Blue Whale Nilaveli

The staff are absolutely lovely, and the price is decent. Breakfast was a nice Sri Lankan meal, though we ate elsewhere for our other meals. WiFi was pretty ok. The rooms and linen were clean, but our ground-floor bathroom got a waft of sewerage whenever water went through a pipe, whether we washed our hands, showered, or flushed the toilet. We had cold showers the whole time, with no hot water. The hotel is within walking distance of the beach, about 400m away, so it isn’t right on the beach.

The owner was friendly and helpful, and our room was nice and clean. Breakfast was good, and the accommodation’s location and overall quality are excellent. We booked two nights, but there was no housekeeping while we were there. WiFi worked, though the signal wasn’t strong. There was nowhere in the room to dry clothes, which made it feel a bit unfinished. The downstairs restaurant had little atmosphere, with sticky, dirty tables. The public restroom was really dirty, and there was nothing to dry your hands with.

The rooms were cozy and very hygienic, with air conditioning and a hot shower. The staff treated us kindly and were very helpful. We had some great nights here and received great hospitality. I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a good hotel nearby at a good price.

We stayed here for New Year’s, and the family running the place did their absolute best to make us feel welcome and ensure we had everything we needed. There are little huts to stay in, close to the beach, and it’s easy to get to pidgeon Island. The bedroom had air conditioning and good beds.