Ceyloni City Hotel

Breakfast was a pleasure, especially the eggs made fresh to order, fried or as an omelette. The hotel is handy for getting around, a few minutes’ walk from the bus station and near the town’s main sights. Our room had a comfortable bed and decent space. The shower room was adequate, though it needed a more thorough clean. Street noise came through the windows quite easily, so it could get noisy.

The included breakfast and low price made the accommodation feel like a bargain. Check-in took a little while, though the front desk was very helpful. The location is ideal, right in the city center and only a few minutes’ walk from Kandy Lake. Shared areas look a bit worn, but the rooms are spotless and don’t feel dated. Wi-Fi, air conditioning, shower temperature, and water pressure were all excellent. There’s also a refrigerator, hair dryer, and internet TV.

The staff were the best part of our two-night stay. They were polite, friendly, always smiling, and quick to bring things when we asked. They also gave helpful suggestions for nearby activities, currency exchange, and where to catch the bus. There’s a lift, so luggage is easy to manage. It’s a low to mid budget hotel in a central spot, within walking distance of Kandy Lake and many restaurants. Breakfast was decent, with eggs, fruit, juice, coffee or tea, and other things depending on what was available. On our second day we came after 8:30 and some items had run out. The rooms have room for improvement. Ours, room 204 on the second floor in the far corner, smelled musty. The window couldn’t be opened because monkeys could get inside. The bathroom could have been cleaner and had no fan or window, which was really bad. The sheets were fresh, but the pillow smelled because of the decorative cushion on it. We turned it around to avoid the smell. Please wash those covers now and then or remove them. The AC had a problem when we arrived, but it was fixed later. Since there was no fan, we really needed it to cool the room properly. There wasn’t a floor mat, so we asked for one by the bathroom door and got it. On the second day, tea, coffee, bottled water, and toilet paper weren’t replaced, and the full trash can wasn’t emptied. The towel wasn’t replaced either, which I can understand. We asked, and the other items were brought easily. There was no phone in the room, so we had to go to reception every time. It would be better if these basics were provided without having to ask. This place has potential, and keeping the rooms clean and fresh would improve the stay.

Our room on the third floor was spacious, with a large, comfortable bed. The sheets and towels smelled clean and fresh, a welcome change from the slightly musty smell we’d usually encountered while travelling in Sri Lanka. The room itself wasn’t anything special, and the bathroom and shower were small. The concierge was very helpful. The location is excellent, only a few minutes on foot from the famous Temple of the Tooth.