Yoho Green Turtle Villa

The property was next level, and the staff were superb. We had a great stay, enjoyed the delicious food, and will definitely come back. Thank you!

We spent most of our time in the pool and at the beach, and had a wonderful stay. The beach starts as rocky just below the villa, but a sandy stretch is only a few metres away, an easy walk from the house. It's a huge, peaceful place, and the rooms are spacious, modern and minimalist. The villa is right on the beach, and the location is excellent. The manager and staff welcomed us warmly. Each day, they came early to clean the house, pool and grounds. They cleaned the rest of the house but left our rooms alone, as we'd asked. Everything else was very clean, and hot water worked in all the bathrooms. The AC worked well in the other rooms. One ground-floor room had an AC issue and a noisy fan; we reported both and were told they'd look into it. There was some rust on the door knobs, handles and metal light fittings, which can happen this close to the sea, so I don't think it's fair to complain too much about it in such a large beachfront villa. The big living area has fans, but no AC, and huge glass windows and doors, so it could get hot in summer. The bedrooms only have blinds, which are see-through from outside and don't offer much privacy. The TV room was set up with sofas and a TV, though extra mattresses were left in one corner. It didn't bother us since we only used the room once. We booked half board, so breakfast and dinner were included, and we were usually out sightseeing at lunchtime. The chef was happy to accommodate requests beyond the planned menu. We loved the food, the generous spread, and how nicely the table was set every day, like at a five-star hotel. Aside from the rust, we really enjoyed the villa's size and calm. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a beach house.

The house was spotless and modern, and we loved our time in this beautiful villa. The staff were incredibly kind, and the food was amazing. You can take walks along the beach and see the turtle sanctuary next door.

Our holiday at the green turtle villa, managed by The Serendipity collection, was a huge disappointment. We didn't get the service we paid for, and I wouldn't recommend it. It felt badly managed from start to finish. Even before we arrived, the manager, Palitha(P), said he couldn't prepare lunch for our 2pm arrival because guests leaving at noon needed lunch. We agreed, but over the next three days there were many more refusals. We arrived on 4 February at 12:30pm, a little before the usual 2pm check-in. Before we'd even parked, the manager rudely asked why we were early, then complained about it to the reservation team by phone within earshot. We unloaded our own bags. We told him we didn't mind waiting while the rooms were prepared, and stayed in the garden until the villa was ready. The villa needed maintenance, with ageing fittings, rusted lights and a dirty sofa. The website photos were misleading. The TV room was being used for storage, with unfinished paintings left there; there were no children's channels, and screen sharing from a phone didn't work. Despite the huge garden, there was no sports entertainment for guests. Hot water sometimes failed in the showers. In one room, the fan made such a terrible noise that it was impossible to sleep, and that room's AC also had a problem. The bedroom blinds were see-through from outside, so privacy hadn't been considered. It felt as though the villa had opened to guests without attention to their comfort. We asked for mattresses for the children, but they came without pillows. No drinking water was placed in the rooms, and even after we asked the staff to bring some, it still wasn't done. Requests were met with hesitation, and I don't think the staff had hospitality training or knew how to treat guests. On the first day, we asked for hoppers. We were told the in-house chef couldn't make them and that a woman would be brought in for an extra charge. They were the worst hoppers I've tasted in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan food the next day and the barbecue were very tasty, one of the few bright spots. We've stayed in many villas, but this was the first time we'd been required to pay in full before even entering. It felt like a trap, with no way out despite the awful service, the worst we've experienced. With care for the ageing fittings, proper maintenance and a hospitality-trained team, the villa could be beautiful, especially with its huge, lush garden. We got no value for our money.