Sielen Diva

Our flight home was at midnight, and upon checkout, the Sr. Hotel Manager almost did not allow us to keep our luggage stored at the hotel because it is a "private hotel" for only guests staying at the hotel. We stayed at this hotel, but because we were checking out, we were no longer considered "guests" and were not allowed to keep anything at the property, essentially leaving us stranded with our luggage. I confirmed we would not be staying on the property, but to allow us to keep our luggage in a storage room during the daytime, while we were out. I never experienced this difficulty before and holding guests luggage is generally hospitality standard. After demanding them to keep my luggage stored, they agreed, but at this point it ruined my experience and trust with the hotel.

Now, moving on to the rough part: the hotel urgently needs renovations, in fact this is what is happening at the moment, but nobody warned us in advance. The second and last day, we were woken up as they started hammering early in the morning exactly behind our room. Later on, we were delighted by the wonderful chirping of pneumatic hammers, making our permanence very relaxing as in the best five-star construction sites. We believe that a place that aspires to be a luxury villa, should remain closed during renovations, especially considering the huge amount of money asked for staying there (and FOR NOT WARNING US BEFORE! This is really not fair, we would have preferred to get our money back and book somewhere else!). Given that we complained about the noise, we just heard a mere sorry, I told the workers to stop from the hotel manager (who, in theory, should make sure that guests have the best experience) nothing more than this. Honestly, we expected at least some discount on our extras, as usually done in serious hotels when some inconvenience happens. But no, we were charged every single cent. Moreover, we had the feeling we were somehow fleeced as the price of food is really high (even higher considering the average prices in Sri Lanka), and the portions are absurdly small, definitely not worth the price. This is the main reason we decided to have dinner somewhere else both nights. To give an example, we spent around $5 for tiny portion of french fries. For breakfast, they serve a single main dish, either savory or sweet, a couple slices of packaged sandwich bread and a little fruits. I had to take an avocado toast and pay extra for some pancakes (very uncommon in Sri Lanka, where all luxury hotels we visited served buffet or a-la-carte extremely-satisfying breakfasts). We also agree with other comments that they should introduce a kettle and tea in the rooms, especially if you get charged 4$ for a cup of tea.

There are too many things to list. The property itself is breathtaking, let alone the location! The beach out the front is clean and the waves are huge - we spent hours watching them. Not only that but the actual villa is stunning with infinity pool (great temperature) and towels provided, incredible views from the bedroom all the amenities you could want including robe, flip flops, comfy bed and even a beach bag and hats (I'm not sure if they were for decoration or borrowing!). The chef and menu was amazing too and they always set the table for us for breakfast, lunch and dinner, even if we weren't going to be there - food was amazing, especially the pancakes! Aside from this, the staff were lovely and welcoming, we arrived early and they accommodated our checkin early which was kind, and they linked us to a really nice Tuk Tuk driver who ended up being our guide! All in all, the best trip ever.