Golden Star Beach

Sri Lanka , Negombo
NEGOMBO, Lewis Place, Negombo, 163
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50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

25 Dec 2024

Saulius

Hotwl review

Hotel itself from the street is looking good. Rooms could do with an update. Staff is really friendly and helpfull. Next to the sea which is quite handy as only 2min walk and swimming in the sea. Swimming poole is clean. All good. Need to chech air con as some rooms it did not work. Overall good location

6/10

Pleasant

15 Feb 2019

Benjamin

Lovely location. Need to watch for beach parties!

Have stayed here on many previous occasions and keep coming back. This occasion was marred by music on the beach side of the property which did not stop until past midnight. This certainly disturbed our sleep before an early morning flight. Otherwise, recent renovations have improved bathrooms and AC. Decent breakfast. Lovely location on the beach with good pool. Still too expensive for category, yet we keep coming back as very near to airport and on the beach. Food outlets plentiful on the street outside. Did find staff rather sheepish compared to previous stays over the last decade. I believe that there has been a recent change in management and the adjoining Don's Beach Hotel has separated from the Golden Star Beach Hotel.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Dec 2018

Josh

Could be great

Good location but unfortunately very very run down

Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Oct 2018

Ivan

Well positioned Hotel, relatively close to the airport, tour guides, shops, and restaurants. Right on the beach. Room cleaning staff, food preparation and service staff were great, reception staff were not so great - not knowing much or appearing distracted. All most all staff eager to help.

My room was quiet, with thick walls, ceiling and floors. Air-conditioner essential for comfort and worked well as well as being quiet.

Room clean but a little bit dated, bathroom big with marble appearance tiles.

Pool was popular for others, the water appeared green to me.

Hawkers selling their wares on the beach were annoying, and security didn't do much to stop them. Took about three occasions saying \"No thank you\" before they would leave you alone.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Oct 2018

Lisa

OK hotel at the beach. The room wasnt so clean. Overall a ok hotel if you’re only staying a few days

8/10

Excellent

27 Mar 2018

Mohammad

Silver star for the Golden Star Beach Hotel.

The hotel was fair for the price & is very close to the beach.
It is not a luxury hotel by any stretch, however, it is appealing from the outside and is of a fair condition inside.
Good service, however we struggled to find the hotel as the sign that reads ‘Golden Star Beach Hotel’ is engraved into a rock that is not illuminated, so we actually drove past the hotel thinking it was a different hotel.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Mar 2018

Ahmed

It was quite good for a solo stay

8/10

Excellent

17 Feb 2018

Benjamin

Sand, sea and location

I have stayed here on many occasions over the years and am always taken by the tranquil location/environment beside the sea yet with multiple eateries in the near locality. Access to the airport is easy as is a trip by bus to the city of colombo. No issues with the hotel itself either. However the hotel used to offer free WiFi throughout but this has now stopped. Breakfast was fine but outside breakfast, food is expensive for the category of hotel.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2017

Ronald

Great area

Nice hotel, decent buffet breakfast. SLOW WIFI.

Partner

2/10

Poor

16 Apr 2017

Mikk

Bad and crumbling hotel near the beach

Despite the negative reports I booked this hotel. It turns out the negative reports are all true. This hotel needs to be avoided along with a stack of other hotels in the negombo area. They are just interested in taking your money there is no after sales support. This hotels idea of air conditioning is simply having a air conditioner it does not matter if it does not work. If you book this hotel you do yourself in

4/10

Poor

26 Feb 2017

Verified traveler

Not worth it

Old & rundown with dodgy plumbing, poor air conditioning, no mini bar/fridge as stated, got told at 7 pm at the restaurant hotel to pick something other than chicken curry as it would take too long. As it was i was the only customer & it took 30 mins for my bland chicken noodles. My room had no screen in the bathroom so mosquitoes were getting in. Staff don't pass on information to other staff. Was told i could stay in the room then told i had to move the next day. Next time i'll stay elsewhere.. only stayed here because Intrepid tour starts here. Shocking choice for intrepid considering what they charge for the tour. Only good things were the pool and the location on the beach.

8/10

Excellent

24 Nov 2016

Geoffrey

Good stay for a few nights.

This is a reasonable hotel for a few days. Good beach, fair breakfast. You have to play 'hunt the signal' for WiFi, but it works in the end.

