Ratnapura Rest House

London, UK
8 posts
Ratnapura Rest House
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Does anyone have any 'working' contact details for this place?

I've googled like crazy and the only email addresses I found don't work and the phone number is either permanently engaged or not working.

Would be very, very grateful!

Serris
1 post
1. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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Try

+94 45 222 2299

udarest@sltnet.lk

keerhi.tth@gmail.com

London, UK
8 posts
2. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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Thank you!

I eventually managed to get that number to work and have 'apparently' booked a room - I guess I'll just have to hope it's the case when I get there...

Thanks also for the email addresses - the first one I know doesn't work. Haven't tried the second and when I spoke to them, they said that they didn't have email...

Will update once I get back just in case anyone else needs this info in the future!

London, UK
8 posts
3. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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Ooops, forgot to update!

The room was booked, hooray! There is no email so perseverence with the dodgy phone number is the only option.

The place is very atmospheric and in a lovely location. The building itself is gorgeous and has great potential should the owners ever decide to renovate.

The room I had was very large but very basic - the TV might have worked but was extremely ancient and the wiring put me off trying to plug it in. The airconditioning worked and was effective so that was a huge plus. Unfortunately there is no hot water and the bathroom is not exactly western. My baby daughter wasn't taking a cold shower under a hose for anything!

The food is excellent and the staff very nice.

I'm very torn about staying there again next time I'm in Ratnapura. On the plus side there is the food and the ambience - and the great location. However, I am a big fan of hot showers and I'm not sure I can face the cold water again. Probably sounds pathetic, but my backpacking days are well behind me and with a small child it's difficult enough!

Hope that may be helpful to someone!

St Austell
Level Contributor
3,611 posts
35 reviews
97 helpful votes
4. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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Thank you for the feedback elliebrown. It is certainly useful to me as I do tend to travel a bit around the Ratnapura and Balangoda areas.

As a matter of interest, how much did you pay for your room?

Sue

London, UK
8 posts
5. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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I'd have to check but I think it was about R3,000 a night - which is on the expensive side for no hot water, but Ratnapura isn't exactly full of hotels to compete with.

I stayed at the Rathnaloka the time before which is a lot more expensive, and while nice it's just too far out of town to be handy when you are just there for a few days to work.

St Austell
Level Contributor
3,611 posts
35 reviews
97 helpful votes
6. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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Thank you Ellie

Bath
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19 posts
31 reviews
11 helpful votes
7. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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I stayed here recently and have to say that it was the worse place we stayed out of the 13 different establishments we stayed in during our fortnights tour of Sri Lanka. We arrived in a torrential rainstorm (not unusual for Ratnapurna I am told) We opted for this because there was not a great deal of choice in the town, as has been mentioned above, and it was on the verge of getting dark. We were quoted 2700 rupees for a room without air con or hot water, so we asked to look at the room. It was very basic, but I reluctantly agreed due to the aforementioned. It did have an air con unit in the room, but my understanding was that we could not use it for the price quoted, so we didn't and just relied on the overhead fan. The roof was leaking and the toilet did not flush after a few attempts. The next morning we were faced with a bill of 4400 for the room. When I questioned this, I was told that was the price for the room because it did have air con, regardless of the fact we did not use it. When we said that we had asked for a room without air con, we were told that none were available, but the place was virtually empty and at no time were we told that the night before. I was disgusted and asked that the manager be contacted, but whoever the staff phoned seemed unconcerned and said we had to pay the full price. We had already spent nearly half an hour trying to explain why this was unfair and I realised we could be there all day, so I reluctantly paid but in effect this was a lot of money by Sri Lankan standards for what we got and I would not touch this place with the proverbial bargepole if I ever visit again. The only acceptable thing about the place is the restaurant , where the food is OK and the drinks reasonable, but anything positive was spoiled by the shocking treatment we had the following morning.

St Austell
Level Contributor
3,611 posts
35 reviews
97 helpful votes
8. Re: Ratnapura Rest House
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I am not surprised you were upset. I would have been too if I had received that treatment. It sounds like an obvious con, in view of the fact that you were quoted a different price the night before. It's not the first time I've heard that story in Sri Lanka either, so it's sadly not a one off. Okay... Ratnapura Rest House is now firmly crossed off my list :-(

I've mainly been in Ratnapura to be in or near to Sinharaja rainforest and if anyone is visiting for the same reason and is looking for something not too expensive, the Rock View Motel at Kalawana might be worth a try, although it's not much use to anyone who wants to be in Ratnapura town. I've been intrigued ever since reading a blog from someone who stayed there a few years back, but have not heard any recent reports. It looks good though and appeals to someone like me who no longer wants to pay Boulder Garden prices, nor wants to stay in something ultra basic like some of the offerings around here.

http://www.rockviewmotel.com/index.html

9. Re: Ratnapura Rest House

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