Welcombe Hotel

The place is spacious and nicely situated, with a view over Trinco lagoon. The chef and other staff were really good, but the manager needs to communicate better. He suddenly told the driver to go for an airport pickup without giving us advance notice, so I'd arrange your own transport instead of relying on the manager's options. There are both good rooms and cheaper ones for bigger groups. But a lower price shouldn't mean poor hygiene. Our rooms weren't cleaned at all, even after we asked the manager.

The manager accepted that the hotel had problems, but said they weren't our concern because we hadn't been told about them before booking. We had paid a 50,000 LKR advance and asked for 50% back, explaining that we were leaving, but he refused and didn't respond politely. We'd raised our complaints very politely in the first place. I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone. It felt like an abandoned ship, and seeing no one else around that period left us wondering what was going on. :D There were weeds and wreckage on the internal roads, and the parking by the rooms felt like an off-road track. Nothing was clean: our rooms hadn't been cleaned despite booking three weeks ahead, the bathrooms were dirty, metal fixtures were corroded, and the commode was unpleasant. There were insects under the tea cups in the room. The pool was the biggest problem. Water and cleaning chemicals had been added only a few hours before we arrived, though I understand those chemicals should be added 48 hours before pool use. There was also lots of moss on the pool tiles. The place was very expensive and not worth the money.

The staff are very friendly, though their English isn't very good and some may not speak it at all. The food is nice, and the pool is pretty average. The garden and restaurant room are pleasant, with a view of the city and river, and the garden is nicely maintained, which is rare in this city. Rooms are okay and clean, though a little dated. The town is a few kilometers away, so you'll need a tuk tuk, which staff can arrange.

I hope the management will improve some of the hotel's facilities. Several basic amenities were missing during my stay, and guests should get service that matches the rates they're paying.