8/10

Excellent

04 Sep 2016

Dar

Great hotel to stay

The hotel was fine. Breakfast was great. The room was ok except to the hot water in the shower and the air conditioner.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 May 2016

lou

Relaxed stay

Great helpful staff. Prompt responses to emails before arrival and airport transfer excellent. My room was perfect as view of beach and comfortable setting. Breakfast staff and selection great. Excellent good value stay. Thank you

6/10

Pleasant

20 Aug 2015

Andy vic

Bathroom in our room was poor but the shared facilities near the pool was very nice. Overall good location and pleasant hotel for the money

6/10

Pleasant

17 Aug 2015

dave

Not that good

At first we were given room with two singles pushed together- we booked double. The shower was mouldy and smelled as if used as toilet. The A/C just worked -not great.
We were given another room - much better but when had shower , the bathroom flooded - but lived with that.
The breakfast was fine but restaurant food was way overpriced and limited choice.
The pool bar was good and friendly staff helped, though again quite pricey.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

27 Oct 2014

Verified traveler

Good

Stay was really good. travelled with a very good company. enjoyed all the 3 days. breakfast served was excellent. staff were very friendly. the rooms could be lil more clean. I had my best time.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2014

david

Fair for the price, but it would have been better if the air conditioning had worked properly. It is right on the beach, but there is not much nearby of any interest.

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2014

Verified traveler

easy taxi ride

Emailed hotel airport pick up confirmed BUT no show. Taxis available made my own way. cest la vie!

8/10

Excellent

26 Apr 2014

Mandy

Good place to stay arriving/leaving Sri Lanka

This hotel is good for a couple of nights. I arrived straight from the airport for 2 nights before I started a tour of Sri Lanka. The room was large and clean. I didn't go into the sea but spent my time by the pool which was very good. Buffet breakfast was good - eggs made to order and various other options available. I had just arrived after a long flight, so wasn't in the mood to do much exploring. After my tour, realised Negombo is the best place to stay instead of Colombo after/before a flight - being near the airport!

2/10

Poor

04 Apr 2014

Jamal

Room was ugly, filthy, bad smell ,damaged toilet,a/c not working

Family

4/10

Poor

07 Mar 2014

andyk

Old Hotel that really needs renovation

The hotel is located facing a beach being the best feature plus a reasonable breakfast. Other than that, the rooms are old and run down, furniture creaks, showers leak, outdated air-conditions that take time to cool the room, tv with fuzzy reception, and loud drumming music from beach parties (non hotel guests) makes it hard to sleep. Around the hotel are a couple of boring restaurants which offers little choice on their menus; you need to walk a further few kilometers up the road to find more interesting menus. Hotel has a car park at the back which comes in handy if you hire a car. If you are catching a taxi from Colombo, drivers from there may not be familiar with Negombo and end up being lost especially with the bad street lighting at night.

2/10

Poor

22 Jan 2014

John

Avoid this hotel at all cost

The first room I was shown I was shocked by its shabby condition. It was more like some backpackers accomodation. I asked for another room which they obliged me with. It was better but still the worst hotel I had in my four weeks of travelling in Sri Lanka. It's location is fantastic, the pool and dining room are ok but the rooms need several millions of dollars for refurbishing.
I had to change the fridge plug for the a TV plug as there was only one power point in that area.
The staff were lovely too but I ended up leaving two days sooner than I had booked for because of the condition of the room and the facilities.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jan 2014

Verified traveler

Great location obliging staff.

This hotel is great , on the beach and a lovely bar over looking the ocean. We couldn't fault anything. It made our holiday. We got complimentary water every day which was a lovely touch. The new year gala was magical.

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jan 2014

J traveller

Staff is friendly but slow, quaint sleepy town

We booked 3 rooms but front desk staff only printed one room and had to wait a long time for the rooms. And one room was smaller even though all of them should have been the same size. Location was good and breakfast was also good. Would stay again.

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2013

Isabel

Great beach front hotel

Extremely friendly and helpful staff, great view, wonderful breakfast, close to shops and restaurants. The only big downside is that wifi is not available in all of the rooms... Helpful hint: check whether there is going to be a beach party before booking; if you value your sleep at all, choose another date.

4/10

Poor

23 Nov 2013

Verified traveler

Don't get room 32

Overall a nice hotel and for Sri Lanka and a budget hotel quite good. However I was given Room 32 which looks onto the front of the hotel is right above a tut tut stand and across from the bar. The bed vibrated from the base of the speakers in the bar. Incredibly noisey. All another rooms are at back of hotel and look onto a quiet pool.

