• traveled 3 years ago
So, my review of the rest in this hotel in covid realities. There were many thoughts to go / not to go, which hotel to choose, so as not to be mistaken, given that the entire vacation will be limited only to this hotel. According to the conditions of Sri Lanka, this season tourists have a rest under the Biobubble program.
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So, my review of the rest in this hotel in covid realities. There were many thoughts to go / not to go, which hotel to choose, so as not to be mistaken, given that the entire vacation will be limited only to this hotel. According to the conditions of Sri Lanka, this season tourists have a rest under the Biobubble program. The basic principle is that it is not allowed to leave the hotel and contact with the local population.
Flight. We flew on a UIA charter with refueling in the UAE (no one in Dubai with its lights, the stop was in Al Ein). Refueling 1 hour, at this time you can not get up from your seats. Total with refueling - 11 hours. Oh yes. On the way there, during refueling, a sandstorm began and we sat on the plane for another 2 hours and waited for it to end and we were allowed to take off. On the plane, only 2 bottles of 0.5 Morshinsky. No food, tea, coffee. More precisely, the food could be pre-ordered, but it was poor (like lasagna, twix and a juice bag) for 17 euros. Plus, they distributed it to those who ordered this additional service at least a day before departure, almost immediately after takeoff. For a long time I have not seen so many brakes with sandwiches and testicles on an airplane. Covid.
Arrived at Matala Rajapaksa Airport in Hambantota. This is the very south of the island. Savannah.
The road to Beruwala was about 3 hours. Feel free to sleep. Paid high-way, let me remind you - savannah. Who arrives for the first time, in general, I recommend sleeping! No ocean outside the window, no exotic! The feeling is that you have arrived in the Cherkasy region. Fields, gardens. Well, yes, there are palm trees, but it doesn’t smell exotic. Really does not smell, you're on the bus with air conditioning.
Hotel.
The territory is large, green, there are a lot of palm trees, a lot of chipmunks, a lot of sun loungers, the pool is huge, warm, it does not smell of bleach, however, the depth is 1.2 m. There is a second VIP pool, but it is smaller. I must say right away that I chose among 3 hotels currently available in this area (Beruwala and Bentota). These are Taj, Tsentara and our Tsinammon (namely, BEY, this is a large network). For the price they were on the same level. I must say right away that ours was not the newest, never hi-tech, the most insta-ugly of this trio. But! With the best beach.
Beach. There are 2 of them. To the left is a lagoon protected by a reef, without waves, safe in any weather, a gentle entrance, closer to the reef it is already deeper. Sand mixed with corals and shells. On the right - a beach with small waves, soft sand, the ability to "swim" for a decent distance. True, the bottom is rocky in places, but the stones are clearly visible through the clear water, on the 2nd day they already knew the route, how to enter without them. In the morning, palm trees provide shade at the water's edge.
Number. All rooms are not bad! But, there is a better or worse view of the ocean. We lived at 302 and 305, on the third floor, above a row of tents. I think the location of these rooms is perfect! 5 steps to the lift to the beach, pool or reception. No corridors. The room has everything you need: bathrobe, slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair dryer, refrigerator, mosquito repellant, iron, ironing board. On the balcony there is a sun lounger, a table with chairs. Unusual design, lots of light, air conditioning, fan, safe, jewelry box, lots of hangers. Yes, it is clear that it is not new, but very well! Oh yes)) covid again! Cleaning every 4 days.
Nutrition. It's just a dump head! There is 1 restaurant and 1 bar. Our change of pioneer camp was lucky to get first into one, then changed to another. The first restaurant is open if you go down from the reception, then on the left side. A complete buffet. A few days later, the food was moved to a closed restaurant, which is opposite the gazebo tables with orange canopies. The interior there, of course, is richer) the floors are in mosaic, everything is in pillows. But, the concept was already with a glass partition. Although, it didn't bother me. You point your finger and everything is fine. We had HB, which we did not regret even once! Lunch was really superfluous, I never had a desire to order it!
The ALL system generally raised a lot of questions))) according to it, you were supposed to have lunch and drinks: fanta, cola, sprite, local alcohol (rum, wine), beer. And what really was worthy of attention: cocktails (pinacolada and mojito are excellent! ), fresh coconut, milkshakes (very poor assortment of flavors), latte, imported alcohol, fresh juices - all for an additional fee. Prices: cocktail $5-6, coconut, cola - $1, beer - $2.7, milk shake - $2. The cuisine is not spicy (except for the corner with Sri Lankan dishes, but this is logical for most types of curries). Breakfast has not changed much, but the range is large. Every morning several fresh juices: papaya-based fruit mix (always), watermelon, pineapple, wood apple, coconut juice (changed). Fruits: pineapple, papaya (always), watermelon, guava, passion fruit, bananas (varied). Great yogurts! Especially with mango. Dinner - always seafood and fish! Sometimes crabs. There was also chicken and meat. But who needs it if you can eat tuna. Enchanting salads from under the knife (a range of sauces, the base is seafood, tuna, chicken to choose from). Desserts are simply divine! Cakes, panna cotta, brownies, mousses, based on chi seeds! All and do not list. Yummy ice-cream! In general, milk in Sri Lanka is at a very high level! In short, they rolled out of the restaurant.
Entertainment. 0. More precisely, 0.5. 3 times in 10 days there was live music, a very talented guy sang (in Russian, Ukrainian, English! ). Of the animators, only chipmunks. Bring a couple of packs of seeds and they, you and your children will be happy. The inflatable ball brought from home was very helpful. Played the floor of the hotel. There are few people in the hotel. In reality, we have about 40 people with us. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, several Europeans and a couple of locals. Everyone))) everyone knew each other by sight. In fact, in the end, it felt like we were in the DOM-2 project. Execution place - tables by the pool after dinner.
Excursions. From the available it was proposed: Kandy Botanical Garden + Pinavella elephant nursery ($110), Yala safari ($120), turtle farm ($25). Children under 12 years old 50% discount. If this is your first time on the island, of course, I recommend visiting at least something.
"Biobubble". You can’t leave the hotel, the access to the beach is guarded by the police, there used to be an army, it was even stricter. You should be prepared for such conditions. As a matter of fact, I will keep silent. Hint - the police at the post gets up at 7.00. There is nowhere to go to the right, further boulders. To the left - around the corner is a huge beach with waves for several kilometers (it's a long time to jump, it's the very thing), which ends with the Bentota River, which flows into the ocean). The bracelet is easy to unfasten and fasten back. Well, you understood me.
