Reef Garden Polhena

This is a spacious, popular destination and one of Polhena, Matara’s oldest hotels. The road separates it from the beach, but there’s access to Polhena beach. It has rooms and two pools, including a baby pool. Non-residents can use the pool for a fee, usually LKR 600. Cleanliness may count against the place, and the prime location feels underused. With proper design and maintenance, it could be a real competitor along the southern coast. If you visit Polhena beach, go with someone who knows the area, since unfair prices can make the experience rough.

The junior staff were generous, helpful, and hospitable throughout our stay, treating guests kindly even when everything was going wrong. Meanwhile, manager Kasun hid and left them to face guests without finding a solution or responding to questions. I travelled here personally from 07 Sep to 8 September, and it was a disaster. When we arrived, two A/C units had been removed from rooms, so we were put in different rooms from the ones we had booked by phone, where we’d specified room numbers because the beds in the other rooms weren’t good. At 11.45 on September 8, while I was showering, the whole hotel ran out of water for about an hour. Kasun gave silly excuses and behaved unprofessionally. The hotel was fully booked for those days, but he wasn’t ready to handle that many people. Around 2 p.m. the water ran out again, this time for good. They offered to refund us and move us to another hotel they’d arranged. The transfer was draining and a mess, especially since it was unplanned and caused by poor management. The pool tiles were broken, and some guests were injured. This place is poorly maintained and not worth the money. I’d advise nobody to stay here unless they want a vacation spent worrying whether the water will last through a shower once they step into the bathroom 😁.

Thanks for a wonderful vacation. The owner was very kind, and the service was really good. Whenever we asked for something, the guys helped us. The nearby beach is the best, and the cafes next to the hotel are really good too. There’s no laundry, which was the only drawback, but we managed. Lots of Russians stay here 👍🏻

We stayed at Reef Garden for seven nights and enjoyed every minute. Getting to the ocean took just 150 steps, which I counted, and Polhena Beach really is one of the country’s best, as locals told us. The water is usually calm, with lots of tropical fish not far from shore for snorkeling. Sri Lankan beaches are public, and the many locals, especially at weekends, add to the atmosphere. The staff were friendly and helpful, the pools stayed clean, and we got two bottles of water each day. Our room was simple but spacious, with a huge bed and plenty of places to put our things. Breakfast was simple and very filling, keeping us going well into the day. For lunch and dinner, owner Ramal gives guests 20% off food and drinks at the hotel, and there are plenty of other places to eat just a few steps away. Tuk-tuks are nearby, and a public bus stop is a 10-minute walk away. We took the bus to Dondra, Mirissa, and Galle. Supermarket Arpico is near the bus stop. Kerala Kale bird sanctuary, a public space with tropical birds, monkeys, and crocodiles, is within 6 km. With the location and great service, I honestly think Reef Garden is one of the most conveniently located hotels on the Indian Ocean and one of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka. Highly recommend!