Yoho Ivory Inn Guest house

We liked the large, clean rooms, the AC, the good-value breakfast, and the common area. The location was handy for both the beach and restaurants, and staff helped us find places to eat and arrange a taxi, despite speaking limited English. We could get by with some patience and humor. The linens were the worst we’d seen so far: very thin, stained, and full of big holes. Our AC wasn’t working when we arrived. Don’t be afraid to bring it up, since they needed to switch the fuse at the main switch and replace the remote batteries. The fan alone wasn’t enough to keep us Canadians cool, so we really needed the AC.

The rooms were decent, with plenty of space, AC, and an en suite bathroom. The top-floor shower barely had any water pressure. We arrived late at the airport during a holiday, and the transfer cost $42 USD for a 45-minute ride. The hotel was also very expensive because of inflated New Year prices, and that rate wasn’t worth the stay.

Mt Lavinia is nearby, with beaches and restaurants. We got a simple room with a good amount of space, fans and AC, plus a shower, toilet, basin, and small balcony. For what we paid, it was good value. Tea for two in the morning cost lkr 140.

The house and some of the staff were actually nice, but the rooms were filthy, especially the bed, sheets, pillows, towels, and bathroom. If it hadn’t been so late, we would’ve left as soon as we arrived.