Amanda Beach Resort

I stayed through May, then came back in October after travelling around Southeast Asia and before heading back to India’s West Coast. Both are shoulder-season months here, with peak season in July and August. The hotel sits beside the empty, undeveloped Kalkuda Beach, and it’s rare to get this level of quality for the price. For a longer stay, it may be possible to discuss a lower rate than the internet booking price. Everything was super clean, including the rooms, pool, common areas, and even the windows. The beds and bedding were very comfortable, and the hotel was quiet enough that I slept soundly. Rita made a fantastic breakfast. The staff were very friendly and attentive, including managers Rajan and Kanthen, Nishan and Dumidoo, and the housekeeping and maintenance teams. One of the best hotels I’ve come across in my travels.

The staff were friendly, but this hotel was nowhere near what we expected. It felt very dated and badly in need of refurbishment. The small pool had only six loungers and a few plastic chairs in the shade. The bathroom door was broken, and we could hear the neighbours using the toilet, including the noises that came with it.

We spent one night at Amanda Beach Resort in May 2025. The room and bathroom were clean and nicely arranged when we arrived, and we had both dinner and breakfast at the hotel. Dinner was seafood fried rice and egg fried rice. We also ordered curd and honey, but it didn’t taste as good as we expected. Breakfast was a buffet with rice, string hoppers, fish, pol sambol, and dhal, followed by watermelon and banana. They also served coffee, plain tea, tea, and a drink. There was a swimming pool, though we didn’t get to swim.

The rooms are spacious and nice, and the staff are friendly, but the pool problem spoiled our stay. It was very hot, and we couldn’t use the pool or easily go to another one, so it didn’t feel worth what we paid. The hotel is nice, but a bit pricey by Sri Lankan standards. We booked because the swimming pool looked appealing. After a long trip, we arrived to find it completely empty. Staff assured us it would be working in two days, saying there had been an emergency. We were staying three days, and thought using the neighbouring hotel’s pool might be okay. But we were travelling with our baby and didn’t want to leave the baby here while we went elsewhere. The pool still wasn’t working after a few days. We asked if we could get a late checkout as compensation, since staff had said the pool would be ready on the day we left. They refused, saying other guests were coming, even though the hotel seemed almost empty. They then said we could stay late if we paid extra, which felt strange if no one else was arriving. The whole thing felt odd, and we didn’t have a good time. I felt a bit betrayed because we had contacted the hotel through Booking shortly before arriving, and they hadn’t told us the pool was empty because of an emergency. Please be upfront with guests if there’s a pool issue, so they can decide whether to book. People will understand if you’re honest. And when something like this happens, you should treat customers a bit better and offer some kind of compensation. We were friendly and understanding, so there was no reason to behave this way. I wouldn’t recommend this place. If you do go, check with the hotel before booking. In that heat, having no pool and no easy way to use another one isn’t what you pay for.