Villa Tissa Beach Resort

We’ve already returned three times, which says a lot. It’s peaceful, with roomy, comfortable rooms right beside the ocean. The waves are all you hear at night, and in the morning you’re just steps from a swim. Such a lovely find. Thanks so much!

The beach is easy to reach through the resort’s back gate, where you can find a private little spot. There’s also a pool area for a swim or to sit beside, plus a surf break and sunset point behind the villa. The setting is beautiful, and the rooms have enough space for two. When we visited in the last week of April, though, the rooms seemed poorly cleaned and maintained. We found cockroaches and leech-like things in the bed and around the rooms. The bathrooms had no jet spray, shower head, or towel holder. The pool also needed better upkeep, and its water pressure felt too strong for its size and depth.

The setting is lovely, and the place has a lot of potential. The rooms and garden were okay, but coconuts and branches fell, which made us feel unsafe. A few upgrades could make a real difference. The staff made our stay awful. They were rude, and we saw them sleeping on the restaurant floor. They washed their own clothes and left them to dry on the floor where guests walked, so we had to step around shirts and underwear. At checkout, they wouldn’t take Visa, so I had to pay cash and left feeling like I’d been tricked. We booked despite the poor reviews and now understand them. Don’t expect much if you go.

We were nervous after reading the bad reviews, but decided to give it a chance and ended up staying for three weeks. The staff were friendly, the rooms clean and spacious, and the bed comfortable. You get a hotel right by a beautiful tropical beach for a very fair price. Back home, you’d never find the same for that money in a similar location. Coconut beach is lovely, especially for couples and younger people. We wouldn’t recommend it as much for families with small children, since the rocks make swimming difficult. There are good local restaurants within walking distance, and it’s a perfect place for intermediate and advanced surfers. I went out twice a day. This isn’t a five-star hotel. Breakfast was good but nothing amazing: black coffee, fresh fruit, and an omelette. You have to ask for room cleaning and fresh towels. We asked every three days and the service was great. It’s a three-star place in Sri Lanka at a fair rate, so keep your expectations realistic. We’d definitely recommend it for good value.