Asked to move and staff said hotel was full. Eventually threatened to leave hotel and they eventually moved me. If you want to stay here ensure that you have a pool room and not room 32!!

4/10

Poor

21 Nov 2013

Laura

Overpriced

Hotel is overpriced. Beach was dirty, hotel rooms simple, needs renovation. Could not sleep in the night, very load. Could hear other guest rooms.

6/10

Pleasant

14 Nov 2013

Alicia Wong

Good hotel but undergoing repairs. Location is good.

8/10

Excellent

01 Nov 2013

Benjamin

Lovely hotel on the beach

No issues with this hotel. Big rooms, comfortable beds, good a/c and direct access to beach. Good buffet. Great value for money

8/10

Excellent

30 Oct 2013

Neel

A mixed experience

The hotel had a good ambience with very friendly staff. The rooms were nice and comfy. Food tasted wow though overpriced when compared to other restaurants of the same stature. The corridors lacked ventilation and thus a bit stinky. The waterfrom my A/c used to leak inside my room, which was kind of a mess if u had the A/C on for long. However, the polite and courteous staff kind of won my heart. If they can guarantee me a better room next time, maybe I am willing to give these guys another chance.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Oct 2013

ccr2113

overnight stay

Just stayed overnight because it was close to the airport. Seems like a place that attracts young low budget travelers. There was a bit a noise in my hallway past midnight. The bathroom was in bad shape; really needed a face lift. I think it is an overpriced 2 star hotel posing as a 3 star on the different travel sites.

6/10

Pleasant

10 Oct 2013

Raju

Comfort beds

The hotel has good location with access to Beach.Has good pool.Food is good.But bit poor maintenance of rooms.Shower didn't work and had to call the room service to fix it but really not to satisfaction.The Bed is fully damaged and I was almost getting back pain.

8/10

Excellent

29 Sep 2013

Leslie

Great service at Golden Star Beach Hotel

We stayed at Golden Star Beach Hotel for just one night in September. I paid $150 for two adjoining rooms which included breakfast. I think it was worth the money. My family of four had adjoining rooms. Though the ac in one room was not working at full capacity, the rest of the room was clean and acceptable. The breakfast buffet which was included with our hotel stay was very good quality and has a lot of variety. One thing that was extremely notable was the service we got. All hotel staff was highly professional and friendly, especially Mali from the front desk. The beach is just steps away from the hotel and overall the hotel and room is in good condition. I would recommend this hotel to my friends for it is worth the money.

6/10

Pleasant

12 Aug 2013

Selvarajah

For the price no complaints,

If the shower works perfect I would rete this hotel 5 star. Stayed at Jetwing blue and service was not that great and un satisfied with the room, where I spent 6 times more than Golden Star.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Jul 2013

Verified traveler

Good disabled access at this friendly hotel.

Great to be able to bathe from the beach immediately after the flight from UK ! Nice pool and poolside restaurant, too, and yummy breakfast before we set off next morning on our travels. Reception staff were helpful with the wheelchair-user in our party. Level access to room and bathroom, but not to the restaurant or pool or beach - yet ... perhaps they could consider these aspects ?

2/10

Poor

24 Jul 2013

yaniv

Terrible hotel

My wife and I arrived at the hotel, and we got a room on the 2nd floor.
We picked the bags up the stairs, no elevator.
No one helped us with luggage.

The room was dirty and the shower was dirty.
Unpleasant smell in the room.

There was no window and the air conditioner difficulty worked.

Breakfast was very simple.

Dirty glass was on the beach and swimming dangerous .

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2013

Verified traveler

Perfect holiday

nice beach view, comfort, perfect for holiday stay.

Partner

2/10

Poor

15 Feb 2013

cath

golden star hotel

It was so terrible we checked out after one night

6/10

Pleasant

27 Jan 2013

saeed

good

some of the pepole on resiption dosn,t understand englishe
I all most miss my flight
i ask thim to take us to the air port at 12 am and did,nt take me until 1:am
but every thing was good

thank you

2/10

Poor

14 Jan 2013

Ravinder

Room are not good.food is also very bad.

8/10

Excellent

29 Oct 2012

Murshed

Very good location, big pool with sea view

the hotel is Very good location, big seeming pool with sea view

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Mar 2012

Sue

Fine as a starting or finishing point

We stayed in this hotel 3 separate times. The 1st was disappointing as we were placed in an adjacent block and our shower drain was blocked. This was dealt with but the man left the bathroom very dirty.
The other stays were fine as a place to head for from the airport or before flying out, but as a beach hotel the beach lets it down. They keep their patch pretty clean but much of the beach is very littered.

