the Auchan guide helped us - you can find it on the beach. He took us for a massage to Dr. K.R.Arachchi. The massage helped me and my friend +94 7777 0 55 54 . The Cinnamon Bey Hotel is cozy, safe, comfortable, calm, with few children. The big advantage of the hotel is the availability of round-the-clock security. Strangers do not enter the territory. I will definitely come back to this hotel!!!
We have just returned from vacation, so I am writing this review with the freshest impressions.
According to the hotel: large, the rooms are spacious, we had a room with a balcony on the second floor. Quiet, clean, cleaning every day. It's quite a good repair, of course, it's already a little worn out, but it didn't spoil the impression in any way. The territory of the hotel is large and beautiful. There are plenty of sun beds, the staff is always friendly and ready to solve all your questions. We had breakfast and dinner, which is a great option for me. The breakfasts weren't bad, but I liked the dinners much better. A large selection of dishes.
There is no entertainment program in the hotel as such, only live music every evening. And during the day there was water aerobics and volleyball.
The gym is small but nice, and you can play badminton nearby.
The beach is nice and without waves, we went to the neighboring beach to the left of the hotel along the concrete road along the sea - there is fine sand and waves, we also surfed there (to the left of the Shasha restaurant). There we made friends with a cool guy, Joe +94 77 8154538 (for those who know English, we highly recommend it). He was always ready to help us with currency exchange and took us to the city for free on a tuk-tuk, arranged an excursion and a picnic on the island with a lighthouse.
Do not change the currency at the hotel, the exchange rate is very low and unprofitable, in any jewelry store they will change at a more favorable rate, but preferably through Joy or Cherry, which I will tell you about further.
Cherry (+94 76 133 7323 ) found it based on the reviews here. He's a great guy, speaks Russian, helped us with currency exchange (you can even change rubles), took us on a tuk-tuk several times for free to buy fruit or for a massage to a local Guru. We went from Cherry on a day trip to Ella ($100 per person), generally liked it, but had no luck with the weather. The price difference with the tour operator was $30 per person, but Cherry had a more comfortable bus, and believe me, this is important. There were 7 of us on the bus. From Anexturs we went to Halle ($50). It is worth noting the great guide Shana, who knows the Russian language perfectly. The bus is less convenient, there are 12 people besides us.
We had a vacation with a friend in October in wonderful Sri Lanka.I highly recommend coming here for a vacation.The country is amazing and the people are smiling and responsive. We rested at the hotel Cippamop Bey and realized that we had made the right choice. This is almost the only hotel on the west coast where you can swim safely, there are no big waves.The staff is pleasant and friendly. Visit Alyonka's chocolates, they love them very much and are ready to serve you with triple diligence. Young guys work on the shore, offer individual and group excursions, you can safely take them. We took excursions from Sunny- I really liked it. His phone number-+94 77 610 2774 you can write in whatsapp.You can trust him.The guy is punctual, conscientious, and obliging.He took us not only on excursions, but also to shops, for fruits, for tea and a jewelry salon. I boldly recommend it to you, it will not deceive you.To sum up, I will say- come to Sri Lanka, come to this hotel, you will be satisfied!
Five stars because this is a really good hotel for Sri Lanka. Hotels in Sri Lanka cannot be compared with the usual ones in Turkey / Dubai, as there is a different level of competition and life there. In general, the hotel is not new, it is clear everywhere that repairs are needed. There are a couple of pools, a public beach. The sea is difficult for swimming, a constant current to the right, but there are no waves because of the reef. A really delicious restaurant, there is always a certain amount of seafood. Local alcoholic drinks are free at the bar, and during meals, imported ones are paid. I was not satisfied with the prepaid room, after long viewing I paid extra and stayed in a large suite, there are only two of them here. If possible, take the most expensive rooms, deluxe or suite, they are really good. Towels and sun beds will be provided by people by the pool. The staff is generally very positive and helpful.
