Unawatuna Apartments

We especially enjoyed the terrace and the home-cooked dinner. Our room was comfortable and clean, with good AC, and the place felt peaceful, set back one road from the busy beach street among leafy trees and birds. The hosts were friendly and helpful. We loved staying here.

I slept better here than I have in a long time. For the money, we thought it was well worth it, and the place was quiet and nicely presented. Still, having to pay for both nights as soon as we arrived made us feel mistrusted. I can imagine the owner may have had guests leave without paying before, and the owner could come across as a bit too helpful.

I left without a refund of my $8.50. The owner said, “I’m not buying the place so I could just spend the night and leave tomorrow.” They also wanted payment as soon as I arrived, something I hadn’t encountered at other accommodations. I don’t recommend staying here. I understand the bad reviews now, and although I didn’t want to write one at first, this really wasn’t okay. The terrace was lovely, and the hosts seemed welcoming at first. But when I went to shower and cleaned dead insects and other dirt off the bathroom floor, I found insects in the room I was using too. The fan in the other room didn’t work. The host offered to show me a different room, but by then I was disgusted and just wanted to leave. Air conditioning wasn’t an option either. When I asked, the host said there was a fan and it was “not that hot,” even though it was 31°C. I don’t agree with “you get what you paid for.” I’ve stayed in other well-located places in Sri Lanka for the same price, and they were immaculate. I hope this review motivates them to improve the conditions.

The bathroom was terrible, and the rooms were in very bad shape. There wasn’t a proper step into the room, just stones put there to step on. On arrival, the view was of washing machines and dirty clothes. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.