Sole Luna Resort & Spa

Breakfast was lovely, with loads of really good food, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. The pool was clean, peaceful, and great to use, though it was a shame there were no drinks or bar service nearby. We had no hot water for two days. I told reception, but it wasn't fixed; it was warm enough, so the water felt refreshing, but it was annoying. The hotel sits right on the beach, a bit away from town if you want somewhere livelier. Rooms were comfortable, though dated and perhaps a little overpriced.

The whole stay was a nightmare, and the low point of an otherwise incredible Sri Lanka trip for my wife and me. In the first room, the bin was dirty and had no liner, an empty drink bottle was on the floor, and after a brief trip to the beach we found two cockroaches in the bathroom. There was no room phone, and no lift despite this supposedly being a 4-star hotel, so I had to go downstairs to report it. The counter staff were rude and dismissive. At first they told my wife all the rooms were booked and we couldn't switch. When I insisted on speaking to a manager, the tone changed and they offered us a “better” room. That one still had an unlined bin and a sink with no stopper. When I asked, I was told, “Not possible.” We had to haul our own luggage to the other room while two staff members watched from outside and offered no help. They seemed annoyed about having to “prepare” another room, though with those cleanliness standards, I'm not sure what that meant. What stuck with me most was the apathy: no apology, concern, or accountability, just indifference. We'd had warm, attentive service everywhere else in Sri Lanka. Avoid Sole Luna.

The local beach is right there, and the nearby restaurant is very close, but that's about it for the location. Tangalle is a 25 minute walk, so we ended up eating at that beach restaurant each night. The hotel bar didn't seem to be operating. It was full of empty bottles, so we didn't ask. Rooms are clean and adequate, with a proper bathroom and shower, thankfully not a wet room. Staff are always around and the pool is a nice extra. Noise was a problem for us, from guests' kids screaming at random hours and from building work nearby. We heard everything and needed earplugs. The large windows show the view but have no blackout curtains, so sunrise makes the room incredibly bright. The AC isn't great either, and it gets quite warm, though still not as hot as outside.

We stayed six nights and found the area peaceful, with incredible ocean views and sunsets from our large room. It had the basics we needed, including a fridge and toiletries. Staff were warm and always ready to help. They brought water, quickly sorted a power issue with their generator, and cleaned the room when we asked. The pool was clean and lovely for a swim. We really appreciated everyone's kindness and would highly recommend staying here.