Let's start with the hotel. We rested in it for 10 days in the morning. We got a room on the ground floor with access to the garden, by the way, it is very convenient that there is an entrance and exit on both sides. And plus, in the evening you can sit and admire the greenery and the night sky. There are also the same rooms with access to the pool, if they knew, they would have haggled for it at the reception). Food: we had breakfast and dinner. Breakfast : delicious fruits, sweets. There is a lot of choice at breakfast, but personally I ate omelets, fruits and greens. And so, of course, there are eggs, cheese, sausage, scrambled eggs, pasta, etc., etc., you are big. Dinner : shrimp, squid, sweets, fruits, there is a great choice on udine, but make sure that it is not spicy, for us everything with pepper just burned. Two times we got ice cream, but they say that it should be given all the time, but apparently we are out of season) The dinners are cool, the territory is good, chipmunks, monitor lizards, bats. We had lunch at the sunflower cafe (if you look at the hotel from the beach, then go right), or at pizza hut - we drove to tuk tuk for pizza. As for the beach, the ocean is certainly not turquoise out of season, but it's good to swim. There are no waves in the middle, there are rocks and waves in the water on the right, but where the sunflower is there are no rocks and waves. Where the stones are, you can see the fish) In general, the hotel is decent, the staff is polite, the food is delicious, everything is super, we liked it. Guys, about the excursions, we always went with Cherry. He speaks Russian well. We went with him on Jeep Safaris, to the Turtles, to Ella, to the lighthouse and by boat through the Mangroves. Believe me, we didn't make a mistake when we chose him. Just a piece of advice from the bottom of my heart, so as not to overpay for excursions. The price is great, by the way, he provides tuk tuk for free, we went to the alcohol market or for pizza every day, he does not live near and arrives quickly) He told us where to buy cheaper, and with his help we brought me a sapphire from there) The guy is good, honestly, thanks to him, we spent our vacation much more economically and, not least, it was interesting, he treated us to coconuts, cocktails) Cherry, if you're going to read this, thank you very much! For exciting days in Sri Lanka. Please book excursions in advance, because the season starts soon and there may not be places
Very nice hotel, very friendly staff, clean, varied food. I really liked the hotel. I recommend. We visited 2 excursions, took Cherry's guide on the recommendation (+94 761337323), showed shops with good prices. We also went fishing, and then the caught fish was cooked over a campfire.
Thanks to the owners and staff of the hotel for a wonderful stay. The hotel is very cozy. Nice rooms, ocean views, we even had a bathtub on the balcony. Excellent food, a large selection for different tastes. You just need to learn how to navigate what is located where. Well-groomed territory, funny chipmunks or gray squirrels are running around. Opposite is a calm backwater because of the coral. You can walk to the left to the open ocean. Nearby, except for one Elephant restaurant and a couple of shops, there is nothing, you have to go by tuk + tuk. It's not expensive, you can immediately make friends with a local "manager" on the beach, I recommend Auchan, he will provide transport, recommend an excursion, massage, shop. You can even ask for delivery. For example, a bouquet of flowers. Nice pool. You may not find a sunbed during the day, but thank the beachboy, he will arrange everything for you. I recommend the hotel
Excellent hotel, friendly staff, always welcome with a smile. The area is clean and green . Lots of wildlife, chipmunks, monitor lizards, lizards. The beach is separated from the ocean by a coral reef, so there are no waves. The food is very tasty and varied. The rooms are clean, cleaning every day. I advise you to visit!!!
A great place both by nature and the hotel itself, we rested from 26.08 to 06.09.24 (we were afraid that it was not the season here at this time), but in fact 8 out of 12 days the sun (well, as always burned), 4 days cloudy, short-term rain for half an hour downpour., temperature around +30 water +28. For me, it's better not to have a season in Sri Lanka than a season in Krasnodar resorts, for money a similar hotel is comparable in prices.
The beach at this point of the hotel is divided by a cape in one calm water, on the other waves that are acceptable for swimming, as there is a breakwater dam (50 meters from the shore) protects the beach.
If you want real waves of 2-3 meters, you need to go to a gentle sandy beach 300 meters from the hotel to the left, it's also cool there, it's shallow and the further you go to the waist, the more waves, the sand is absolutely fine.
The hotel has two swimming pools (soak after the salty ocean),
Food: buffet, we took half board (breakfast and dinner) very good format, you won't be hungry! (European, Lankan and Indian cuisine, somewhere around 100 -120 different dishes)
There are many animals on the territory of the hotel, and 3 cats accompany you for dinner (those who go to the hotels feed them, only do not give spicy dishes).
The rooms are spacious, towels, linen are changed, consumables soap \ shampoos \ toothbrushes \ shaving machine are all given at least every day if they forget, write a note and everything will be fine (not greedy, but do not forget to leave 100-300 rupees).
From entertainment, swimming in the ocean, playing tennis, billiards (American), and of course local excursions (we went along rivers and through the countryside to a small waterfall) and to distant plantations and a 9-arch bridge in Ella and Gala went for a walk.
The excursions were organized by beach boy Rami, he has his own tuk-tuk, if necessary, he takes more on business, he speaks Russian very well, well, you can't take away punctuality from him.
Overall, the hotel is decent, we liked to relax here, compared to the Turkish 5-star, there may not be enough gloss, but nature and the staff compensate for everything.
Sri Lanka is a kaleidoscope of impressions! Sincerely kind locals, sandy beaches, tropical nature, surf spots, cuisine with lots of spices, fruits all year round, amazing nature reserves and wildlife, mountains, waterfalls, temples and huge statues of Buddha… This country is made for impressions and adventures!
