Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
8.0
Service:
9.0
Cleanliness:
10.0
Food:
8.0
Amenities:
9.0
Hello, dear readers of this site, like-minded people and travelers!
After 8 visits to Egypt and 2 to Turkey, fate brought us to the island of Sri Lanka for the first time. Rested 2 couples from 17.11. 2013 to 28.11. 2013. Our company is fanatical fans of the Red Sea, love for it did not allow visiting other tourist destinations. When another series of revolutions began in Egypt, they decided that it was time to look for something new. We chose between the Canary Islands, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Due to good reviews, wild pristine nature, relatively reasonable prices, the choice fell on Sri Lanka. In order to avoid a strong “breaking” due to the lack of underwater fauna, we found the resort of Hikkaduwa, on the coast of which snorkeling is possible. The hotel was chosen based on the price / reviews ratio. Unfortunately, at the time of the decision, there were 0 reviews on the Ukrainian site, and 6 on the Russian site for this hotel.
We chose according to reviews from far abroad, but there was a feeling of buying a "pig in a poke", given the difference in mentalities.
Transfer: The road from home to the hotel took 1 day and 4 hours. Fly Dubai airlines did not please, from the UAE to Sri Lanka it was terribly cold in the cabin, people flew in sheepskin coats and boots.
We bought a visa, changed the currency (1 US dollar = 128 rupees, feel like very rich people with a “press” of money), a large comfortable bus was waiting for us. The transfer to the hotel took up to 3 hours. We were at the hotel around 11:00. I was struck by the traffic on the roads of Sri Lanka, who was there, he will understand))))). I will not describe the nature and colors of Sri Lanka, this beauty and the emotions it evokes cannot be conveyed by any word or camera.
Check-in: At the reception we were met by 3 very nice girls in beautiful saris, brought wet hand towels, offered welcome drinks to choose from.
Settled without extra charge for 20 minutes in 2 rooms "De Luxe" on the 2nd floor with stunning ocean views. In gratitude, we brought the girls a package of caramels.
Rooms: for a 3 * hotel, they are not very bad, there is enough space for 2 people, although the furniture and decoration are not new, but everywhere is very clean. There is a kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, shampoos, soap, everything is replenished daily. Minibar paid, free 2 bottles of water per day for two. The room has 2 beds, normal plumbing, mirrors, wardrobes, 2 armchairs and a table, a table and 2 chairs on the balcony, in general, there are all conditions for a normal rest. There is a ceiling fan and air conditioning, air conditioning worked properly and absolutely silently at night. I was struck by the quality of cleaning in a 3 * hotel, firstly, it happens 2 times a day, and secondly, they are cleaned to the conscience, there is not a speck of dust, including on the balcony. Towels and bed linen changed daily. Pampered with "towel creativity".
Many Egyptian 5 * hotels should learn from their colleagues from Coral Sands 3 *.
There is 1 minus: soundproofing and lightproofing: at night you can hear everything that happens in the corridor and the noise of the road, in the morning the bright light beats right into your eyes.
Hotel and territory: the hotel is really small, but cozy, everything is located compactly: a restaurant, 2 swimming pools, a bar, a beach. The grass is well maintained, the area is surrounded by flowers, there is a fountain from the side of the road. Sun loungers are only on the territory of the hotel, there is enough space for everyone, there are no sun loungers on the public beach. Towels are brought and laid on the selected lounger by a very helpful guy. The hotel is guarded, neither sellers nor beach-boys are allowed. There is a Buddha statue at the reception. On the territory you can meet a lot of crows, pigeons, chipmunks, cats, iguanas, geckos hang on the balcony in the evenings. After the rain, 2 small turtles crawled across the territory.
The hotel is especially beautiful during the evening rain: chains hang from the roofs in huge clay pots, a stream of water flows down them, all this is highlighted. The hotel looks very dignified compared to other hotels in the resort.
The location of the hotel is also good: there are many cafes and restaurants, shops, mini markets nearby, and to the left of the hotel and to the right are 2 liquor stores. We highly recommend Calypso red rum (Rs 1450) and Lion beer (Rs 155).
Meals: We took half board. I really wanted not to be tied to the hotel during the day and try all the variety of seafood. Breakfasts are standard: eggs of all types of cooking, fried eggs and scrambled eggs with various additives, waffles, juices, yogurt, milk porridge, potatoes (they know how to cook), fried bacon and sausages, fruits (watermelon, banana, pineapple, papaya, etc. ) ). Dinners are not very varied: local dishes (very spicy), soups, meat, fish, salads, fruits, vegetables, desserts, etc.
