Melvila

Melroy was a very welcoming host. He arranged our airport pickup, gave us bananas at our first breakfast, and let us use the washing machine and refrigerator. The place was clean and roomy, with a nice view from the third floor. I liked having the shared living room for quiet reading or meditation. We were in Kelaniya for a convention at Clover Banquet, and this was the best and most affordable hotel nearby. It’s close to the main roads and local restaurants, and tuktuks were easy to find. We had a couple of electricity cutouts, once in good weather and once during heavy rain. One thing to know is that using the AC costs an extra $5/- per day. I think that should be made clear when booking, since the listing only says the rooms have AC. Still, we had a good stay.

The place is kept up well, and the room was clean enough. Pets are allowed, though the owner didn’t seem too happy when one was actually brought along. The amenities didn’t feel worth the high price.

The owner’s dogs barked so much that it was a nuisance, and when I complained, it wasn’t received well and nothing changed. Hot water barely flowed, so having a proper bath wasn’t possible. The whole property was dirty, especially the bathrooms and toilets, which had a strong smell. I asked several times for the toilets to be cleaned. The cleaner came and rinsed them with running water, but used no detergent or cleaning tools. I was astonished, and ended up buying detergent and cleaning them myself. Outside, dog poo had been left all over the paths for days. A very disappointing stay, I wouldn’t recommend it.

The place was clean throughout our stay, and the service was decent. It’s one of the better accommodations around here, and I’d recommend it for hangouts or parties.