Fiona & Liam
England, November 2025
What did you like most about Sri Lanka?
The Sri Lankan people!
The variety of things to see from animal reserves to historic sites.
The beautiful landscapes and beaches.
Seeing a leopard – just!
What did you like least about Sri Lanka?
Cyclone Ditwah!
Number of jeeps in the animal reserves - didn’t feel very ethical. When we were at a leopard siting it was absolute chaos with jeeps as far as the eye could see in all directions. Feels like the authorities need to implement some controls / manage the number of jeeps in the various zones. [We fully appreciate the negative impact the number of jeeps and behaviour of some jeep providers and visitors in Yala (Block 1) has on the overall safari experience, which is why we do not recommend visiting Yala (Block 1) through the main (Palatupana) entrance any longer. We now run jeep safaris in Yala (Block 5), which is accessed through the Galge entrance close to Kataragama.]
What is your opinion of your accommodation in Sri Lanka?
Nyne [Hotels] Lake Lodge [Colombo] – Excellent
A superb stay. The staff were outstanding, breakfasts were excellent, and the location was ideal for exploring Colombo. The property was quiet, comfortable, and very well maintained.
Lake Lodge [Kandalama, Dambulla] – Excellent
Another excellent stay. Both the staff and the food were great. Thoughtful touches, such as evening turn-down service and consistently high-quality room cleaning, made a real difference. The overall care for the property was evident, from the well-maintained pool to the protective covers for the sunbeds during frequent rain. A quiet, friendly hotel with great attention to detail.
Hanthana House [Kandy] – Excellent
A wonderful experience staying in Pathi’s beautiful home, with stunning views and delicious traditional meals. Pathi, his wife, and their team were generous, attentive hosts. We only wished we had stayed longer so we could have taken a cookery lesson with Pathi’s wife.
[The] Planter's Bungalow [Ella] – Exceptional
Truly a standout stay. We were expecting to share a room but were generously upgraded to the main suite. The hotel and its facilities were beautiful, and breakfast overlooking the hills was a highlight. Staff were warm and welcoming. Although the property sits slightly outside Ella, an Uber costs only around £3, and the peaceful setting away from the bustle was a bonus. A superb experience in every respect.
Kalu’s Hideaway [Udawalawe] – Very Good
We very much enjoyed staying here. The staff were good, although noticeably less attentive and friendly than at previous hotels. Communal facilities were excellent, but the room felt somewhat basic and dated – although, after Planter's Bungalow, the comparison was inevitably tough. Food was good, but the bar offered only beer and wine (with wine priced on the higher side). Overall, a comfortable and relaxing stay.
Hibiscus Garden [Hotel, Tissamaharama] – Very Good
A lovely hotel with particularly warm staff. We were delighted by the resident crocodile and her 13 babies, which made for an unexpected highlight. The rooms were clean but dated, and the pool area showed some wear. We cannot comment on breakfast as we departed early and only received a packed option, but dinner was very good. With only one night here, the need for some renovation was not an issue.
Villa Atulya [Ocean's Edge, Mirissa] – Below Average
Villa Atulya was, unfortunately, decidedly average, with particularly poor service.
The property appeared to be run by four or five young men who had clearly not received any hotel or hospitality training. Only one spoke even basic English, which made communication difficult. They spent much of their time socialising at the bench by the front gate rather than attending to the property. My bathroom was directly across from this area, so their loud talking and laughter created considerable noise in the evenings and early mornings.
Although the rooms were clean on arrival, we had to request a mid-week service, and the response felt unwelcoming (despite the cleaning itself being done well). While daily housekeeping didn’t appear to be always standard in Sri Lanka, every other hotel on our itinerary either cleaned daily or proactively asked if we wanted the room serviced. The layout was also unusual, with the wardrobe located in the bathroom, and there was a persistent fusty smell.
Overall care for the villa was lacking. Several communal seats and cushions were dirty, as were the table runners used at breakfast. The sun loungers and their cushions were left out in the rain; we had to remove cushion covers ourselves, wring out the water, and attempt to dry them to avoid lying on stale, soaked padding. The cushions were so waterlogged that they were difficult to lift and had adhered to the wooden frames, suggesting this had been an issue for some time. We ultimately left two of them unzipped and draining outside our patio doors, where they were almost dry by the time we left. The rest remained wet and untouched by staff.
