Sri Lanka
, Arugambay 
Iestyn
At first glance on Booking and Expedia, the photos suggest a luxurious boutique stay, but the reality did not match. For the price, the standard felt closer to a budget hostel. The bathroom was grubby, with only one towel each, no hand towels, and a floor towel that needed replacing. Fixtures were old, with rusty shower heads and taps, and there were cracks in the walls. Rooms were sparsely furnished and the kitchen/restaurant area looked unclean, with staff often sleeping in view of guests.
Housekeeping was poor. The cups from our welcome tea stayed on our balcony for the entire stay, and the doors were shabby, some not closing or locking properly. The pool umbrellas were worn, stained with bird droppings and full of holes, not a pleasant view from the balcony.
There were positives. The location is ideal, right on the beachfront, and the staff were friendly, offering free breakfast each morning. However, with so many inviting cafés nearby we chose to eat elsewhere.
What disappointed most was the gap between the photos and the reality. If it had been advertised as a hostel I would not have minded as much, but the presentation and price raised expectations it could not meet.
With a deep clean, basic maintenance, fresh paint, and small touches like new linens and working locks, the property could quickly improve. For now, the location is its strongest feature, but the care and detail expected for the price are lacking.
Housekeeping was poor. The cups from our welcome tea stayed on our balcony for the entire stay, and the doors were shabby, some not closing or locking properly. The pool umbrellas were worn, stained with bird droppings and full of holes, not a pleasant view from the balcony.
There were positives. The location is ideal, right on the beachfront, and the staff were friendly, offering free breakfast each morning. However, with so many inviting cafés nearby we chose to eat elsewhere.
What disappointed most was the gap between the photos and the reality. If it had been advertised as a hostel I would not have minded as much, but the presentation and price raised expectations it could not meet.
With a deep clean, basic maintenance, fresh paint, and small touches like new linens and working locks, the property could quickly improve. For now, the location is its strongest feature, but the care and detail expected for the price are lacking.
