Fairy Hostel

The hostel’s a quaint little place, just a few minutes’ walk from the hospital junction in Nuwara Eliya. You can walk to Pedro tea factory and Lovers leap waterfall from there too. The host was lovely, and they serve a scrumptious breakfast.

I booked one night and ended up extending because I liked the location, ambience, and the owner’s care. Ajith and his family look after you like their own guest, so it feels like family here. The cottage has a nice outdoor view and gardens where you can spend time, chill, and have a drink outside. Breakfast is good, the beds are comfortable, and you can rent a bicycle for 300LKR. Best hostel in Sri Lanka, especially for 6$.

The photos on Google are outdated, and the place doesn’t have the calm environment we were promised. There were garage noises, dogs barking, children screaming, bicycle racing sounds, and the smell of vehicle paint, grease, and oils. We were shocked by how different it was from what we’d been told during the discussion. They said they’d provide almost all facilities and seemed very genuine, but once we arrived, it didn’t feel that way at all. Our stay was terrible, and they still haven’t returned our money. We only found out what the owners were really like after staying there. The owner’s name is Ryen, though he sometimes uses Ajith as well. They said money had been borrowed for renovations, but our room wasn’t renovated. It was unpainted, and the hot water shower was broken. It took them more than a week to fix it. We were also without electricity for two nights because, despite collecting money for utility bills, they didn’t pay them on time. Sometimes there was no water either, so we had to buy it from shops. They seemed focused on collecting rent and key money without providing the related service. Even after many chances, they didn’t pay us back, just made a thousand excuses and told lies. Parking was another problem. They claimed there was enough space and would add more, but that wasn’t going to happen. When we did get a spot, their vehicles being parked or moved disturbed us from early morning until midnight. If we’d seen these reviews earlier, we wouldn’t have gone. We’d have rejected the property without even looking at it. Don’t fall into their trap. The relevant bodies should regulate places like this.

The water wasn’t always available, which added to an already uncomfortable stay. I came away feeling the place collected key money and then made the living conditions so difficult that guests would leave and find somewhere else. Based on my experience, I’d advise against staying here. What was online didn’t match the property I found. The photos looked like they were from years ago, when the place may have been in better shape. It now looked like a ramshackle house. The room I’d booked from the pictures wasn’t available. Instead I was given a much smaller, moldy room, which staff called a temporary arrangement. It seemed deliberate to me. The spacious room in the photos was occupied by the owner’s family, so it was clear I wouldn’t have access to it. This felt like a scam, far from what had been advertised. I’m sharing this because of the poor conditions and practices I experienced. There are better options for a pleasant stay, so save yourself the trouble and avoid this place.