Perhaps that's all! Satisfied with the atmosphere for everything! We knew where we were going and what to expect! We will definitely come back to Sri Lanka! If interested, you can read my review of last year. Everything was different there, before covidla.
Good luck to all!
Flight. We flew on a UIA charter with refueling in the UAE (no one in Dubai with its lights, the stop was in Al Ein). Refueling 1 hour, at this time you can not get up from your seats. Total with refueling - 11 hours. Oh yes. On the way there, during refueling, a sandstorm began and we sat on the plane for another 2 hours and waited for it to end and we were allowed to take off. On the plane, only 2 bottles of 0.5 Morshinsky. No food, tea, coffee. More precisely, the food could be pre-ordered, but it was poor (like lasagna, twix and a juice bag) for 17 euros. Plus, they distributed it to those who ordered this additional service at least a day before departure, almost immediately after takeoff. For a long time I have not seen so many brakes with sandwiches and testicles on an airplane. Covid.
Arrived at Matala Rajapaksa Airport in Hambantota. This is the very south of the island. Savannah.
The road to Beruwala was about 3 hours. Feel free to sleep. Paid high-way, let me remind you - savannah. Who arrives for the first time, in general, I recommend sleeping! No ocean outside the window, no exotic! The feeling is that you have arrived in the Cherkasy region. Fields, gardens. Well, yes, there are palm trees, but it doesn’t smell exotic. Really does not smell, you're on the bus with air conditioning.
Hotel.
The territory is large, green, there are a lot of palm trees, a lot of chipmunks, a lot of sun loungers, the pool is huge, warm, it does not smell of bleach, however, the depth is 1.2 m. There is a second VIP pool, but it is smaller. I must say right away that I chose among 3 hotels currently available in this area (Beruwala and Bentota). These are Taj, Tsentara and our Tsinammon (namely, BEY, this is a large network). For the price they were on the same level. I must say right away that ours was not the newest, never hi-tech, the most insta-ugly of this trio. But! With the best beach.
Beach. There are 2 of them. To the left is a lagoon protected by a reef, without waves, safe in any weather, a gentle entrance, closer to the reef it is already deeper. Sand mixed with corals and shells. On the right - a beach with small waves, soft sand, the ability to "swim" for a decent distance. True, the bottom is rocky in places, but the stones are clearly visible through the clear water, on the 2nd day they already knew the route, how to enter without them. In the morning, palm trees provide shade at the water's edge.
Number. All rooms are not bad! But, there is a better or worse view of the ocean. We lived at 302 and 305, on the third floor, above a row of tents. I think the location of these rooms is perfect! 5 steps to the lift to the beach, pool or reception. No corridors. The room has everything you need: bathrobe, slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair dryer, refrigerator, mosquito repellant, iron, ironing board. On the balcony there is a sun lounger, a table with chairs. Unusual design, lots of light, air conditioning, fan, safe, jewelry box, lots of hangers. Yes, it is clear that it is not new, but very well! Oh yes)) covid again! Cleaning every 4 days.
Nutrition. It's just a dump head! There is 1 restaurant and 1 bar. Our change of pioneer camp was lucky to get first into one, then changed to another. The first restaurant is open if you go down from the reception, then on the left side. A complete buffet. A few days later, the food was moved to a closed restaurant, which is opposite the gazebo tables with orange canopies. The interior there, of course, is richer) the floors are in mosaic, everything is in pillows. But, the concept was already with a glass partition. Although, it didn't bother me. You point your finger and everything is fine. We had HB, which we did not regret even once! Lunch was really superfluous, I never had a desire to order it!
The ALL system generally raised a lot of questions))) according to it, you were supposed to have lunch and drinks: fanta, cola, sprite, local alcohol (rum, wine), beer. And what really was worthy of attention: cocktails (pinacolada and mojito are excellent! ), fresh coconut, milkshakes (very poor assortment of flavors), latte, imported alcohol, fresh juices - all for an additional fee. Prices: cocktail $5-6, coconut, cola - $1, beer - $2.7, milk shake - $2. The cuisine is not spicy (except for the corner with Sri Lankan dishes, but this is logical for most types of curries). Breakfast has not changed much, but the range is large. Every morning several fresh juices: papaya-based fruit mix (always), watermelon, pineapple, wood apple, coconut juice (changed). Fruits: pineapple, papaya (always), watermelon, guava, passion fruit, bananas (varied). Great yogurts! Especially with mango. Dinner - always seafood and fish! Sometimes crabs. There was also chicken and meat. But who needs it if you can eat tuna. Enchanting salads from under the knife (a range of sauces, the base is seafood, tuna, chicken to choose from). Desserts are simply divine! Cakes, panna cotta, brownies, mousses, based on chi seeds! All and do not list. Yummy ice-cream! In general, milk in Sri Lanka is at a very high level! In short, they rolled out of the restaurant.
Entertainment. 0. More precisely, 0.5. 3 times in 10 days there was live music, a very talented guy sang (in Russian, Ukrainian, English! ). Of the animators, only chipmunks. Bring a couple of packs of seeds and they, you and your children will be happy. The inflatable ball brought from home was very helpful. Played the floor of the hotel. There are few people in the hotel. In reality, we have about 40 people with us. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, several Europeans and a couple of locals. Everyone))) everyone knew each other by sight. In fact, in the end, it felt like we were in the DOM-2 project. Execution place - tables by the pool after dinner.
Excursions. From the available it was proposed: Kandy Botanical Garden + Pinavella elephant nursery ($110), Yala safari ($120), turtle farm ($25). Children under 12 years old 50% discount. If this is your first time on the island, of course, I recommend visiting at least something.
"Biobubble". You can’t leave the hotel, the access to the beach is guarded by the police, there used to be an army, it was even stricter. You should be prepared for such conditions. As a matter of fact, I will keep silent. Hint - the police at the post gets up at 7.00. There is nowhere to go to the right, further boulders. To the left - around the corner is a huge beach with waves for several kilometers (it's a long time to jump, it's the very thing), which ends with the Bentota River, which flows into the ocean). The bracelet is easy to unfasten and fasten back. Well, you understood me.
Perhaps that's all! Satisfied with the atmosphere for everything! We knew where we were going and what to expect! We will definitely come back to Sri Lanka! If interested, you can read my review of last year. Everything was different there, before covidla.
Good luck to all!
