The Chillout Ella

We were fed up the whole time with flies and mosquitoes attacking us. Odomos repellant spray usually helps with mosquitoes, but there was no relief from the flies. The rooms are very basic and don’t even have a fan, so the flies have a field day. They go from the toilets into your room and eventually land on you. If the room can have AC, I don’t see why it can’t have a basic ceiling fan, which usually does a good job of keeping flies away. One good thing was the breakfast and the attendants. The spread included two typical Sri Lankan dishes. As for Ella, it’s geared towards backpackers looking for adventurous hikes and that hippie culture. There’s not much for kids or families, and the restaurants are overpriced with below-average food. We didn’t research properly, otherwise we would have chosen Nuwara Eliya over Ella any day. Our stay here was a lesson in patience, and more patience.

The location worked really well for us, with a nice sunrise walk to Little Adam’s Peak and the start of the Nine Arches Bridge route close by. Some restaurants are nearby, while the busier main strip is about a 20-minute walk along the road. Since the property is right at the start of the Little Adam’s Peak trail and Flying Ravana Adventure Park, there was some noise from tuk tuks and walkers, but it didn’t bother us. Dushan and Sridharan were especially kind, welcoming and helpful. The rooms were clean, spacious and had a lovely view. Breakfast was tasty, with fresh juice, coconut sugar pancakes, toast and fruit, and they even made a fresh salad for one of us who was gluten free. We had a fabulous stay at The Chillout, Ella, and would definitely come back.

The team gave amazing service, even bringing breakfast to our balcony. It’s a great location just outside the main strip, all the better for being out a bit. Little Adam's peak and Nine arches bridge are both an easy walk away. Would recommend!

A convenient hotel with spacious, clean rooms and very good service and communication. We really enjoyed the delicious breakfast. It’s also a great starting spot for the hike to Little Adam’s peak, and the nine arches bridge is within walking distance.