Laya Safari

The kids especially loved the wild elephant that came onto the resort grounds, an unforgettable highlight for our group. The watermelon welcome drink was refreshing after our long trip from the previous location. We’d strongly recommend Laya Safari Resort for large families and nature lovers. We’d just checked out after a fantastic one-night stay with 31 people, including children. Despite the cold weather, everyone had a wonderful time. The staff were exemplary, and we were especially impressed by the facilities and spa treatments.

The hotel is in a wonderful beachfront spot, and the swimming pool looked new and well maintained, although we didn’t use it. The menu was limited, but the food we tried was tasty and nicely presented. Still, the stay didn’t feel worth the money. Since my October 2021 visit, the hotel seems to have declined. The bathrooms smelled unpleasant, the hot water shower unit was loose and kept turning, and the balcony and shower areas lacked proper lighting. Reception was the biggest disappointment. The middle-aged woman at the front desk, who seemed to be leading the front office, handled check-in poorly and gave the impression that the hotel was providing free services rather than a paid stay. It made a very negative first impression. I was particularly surprised by that level of management at a hotel operated by the Sri Lankan Army, where I would normally expect higher standards of discipline and service.

The beach view was stunning and made our honeymoon stay at Laya Safari feel special. The hotel had decorated the room beautifully and welcomed us warmly. The room service staff were friendly, attentive, and supportive the whole time, and the rooms and surroundings were clean and well maintained. We loved the place and hope to return for another vacation.

The location is beautiful, the views are great, and the staff are really nice and friendly. The food was good too, though there wasn’t much variety. But the hotel badly needs renovation. The room windows were very dirty, as were the old shower head and bidet. The towels were thin and rough, like sandpaper. This could be an amazing hotel if they kept up with the repairs.