Everything is very fresh, and the taste depends on the theme of the evening and the chef. One prepared more spicy cuisine and the choice of edible dishes for us was sharply reduced, the other was not spicy and very tasty, we especially liked rolls with vegetables, baked tender pork and stewed beef. In general, we didn't go hungry. For lunch we tried several restaurants and chose Red Lobster. Excellent value for money/portion size. The most expensive seafood platter (lobster, crab, shrimp, fish, squid + your choice of french fries, rice or vegetable salad) costs 3.000. 00 rupees. The portions are huge: a bowl of soup is about 1 liter, the rest of the dishes are also gigantic. They took 1 serving for 2 and still did not master it. I remember with tears! ! ))))))))
Service: I was very pleased with the cleaning, the receptionists, and the boy who made the towels. The rest of the staff is extremely polite and helpful, but the begging for cigarettes and alcohol was a little embarrassing.
But only some employees allowed themselves this, in general, the service is at the highest level. There was no discrimination in the service based on nationality. The staff speaks English, they try to learn Russian, which is not surprising, because 50% of the guests are Russian-speaking.
BEACH: public beach, quite clean, no sunbeds, palm trees. The sellers of absolutely everything were a bit tense, who did not react to the phrase “no, thank you”, but continued to lay out their products. We tried not to pay attention, and after a while they left.
OCEAN: the ocean is really magnificent, endless expanses of water, amazing sunsets. The water is very warm especially in the evening, the waves are not big. For experienced snorkelers I will describe the fauna and flora. Right next to the hotel there is a reef, but the corals are dead, they say after the tsunami.
The living creatures on the corals are not very diverse, but in very large quantities, you can swim directly among the shoals of a couple of fish species (similar to small horse mackerel and platax). There are butterflies of several species, surgeons, triggerfish, picassos, zebrosomes, wrasses, lizardheads, abudefduffs, we saw a huge parrot fish and some other huge gray fish. On the last day of rest, a large turtle (more than 1.5 m) swam to the house reef and we swam very close to it for a very long time. Be sure to take masks, there is something to see.
TOURS:
1. Rafting was taken from the tour operator, the road to the rafting took about 4 hours, and the rafting itself took 1 hour. In terms of extreme thresholds - pretty mediocre. Nature and air are very pleased. We asked the driver to take us to the falls for a separate $10 per person. They passed by tea plantations, then made their way through wild thickets for a long time.
The waterfall was not high, but very beautiful, there were many monkeys on the branches near it.
2. They took Laguna from tuk-tukers. We visited: a memorial to the victims of the tsunami, a moonstone mine, a spice garden, a turtle farm, 2 Buddhist temples and the lagoon itself. The nature of the lagoon is magnificent, we saw monitor lizards, monkeys, flying dogs, many different birds of prey, including.
3. Traveled by train to Halle. The train ride itself is already extreme and local flavor. Fort Galle also impressed with ancient European architecture, churches, shipwrecks, anchors, and vegetation. And all this rises above the boundless blue ocean.
4. Agreed with a local guy about a trip to the elephant nursery. We had a comfortable minibus for four. After 4 hours we arrived in Panavila, which is located in the depths of the island.
The nursery pleased with the presence of a large number of adult elephants and baby elephants in natural conditions, you can watch them, participate in feeding the elephants with milk from a bottle, take photos and videos with them. We also took elephant riding and bathing with an elephant. Bathing is a separate attraction. In the river you climb on the elephant's back, he picks up a full trunk of water and pours it on you, the procedure is repeated several times. Sea of impressions!! ! !
5. The beach-boys were persuaded to float on the boat to the stones, which are to the left of the hotel. I do not advise, there is nothing to see there, the hotel reef is richer in living creatures.
PURCHASES:
1. Handmade leather bags of very good quality and unique design. If you bargain well, then for very ridiculous money.
2. Precious and semi-precious stones. The price is acceptable for the stones themselves, the quality is incomparable, but all finished products are in silver, there is a little in gold, but very expensive.
Gold is not mined in Sri Lanka, hence the price.
