Serene Park Hotel

The homestead has lovely views across the rice fields and surrounding area, though trees along the street block the lake view. It’s a picturesque place, and the facilities were quite good: there’s seating and a pool table on the middle level, more seating and a pool below, and a small balcony seating area upstairs for taking in the views. We stayed one night before a safari and didn’t eat there. Our room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and it was quiet overnight. Tea, coffee, and bottled water were provided, though there was no kettle or fridge. The shower heated up quickly, which was better than at other places on our trip. If you need total darkness to sleep, you might want a sleep mask, but it didn’t bother us. The people were helpful and friendly. Someone who spoke more English was available when we checked in. When we needed to check out earlier than planned, we used a translator into Sinhalese to avoid misunderstandings, and the staff then found the gentleman who spoke more English. We were fine with that. I was very happy with Serene Park Hotel and would recommend it to anyone needing a place before or after a Yala safari.

The staff were friendly and attentive, which was the one good part of the stay. The hotel itself is very run-down, and the online photos don’t reflect how it actually looks. Our balcony door wouldn’t shut properly, so insects and small animals could get in. The sink tap leaked, and only one of the three lamps worked. The frosted glass entrance door left the room partly visible from outside, and light came through at night, so it never got dark. It was noisy downstairs until late, even though many guests probably head out early for safaris. There was an unpleasant smell in the bathroom, and the pool looked unusable because of the water quality. There wasn’t a comfortable spot to relax or sunbathe either.

We arrived after a long journey on the night of October 26th, having booked a family room and a double bedroom. There were so many insects around reception that even filling in the check-in form was difficult. Upstairs, we found a snake near the front room and small insects everywhere. We cancelled right away and moved to another hotel. I strongly advise families against booking this place.

The safari and boat trip arranged by the hotel were memorable. We had a very friendly guide for the safari, and the lake boat ride was just opposite the hotel. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, and the washrooms were clean and in good condition. Before we arrived, the staff were responsive and helpful. They were welcoming during our stay too. The hotel matched its photos, with greenery around it and a peaceful feel despite being on the main road. We especially liked the gentle breeze near the rooms and pool. There were a couple of things that could be better. The air conditioning took a long time to make our room comfortable, and the pool seemed to have too much chlorine and didn’t look very clean. We still used it and had a good time. It’s a relaxing place with lovely service and good food. A few small fixes would make it even better.