During the cyclone, the shutters and doors in the communal areas banged so violently overnight that we feared the glass might break. No staff appeared to address the issue, so I got up twice in the night to secure them. Same during the day. The fridge in the communal area was filthy – although the fridges in the rooms were fine.
At breakfast, staff were frequently nowhere to be found – even after ringing the service bell – so we often had to search for someone in the out buildings. The menu stated otherwise, but we were informed we could have eggs or bacon, not both. Similarly, it was juice or fruit, but not both. When we attempted to clarify that poached eggs should have fully cooked whites, the language barrier made the conversation unproductive. The one person who consistently appeared to be working was the gardener.
Noise is a significant issue for the ground-floor rooms. A group of eight ladies arrived during our stay and had an early breakfast at the communal table directly outside my door. They were also loud the following morning around 6:30 a.m. Once I spoke with them nicely, they were very apologetic – they had been told they were the only guests and had not realised how close the bedrooms were to the dining area.
In summary: when we were the only guests, the villa felt deserted; staff presence was minimal, breakfast was poor, and communal areas were inadequately maintained. When other guests were present, the noise levels were high due to the layout. I am not normally one to complain, but the number of anomalies at Villa Atulya genuinely detracted from our stay. I was not expecting five-star service; however, the absence of any meaningful staff presence (or care for the property) significantly undermined the overall experience. I would not recommend Villa Atulya to family or friends, as there are far better alternatives in the area. If anyone does choose to stay here, I strongly advise insisting on a first-floor room.
[We can only apologise for the very poor service and quality of accommodation you experienced at Villa Atulya – Ocean's Edge, which has obviously dropped its standards significantly since our last customers stayed there earlier on in the year. We will be passing on your comments to the owner, who we know well, and I expect them to offer us an acknowledgement of the inadequacy of their property following your feedback and reasoning for the woeful standard of service, management, hygiene and staff at the hotel. Please accept our profound apologies for your stay here and we will certainly not be recommending this hotel to future customers until the standards have returned to their previously high levels.]
What is your opinion of your chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka?
Gayan was a superb chauffeur. He collected us from the airport at the start of our trip and returned us two weeks later in a very smart, clean, and comfortable vehicle. He also provided an excellent guided tour of Colombo. He was professional, knowledgeable, and his English was very strong. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking a chauffeur or chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka.
Wasantha was also an outstanding chauffeur guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and professional, and at every site he shared detailed insights and answered our questions thoroughly. He even climbed Sigiriya Rock with us, which felt above and beyond his formal duties – but so glad he did or we would not have fully appreciated what we were seeing! When minor itinerary issues arose, he quickly identified practical workarounds and communicated clearly throughout. Again, I would not hesitate to recommend him to others.
Nihal drove us back to Colombo. Although he was engaged solely as a chauffeur rather than a guide, he was also an excellent driver. The car was clean and comfortable, and we appreciated his support, particularly given the issues occurring in Kandy at the time, where his family resides. We were grateful that he was still able to collect us and ensure a smooth and safe transfer.
What is your opinion of your flights to and from Sri Lanka?
We flew with Qatar [Airways] (self-booked) – flights were fine. Our connection at Doha on the way out was a bit tight (1.45hr). 3 hours on the way back was more comfortable.
Any other comments?
Our experience with Tikalanka was exceptional from start to finish. John worked closely with us to build a 15-day itinerary and was consistently responsive throughout the planning process. I had approached several agencies, but Tikalanka was the first to reply, took the time to understand our requirements, and delivered a competitively priced proposal that met all our needs.
Once we arrived in Sri Lanka, Pathi, John’s partner on the ground, was equally supportive. Hotels were booked and adjustments were made without any fuss, excursions were well organised, and the chauffeur guides (Gayan, Wasantha and Nihal) were excellent. We happened to be in the country when Cyclone Ditwah hit, and this is when their professionalism truly stood out. Minor itinerary changes were handled seamlessly, and they remained in regular contact to check on our welfare. Despite the wider crisis, we always felt like a priority. Overall, the service was seamless, professional, and highly reliable. We would not hesitate to recommend Tikalanka.
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