Partner

2/10

Poor

03 Mar 2012

Prashant

A Horrible Stay

We stayed at the Golden Star Beach Hotel for a night.. and it was absolutely ghastly. The room was poorly airconditioned (I dont think the airconditioner had enough cooling capacity for such a large room). The staff was not very helpful. The door to the bathroom didnt close properly. The bathroom wasnt even attached to the room (we had to pass through a bit of cordoned-off corridor to go to the bathroom).

The room had a strange smelly chemical odour (not sure exactly what it was). The hotel didnt have an elevator or lift of any sort. The poolside restaurant has no form of ventilation (no fans) and was sweaty and stuffy. (It doesnt help that the food is spicy and makes you sweat even more).

I thoroughly hated my stay and am sure that I am never going there again. I had booked my stay for the night because it was not far from the airport. Next time though, I will book a hotel in Colombo city, even if I have to spend an extra hour and a half travelling because this hotel just isnt worth it.

2/10

Poor

24 Feb 2012

Sebastian

Hotel for BEDBUGS lovers.

My first impression about this hotel was very good.
We’ve got a very nice room ( no 17 ) with pool view and we were very happy.
Unfortunately when my kids went sleep ( 6 months and 2,5 year ) I recognize that something is wrong.
Hundreds of bedbugs appear on the sheet and attack my sons.
I collect some bedbugs to the glass and complain in the reception.
They were not surprised, they change my room for dark ugly room no 43 fortunately without bedbugs but with fungus on the wall.

The funniest story: in the morning I met couple, neighbors who were also transferred from room no 17 because of bedbugs,
and one day later, after the sheet changing they rent room one more time !!!

Family

2/10

Poor

20 Oct 2011

Verified traveler

we were really upset when we got to the hotel...
the room wasnt even close to the fotos in the website...
there were lots of moskitos all over...
in our last day we left for the airport in the middle of the night and couldn't have breakfest. the hotel receptionist offered us totake apacked breakfast with us and we agreed sinsce they refused to change that breakfast to a dinner or somthing.
but, as we checked out the man in the reception told us there isnt any breakfast weiting for us... and allthough a few hours before they closed that issue with us... he had no clue of what we are talking about... really horrible service
about the hotel restaurant... it was so not higienic, all the breakfast buffet outside, with moskitos and flies all around it, we saw the cook turning the omlete with his fingers... not such a nice sight.
one dessert we had wasnt even worth serving three years ago!!!!!!!
we have spent 2 weeks all over sri lanka and stayed in many guest houses and hotels... in the price we had it wasnt even close to th others, not the service, not the food and defenetly not the room.

4/10

Poor

27 Aug 2011

Peter

Golden Start, Negombo

There is a very good reason why this hotel is cheap. They have abandoned all pretence of maintenance or service. Some of the staff are good but they fight a losing battle with the management. The place is in desperate need of some basic maintenance. Painting, plumbing etc
Mosquitoes in the reception area have to be seen to be believed - and I'm not usually bothered by them. Soft furnishings are filthy and when you touch them a swarm of mosquitoes pour out. A deadly place to be at dusk.
Avoid if at all possible

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2011

Georg

This 2 Star hotel has some 3-4

This 2 Star hotel has some 3-4 Star features.

Negative: It is old. The cornerstone dates back to 1970. Therefore, the noice insulation between the rooms is poor. You can hear your neighbour snoring. The breakfast is very basic.

Positive: If you have any problem which is not related to the age of the building, it is attended to immediately. The location by the beach is pleasant. We had an a la carte dinner which was much better, and reasonably priced than the best TripAdvisor recommendations at Negombo. The matresses in the beds are firm, and there are no metal parts in the beds.

We stayed 5 nights, and we would come back any time if we have a few days in Sri Lanka.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2025

Andreas

Heilt ok hotell ved stranden

Bra hotell i Negambo by ved stranden.
Hyggelig betjening.
Hotellet trenger litt tlc og litt omsorg. Slik at det kan bli top klasse igjen.

God pris.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

26 Oct 2023

Selma

Toll direkt am Strand gelegen mit sehr sauberem und gepflegtem Pool. Bei den Zimmern war es nicht überall so sauber, die Klimaanlage hat nicht einwandfrei funktioniert und es ist allgemein etwas in die Jahre gekommen. Allerdings super gelegen mit tollen Restaurant \"Blue by you\" nebenan.

Leisure Family_with_children