Our trip is a real gem. And all this is thanks to CHANAK's Russian-speaking guide. What a blessing to get to an interesting and decent person. Chanaka approaches his work with a soul.
We went with him on an excursion to Ella for 1 day. This trip included a visit to the Small Adam Peak and Ravana Falls + the famous nine-arch bridge, a visit to a tea plantation. During the trip, we took a train ride and saw the main sights. This is an amazing paradise among hills and gorges. It seems that the cleanest air on earth is here! You get into the atmosphere of these places completely and completely.
We also visited the port city of Halle. We walked along the streets for a long time, visited historical institutions, a museum, and a fort. Chanaka arranged for us to travel with a personal driver to Colombo. He took me to drink freshly squeezed juice (or delivered it to the hotel), went to the market together to buy seafood. I negotiated with tuk-tuk, went to the market for fruits, shopping. He took us to a Buddhist temple, explaining the subtleties of faith. We also went to the lighthouse. He can arrange a romantic dinner by the ocean.
Chanaka can help with any question.
Our small company received a lot of positive emotions and a great desire to return and continue exploring the island of Sri Lanka. CHANAKA, thank you so much for the vivid impressions, the ease of communication and the friendly atmosphere.
We advise you to contact a competent guide
Chanaka +94 (76) 754 3861
A very pleasant hotel. Even though I rented a villa nearby, I was allowed on the territory of the hotel to my friends, served as their guest, the staff ran at the first request and brought everything (for a fee, of course), but it was very pleasant! The area is large for a Sri Lankan hotel and green. The pool is huge, but the depth is 1.2 m. It is also safe for children. There are many shady places on the territory where sun beds and tables are located. There is a path leading to the beach through a gate in the fence (from the local population) and merchants. The beach is sandy, yellow in color. The water in the ocean, even at high tide, is not disturbed much due to the presence of a natural stone reef, which makes the water a little cloudy and greenish. You can't swim far, you can't reach the reef and rocks with your feet. There are no sun beds or umbrellas on the beach itself, it is public. On weekends, a lot of locals relax there - they sit in clothes in the water up to their chests.
The restaurant is right by the pool. In the evening, live music is played and a singer sings. Very atmospheric - expensive, rich. The food itself is of average price. Quite affordable. And even delicious. Alcohol is expensive, but we carefully brought our own and discreetly refilled it. Alcohol is three times cheaper in the store. We pretended to hide, and the waiters pretended not to notice. We dropped a bottle once, and the bell rang at the hotel, but they smiled at us and walked past. There is also a pizza restaurant. Cozy gazebos with tables. In general, extremely friendly staff, a chic hotel with animation, water aerobics, and various types of food. The breakfasts are simply gorgeous, it's impossible to try everything on vacation. Of course it's very expensive, you can feel it. But the beach is not very good. Beach lovers can go to the Maldives or Thai.
See original · Русский
Алина Гуленко
Level 5 Local Expert
January 22
Overall, it's not a bad hotel.
+a beach without waves
There are always sun beds or they can help you find them.
Good food
Lots of animals, it's a great pleasure to feed the squirrels
Leaving by tuk tuk is not a problem
-
The hotel is sooooo far away from everything!
Anyway, Bentota is a hellhole.
We managed to find delicious food once, and then it was a market, in normal resorts everything was so-so
You can't even buy fruits within walking distance.
There's an elephant cafe nearby, you won't starve to death, but you won't be thrilled either.
There is also a cafe on the beach, but we couldn't have dinner there because it rained every evening.
Will I return to this hotel? No, because I plan not to be in Sri anymore))
As it is, the hotel itself is not bad.
My review will consist of two parts
Hotel:
The staff is nice, friendly and kind. It was the first time I saw such an all inclusive when everything goes through the bar. Inconvenient.
But the food is very tasty. Every day there are crabs, shrimps and a variety of cuisine.
Guide:
There are several travel options, I liked the tour with Cherie more.
He not only tells interesting stories himself, but he has a great team of people. Who also work like pros.
I didn't like the other guides, they don't speak Russian well and repeat stories 5 times.
He has good Russian and tells an interesting story.
I want to leave a review about the hotel.
We went with a teenager in October 2024
Off-season. The weather was rainy for just a couple of days, and then the sun. Although the forecast for our vacation on the Internet was terrible.
The ocean is not a beautiful color, it is very difficult to swim (waves are everywhere).
The hotel is great! I would especially like to mention good breakfasts
There is a huge bed in the room. The room is spacious. Nice pool, grounds, very good staff.
The hotel has a five!