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We flew 11 hours Sky up, via Compass. Tests and visas were checked in Boryspil, no one looked at the Sri link, on the plane they gave health questionnaires to fill out, we all got off the plane and were doused with disinfection, our luggage was doused a couple of times, we drove to the hotel until about four o'clock, without stopping under convoy.
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We flew 11 hours Sky up, via Compass. Tests and visas were checked in Boryspil, no one looked at the Sri link, on the plane they gave health questionnaires to fill out, we all got off the plane and were doused with disinfection, our luggage was doused a couple of times, we drove to the hotel until about four o'clock, without stopping under convoy. We were poured into the hotel again, and passed the test, sent to the rooms.
The hotel has a good territory, all green, squirrels run, monitor lizards. The monkey did not see. Superium rooms, a bit tired. In the bathroom, shampoos, balms, caps, shaving kit, washcloth. Bathrobe, slippers. There is a whole box of water. They clean every four days, if you ask, it will be more often. came to clean up in spacesuits.
local alcohol - super rum (wink). They settle everyone with a view of the sea, in the building further living service personnel, as I understand it, they are not allowed out of the hotel either.
Surcharge from HB to ALL on the spot $ 80 for two.
Meals (sad) I was expecting the best, one kind of chicken, fish, side dishes, salads, desserts beyond praise delicious and serving (teeth), the ocean on one side behind the reef is calm, it seemed to me the water was stagnant and a little smelly, on the other side a little the waves are great (smiley).
Excursions Kandy 75 dollars, Yala Park 95. You can buy something through a guide. They gave me the phone number of a girl from whom you can order whatever you want. Store prices.
The hotel has a good territory, all green, squirrels run, monitor lizards. The monkey did not see. Superium rooms, a bit tired. In the bathroom, shampoos, balms, caps, shaving kit, washcloth. Bathrobe, slippers. There is a whole box of water. They clean every four days, if you ask, it will be more often. came to clean up in spacesuits.
local alcohol - super rum (wink). They settle everyone with a view of the sea, in the building further living service personnel, as I understand it, they are not allowed out of the hotel either.
Surcharge from HB to ALL on the spot $ 80 for two.
Meals (sad) I was expecting the best, one kind of chicken, fish, side dishes, salads, desserts beyond praise delicious and serving (teeth), the ocean on one side behind the reef is calm, it seemed to me the water was stagnant and a little smelly, on the other side a little the waves are great (smiley).
Excursions Kandy 75 dollars, Yala Park 95. You can buy something through a guide. They gave me the phone number of a girl from whom you can order whatever you want. Store prices.
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Clean hotel with a good, beautiful area, with a good beach. Friendly staff. Rooms are clean, but not 5 stars, maximum 3 stars. Be careful, the hotel deceives visitors. We were "degreased" for $ 210 immediately upon check-in. The hotel announced the price for an early check-in of $50, and upon arrival demanded $100.
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Clean hotel with a good, beautiful area, with a good beach. Friendly staff. Rooms are clean, but not 5 stars, maximum 3 stars.
Be careful, the hotel deceives visitors. We were "degreased" for $ 210 immediately upon check-in.
The hotel announced the price for an early check-in of $50, and upon arrival demanded $100. Also the hotel demanded to pay extra $160 per child, because the child is 16 years old.
When booking the hotel, I indicated all the guests who will be staying at the hotel - 2 adults and children 2 years old and 16 years old. Booked a room for 3 adults and 2 children. Since we were with a small child, we had to give the money that they demanded from us.
In addition, in the hotel's restaurants, the price for dishes is indicated on the menu alone, and when paying, about 30% is added for the service and some kind of tax. You plan to eat for 3 thousand, you pay - 4 thousand.
Be careful, the hotel deceives visitors. We were "degreased" for $ 210 immediately upon check-in.
The hotel announced the price for an early check-in of $50, and upon arrival demanded $100. Also the hotel demanded to pay extra $160 per child, because the child is 16 years old.
When booking the hotel, I indicated all the guests who will be staying at the hotel - 2 adults and children 2 years old and 16 years old. Booked a room for 3 adults and 2 children. Since we were with a small child, we had to give the money that they demanded from us.
In addition, in the hotel's restaurants, the price for dishes is indicated on the menu alone, and when paying, about 30% is added for the service and some kind of tax. You plan to eat for 3 thousand, you pay - 4 thousand.
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The hotel was chosen mostly because of the name they liked)) the check-in went pretty quickly. There were some problems with the cleanliness of the hotel and not a perfect beach. The room was not big but comfortable and with a great view. I liked the staff, friendly and very professional, the food is very edible! In general, the holiday was a success and the hotel left a pleasant impression!.
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The hotel was chosen mostly because of the name they liked)) the check-in went pretty quickly.
There were some problems with the cleanliness of the hotel and not a perfect beach.
The room was not big but comfortable and with a great view.
I liked the staff, friendly and very professional, the food is very edible!
In general, the holiday was a success and the hotel left a pleasant impression!
There were some problems with the cleanliness of the hotel and not a perfect beach.
The room was not big but comfortable and with a great view.
I liked the staff, friendly and very professional, the food is very edible!
In general, the holiday was a success and the hotel left a pleasant impression!
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• 12
We rested together with my husband in Cinnamon Bay 5 * from 14.03. 17 to 26.03. 17. We went exclusively with breakfast, we did not regret it. The tour was taken from Join UP! The flight was quite difficult, after landing I wanted to go through all the visa and customs procedures as soon as possible and finally get to the hotel.
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We rested together with my husband in Cinnamon Bay 5 * from 14.03. 17 to 26.03. 17. We went exclusively with breakfast, we did not regret it. The tour was taken from Join UP!
The flight was quite difficult, after landing I wanted to go through all the visa and customs procedures as soon as possible and finally get to the hotel. Unfortunately, unforeseen difficulties arose at the airport, which greatly delayed the entire clearance. As a result, having arrived at 22:35, we finished with the formalities only by 00:30 at night. They exchanged dollars for rupees at the airport, kept the check - they made a reverse exchange on it on the way back. The representative of the tour operator put us on the bus, let's go. Our hotel was the first of all where tourists were taken. The distance to it from the airport is 88 km, so we were somewhat perplexed when the guide announced that we would arrive in 2 hours. But even in such a time it was not possible to get to the hotel, since we stopped at a gas station. The first 5-10 minutes everyone was sitting quietly and calmly, everyone was tired.
