Ashford Hotel

I'd love to visit again if the service issues are addressed. While local guests seem very pleased, as an international guest who doesn't understand the local language, I found communication and service frustrating. The location is good, the rooms were clean and had modern amenities, including a television and hot water kettle. The food was good, and they grow their own vegetables. English communication was a serious problem at both the front desk and restaurant. When I said the omelette was salty and asked for another, they understood it as a request for more salt. My request for tea was taken as coffee, and when I asked to have the bill ready, I got a blank stare. We also had to remind them three times about our room service dinner. Two hours later, senior staff came to apologize because the order had never been taken, and by then we had to change it as it was too late. The hotel seemed to have many trainees and barely one senior person supervising them. I don't know if that was because it was the off season or if it's normal. When a trainee didn't understand, they would nod and then forget the request instead of checking with a senior. We had to repeat ourselves and get upset before a senior came to apologize. Housekeeping also kept adding soaps and shampoos even when we already had them. The paper packaging got wet in the bathroom and couldn't be reused. We ended up with at least 12 bottles of shampoo, shower gel, and soap wasted there. The hotel needs to work on these things to better meet international guests' needs.

Dinner was good, with plenty of choices for Indians, but breakfast had limited options. The dosa and idli were good; the other food wasn't. The rooms smelled bad and weren't good, with no balcony or view. Basic things like a dental kit, shower cap, hair dryer, or heater for cold weather weren't provided, and those items cost extra. Hot water took 5-10 minutes to come through. I wouldn't recommend staying here for more than a day.

Being within walking distance of Seeta Amman Temple and close to Nuwara Eliya's main sights made Ashford Hotel a convenient base, while its peaceful setting kept us away from the city chaos. We stayed in December with Karuya Bhramantea Tours Nashik, just after the heavy rain disaster in SriLanka. The moment we arrived, the friendly reception staff, Ms.Bhagya & Ms.sandaiya, welcomed us with a drink, and check-in was very quick. The smiling reception was love at first sight. The hotel felt like a hill station, calm and pleasant. Carpets on every floor added a luxurious touch, and our spacious, clean, well-kept room had comfortable bedding and reliable hot water, which mattered in the cold. Cleanliness was on point. The staff at every level were polite, helpful, and ready to assist with room service, food requests, or basic guidance. They handled things smoothly and with a smile. The dining area was big and cozy, and the food was tasty, homely, and satisfying after sightseeing without being overcomplicated. Ashford offered comfort, good service, and value for money. It's a simple, clean, dependable place with peaceful vibes and no stress.

The property is new, with a decent viewpoint, and the staff and ambience were amazing. The food was okay for vegetarian choices, though Indian vegetarians might not like it. One downside was being asked to pay 330LKR for an extra 500ml water bottle, nearly five times its 70 lkr MRP. After I complained to the man at reception about this, he didn't charge us. All in all, it was a great experience.