When we first went to Sri Lanta in December 2004, we were absolutely delighted by the service, the zen-atmosphere, the beautiful flowers and the always-smiling staff. We met and spoke with the German owner who was really proud of this place. Everything looked so perfect there.
Logically we then decided to go back there last January, and what a disappointment...! The staff had changed and did not even speak english enough to understand a simple query.
We always had to ask 3 times for a service (room service, we waited an hour to get 2 beers); the room was noisy (becaus eof the road and although we were in the villa up the hill - star path). We were harrassed (every day!) to indicate when we wanted the massage included in the package. I used the hotel laundry for a pair of Juicy Couture pyjamas on which I attached a note mentioning that they should not iron and dry it; guess what: they ruined it! And when I spoke to the girl at reception she did not even apologize as she did not understand what I was taliking about. The room was dirty, they did not change the sheets once (during 10 days!) although we requested it. I met a cobra in front of my room and had a giant gecko in my bathroom (I know, it is supposed to be a nature lovers place, but when I asked the staff to help me with the gecko, they never came).
Also at breakfast (which was gorgeous 2 years ago) we ALWAYS had to ask 3 times for a spoon or something missing on the table...
I think that because of its success (it was full), the hotel is not as good as it was before. There's not enough staff.
Now that the travel agencies work with the hotel, they are always full and therefore they think they don't need to be as good as before... And the prices are not even less high...
There are lots of new places there (unfortunately, the Island is not as wild as it used to be, you don't meet monkeys on the road anymore and the jungle looks like a forest now) so my advice would be that you book your first night somewhere and then you rent a motorbike to find a better place to stay. Do not book for the whole holidays at one place.











