New Okay Hotel

The boat tour Anuradha suggested yesterday exceeded anything I’d imagined, and I highly recommend it. He can also arrange transport, though I have my own car and driver and there’s secure private parking here. I’m 69, visiting Sri Lanka for the first time, and needed some guidance with so many hotels to choose from. This is my third day at New Okay, and it’s been a peaceful, relaxing stay. I’d seen a couple of older reviews criticizing the owner, but my experience with the new manager has been the opposite: his service has been exemplary. Breakfast is a delight, and he can make dinner on request. He’s a fabulous cook. I’m diabetic, and with his cooking my glucose has been perfect, with no insulin needed for two days.

The bed smelled, and the place was overpriced. The worst part was the owner, Mr.Silva. He kept pushing different services and got loud and aggressive when I declined. Even after I asked him to leave me alone, he wouldn’t stop bothering me. On our first night, he offered a “friendly” tuk-tuk ride to a restaurant, then charged it to our bill at about five times the usual fare. He harassed and pressured us relentlessly. Don’t stay here if you want to have a good time.

There were loads of mosquitoes in my room, probably because of the nearby sea line, so the stay wasn’t very pleasant. As an Indian vegetarian, I also found it hard to get vegetarian food. The lady on staff helped a lot by preparing it especially for my wife and me. I’ve kept that empty box as a memory of New okay hotel. Five stars for her lovely help 🌟

We arrived with very little notice, less than half an hour, and they had everything arranged nicely. The place is very clean, including the bathrooms, and the rooms were neat and tidy. It’s close to the beach, feels like home, and the host was kind and helpful. The food was really tasty, and you can ask them to prepare it to your requirements. The price was very cheap.