There are 3 cafes and several small shops around. Everything else is to go by tuk tuk .
We went to a cafe , Sunflower,, (along the beach 10 min)
Delicious food and cozy canopies, there is no wind.
Near the hotel, I didn't like the beach.
The water is an ugly color, the sand is very large. It's prickly. Walking is unpleasant. The waves are extinguished because of the reef, but they are there, and the current is very noticeable. Immediately pulls to the side.
The ocean is evil! Out of season, for sure.
Before the trip, we found Cherry's guide based on reviews. We wrote off in advance, he speaks Russian well. Upon arrival, he met us at the hotel with a bouquet of flowers. We immediately outlined a plan for our vacation. He drove us everywhere! And to the elephant, and to the Buddha, I rode my daughter on a scooter.
He went ashore fishing with us. As a personal guide.
We took an excursion, a safari along the river,,and fishing
I liked it!We caught a mackerel and he cooked it for us for dinner.
I fulfilled any requests: I took them to the supermarket, to the alcohol store. I arrived on time! I didn't let you down.
We are extremely happy with the jewelry where he brought us.
He can be trusted with a vacation!
Here is Cherry's contact +94761337323
Beach fights are being fought near the hotel. Everyone offers their services. Choose a trusted one.
Cherry is a super guy!
According to the hotel, I will also add that there are a lot of squirrels in it. Take the nuts, they eat with their hands. Entertainment!
The rest was for everything 💯
The hotel is very nice. The food is wonderful, everything is very tasty, there is a choice of both spicy and non-spicy food, fruits are delicious and ripe (papaya pineapples are the tastiest), cakes in huge quantities for lunch and dinner, delicious pastries for breakfast. For lunch and dinner every day! Seafood! (Grilled shrimp, boiled, with sauce and without, just lick your fingers) squid, crabs (they cook very tasty) also meat and vegetables, generally 5+
The rooms are a little tired, but we only sleep there, we didn't care, while the room cleaning is excellent, the rooms are large. And shampoos and balms and body cream are all there.
In general, the hotel tries very hard for its guests, the staff is friendly. I recommend taking full meals, relaxing and enjoying the ocean.
Sri Lanka is very beautiful, you definitely need to go on a 2-day tour and enjoy the beauty of this country. The wonderful guide Chanaka organized our vacation for 5+. Individual transfer at the price of a group tour from the tour operator. And what beautiful pictures he took of me. I've attached all the photos, and this is the smallest part. He also organized a birthday party for us, flowers, fireworks and dinner. And he took me to the city for cheap fruits. I highly recommend it. I'll leave a phone number to contact him +94 (76) 754 3861. He also has an Instagram cinnamontourslanka, there are a lot of videos and photos.
Also, if you are interested in semi-precious stones (amethyst, topaz, etc.), you can also contact Chanaka. Very beautiful products and can be made to order, we went home in beautiful earrings and necklaces. These stones are mined in Sri Lanka. So the price is great.
In general, I advise everyone, a wonderful hotel, a wonderful guide and wonderful impressions of the country.
We are currently staying at this hotel on 12/26/2024. It is not clear where such a high rating comes from . Russians are clearly not liked here . You ask 100 times to clean the table and bring coffee, there is no coffee machine, the juices are diluted with water ., the restaurant staff is deaf, dumb, blind ))) the food is about nothing for Hindus and locals, you stand in line with the staff, we travel a lot, we have not seen this anywhere that the staff would jostle with tourists in Swedish on the table . Butter is drained.5 g of cheese is hidden in an omelet . We arrived on the first day, it was Catholic Christmas, and we paid 10 thousand per person . There was a lot of food there .(but vegetables are still scarce and hidden somewhere))).You'll have to go to a tuk tuk cafe for 40 kopecks from the guides. Fruits of 3-4 types . Children don 't have anything at all . Porridge is only oatmeal . The hotel rooms are very tired, but they are clean. Tiles from the time of Merlin))) Basen is nice and clean (on Infinity Street) the coolest thing is the ocean!!The nature is beautiful (like Cuba and the islands of Thailand)., Kalyaka and I are tin tiles, there is no grass and sand, there are no sun beds on the sea, only the hotel has a public beach.
We stayed at the hotel for a little over a week. Before booking, we carefully read the reviews, so we were prepared for the fact that the rooms were old (3years maximum). Upon arrival, our room category was upgraded for a small fee. The reef is our salvation! The current is very strong, and we didn't regret staying here. It was especially pleasant to relax and sunbathe on the territory of the hotel, and there was an ocean behind the fence. The service is good. We took breakfast and dinner. I'm a little tired of the food by the end of the rest, but you won't stay hungry. We sometimes went to the coast for lunch, there are many cafes, but we liked Sunflower the most.