3. Fruit is almost free, and the quality is fundamentally different from what we buy at home.
4. Rum. Excellent combination of taste / quality / price.
5. Oil paintings and wood burnt.
6. They took an ointment based on natural oils (for joint pain, neuralgia, colds). The neuralgia went away in 3 days.
6. Of course, tea. Eyes run up, the price and quality of your choice.
Allow me to give some ADVICE to beginner travelers in Sri Lanka, from personal experience.
Take sandwiches on the plane. The food is not cheap and not tasty.
Do not leave things on the beach, especially in the evening. They tried to rob us when we swam in the ocean. It's good that we noticed in time that someone leaned over our things.
Everywhere you need to bargain, especially if you are traveling with a group and buying more than one thing. Drop at least 30-40% of the price.
Teas and ointments are the cheapest in the nearest supermarket.
Be very careful with tuk tuks.
A lot of dishonest people. Out of inexperience, we have become victims of such. We agreed with 2 tuk-tukers near the railway station about a trip to the lagoon. Bargained $15 per person, admission is free everywhere. At the turtle farm they asked for another 500 rupees, okay, nothing is a pity for the turtles. But in the lagoon itself, when they put us in a boat and pushed us away from the shore, they said that we owe another $20 per person. The story repeated itself at the waterfalls with another driver, we agreed on 2 US dollars per person, when we arrived the price increased to 10. Comrades who graze on the beach near the hotel and offer snorkeling on the rocks also tried to do this, but we have already shown extreme vigilance and did not allow themselves to be "dissolved". Find contacts of decent tuk-tukers in the reviews and take excursions only from them.
Bring sweets and a couple of packs of cigarettes as a gift to the staff. Our cigarettes cost $1 for 3 pieces.
Impressions: it seems to me that it is impossible not to fall in love with Sri Lanka. Take your time and money, endure the hard road, take more positive and come to Sri Lanka at least once in your life. I would return here. Memories warm the soul in the cold native winter.
Have a good rest, Happy St. Nicholas Day and Happy New Year. If you have any questions, write, I will be happy to answer!
P. S. We send our heartfelt greetings to the wonderful people we met at the hotel, namely the company of cheerful Estonians led by Urmas, and the sociable and interesting people from Dnepropetrovsk Sergey and Larisa! God grant we will cross paths again on this planet. Be happy!
After 8 visits to Egypt and 2 to Turkey, fate brought us to the island of Sri Lanka for the first time. Rested 2 couples from 17.11. 2013 to 28.11. 2013. Our company is fanatical fans of the Red Sea, love for it did not allow visiting other tourist destinations. When another series of revolutions began in Egypt, they decided that it was time to look for something new. We chose between the Canary Islands, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Due to good reviews, wild pristine nature, relatively reasonable prices, the choice fell on Sri Lanka. In order to avoid a strong “breaking” due to the lack of underwater fauna, we found the resort of Hikkaduwa, on the coast of which snorkeling is possible. The hotel was chosen based on the price / reviews ratio. Unfortunately, at the time of the decision, there were 0 reviews on the Ukrainian site, and 6 on the Russian site for this hotel.
We chose according to reviews from far abroad, but there was a feeling of buying a "pig in a poke", given the difference in mentalities.
Transfer: The road from home to the hotel took 1 day and 4 hours. Fly Dubai airlines did not please, from the UAE to Sri Lanka it was terribly cold in the cabin, people flew in sheepskin coats and boots.
We bought a visa, changed the currency (1 US dollar = 128 rupees, feel like very rich people with a “press” of money), a large comfortable bus was waiting for us. The transfer to the hotel took up to 3 hours. We were at the hotel around 11:00. I was struck by the traffic on the roads of Sri Lanka, who was there, he will understand))))). I will not describe the nature and colors of Sri Lanka, this beauty and the emotions it evokes cannot be conveyed by any word or camera.
Check-in: At the reception we were met by 3 very nice girls in beautiful saris, brought wet hand towels, offered welcome drinks to choose from.
Settled without extra charge for 20 minutes in 2 rooms "De Luxe" on the 2nd floor with stunning ocean views. In gratitude, we brought the girls a package of caramels.
