Villa Capers

The location made getting in and out easy, which suited my business trip and first visit. But there was a fishy smell in the lobby as soon as I arrived, and I found rat droppings in parts of the room. The room was dusty and very unclean, and the service staff had body odor that made being around them unpleasant. I wouldn't recommend it.

The pool was a highlight, along with the decor and little garden spaces. Staff were really helpful, and the western breakfast was nice too. It feels like a peaceful hideaway beside the dusty, busy, noisy center of Colombo. As good as the photos, and one of the nicest places I've stayed.

The wifi was excellent, but breakfast was average and there weren't other options beyond coffee, passion fruit cordial, toast, jam, butter and an omelette. The place has potential, though it didn't look as luxurious as the photos suggest. The rooms need repairs and a refurb: rain came through two spots in the bedroom ceiling, so we put mats down, and water damage had discoloured some walls. In the bathroom, water dripped from the ceiling onto my head at the sink. The bamboo blind mechanisms were broken, so I couldn't open the windows. I also would have liked a TV, a water heater with tea and coffee, or an intercom for room service, plus a mosquito vaporizer.

The host picked us up at the airport and was brilliant. Check-in went fine, and the room was very good, with a large bed and a nice pool. There was a sunbathing spot and some gym equipment too. Food was good, and although we had to leave early for the train to Kandy, the host gave us something to eat. It's a short tuk tuk ride into the city and about 20 minutes from the station.