We went on 2 excursions with Cherry, found it based on reviews. His guys are great! They try to make you like everything! We even managed to delay the train for a few minutes so that we could jump in. We had a minivan for traveling, and the driver was a master of his craft!
Auchan will be waiting for you outside the hotel, they say he also organizes excursions, we did not go with him, but if you have any questions, you can contact him too.
Sri Lanka is much cleaner than many Asian countries, but our family did not like how seafood and tasteless fruits are prepared here. The prices are high! The nature is beautiful! It's probably worth visiting once, and everyone's choice is already there!
Dead numbers. They are old, without renovation, but the most unpleasant thing is the smell of mold when the air conditioner is on.
The main restaurant, with a fairly diverse selection of dishes, leaves the feeling of a dining room, uncomfortable, noisy.
We chose the hotel on the recommendation of the tour operator because of the beach without waves. It is there, but swimming there is not very comfortable - the bottom is in the rocks. In the evenings, locals sit in bunches in the sea, like in a frog house.
As a result, we went swimming on the beach with waves, to the left along the sea. There is a very beautiful coastline, shallow depth, but on our arrival the sewage was drained from two rivers. Therefore, there was a smell from the water and it was necessary to somehow maneuver between these drains).
One of the good things is the cute chipmunks on site. And the territory itself is spacious and green.
We had a rest with a large group (15 people, most of them children) from 31.12.24 to 9.01.25, the impressions about the hotel are mixed. In the beginning, we had problems with checking in, somehow we decided, we settled in, we had 4 rooms, initially it was assumed that they would be nearby, we repeatedly told the administrators about this. As a result, there are 2 rooms at one end, 2 rooms at the other end of the hotel. Cleaning is done every day, which is good with such humidity, but it was very difficult to wait for towels. As a result, I had to go to the reception. The territory is gorgeous, lots of wildlife, children spent all day running around the lawn, looking at chipmunks and monitor lizards. The breakfasts and dinners were decent, there was a lot of food. 2 swimming pools, the beach is very convenient because of the reef. This hotel is a very good option for families with children.
I would also like to mention the guide Chanaka, who organized 3 excursions for us, conducted them very coolly, accompanied us everywhere, never leaving our side for a minute, told us everything. He speaks Russian well, is a very funny, interesting and attentive guy!!!! Solves all issues very quickly. Thanks to him!!!!
Contact phone number: +94 (76) 754 3861
Great hotel. A huge plus is the lagoon, protected by a reef from the waves. There are big waves where there is no reef, but here you can swim in any weather.
The hotel has a nice territory, a lot of sun beds under the trees, there are always free ones. Free beach towels. Very friendly and helpful staff, quickly helps with solving all issues.
Adorable chipmunks live on the territory, they are happy to eat seeds right out of their hands.
Delicious food, a very diverse selection of both traditional local and European food.
The beach, like everywhere else on the island, is public, there are no sunbeds right on the beach. Lots of cute shells and crabs.
On the beach near the hotel there is a Russian-speaking guide Ashan (insta ashan.tours), you can go on excursions and shopping in the surrounding area with him. He is very friendly, responsible and always ready to help with trips around the island.
I rested for two weeks, in November. I really liked the hotel and the service. The room is large enough, comfortable, yes, all rooms have a view of the ocean. The territory is inhabited by many chipmunks, monitor lizards walk) In the evening, live music, sometimes incendiary performances. The audience and the guests are very decent people)
The food is varied, a large selection, high enough quality, everyone was satisfied.
The staff reacts quickly, is well trained, always goes forward. It can be said that it fulfills all your wishes, within reasonable limits)
The ocean is enclosed by a reef, thus forming a calm niche for swimming, completely without waves. If you go a little further, you can swim in the waves or surf.
All excursions and pressing issues (trips to the city; the best shops; discos; a cool surf instructor at a good price; evening gatherings on the beach with lanterns and fireworks, as well as freshly caught fish; and even aloe vera when I was burned) were solved by a very experienced and responsible Russian-speaking local guide Cherry. Thanks to him, I felt comfortable and calm, knowing that he would solve any problem, help, tell and show what an ordinary hotel guide would not even bother with. I recommend and share the contact: +94 76 133 7323 , Cherry.
Summing up, I want to note that I made a good choice in terms of this hotel, I did not choose and read reviews for a very long time for nothing. If you are a supporter of a comfortable stay and high-quality service, you are here.
We have been staying at the hotel since November 23.
By the hotel. The hotel is old, but the territory is well maintained, the staff is attentive and friendly. The territory is large, you can always conveniently locate. A wide coastline, protected from waves by reefs. There are a lot of chipmunks on the territory. You can feed peanuts by hand. Very good and varied cuisine. .
