Maple Home Stay

Breakfast came in generous portions, and the host was really friendly. In the weeks before we arrived, replies on WhatsApp took some patience, but he kindly agreed to collect us from our previous accommodation in his van, and we topped up cash. We stayed three nights as a family of four. The balcony had lovely scenery, with trains passing below and fog sometimes wrapping around the mountains. The clean room had air conditioning and a small fridge. It was a 15-minute walk down steps to Ella town and the railway station.

The room was badly overpriced for how uncomfortable it felt. It was very old and dirty, with mold in both the bedroom and bathroom, and footprints and other dirt on the bed linen. There were geckos and mosquitos inside, and the neighbours played loud music in the evenings and at night.

Maple gave us what we needed, even though it wasn't fancy, and the view was absolutely stunning. I was also glad we stayed a little outside Ella itself. I personally wasn't that keen on Ella: we visited for three nights in early January and knew it was high season, but I hadn't expected it to be so crowded. It was the most touristy place we'd been, too busy and commercial for me. It felt like a once-scenic spot that had grown quickly, with nearly everything aimed at tourists. Still, I enjoyed our stay. The owner was very friendly, and we had a different, great breakfast each of the three mornings. He made an earlier one for us when we had to catch the train on departure day. We were there with our three-year-old daughter, who also got an extra breakfast each morning.

The room is basic, so don't come expecting luxury, but the bed is really comfortable. The hosts are caring and sweet, and she made a wonderful breakfast and helped us arrange transport. The balcony has an amazing view, and the centre is about a 15-minute walk away.