When, after fifteen minutes, it became clear that we were not going to go yet, the people began to grumble. As a result - the bus refueled 25 minutes! which lengthened our trip.
The hotel check-in went quickly - overnight, we were the only newcomers. On time - settled at 03:20.
Now specifically about the hotel and rest. The hotel left mixed feelings.
The breakfasts were good, everyone could find something to their liking. There are quite a few national dishes that are difficult to even try - everything in your mouth starts to burn from pepper, be careful with this. But you can also find a lot of non-peppered dishes - scrambled eggs / omelettes, fried bacon, grilled pork sausages, waffles with various sauces / jams, cereal with milk. There was even chicken broth, however, I don’t know what it is, we didn’t try it. Quite a lot of fruits, very tasty papayas, pineapples and small bananas. There were buns and croissants. The waiters serve tea and coffee.
Lunches and dinners were not taken, I will not say anything about them.
The room we were given was on the first floor. On the one hand - conveniently - access immediately to the lawn, close to the pool. On the other hand - very high humidity and too many mosquitoes. For three days they tried to adapt, then, by agreement, they moved to the third floor in the far wing - and were very pleased with this. Much less humidity, mosquitoes only on the balcony and then - if you sit too long, a view of the ocean. According to the latter, it seems like all the rooms overlook the ocean, but in reality you can’t see the ocean from the first floor - palm trees, bushes and trees block everything. There was a bathroom on the balcony, but we never used it.
Cleaning was every day, no complaints. We left a tip of 100 rupees to the cleaner. Somehow they left about 140-150 rupees, the cleaner was so happy that he twisted an elephant out of towels for us and even made his eyes out of pieces of grass.
Towels are only changed if you throw them on the floor, so if you need a daily change of towels, don't forget about it.
The room is quite comfortable for two. Children would not be so comfortable. The idea with a toilet and a shower behind frosted glass, in fact, in the hallway, remained somewhat incomprehensible.
The pool is clean, the water is warm, in the evening - like in the bathroom. Up to 12 hours, part of the pool covers the shade, then you can swim only in the sun.
The territory of the hotel is well-groomed, clean, a lot of greenery and living creatures - chipmunks, iguanas, all kinds of birds. One day we saw a big black snake, it crossed the path in front of us sooooo fast. It seems to be harmless...They did not notice playgrounds, but they did not purposefully look for them, they went together.
The staff is very friendly, everyone speaks English, but if English is weak, you can use offline translators, they helped us out a lot several times.
In general, the hotel makes a good impression.
What left bewilderment - the pricing policy of the hotel. Everything is so expensive that restaurants and bars are almost always empty, at most someone sits with a cup of coffee or a can of beer. For example, a bottle of water in the city costs 40 rupees, in a hotel 350 rupees + 24% tax. A can of beer - in the city 140 rupees, in any restaurant on the beach 200 rupees, in a hotel - 600 plus the same tax fee ...If prices were a little higher than a couple of steps along the beach, then they would be happy to use hotel bars - restaurants. But with such a pricing policy, of course, money went anywhere, but only in Cinnamon ...
For an 11-day vacation, they spent about a thousand dollars, without denying themselves anything. This is taking into account excursions, souvenirs, teas, gifts. Lunch-dinner went (traveled by tuk-tuk) to restaurants near the hotel.
If you go to the beach, then literally 50-100 meters away there are three restaurants (although you would rather call them a cafe), if you go a little further - a few more establishments. The range of dishes they have is approximately the same, but in terms of taste / communication / size of portions, I liked "Sunflower" the most. We ordered a "sea plateau" a few times - in "Sunflower" the "plateau" itself was larger (in terms of the size of marine life and their number) and from the accompanying dishes there were not only french fries and salad, but also a plate of rice (very delicious). For two, they ate heartily. What else I liked about Sunflower - every time they brought us some kind of dessert as a gift from the restaurant - either a fruit salad, or pineapple in batter, something else - everything was sooooo tasty. The owner of the establishment is quite well explained in Russian, the staff is mostly in English, but the basic "concepts" of the menu are also understood in Russian.
On excursions.
Everyone has probably already read that there are a lot of beach-based beach-fights...we didn't pay much attention to them. At one of the dinners in Sunflower, we talked with a local guy Indika, he is the nephew of the owner of the establishment. Works as a guide. We asked him about the excursions, looked at the photos, memorized some positions, took the phone. The next day, they asked the beach-boys for their prices, what is included in the tour, compared - and made conclusions. As a result, we went with Indica on a safari to Yalla, to a turtle farm, on a boat trip to watch whales, in Galle and on a boat along Bentota. All excursions were very good. Indica is fluent in English, partially knows Russian, and continues to learn it. Sometimes it hangs in search of the right word, but in the end - understanding is always achieved. He also helped us on trips to the city (on his tuk-tuk), helped with the selection and purchase of fruits.
My husband bargained with the merchants - with the help of a calculator, and Indica helped a lot as a translator. He probably had some percentage of our purchases, but in fact he saved us so much time, and spent so much of his time on us that we have nothing against the fact that he earns some extra penny (there are local - not to say that it is prosperous). So - if anyone is interested in excursions, or simply - to take / bring to the city, to the hotel, to the same "Sunflower", if it's raining outside, I can safely recommend Indica. We contacted him via viber +94 (77.540 7274.
On the ocean ...swimming near the hotel - we didn’t like it on the site protected by the reef, we went to the Sunflower area - you can swim chic there !! ! ! ! But you need to be careful, there is a very flat bottom, respectively, the rip current is quite strong. There are always waves, it is better not to go further than waist / chest.
If you feel that the outgoing wave is dragging very strongly towards the ocean, it is better to move 20-50 meters further to the side. Well, do not go deep, it is much more difficult to overcome the rip current there. And be careful with the sun - on our first day it was very cloudy, but in 20 minutes in the ocean we were able to burn out.
I really liked my vacation in Sri Lanka, I think we will come back more than once. I'm not sure, though, that in Cinnamon))))). In the course of the rest it turned out that we only like to spend the night and have breakfast in the hotel.
A few more words about Join UP! We never saw our hotel guide Olga. It appeared in the vibe after our question to the travel agency if there was any representative of the tour operator here. Left the impression of a completely incompetent person. We had a night flight back, Olya was asked how to arrange a late check-out, she advised me to find out at the reception. Then it turned out that you need to pay for the departure for a day or two, otherwise they are evicted as expected at 12:00.