Although the territory is being treated for mosquitoes, they are still there.
From previous reviews, we found a local guide named Cherry. Contacted via Whatsapp, speaks Russian well. We ordered an individual transfer from him. On the way to the hotel, we stopped to eat and went to the shops,. And they still arrived 2 hours earlier than our group. Organized a beautiful birthday celebration on the shore with musicians, cake, kitchen, and fireworks. We were delighted. We ordered an individual excursion to Sigeria from him. The tour is interesting and took a whole day. Maybe someone will need a contact guide +94 76 133 7323 . You can send a voice message to WhatsApp.
I did not think that I would be among the tourists who would write a review. I have to leave tomorrow, but it's already dreary. Well, about everything in order:
The hotel: it's obviously tired, but very clean and well maintained. The room was cleaned properly (special thanks to Nalaka for the comfort and cleanliness of our 107 room)
Number: 107 on the first floor. We were very comfortable. 2 exits to the inner and outer courtyard. 1 min walk to the ocean.
Cuisine: specific. It was always possible to choose according to your taste. I consider the food optimal for HB (breakfast/dinner)
The choice of excursions and how and with whom to go is always a separate story. And thanks to those who leave feedback. Thanks to you, I chose Cherry for my family (tel. +94 (76) 133 7323) we contacted you while we were still in Moscow, make an appointment. He is a pleasant young man who organizes his leisure time very well. Trips to the store/market for groceries/fruits were a pleasant bonus. His tuk-tuk appeared next to the hotel as if by magic.
We took several excursions: half a day near the hotel in the mangrove forests (by boat: we fed monkeys, saw flying dogs, crocodiles, monitor lizards, etc.) Then we went elephant riding (for a fee), we were on a farm with turtles ... a lot of impressions (I recommend this tour). We went on safari to Yala Park. The road is hard, but the Toyota we drove was very comfortable and we slept on the way there and back. There are a lot of impressions, animals in the wild are amazing. And we went fishing for 2 days. One on the ocean for 4 hours (catch 9 Dorado and another like perch), the second on the Bentota river (there were fewer fish here), all the fish were cooked for us later and we had a delicious meal.
In general, everyone makes a choice for themselves ... I'll say for sure that I've heard enough different reviews about the beach boys (I got caught on AUCHAN myself) who lures on excursions, be careful. I strongly do not recommend it.
We are staying at the hotel from 26.11.23. The hotel needs renovation.The territory of the hotel is large, well-groomed, lots of greenery , there are animals.A large swimming pool with a depth of 1.2m is a municipal beach with a wide coastline, a reef protects from waves, you can safely swim and swim with children. The hotel has a good and varied cuisine, you will not stay hungry, + lunch and dinner, ice cream is freely available.Alcohol for money or all inclusive (beer, wine, local spirits)they are poured into glass. The quality of alcohol is for an amateur, but you can drink it. Internet is available throughout the hotel via Wi-Fi, but preferably through a local Internet provider. We used Dialod, and a local guide to Cherry City kindly helped us with the SIM card.A pleasant, polite, cultured, young man who speaks Russian well.Cherry is able to organize everything you want (transfer from a / e, excursions, a good massage, a trip with souvenirs, fruits, alcohol, the purchase of jewelry with sapphires in the PRINCESS GEM store at pleasant prices, with a good discount).Everything is clear on time and contract.No cheating.Maybe someone can use a guide's contact +94 76 133 7323 (Whatsapp responds to text and voice messages). We were satisfied with his services!!!
We had a rest in October 2023. I liked the hotel, it was cleaned quite often, the territory of the hotel is beautiful and well-groomed, there is a swimming pool, everything is green, tropical squirrels run around the territory. The staff is polite and attentive . We took breakfast and dinner , and we did not lose , otherwise we would have to go somewhere every evening, there are no places nearby where you can have a snack . I was pleased with the availability of seafood and a variety of fruits, live music plays in the evening, if you like to drink, it's better to think in advance, and there is a restaurant where you can make an order. Auchan guide will welcome you on the beach, if you have any questions, he will tell you everything, and on excursions too. Be careful on the beach , there may be stones , you need to choose a place , otherwise you can get hurt . In general, I highly recommend it, we were satisfied.
One of the advantages. The hotel itself is very nice. The staff is friendly, we made friends during the vacation, said goodbye with sadness. The food is excellent and varied. The territory is well-groomed, chipmunks run, monitor lizards crawl, flying dogs fly.
Additional facts. Tourists are mostly on tours. Mostly Russians, Indians, a few Germans, even fewer Chinese and Japanese. Russian live music plays in the restaurant on Wednesdays. We were surprised to hear from the Vladimir Central restaurant.