Rooms: for a 3 * hotel, they are not very bad, there is enough space for 2 people, although the furniture and decoration are not new, but everywhere is very clean. There is a kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, shampoos, soap, everything is replenished daily. Minibar paid, free 2 bottles of water per day for two. The room has 2 beds, normal plumbing, mirrors, wardrobes, 2 armchairs and a table, a table and 2 chairs on the balcony, in general, there are all conditions for a normal rest. There is a ceiling fan and air conditioning, air conditioning worked properly and absolutely silently at night. I was struck by the quality of cleaning in a 3 * hotel, firstly, it happens 2 times a day, and secondly, they are cleaned to the conscience, there is not a speck of dust, including on the balcony. Towels and bed linen changed daily. Pampered with "towel creativity".
Many Egyptian 5 * hotels should learn from their colleagues from Coral Sands 3 *.
There is 1 minus: soundproofing and lightproofing: at night you can hear everything that happens in the corridor and the noise of the road, in the morning the bright light beats right into your eyes.
Hotel and territory: the hotel is really small, but cozy, everything is located compactly: a restaurant, 2 swimming pools, a bar, a beach. The grass is well maintained, the area is surrounded by flowers, there is a fountain from the side of the road. Sun loungers are only on the territory of the hotel, there is enough space for everyone, there are no sun loungers on the public beach. Towels are brought and laid on the selected lounger by a very helpful guy. The hotel is guarded, neither sellers nor beach-boys are allowed. There is a Buddha statue at the reception. On the territory you can meet a lot of crows, pigeons, chipmunks, cats, iguanas, geckos hang on the balcony in the evenings. After the rain, 2 small turtles crawled across the territory.
The hotel is especially beautiful during the evening rain: chains hang from the roofs in huge clay pots, a stream of water flows down them, all this is highlighted. The hotel looks very dignified compared to other hotels in the resort.
The location of the hotel is also good: there are many cafes and restaurants, shops, mini markets nearby, and to the left of the hotel and to the right are 2 liquor stores. We highly recommend Calypso red rum (Rs 1450) and Lion beer (Rs 155).
Meals: We took half board. I really wanted not to be tied to the hotel during the day and try all the variety of seafood. Breakfasts are standard: eggs of all types of cooking, fried eggs and scrambled eggs with various additives, waffles, juices, yogurt, milk porridge, potatoes (they know how to cook), fried bacon and sausages, fruits (watermelon, banana, pineapple, papaya, etc. ) ). Dinners are not very varied: local dishes (very spicy), soups, meat, fish, salads, fruits, vegetables, desserts, etc.
Everything is very fresh, and the taste depends on the theme of the evening and the chef. One prepared more spicy cuisine and the choice of edible dishes for us was sharply reduced, the other was not spicy and very tasty, we especially liked rolls with vegetables, baked tender pork and stewed beef. In general, we didn't go hungry. For lunch we tried several restaurants and chose Red Lobster. Excellent value for money/portion size. The most expensive seafood platter (lobster, crab, shrimp, fish, squid + your choice of french fries, rice or vegetable salad) costs 3.000. 00 rupees. The portions are huge: a bowl of soup is about 1 liter, the rest of the dishes are also gigantic. They took 1 serving for 2 and still did not master it. I remember with tears! ! ))))))))
Service: I was very pleased with the cleaning, the receptionists, and the boy who made the towels. The rest of the staff is extremely polite and helpful, but the begging for cigarettes and alcohol was a little embarrassing.
But only some employees allowed themselves this, in general, the service is at the highest level. There was no discrimination in the service based on nationality. The staff speaks English, they try to learn Russian, which is not surprising, because 50% of the guests are Russian-speaking.
BEACH: public beach, quite clean, no sunbeds, palm trees. The sellers of absolutely everything were a bit tense, who did not react to the phrase “no, thank you”, but continued to lay out their products. We tried not to pay attention, and after a while they left.
OCEAN: the ocean is really magnificent, endless expanses of water, amazing sunsets. The water is very warm especially in the evening, the waves are not big. For experienced snorkelers I will describe the fauna and flora. Right next to the hotel there is a reef, but the corals are dead, they say after the tsunami.
The living creatures on the corals are not very diverse, but in very large quantities, you can swim directly among the shoals of a couple of fish species (similar to small horse mackerel and platax). There are butterflies of several species, surgeons, triggerfish, picassos, zebrosomes, wrasses, lizardheads, abudefduffs, we saw a huge parrot fish and some other huge gray fish. On the last day of rest, a large turtle (more than 1.5 m) swam to the house reef and we swam very close to it for a very long time. Be sure to take masks, there is something to see.