Olya, of course, could not tell us this, it seemed to us that she did not know anything at all. Another interesting point about the tour operator. Our departure was at 01:05, the bus arrived for us at 16:30. EIGHT and a half hours before departure! As a result, we arrived at the airport at 19:00 - in some small uncomfortable bus, and waited a very long time for at least the start of registration for our flight. But representatives of Join UP! could rest easy in their beds, and not take tourists to the airport for the night looking. A very unpleasant impression from the tour operator, and this is our second experience of buying a tour from this company. Most likely - the latter, there are many tour operators, there are always options for whom to take their money)))).
The flight was quite difficult, after landing I wanted to go through all the visa and customs procedures as soon as possible and finally get to the hotel. Unfortunately, unforeseen difficulties arose at the airport, which greatly delayed the entire clearance. As a result, having arrived at 22:35, we finished with the formalities only by 00:30 at night. They exchanged dollars for rupees at the airport, kept the check - they made a reverse exchange on it on the way back. The representative of the tour operator put us on the bus, let's go. Our hotel was the first of all where tourists were taken. The distance to it from the airport is 88 km, so we were somewhat perplexed when the guide announced that we would arrive in 2 hours. But even in such a time it was not possible to get to the hotel, since we stopped at a gas station. The first 5-10 minutes everyone was sitting quietly and calmly, everyone was tired.
When, after fifteen minutes, it became clear that we were not going to go yet, the people began to grumble. As a result - the bus refueled 25 minutes! which lengthened our trip.
The hotel check-in went quickly - overnight, we were the only newcomers. On time - settled at 03:20.
Now specifically about the hotel and rest. The hotel left mixed feelings.
The breakfasts were good, everyone could find something to their liking. There are quite a few national dishes that are difficult to even try - everything in your mouth starts to burn from pepper, be careful with this. But you can also find a lot of non-peppered dishes - scrambled eggs / omelettes, fried bacon, grilled pork sausages, waffles with various sauces / jams, cereal with milk. There was even chicken broth, however, I don’t know what it is, we didn’t try it. Quite a lot of fruits, very tasty papayas, pineapples and small bananas. There were buns and croissants. The waiters serve tea and coffee.
Lunches and dinners were not taken, I will not say anything about them.
The room we were given was on the first floor. On the one hand - conveniently - access immediately to the lawn, close to the pool. On the other hand - very high humidity and too many mosquitoes. For three days they tried to adapt, then, by agreement, they moved to the third floor in the far wing - and were very pleased with this. Much less humidity, mosquitoes only on the balcony and then - if you sit too long, a view of the ocean. According to the latter, it seems like all the rooms overlook the ocean, but in reality you can’t see the ocean from the first floor - palm trees, bushes and trees block everything. There was a bathroom on the balcony, but we never used it.
Cleaning was every day, no complaints. We left a tip of 100 rupees to the cleaner. Somehow they left about 140-150 rupees, the cleaner was so happy that he twisted an elephant out of towels for us and even made his eyes out of pieces of grass.
Towels are only changed if you throw them on the floor, so if you need a daily change of towels, don't forget about it.
The room is quite comfortable for two. Children would not be so comfortable. The idea with a toilet and a shower behind frosted glass, in fact, in the hallway, remained somewhat incomprehensible.
The pool is clean, the water is warm, in the evening - like in the bathroom. Up to 12 hours, part of the pool covers the shade, then you can swim only in the sun.
The territory of the hotel is well-groomed, clean, a lot of greenery and living creatures - chipmunks, iguanas, all kinds of birds. One day we saw a big black snake, it crossed the path in front of us sooooo fast. It seems to be harmless...They did not notice playgrounds, but they did not purposefully look for them, they went together.
The staff is very friendly, everyone speaks English, but if English is weak, you can use offline translators, they helped us out a lot several times.
In general, the hotel makes a good impression.
What left bewilderment - the pricing policy of the hotel. Everything is so expensive that restaurants and bars are almost always empty, at most someone sits with a cup of coffee or a can of beer. For example, a bottle of water in the city costs 40 rupees, in a hotel 350 rupees + 24% tax. A can of beer - in the city 140 rupees, in any restaurant on the beach 200 rupees, in a hotel - 600 plus the same tax fee ...If prices were a little higher than a couple of steps along the beach, then they would be happy to use hotel bars - restaurants. But with such a pricing policy, of course, money went anywhere, but only in Cinnamon ...
For an 11-day vacation, they spent about a thousand dollars, without denying themselves anything. This is taking into account excursions, souvenirs, teas, gifts. Lunch-dinner went (traveled by tuk-tuk) to restaurants near the hotel.
If you go to the beach, then literally 50-100 meters away there are three restaurants (although you would rather call them a cafe), if you go a little further - a few more establishments. The range of dishes they have is approximately the same, but in terms of taste / communication / size of portions, I liked "Sunflower" the most. We ordered a "sea plateau" a few times - in "Sunflower" the "plateau" itself was larger (in terms of the size of marine life and their number) and from the accompanying dishes there were not only french fries and salad, but also a plate of rice (very delicious). For two, they ate heartily. What else I liked about Sunflower - every time they brought us some kind of dessert as a gift from the restaurant - either a fruit salad, or pineapple in batter, something else - everything was sooooo tasty. The owner of the establishment is quite well explained in Russian, the staff is mostly in English, but the basic "concepts" of the menu are also understood in Russian.
On excursions.
Everyone has probably already read that there are a lot of beach-based beach-fights...we didn't pay much attention to them. At one of the dinners in Sunflower, we talked with a local guy Indika, he is the nephew of the owner of the establishment. Works as a guide. We asked him about the excursions, looked at the photos, memorized some positions, took the phone. The next day, they asked the beach-boys for their prices, what is included in the tour, compared - and made conclusions. As a result, we went with Indica on a safari to Yalla, to a turtle farm, on a boat trip to watch whales, in Galle and on a boat along Bentota. All excursions were very good. Indica is fluent in English, partially knows Russian, and continues to learn it. Sometimes it hangs in search of the right word, but in the end - understanding is always achieved. He also helped us on trips to the city (on his tuk-tuk), helped with the selection and purchase of fruits.
My husband bargained with the merchants - with the help of a calculator, and Indica helped a lot as a translator. He probably had some percentage of our purchases, but in fact he saved us so much time, and spent so much of his time on us that we have nothing against the fact that he earns some extra penny (there are local - not to say that it is prosperous). So - if anyone is interested in excursions, or simply - to take / bring to the city, to the hotel, to the same "Sunflower", if it's raining outside, I can safely recommend Indica. We contacted him via viber +94 (77.540 7274.