Of the cons. The beach is disgusting. The strip of sand is narrow, the water looks dirty, perhaps because of the streams flowing nearby. Travel agents sell this beach as safe for children, because there is a reef nearby that cuts off the waves. But in fact, swimming here is unpleasant. It is much better to swim on the Bentota nearby.
The town where the hotel is located is almost devoid of infrastructure. You have to go to shops and restaurants in Bentota. It's easier to settle there then.
Recommendations. We chose this hotel because of the relative proximity to the airport, because we were with a child. For the future, for a beach holiday, only Bentota. It's only a 15-minute drive away.
I read in the reviews about Cherry, a local guide who speaks Russian. He himself opposes himself to the so-called beach-fighting guides from the beach. In fact, he is the same beach boy, just from a nearby beach. Prices for excursions are in dollars, he takes a commission equal to the amount he gives to drivers or boaters. It is good for those who do not want to negotiate once again. And you can save half the price. He takes her to a local healer, who offers to buy Ayurvedic ointments for an astronomical price. Apparently in a share. And he also takes "his uncle" to the jewelry store, there is no point in going there. But we must pay tribute, he takes you to the store on a tuktuk for free. In the middle of my vacation, I realized how to go on excursions for half the price and refused his services.
It doesn't pull 5 stars. One is a small pool, the other in the deluxe area is even smaller. There are no coffee machines, the waiter pours coffee from the coffee pot. The food is good. The exit to the beach is plastered with beggars who do not leave alone and it is very annoying, it is even worse here than in Egypt. The gym is a micro-room for two with broken exercise equipment. It's very boring in the evening. Activate "get off". In general, it's an average hotel, but I definitely wouldn't want to go back there
See original · Русский
1
caporeg1me
Level 6 Local Expert
December 13, 2024
A good option for a vacation with a child. Reefs protect from waves, so it is always comfortable to swim in the ocean. There is a children's playroom, a children's pool. There is a very large selection of dishes for breakfast and dinner, they cook delicious. There is a large well-maintained territory near the hotel. Among the disadvantages - the rooms have not been renovated for a long time, it does not look fresh, something is broken. But it is clean and cleaning is done often. The paid Bufe cafe at the hotel does not cook very well and the prices are too high.
We visited Sri Lanka for the first time and decided to stay at the recommended hotel for the first time.
-The hotel is tired (there was clearly a habit for a cozy suite with a piano, about 15 years ago)), but the situation is saved by high service, responsiveness of the staff (special thanks to Mr. Wasana, an employee by the pool (of course, he is happy to tip and will take your favorite place). It helps everyone not to be left without a sunbed, I am always ready to help, prompt, etc.), and of course the excellent location (1.5 hours from the airport is normal for Sri Lanka, I recommend paying for an individual transfer). Pleasant live music is played in the evening.
-The beach is protected by a natural reef that acts as breakwaters and allows you to swim almost always, for those who like to jump on the waves there is a great beach (to the left) within walking distance, there is also an excellent surf school (20 bucks-1.5 hours), several cafes.
- The food in the hotel is varied, 50% of the dishes are spicy, but there is always a choice. We made do with HB, ate fruit for lunch, or went to the surrounding cafes for soup (Rainbow or Sun Flower cafe on the left along the beach, where you can also eat a huge crab for 600 rubles for our money).
- the territory is green, there are a lot of animals (palm squirrels, monitor lizards, interesting birds. Not aggressive))
- Our vacation coincided with the local New Year, the hotel administration arranged an excellent ethnic show with treats and contests on site. It was fun, informative and great!
- for sure you will meet Mr. Nadeesh with offers of excursions and massages (outside the hotel)- we recommend it, proven 👍
PS: -I recommend to bring adapters, sockets in the rooms of the British type.
- apply for a visa with a migration card online, it will save you a couple of hours of rest.
Thank you Cinnamon Bey for a great vacation and the first acquaintance with the island!
See original · Русский
1
1
Надежда П.
Level 5 Local Expert
January 13
We stayed at the hotel from 04.12.24.
Room – The room was clean, cleaned every day, water was brought, there is a kettle and tea/coffee/sugar, safe, everything worked well, there were no problems with water. It is a little inconvenient in terms of the location of the cabinet at the entrance and the lack of shelves in it.
The territory is quite large, there were enough sun beds. When you arrive, the staff comes up and brings a mattress and towel to the sunbed. There is a swimming pool. There are no sun beds on the beach itself, but this did not cause inconvenience because the ocean is just behind the fence and we left our things on the sun beds on the hotel grounds and went swimming. There is no animation as such, we did water aerobics and volleyball, and there was a fire show once during our vacation. The territory is guarded, sellers and other people who are not guests are not allowed. Lots of chipmunks and monitor lizards. There are no shops near the hotel within walking distance, you can get to them by tuk tuk (if you leave the hotel and go to the left there will be a tuk tuk parking lot).
