KADUPUL By Serenity

For the price, this is a really nice property. We had a huge corner room and liked the outdoor showers. The AC was powerful enough to make the room cold, and the minibar prices were fairly cheap. The pool was clean and nice, though it rarely gets sun. I’d recommend staying here.

Kadupul by Serenity was great value. We had a clean, spacious room with a balcony overlooking the pool, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The pool was a highlight. It’s a central but quiet spot, with the beach just five minutes away. A lovely choice for a relaxing break in Negombo.

Everything you need is within walking distance in Negombo: supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, spas, shops and the beach. CMB airport is a short ride away, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The rooms are spacious, with open-air bathrooms. The small pool area is nice, though unfortunately it wasn’t very clean. All in all, just right for a night.

The mosquitoes made the room miserable, and the open bathroom area seemed to be part of the problem. The plants outside were dying or already dead, and the room had lizards too. The AC didn’t work, and the bathroom door was completely missing its lock and hinge. If you stay, take plenty of precautions and mosquito repellent. The room nearest the pool, possibly 104 or 102, is where you can check these problems for yourself. We only spent about eight hours there, thankfully, but it still put a damper on the end of our trip. We’d had lovely stays in the south, Colombo, and Galle, then this was our final stop in SL. We’d already paid, hoped it would be nice, and couldn’t get a refund. Agoda charged a hefty sum for very little, so I’ll raise a case with them. We won’t be coming back, and I strongly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. The photos are old and the place looks nothing like them now. Staff were extremely unhelpful with our luggage at check-in and check-out. The receptionist just watched while we carried our bags to the cab, then checked the room for alcohol and gave us a thumbs-up as we loaded the trunk. It seemed like the only thing they cared about was whether we bought or took booze from the mini fridge. They should either act on this feedback or leave the place in disrepair.