Brisk Ella Retreat

If you love the mountains and want to get away from the crowded city, this is a gem in Ella. The room was very clean, and we enjoyed the panoramic view from the hammock on our balcony. Breakfast was great too. The place is at the top of a hill, so getting there can be a downside. But you do get to enjoy the view from up high. One more thing, avoid Saturdays if you can. There's a beautiful Buddhist temple nearby, and lots of people come to pray then, which makes the roads very crowded.

We enjoyed walking to the nearby Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, a cultural gem in Ella. The rooms at Brisk Ella Retreat had breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and the peaceful setting was great for relaxing. Parking was a little challenging, with spaces just outside the property, but the staff went out of their way to find a safe spot for our vehicle. They were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. It exceeded our expectations, and I'd recommend it for a quiet getaway.

The mountain views were great, but the high location made it tricky to find dinner or transport. We stayed during the New Year holiday week, when just one person was working and doing his best to keep things running smoothly. The manager was nowhere to be seen and could only be reached by phone. I had a Yala safari charter the next day, with pickup in Ella town at 12 pm. The night before, the manager arranged a taxi for 10:30 am to leave time for delays and said it was sorted. The taxi never arrived, and the manager didn't call to say where the driver was. I only got a message at 12:20 saying the driver was stuck in traffic. It was completely disorganized. We missed the Yala charter and couldn't get our money back. The views were great, but the organization was not.

The views were really nice, but the rooms had several insects and bugs and weren't great. The location felt very obscure, and the 20-minute drive there wasn't worth it. There were no taxis or other transport options for getting around at night, so after dinner I ended up paying 2.5 times the usual amount for a ride back. There was no POS machine either, so the rental payment had to be made in cash.