On the ocean ...swimming near the hotel - we didn’t like it on the site protected by the reef, we went to the Sunflower area - you can swim chic there !! ! ! ! But you need to be careful, there is a very flat bottom, respectively, the rip current is quite strong. There are always waves, it is better not to go further than waist / chest.
If you feel that the outgoing wave is dragging very strongly towards the ocean, it is better to move 20-50 meters further to the side. Well, do not go deep, it is much more difficult to overcome the rip current there. And be careful with the sun - on our first day it was very cloudy, but in 20 minutes in the ocean we were able to burn out.
I really liked my vacation in Sri Lanka, I think we will come back more than once. I'm not sure, though, that in Cinnamon))))). In the course of the rest it turned out that we only like to spend the night and have breakfast in the hotel.
A few more words about Join UP! We never saw our hotel guide Olga. It appeared in the vibe after our question to the travel agency if there was any representative of the tour operator here. Left the impression of a completely incompetent person. We had a night flight back, Olya was asked how to arrange a late check-out, she advised me to find out at the reception. Then it turned out that you need to pay for the departure for a day or two, otherwise they are evicted as expected at 12:00.
Olya, of course, could not tell us this, it seemed to us that she did not know anything at all. Another interesting point about the tour operator. Our departure was at 01:05, the bus arrived for us at 16:30. EIGHT and a half hours before departure! As a result, we arrived at the airport at 19:00 - in some small uncomfortable bus, and waited a very long time for at least the start of registration for our flight. But representatives of Join UP! could rest easy in their beds, and not take tourists to the airport for the night looking. A very unpleasant impression from the tour operator, and this is our second experience of buying a tour from this company. Most likely - the latter, there are many tour operators, there are always options for whom to take their money)))).
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The hotel was settled very quickly, the service is good, the food is decent.
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The hotel was settled very quickly, the service is good, the food is decent.
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We chose this hotel because a reef runs along the beach at a distance of 50 meters from the shore, which prevents the waves from dragging you into the ocean. But for diving enthusiasts, this is not suitable. Small, but safe, you can safely go on vacation with the kids. The food is normal (certainly not Turkey, but not Europe either).
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We chose this hotel because a reef runs along the beach at a distance of 50 meters from the shore, which prevents the waves from dragging you into the ocean. But for diving enthusiasts, this is not suitable. Small, but safe, you can safely go on vacation with the kids. The food is normal (certainly not Turkey, but not Europe either). There is a choice of products. And there are many cafes on the coast where you can enjoy seafood at your fingertips. We flew out at night, at 10 pm a taxi came for us (the transfer is included in the price of the tour), but no one drove out of the room, we vacated the room 15-20 minutes before the taxi arrived. In general, they were satisfied with the rest. The price matched the quality. Good luck to all
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• traveled 8 years ago
First time flying to Sri Lanka. The tour was from 21.11. 15 to 30.11. 15 (actually it turns out 7 nights, 8 days) from Kyiv through Sharjah, in Sharjah there was a transfer of 50 minutes (there was enough time to go to the toilet, smoke, walk around the territory - the airport is small). Arrived in Colombo at night.
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First time flying to Sri Lanka. The tour was from 21.11. 15 to 30.11. 15 (actually it turns out 7 nights, 8 days) from Kyiv through Sharjah, in Sharjah there was a transfer of 50 minutes (there was enough time to go to the toilet, smoke, walk around the territory - the airport is small). Arrived in Colombo at night. The time difference is about 3.30 hours. We received our luggage without any problems, in the same place on the territory of the airport they changed some currency for their rupees (the rate was 139.25 rupees for 1 dollar). depends on the denomination of banknotes - if 100 dollars. then the rate is high, if 5 dollars. less, but not by much. Immediately we were met by the guide Dumidu from "EXOTIC LEISURE TOURS", put us in an air-conditioned minibus and after an hour and a half we were at the Cinnamon Bay Hotel. We arrived without problems on the autobahn. We were greeted with wet towels, but drinks, as vacationers wrote in the reviews, were not offered. We bought a tour with a late check-out, took breakfast and dinner. On the 22nd, when we arrived, we were supposed to have only dinner, and on the evening of the 29th, before leaving the hotel, we were supposed to be given a breakfast ration, since we flew out on the night of the 30th. But our valiant guide Dumidu arranged for us to be fed on the morning of the 22nd, which was very helpful. Since we arrived almost at 8 in the morning, and the settlement was at 12, naturally there were no rooms. We had breakfast, walked around the territory and went to find out about the room. At the reception, everyone speaks English, but with our level of knowledge, it was difficult to understand them, but resourceful staff types in English on a computer and translates into Russian. So there were no problems in communication. After 10 minutes of discussions and “tips”, we got the most beautiful deluxe room instead of a double and settled in calmly. There were bathrobes (no slippers), hair dryer, toiletries (soap, shower gel, shampoo, body lotion), free safe, paid minibar, kettle (water, tea, coffee, sugar bags - free of charge), iron, scales, a huge shower with a bath, located on the balcony, enclosed by a wall. In doubles, the bathroom is just on the open balcony. The food is mostly ok you can find not too peppery food. In the morning, usually scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, cooked immediately, bacon, sausages, 4-5 types of side dishes - potatoes, rice, noodles, beans or stewed vegetables, several types of muesli, yogurt, salads, 2 types of sausage, 2-3 types of cheese, 5 types of juices. Pour tea, coffee, milk. Fruits were bananas, papayas, pineapples, watermelon. Fine. For dinner there were more side dishes, 2 types of soup, chicken, fish, pork, a little more salads, fruits, there were 2 types of ice cream, kurt is our sour (cool). Drinks in the evening are all paid. Water is simple 150 rupees, a bottle of their Leo beer costs 512 rupees, but there is a tax on alcohol - another 113 rupees, that is, beer turned out to be 625 rupees (4.5 bucks), in the store it costs 200 rupees. You sign a check, and then you pay at the reception. Regarding the beach: you can safely go here with the kids at this time. Due to the fact that at a distance of 20-30 meters from the coast, a reef runs parallel to the beach, holding back waves from the ocean, and in the mornings there is still low tide, the deepest place is about 1-1.2 m, in the afternoon - high tide and already 1.3-1.6m depth. Take beach towels and an umbrella with you. Everything is located on the territory of the hotel, and no one lies on the (public) beach. Walking along the coast, you can taste freshly cooked seafood (mixed shrimp, lobster, fish steak, squid, crab) plus salad, rice, french fries in local restaurants, within 2200-4200 rupees, i. e. somewhere around 15 -30 USD Depending on the content and the restaurant. Near the hotel (at the entrance) there is a knitwear shop, but on the beach there are a lot of parero and souvenirs selling. For food (alcohol, fruit, etc. ) you have to go (to go far). Right there on the beach there are a lot of beachboys who speak Russian quite tolerably, offering you excursions and a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled cool bibika) for 100 rupees to go to the nearest shops. We took a private day trip from our operators to Kandy city (a bit more expensive than the beachboys). We left at 4.30, stopped at the elephant nursery (but didn’t ride elephants), visited the spice garden (it’s interesting to listen, but just don’t buy anything there, in local pharmacies all the same products are cheaper by 4-5 dollars. ), visited a private tea factory, bought tea there (tea prices are almost the same everywhere), visited the stone museum, wanted to buy a sapphire, but they have a bad cut and are a little expensive, but you can bargain; it is better to buy stones at the factory, it is cheaper there; then we walked around the botanical garden for a little over an hour, but it was enough for us to see and learn a lot of interesting things (thanks to our guide Dumid, who told us everything quite clearly throughout our trip). Monkeys were not seen. The last on the list was the Temple of the Tooth Relic. We listened to an exciting story about Buddhism, saw the splendor of the temple (there is a dress code - an opaque top; shorts, skirts, etc. should cover your knees, you have to walk barefoot). On the way back, we stopped near fruit markets. Prices in the vicinity of Kandy for fruits are 2 times cheaper than in Beruwala. We bought mangoes in the vicinity of Kandy for 200 rupees per kg, pineapples for 100 rupees. , rabutan for 800 rupees. (out of season for rabutan), and near the hotel - 400 rupees each. for mango; 200 rupees for pineapple (bargaining for 180). Red rum is approximately the same price in all areas - from 1930 to 1980 rupees for a 0.75l bottle. They have an unusual lemonade with ginger. Our tour operator gave us an unexpected gift in honor of the 30th anniversary of our life together. On the 4th day of rest, we were told that we should collect our things and release the deluxe, since the tour operator paid us only for the first 3 days of our stay in this hotel, then for a day we have to leave for another Blu water hotel, then we will return here again, but in a different room. Supposedly, so that we would not be bored. To collect a suitcase (the employees themselves took it out of the room and handed it over to the storage room at the hotel), vacate the room, take some things with them, drive for almost an hour to another hotel - the mood dropped a little. But a warm welcome (smiling staff, again wet towels and already 2 types of soft drinks, quick check-in, a magnificent room, chic territory, a compliment in honor of the anniversary in the form of fruits, chocolates and a bunch of balloons) cheered up. We didn't regret coming here. Almost tame herons walk around the territory, chipmunks run. There are also disadvantages: the open ocean - when you go to the beach, a red flag hangs, which means swimming is prohibited, but you can swim near the shore, only then your back hurts; food in this hotel is worse than in Cinnamon Bay; there is no roof over the balconies, when it rains (almost every evening), you won’t go out onto the balcony. The territory is planted with palm trees, on which crows flock in the evening, their number and croaking is a little annoying, and the fact that they are trying to scare them away with the help of firecrackers worries them even more. When checking out from hotels, neither in Cinnamon Bay nor in Blu water, our minibars were checked, although many write that there were problems with this. And no one drove us out of the room by the neck, we ourselves vacated the room 20 minutes before the car arrived at the airport. They thought to spend the remaining rupees in dutifree, but they didn’t take them there, they said they only accept dollars, so we will definitely return to Sri Lanka again. Good luck to all!
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The hotel is located 2.5 hours drive from Colombo. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by smiling staff very friendly, with cold fresh juices, tea and wet towels. We were taken to our room almost immediately. We had a superior room with an ocean view. This type of room does not have a bath, only a shower.
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The hotel is located 2.5 hours drive from Colombo.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by smiling staff very friendly, with cold fresh juices, tea and wet towels. We were taken to our room almost immediately.
We had a superior room with an ocean view. This type of room does not have a bath, only a shower. The room is spacious and bright. The furniture is new, a plasma TV with a Russian-language TV channel (in case of bad weather; ) ) Unfortunately, rains are a frequent occurrence in Sri Lanka. . .
The hotel is just super, corresponds to its five stars !!! )) Very positive staff, service at the highest level.
Room cleaning - daily. Bath accessories (shower gel, lotion, shampoo), tea, coffee, cream are updated every day... The only thing is, there are no slippers and bathrobes in the rooms.
The location of the hotel is very convenient - you can walk to the market and shops. I advise you to walk a little, you can see a lot of interesting things. We even walked to the city of Bentota)) And if you get tired or don’t like to walk a lot, then the locals everywhere and everywhere offer to take you on their Tuk-tuk. Just trade with them. . . ))
The only huge minus for the hotel is the beach.
I am writing for those who were not informed in detail before leaving for Sri Lanka. The beaches there are different. . . In Beruwella, including near the Cinnamon Bay hotel, there is a beach with small shell rock and stones. . . Yes, the presence of a coral reef in the vicinity of the coast forms a small lagoon, because. all huge waves are stopped by the reef. . . But this is not a plus at all, in my opinion. . . On the contrary. . . We entered the ocean with caution, constantly afraid to step on some stone or piece of reef. . . We my husband took a little ride along the southern coast of Sri Lanka)) Therefore, I can safely advise the beach of the city of Hikkaduwa... Light, soft sand, wide coastline. We were just delighted. This is probably the best beach in Sri Lanka))
Sorry, got a little off topic. . .
Food - we only had breakfast. And we did not regret it much... We mostly dined at the "Sunflowers" restaurant. It is located on the ocean, about 5 minutes walk from the hotel to the left along the coast. The prices there are reasonable and very tasty!! ! Lobsters, king prawns, fish. . . Everything is very tasty and huge portions)))
We met a local resident, with whom we traveled a lot on Tuk-tuk. He is Russian-speaking, very kind and positive man)) He showed and told us a lot of things. His name is Ranga. He conducts excursions and can simply drive around the city, show where and what you can buy at normal prices. His contact number in Sri Lanka is 009.77 6308748. Maybe it will be useful for someone : ))
P. S. I don't impose on anyone. All of the above is just my personal opinion!
Sri Lanka is heaven on earth!! !
Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by smiling staff very friendly, with cold fresh juices, tea and wet towels. We were taken to our room almost immediately.
We had a superior room with an ocean view. This type of room does not have a bath, only a shower. The room is spacious and bright. The furniture is new, a plasma TV with a Russian-language TV channel (in case of bad weather; ) ) Unfortunately, rains are a frequent occurrence in Sri Lanka. . .
The hotel is just super, corresponds to its five stars !!! )) Very positive staff, service at the highest level.
Room cleaning - daily. Bath accessories (shower gel, lotion, shampoo), tea, coffee, cream are updated every day... The only thing is, there are no slippers and bathrobes in the rooms.
The location of the hotel is very convenient - you can walk to the market and shops. I advise you to walk a little, you can see a lot of interesting things. We even walked to the city of Bentota)) And if you get tired or don’t like to walk a lot, then the locals everywhere and everywhere offer to take you on their Tuk-tuk. Just trade with them. . . ))
The only huge minus for the hotel is the beach.
I am writing for those who were not informed in detail before leaving for Sri Lanka. The beaches there are different. . . In Beruwella, including near the Cinnamon Bay hotel, there is a beach with small shell rock and stones. . . Yes, the presence of a coral reef in the vicinity of the coast forms a small lagoon, because. all huge waves are stopped by the reef. . . But this is not a plus at all, in my opinion. . . On the contrary. . . We entered the ocean with caution, constantly afraid to step on some stone or piece of reef. . . We my husband took a little ride along the southern coast of Sri Lanka)) Therefore, I can safely advise the beach of the city of Hikkaduwa... Light, soft sand, wide coastline. We were just delighted. This is probably the best beach in Sri Lanka))
Sorry, got a little off topic. . .
Food - we only had breakfast. And we did not regret it much... We mostly dined at the "Sunflowers" restaurant. It is located on the ocean, about 5 minutes walk from the hotel to the left along the coast. The prices there are reasonable and very tasty!! ! Lobsters, king prawns, fish. . . Everything is very tasty and huge portions)))
We met a local resident, with whom we traveled a lot on Tuk-tuk. He is Russian-speaking, very kind and positive man)) He showed and told us a lot of things. His name is Ranga. He conducts excursions and can simply drive around the city, show where and what you can buy at normal prices. His contact number in Sri Lanka is 009.77 6308748. Maybe it will be useful for someone : ))
P. S. I don't impose on anyone. All of the above is just my personal opinion!
Sri Lanka is heaven on earth!! !
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• 4
The hotel is a solid 4 plus. All descriptions are true. The hotel is quite new, located right on the ocean. We were greeted with wet towels and cold juice, which was not at all superfluous after a long flight and transfer. Everything about the transfer is also true - we covered 69 km in 2.5 hours... They settled right away, did not wait 14 hours and did not hint at a tip.
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The hotel is a solid 4 plus.
All descriptions are true. The hotel is quite new, located right on the ocean.
We were greeted with wet towels and cold juice, which was not at all superfluous after a long flight and transfer. Everything about the transfer is also true - we covered 69 km in 2.5 hours...
They settled right away, did not wait 14 hours and did not hint at a tip. Moreover, while the manager processed the documents, we were sent to breakfast, before the end of which there were 20 minutes left.
The room is spacious and comfortable. The only negative is that there is only one European socket in the room. Wifi worked flawlessly throughout the hotel. The further the room is from the reception, the quieter it is. The hotel is built so that you can see and hear the ocean from every room.
Enough beds and towels
We took only breakfast, the choice was sufficient, both European and local cuisine was presented. Fruits - pineapples, bananas, watermelon, papaya and passion fruit every day.
If you move along the ocean to the left of the hotel, you can have a great meal in local restaurants - "Catamaran", "Sunflower", very close to the hotel there is a small coffee bar, but they also serve very tasty food. I highly recommend trying the coral fish and the fish the locals call parakuda. Freshly squeezed juices for every taste, especially lime juice served with salt. The price is three times lower than in the hotel restaurant.
In the ocean in front of the hotel there is a reef that allows you to swim in the lagoon formed by it always, even if a red flag is posted around. And you can also walk along it at low tide, and if you still use the services of a local, you will get an amazing excursion: sea urchins, crabs, coral fish, small moray eels.
In general, I advise you to find Auchan on the beach. He speaks Russian quite well, almost everyone speaks English. We took his tuk-tuk several times to the city for fruit and alcohol (local beer and gin of good quality and taste), it's cheaper than taking a tuk-tuk in the hotel parking lot. He also organized for us, in addition to walking along the reef, a tour of the Bentota River and a tour of the lighthouse.
All descriptions are true. The hotel is quite new, located right on the ocean.
We were greeted with wet towels and cold juice, which was not at all superfluous after a long flight and transfer. Everything about the transfer is also true - we covered 69 km in 2.5 hours...
They settled right away, did not wait 14 hours and did not hint at a tip. Moreover, while the manager processed the documents, we were sent to breakfast, before the end of which there were 20 minutes left.
The room is spacious and comfortable. The only negative is that there is only one European socket in the room. Wifi worked flawlessly throughout the hotel. The further the room is from the reception, the quieter it is. The hotel is built so that you can see and hear the ocean from every room.
Enough beds and towels
We took only breakfast, the choice was sufficient, both European and local cuisine was presented. Fruits - pineapples, bananas, watermelon, papaya and passion fruit every day.
If you move along the ocean to the left of the hotel, you can have a great meal in local restaurants - "Catamaran", "Sunflower", very close to the hotel there is a small coffee bar, but they also serve very tasty food. I highly recommend trying the coral fish and the fish the locals call parakuda. Freshly squeezed juices for every taste, especially lime juice served with salt. The price is three times lower than in the hotel restaurant.
In the ocean in front of the hotel there is a reef that allows you to swim in the lagoon formed by it always, even if a red flag is posted around. And you can also walk along it at low tide, and if you still use the services of a local, you will get an amazing excursion: sea urchins, crabs, coral fish, small moray eels.
In general, I advise you to find Auchan on the beach. He speaks Russian quite well, almost everyone speaks English. We took his tuk-tuk several times to the city for fruit and alcohol (local beer and gin of good quality and taste), it's cheaper than taking a tuk-tuk in the hotel parking lot. He also organized for us, in addition to walking along the reef, a tour of the Bentota River and a tour of the lighthouse.
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