Ella Eco Lodge

We'd definitely come back. The place is spacious, with a huge balcony, and the people there are amazing. Monkeys were climbing in trees just 1-2 metres from our balcony, and even came onto it. That was an experience you can't replace. It really feels like being in the middle of the jungle, while still only about a seven-minute walk from Ella centre. We'd stayed at Eco Colombo earlier and had a great time there. When we found out our host owned this place too, we decided to book here in Ella, and we weren't disappointed.

The people working here were so welcoming and helpful, which made my stay even nicer. My room was clean, spacious, and comfortable, and the place was completely quiet. I really enjoyed staying at this lodge and would recommend it if you're after somewhere peaceful.

The staff were the one good part. They made a good breakfast and shared the information I needed about Ella and the sights nearby. But the management only cares about taking your money. They accept cash only, so you can't pay for the lodge by bank card. The reason is that they don't want to pay the card commission. Monkeys cross the lodge every morning before sunrise, which is normal in the forest. The problem is the thin corrugated metal roof. When the monkeys run over it, it sounds like being inside a thunderstorm. Be aware: the management doesn't care about you, they just want your money.

I wouldn't recommend this place until they improve how they handle bookings and communicate. I booked well ahead, got confirmation, and planned my trip around it. Then, just an hour before I arrived, I messaged the property and was told the room wasn't available. No one had warned me that they couldn't honor the booking. Finding out so late caused a lot of inconvenience after I'd travelled expecting everything to be settled. Any property should take responsibility for confirmed reservations and let guests know about a problem early enough for them to make other arrangements. This felt like poor management and a lack of professionalism.