Nuga Eden Tangalle

The hot water was the big problem. At best, we got tepid water for about a quarter of our stay, and only after running it for over 20 minutes. The pressure was poor too. When we checked in, there was no water at all; that was eventually fixed, but then the hot water issue remained. Other reviews suggest this happens often. We raised it with the staff, who were lovely and understanding, but nothing changed. It seems the owner may not want to properly fix or replace the heater. This was our most expensive hotel in Sri Lanka, yet cheaper places managed this basic need. If a decent shower matters to you, stay somewhere else. There were good things here. The hotel is in a beautiful beach setting, and our bed was comfy with a spectacular view over the beach. The pool faces another bay and was nice for a swim, as it was more sheltered from the waves. RedBeach, the beach bar, made nice cocktails. Tip: Salt and Chillies, a family-run restaurant about 500m away, is good for an authentic Sri Lankan meal.

We spent just one night here. It’s right by the quiet beach, away from the village bustle. The staff were all very kind, and the service was amazing. The rooms are lovely, and the pool is big and clean. There’s also a 10% discount at the beach bar in front of the hotel, on Silent Beach.

This was the priciest hotel we stayed at in Sri Lanka, but also our worst experience. We booked a deluxe room and had no hot water on the first day, then no water at all on the second. Since we couldn’t get water, we took a small bottle from the minibar and were charged for it. When we explained, a staff member asked if we couldn’t afford to pay for water. That was completely inappropriate. Breakfast was disappointing too. We came half an hour before closing, but the buffet looked untidy and items weren’t replenished. Staff made it obvious they were waiting for us to finish so they could close. They offered to carry my husband’s bags but not mine. Another time, someone knocked and came into our room without waiting. Even though I opened the door, they spoke directly to my husband instead of me. The service and professionalism didn’t match the price, and the stay was very disappointing.

We stayed in a sweet air-conditioned wooden house. The spacious residence also has rooms, garden woodhouses, and a large pool facing the ocean. Cross the road and you can walk down to beaches and local restaurants. The village entrance is about a 15-minute walk away, or a few minutes by one of the many tok tok passing by. The whole hotel team helped us with everything. Asad and Lakmal handled daily needs, and Hotesse gave us information. When we needed a doctor, even the owner drove us there. Thank you very much.