Neptune Eco Villas

The room itself was comfortable, clean, and spacious, with a small kitchen, though it could use some bathroom maintenance. Each villa has two apartments, and from our ground-floor room we could sometimes hear the neighbors. The villas sit in a lovely, well-kept garden, but the pool water was cloudy and sandy. The staff’s attitude left me feeling scammed, which is why I gave one star. For seven days, our bill was supposed to be $589. I agreed to a 3% card fee and expected to pay about $607. After the amount was converted to LKR and charged, I checked my account and found I had paid around $700. I complained straight away because the exchange rate seemed “creative.” They told me the online rate was wrong because hotels in Sri Lanka use a different rate. Another employee repeated that explanation the next day. I stayed at seven different hotels in Sri Lanka during this trip, and at all of them the price was in USD. None used such an outrageous exchange rate. The owner casually said I should pay in USD cash next time. I believe this was a scam and feel my money was stolen. The website advertised “strong Wifi,” and we chose the place because we wanted to work there. In practice, the connection was weak, and the owner said it was only for checking email and small things. They eventually helped us buy a 4G rooter, which we paid extra for. I also found there was no gas tank for the kitchen stove. When I asked for one, I was told there'd be an extra charge. To me, booking a room with a kitchen and then paying separately for gas is unacceptable, like being charged for the water or electricity in a hotel room.

The rooms and location were good, and we found another place for half the price when we left. I stayed here with my family for a month in January, during our three months in Sri Lanka in 2023. The place itself was comfortable, but I had serious issues with the management, so my rating averages out to 3: rooms and location get a 5, management a 1. We asked for a family room with an extra bed for our child. At check-in, it turned out the free extra bed was a baby cot, suitable only for children around 2-3 years old. Our six-month-old slept with their mother, while our five-year-old was too big for the cot. A proper bed would cost $10 a day, or $300 for the month, so our older child ended up on a mattress on the floor. As the first month was ending, we considered extending our stay. The manager said the next month would cost 20% more and claimed someone else was ready to book at that price. We could keep the room only if we paid the increase. We packed and prepared to leave. The next day, just as we were about to go, they offered us the same price after all. It seemed so desperate I almost felt sorry for them. By then we'd found somewhere else and were happy to move. Be prepared for the management to try to get more money from you at every opportunity.

The rooms are fine and the property looks nice, though it's a little away from the main road. But I can't stand being lied to, so I'd avoid this place. We called ahead about a family room and tried to negotiate for a longer stay. On the phone, the price was $30, or 9,230 rupees. When I asked for the price in rupees, the woman said 13,000. We talked and agreed on 9,000 a day, and I told her we were on our way with two kids. After we arrived, they put an extra child bed in the room and demanded another $10 per night for it. Then we asked about Wi-Fi. They asked if we were working, and said they'd charge extra if we were.

We were really happy with our stay. Breakfast was freshly cooked each day and changed a little from one morning to the next. The staff were extremely helpful, and the pool was just right for an afternoon dip. The new villas are beautiful and thoughtfully designed, with quality rooms, great air conditioning, kitchen facilities, and a large, comfortable king bed.