Lazy Lizard Villa

We only stayed one night at the lazy lizard before driving to Yala National park, but had a lovely time. The villa is a little outside central Galle, and the staff welcomed us warmly and were very helpful. They made our dinner and breakfast for us. A big thank you to Thushara 😀 We’d like to come back with friends, and I highly recommend this place.

The cost felt high for a small group, since I found the price was the same regardless of how many guests stayed. It may work out better if the maximum number of people allowed share the bill. Galle is also one of the more expensive parts of Sri Lanka, so bear that in mind when planning. Even so, I really enjoyed Lazy Lizard villa. The setting is stunning, the rooms are spacious, clean, and well maintained, and the villa is beautifully designed with great amenities. Staff were friendly, attentive, and provided top-notch service. It was a memorable stay, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a comfortable, luxurious place in Galle.

The pool was lovely and regularly cleaned, and Thushara was very helpful once he arrived. He arranged tours and other things for us, though I’d avoid the spice market he recommends, which felt like a total ripoff. The place doesn’t currently match many of its photos, which seem old and from before Covid, when the Hungarian owner lived on site. It may look that way again someday, and the new manager, Thushara, is trying to repair and replace things. Our stay wasn’t the peaceful tropical idyll those pictures suggest. The rice fields were fallow and overgrown, tuk Tuk traffic climbing the steep drive to the hotel behind the villa kept breaking the quiet, and distant Ibiza style drum beats went on at all hours. The surfaces become slippery when wet, and falls seem hard to avoid. Behind the villa, steps lead to a covered verandah with a 2 meter wall. The full length of the frontage felt dangerous, slippery in rain, and like an impalement risk for children who fall. The kitchen has a decent fridge, microwave, two burner gas hob, and kettle, but if you want to cook, bring your own sanitation supplies. The surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards were below standard. Our poolside room had a broken shower and toilet seat when we arrived. The two lads on site had "cleaned" it but left it wet and slippery. The manager was only reachable by WhatsApp because he was leading a tour for the first four days of our twelve-night stay. The rooms are tired and leaky, and the cooking area is dodgy. Staff other than Thushara seemed clueless, though friendly. Expect to be 15-30 minutes from places you want to go by some kind of hire vehicle, and don’t let kids run around wildly or someone could get hurt. Go with your eyes open and reasonable expectations. It’s not a dream location.

We had a lovely family stay, with good accommodation and delicious food. Mr. Thusara and his team are doing a very good job. I’d recommend this place to anyone wanting a nice experience.