Hotel Randiya

The room wasn’t clean, and instead of blankets there were bedsheets. When I asked for blankets, they gave me one that felt like a towel. Even the floor mat was just a towel. I’m really disappointed, especially since this hotel used to be well maintained. They should look after the place properly or lower the price. It isn’t worth what they charge.

The pool is still one of the hotel’s best features, private and relaxing, and it was one of the main reasons we wanted to return. The kitchen staff were kind and helpful too. One of them, possibly the chef, offered to make dishes of our choice since there was no buffet. I appreciated that. The rest of this visit to Randiya Hotel in Anuradhapura was a very different experience from my previous stays. I’ve stayed there many times and used to have very good experiences with the food, pool, and staff. I’m an American citizen and Sri Lankan, travel often, and currently live in Las Vegas, USA, so I’ve seen plenty of hotels and know hospitality standards. I chose the hotel again for a leisure trip to visit the Ancient City and had already paid a significant advance deposit, but when we arrived there was no buffet and the hotel was mostly empty. That was disappointing, though we understood circumstances can change. The trouble started after we had traveled nearly 300 miles. My vehicle overheated in the scorching sun, so I parked briefly in the shade under the hotel portico to let the engine cool. Security staff ran over as soon as we got out and loudly demanded that I move because the owner was expected to park there. I politely explained the problem and asked for 10-15 minutes to finish check-in before moving the car. They were dismissive and arrogant, and wouldn’t listen or show understanding. We moved the vehicle back into the sun and went inside. At the front desk, the staff seemed new and were unhelpful, with poor customer service attitudes. The staff I’d encountered on earlier visits had been much more professional and welcoming. After the treatment from security and front office, it was clear this was no longer the same hotel we’d enjoyed before. We asked if our advance payment could be refunded. Staff got upset, refused to help properly, and said they couldn’t assist or contact top management. They offered no practical solution, despite the hotel being nearly empty. We decided to leave and find somewhere else to stay. The poor treatment by security and front office, along with the lack of customer care, changed our whole travel plan. This hotel seems to have changed significantly since our good past experiences. I wouldn’t recommend it in its current state unless management seriously improves hospitality standards and staff training.

It feels like being at school, with so many rules. The kitchen shuts after 8.30pm, and you can’t buy food or drinks. Worst place. I’ll never come back. 😒😏

Some of the rooms are very good, while others aren’t so good. We spent one day and night here during our Sri Lanka tour. It’s a nice hotel to stay at, and all was well.