55TG Boutique Suites

We especially enjoyed the lovely little saltwater pool, and the house is in a pleasant residential area that gives you a more authentic feel for the city. It's at the end of a cul-de-sac, so getting around takes some planning. The hotel has only a few rooms, beautifully decorated and furnished by the owner and family, with very comfortable beds. Staff were extremely friendly. One team member is a wonderful cook, so do pre-order the Sri Lankan breakfast. It was the best breakfast of our four weeks of travel. Dinner is available too. We were offered a free upgrade at check-in, but couldn't take it because the suite is up a small staircase and we were with an older person who had mobility issues. The other rooms are on the ground floor facing a small garden. We also appreciated the complimentary early check-in. There were a couple of downsides. During our first two days, a photo shoot was happening right outside our room. The team tried to limit the disturbance, but we couldn't sit outside or leave the room door open, and it would've been good to know ahead of time. We'd asked for an extra bed, but it turned out to be a fold-out sofa that was so hard and uncomfortable I barely slept. For a hotel at this price, that shouldn't happen, and it affected our stay.

We chose 55TG Boutique for our engagement photos and were really happy with it. The stylish, elegant setting is well cared for, and every corner looks good in pictures. Staff were friendly, professional and supportive all the way through, making the shoot easy and comfortable. Highly recommend it for special occasions and photo shoots.

We were uncomfortable during our event because several other bookings and photo shoots were going on at the same time, and ours was disrupted. I wouldn't recommend this location for group weddings. We were told the limit was eight people, including the photographers and videographer. Our group also had four small children, who needed their parents there. A group wedding can't reasonably be restricted to just eight people in those circumstances. From a customer's perspective, that rule doesn't make sense, and we strongly felt it was mainly a way to charge extra. I won't recommend the venue for group weddings.

The venue looked beautiful in our wedding photos, and we appreciated that part. The staff service, though, felt far from professional. A staff member came into our room without knocking, which made everyone uncomfortable. Later, an online payment failed. I'd already sent the receipt and was fixing the issue so I could send it again, but an employee stopped my bride and friends as they were leaving, blocked their vehicle, and spoke rudely and offensively to them about the payment. That was upsetting and completely unnecessary on our wedding day. Payment errors happen, and staff should handle them respectfully. No couple would try to avoid paying for something so meaningful. I hope management addresses this, because the venue deserves better representation from its staff.