Kele Yala Sri Lanka

I wanted to like this place more, but compared with everywhere else we stayed in Sri Lanka, it fell short. The rooms were lovely and very clean, and the bed was comfortable with adequate a/c. But the shower barely sprayed and only gave lukewarm water, so no hot shower, which is a big problem for me. There’s no wi-fi. When I asked, I was told “it says on booking.com we don’t have it.” Maybe so, but I booked direct, not through that site. The food was average at best, generally overcooked or too salty. My pork chop was so dry I could barely cut it, and half the Pepsi bottle we ordered was literally frozen. We were also told we couldn’t bring alcohol outside our room, though we had a bottle of wine, but another couple was allowed to bring whiskey to dinner the next night. At checkout the manager hovered over me while I filled out a review form, which felt very strange and uncomfortable. We paid more per night than anywhere else on our trip, and the value just wasn’t there.

I’d happily recommend a stay here. The owner was lovely, and the staff were welcoming, helpful, and accommodating. The rooms were spacious and beautiful, with a unique natural design, and the Sri Lankan food was some of the best I’ve ever had, from someone who’s lived here all my life. Definitely a place I’d want to return to again and again.

The peaceful grounds, full of wildlife, made this feel like a real escape into nature. We saw mostly birds and lizards, and it was a tranquil change from the busier parts of our Sri Lanka trip. We stayed two nights, and the room was immaculate and felt very luxurious. Dissa and the crew were attentive, friendly, and always happy to help. They were a real credit to Kele Yala and made the stay even better. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. An easy 5*.

We were a family of five and chose Kele’s all-inclusive package to make the safari and arrangements easier. The whole team looked after us so well, starting with an amazing lunch, then putting in huge effort for dinner and breakfast. The guide and driver were exceptional, and we got to see everything we wanted on the safari. We stayed one night and absolutely loved it. Highly recommend.