Marleys Beach House

The kindest part of our four nights was Nishan, the housekeeper, if I’ve got his name right. He was warm, hardworking, and very family-minded, and helped us so much that it felt like he was looking out for us the whole time. The villa itself was old and run down, which was especially frustrating at a price above some of Sri Lanka’s most expensive hotels. Several things didn’t work, including the stove and kettle. The air conditioner gave up after two days, though fortunately another one still worked. The sink was blocked, and the broken fridge froze our fruit and vegetables until they spoiled. There was a lovely ocean view, but that didn’t make up for the host not taking care of the property. Earlier guests had apparently raised similar problems, yet nothing seemed to have been fixed. The villa has potential, but the owner doesn’t seem to care.

The staff are lovely and helpful, and they can cook really good local food. The house is right on Mihiripenna Beach, with three furnished bedrooms and two clean, modern bathrooms, including one with an outdoor bath and shower. It’s especially well set up for children: there’s a kids’ room that doubles as another living room, with books, toys, board games, and a portable cot. The kitchen also has a washing machine, child-friendly dishes and cutlery, and a highchair. Such a cute, stylish place. I can’t recommend it enough.

We arrived late at night with our toddler and found the property locked, dirty, and with nobody there to let us in. The owners couldn’t be reached, even though we’d recently been messaging them on WhatsApp about the trip. We were left outside in the rain and dark. Booking.com eventually helped us cancel without charge, but we never heard from the host afterward about what had happened. The garden was full of rubbish, the building looked worn, and the outdoor facilities were broken and seemed dangerous. The photos are badly out of date and don’t reflect the property’s current condition. Before our trip, the host sent a discount link that seemed suspicious to me: it showed thousands of reviews, but none on Booking.com. I don’t know if that was a scam to get card details, but the whole thing felt off. There are several listings under the same host, so be careful. I wouldn’t recommend booking here.

Loved the house and its beautiful spot by the beach. The rooms are lovely, there’s a fully equipped kitchen, and the view is amazing. The balcony has chairs and a beach lounger. Wish I could’ve stayed longer.