TOURS:
1. Rafting was taken from the tour operator, the road to the rafting took about 4 hours, and the rafting itself took 1 hour. In terms of extreme thresholds - pretty mediocre. Nature and air are very pleased. We asked the driver to take us to the falls for a separate $10 per person. They passed by tea plantations, then made their way through wild thickets for a long time.
The waterfall was not high, but very beautiful, there were many monkeys on the branches near it.
2. They took Laguna from tuk-tukers. We visited: a memorial to the victims of the tsunami, a moonstone mine, a spice garden, a turtle farm, 2 Buddhist temples and the lagoon itself. The nature of the lagoon is magnificent, we saw monitor lizards, monkeys, flying dogs, many different birds of prey, including.
3. Traveled by train to Halle. The train ride itself is already extreme and local flavor. Fort Galle also impressed with ancient European architecture, churches, shipwrecks, anchors, and vegetation. And all this rises above the boundless blue ocean.
4. Agreed with a local guy about a trip to the elephant nursery. We had a comfortable minibus for four. After 4 hours we arrived in Panavila, which is located in the depths of the island.
The nursery pleased with the presence of a large number of adult elephants and baby elephants in natural conditions, you can watch them, participate in feeding the elephants with milk from a bottle, take photos and videos with them. We also took elephant riding and bathing with an elephant. Bathing is a separate attraction. In the river you climb on the elephant's back, he picks up a full trunk of water and pours it on you, the procedure is repeated several times. Sea of impressions!! ! !
5. The beach-boys were persuaded to float on the boat to the stones, which are to the left of the hotel. I do not advise, there is nothing to see there, the hotel reef is richer in living creatures.
PURCHASES:
1. Handmade leather bags of very good quality and unique design. If you bargain well, then for very ridiculous money.
2. Precious and semi-precious stones. The price is acceptable for the stones themselves, the quality is incomparable, but all finished products are in silver, there is a little in gold, but very expensive.
Gold is not mined in Sri Lanka, hence the price.
3. Fruit is almost free, and the quality is fundamentally different from what we buy at home.
4. Rum. Excellent combination of taste / quality / price.
5. Oil paintings and wood burnt.
6. They took an ointment based on natural oils (for joint pain, neuralgia, colds). The neuralgia went away in 3 days.
6. Of course, tea. Eyes run up, the price and quality of your choice.
Allow me to give some ADVICE to beginner travelers in Sri Lanka, from personal experience.
Take sandwiches on the plane. The food is not cheap and not tasty.
Do not leave things on the beach, especially in the evening. They tried to rob us when we swam in the ocean. It's good that we noticed in time that someone leaned over our things.
Everywhere you need to bargain, especially if you are traveling with a group and buying more than one thing. Drop at least 30-40% of the price.
Teas and ointments are the cheapest in the nearest supermarket.
Be very careful with tuk tuks.
A lot of dishonest people. Out of inexperience, we have become victims of such. We agreed with 2 tuk-tukers near the railway station about a trip to the lagoon. Bargained $15 per person, admission is free everywhere. At the turtle farm they asked for another 500 rupees, okay, nothing is a pity for the turtles. But in the lagoon itself, when they put us in a boat and pushed us away from the shore, they said that we owe another $20 per person. The story repeated itself at the waterfalls with another driver, we agreed on 2 US dollars per person, when we arrived the price increased to 10. Comrades who graze on the beach near the hotel and offer snorkeling on the rocks also tried to do this, but we have already shown extreme vigilance and did not allow themselves to be "dissolved". Find contacts of decent tuk-tukers in the reviews and take excursions only from them.
Bring sweets and a couple of packs of cigarettes as a gift to the staff. Our cigarettes cost $1 for 3 pieces.
Impressions: it seems to me that it is impossible not to fall in love with Sri Lanka. Take your time and money, endure the hard road, take more positive and come to Sri Lanka at least once in your life. I would return here. Memories warm the soul in the cold native winter.
Have a good rest, Happy St. Nicholas Day and Happy New Year. If you have any questions, write, I will be happy to answer!
P. S. We send our heartfelt greetings to the wonderful people we met at the hotel, namely the company of cheerful Estonians led by Urmas, and the sociable and interesting people from Dnepropetrovsk Sergey and Larisa! God grant we will cross paths again on this planet. Be happy!
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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