Ocean - A very big advantage of the hotel is the presence of a reef, you can swim safely and comfortably. We recommend taking coral slippers with you if you have them (you can't buy them there, we were looking for them), the sand is coarse and coral is in the debris, the bottom is periodically slimy and large stones come across. You can walk on the reef, but in shoes and carefully because there are a lot of sea urchins in the pits. It's not very easy to swim with a mask, you can't see much and it's murky. On the penultimate day of our vacation, we discovered that if we left the hotel on the beach and went to the left along the concrete path, we could go to another beach. It's very beautiful and very different there. The beach area is very large, the sand is fine, very beautiful. There is no reef like in this hotel. Big waves. We took two surfing lessons on the beach. There are also cafes and beachwear shops. We regretted that we only discovered this place at the end of our vacation.
Food - We had breakfast and dinner. The breakfast was basically good, there were a lot of things. There is a lot of choice for dinner, but many things are not familiar or tasty for us. Fish and rice were taken more often. I have ice cream. For breakfast, you can ask the waiter for tea or coffee. Only water was served for dinner, and the rest of the drinks were paid for. Probably knowing now, they would only take breakfast. We went to local cafes for lunch. If you leave the hotel on the beach and go to the left there are about 4 cafes nearby. The food is delicious, the portions are large. I liked the coral reef green cafe the most. We recommend you try tuna.
Guided tours – The special feature of guided tours is that you need to leave for almost everything at night and drive three hours to the first stop.
We agreed in advance with Cherie, whom we learned from the reviews. Basically, everything is fine, as agreed (dates and routes).
On the beach near the hotel, Chanaka also offers guided tours to my friends who came earlier, he said that Cheri was a liar, but in the end everything was fine with us, I don't know which of them is better, which is worse. Maybe it's just divided up geographically, and Chanaka offers to stay at this hotel (although she has nothing to do with it either), and Cherie at others. In principle, I think you can choose and arrange excursions on the spot.
Since we had a company of seven people, we traveled in a separate minibus, which is very convenient. The minibus is comfortable, especially compared to Anex's minibus.
Cherie's Russian-speaking guide and driver traveled with us. The attitude is good, they will stop where they need to, they were treated to fruits and local food on the way, if they need to go somewhere, they will stop by.
He told the information, the pronunciation was clear, but with difficulty.
We Took Guided Tours
Cherie's:
Halle (recommended) - Departure at 8.00. A trip along the river with mangroves (it was quite atmospheric, we watched monkeys, birds, insects, we held a small crocodile, it was a bit dirty in places) Stop at a beautiful scenic beach with huge rocks. Then we took the bus to the spice garden (not very impressed). We stopped at another beach location and climbed up the rocks. Turtle farm. Swimming in the ocean and feeding turtles. The last point of the route was the Gale Fortress (the scale is very impressive and the views are beautiful). On the way, we stopped to see the Buddha statue, the tsunami monument, take pictures of the sunset, and see an elephant.
Ale (recommended) - Check-out at 4:00. Waterfall. Feeding monkeys. Tea plantations. A train ride with a stop at the nine-arch bridge (beautiful views, open carriage, musical accompaniment). Climbing the little Picadam mountain.
Yala Safari (not recommended) - Check out at 10.30. There are few animals. The jeep driver drove like crazy, overtaking, driving fast. They were all covered in dust.
Anex has
Separately, I would like to mention the guide Hassan from the Anex company. I didn't really talk about anything at the meeting, and there was no presentation of the excursions. I was worried that everyone hadn't taken the printed vouchers and tour flyers. He behaved strangely, to put it mildly. Sightseeing minibuses are not convenient, but it's a long way to go.
Sigiriya (recommended) - Departure at 4.20, we arrived back around 23. The tour seemed to be called "The Pearl of Sri Lanka". A rich and interesting tour. The guide talked a lot, speaks Russian quite well, it was interesting. Elephants. The spice garden. Lion Mountain Sigiriya (very beautiful mountain and territory, interesting history). There are a lot of monkeys in the territory below, you need to be careful, they can take anything out of your hands. Riding buffaloes. Boating on the lake and lunch in imitation of the old village. The Temple of Buddha in the rock.
Whale watching (not recommended) – Check out at 3.45. There were no whales. The tour lasted about 3-4 hours. We only saw dolphins. Maybe we were just unlucky. It is clear that this is not a pool, but it seemed that they were swimming "for luck", some kind of equipment such as echo sounders was not used, I do not know if anyone saw them on other days at all.