Coming off a 16 day trip that included stays at a 5 star hotel in London, both Aman properties in Sri Lanka. and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. We have stayed previously at a similar price point in South Africa, the Netherlands, the Caribbean, and Canada. Everything considered, Amanwella rates, for us, as the best that we have stayed anywhere in the world. The important caveat is that you must have your expectations set properly — this is a mature hotel set in a tropical location. Expect heat, insects, spiders, and lizards. Some may even make their way into your room. A quick phone call to housekeeping will solve any such issue immediately, in our experience anyway. Accept this, and the hotel is likely to rate as the destination of a lifetime. For us, the staff are easily the greatest asset of the hotel, starting with the general manager of the resort, Sonam. Every day he checked in on us, usually at breakfast, but sometimes more often than that. He was easy to speak to and we felt he was genuine in every respect. We missed a connection in Dubai and arrived late in the evening (11pm); regardless, he was present at our arrival along with a full contingent of staff for welcoming! Janith, our Guest Assistant, while only 26, rated as leagues above anything else we experienced on this trip or anywhere else. He is, without doubt, a rising star for Aman. Every need was anticipated and every request acted on in a timely fashion. Janith has continued to message us on WhatsApp since our departure, checking in on the rest of trip, and we feel that we made a real friend in Sri Lanka. Dinusha, who we met at the main restaurant, well, his smile is simply contagious, and he came across as down to earth, friendly, and eager to do whatever is necessary to make our stay memorable. His memory for our preferences is impeccable, which is something we did not find elsewhere as often as we would have liked. Ruwon, often a driver for us, treated us with consideration and spoke candidly while behaving professionally at all times. Again, we feel that we made another friend here during this trip! The resort is beautiful, well maintained, and while we spent more time on activities than on the beach, I assure you this is a beach resort first and foremost and that the beach is world class. The vibe is laid back but there is no element of luxury missing. Of everything we did, the lagoon experience was our favourite activity. Highly recommended. Make time also for a private dinner at the beach club. You will not regret it. I see that that past reviewers have expressed concern about the cost of food. The solution for us was to book the Fort & Beach package which included half board, experiences, and transfer between resorts. Perfection, Amanwella. Book it and enjoy!
My original plan of a 1-night stay turned into 3 nights purely based on the property and the team. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, with clean linen and towels. The wooden floors are a nice look and feel. The air-conditioning works very well. An unbelievable amount of space for work / lounging. The room itself has a work desk which is perfect for remote work. The balcony is small but functional, and overlooks the majestic Tissa Lake. Spacious terraces on the 1st and 2nd levels as well as a rooftop with spectacular views of the surrounding fields and the lake. I got plenty of work done and attended web-based meetings in peace, against an amazing backdrop. At the end of the day it is the people that make a difference, and this is where Yasith and his team were exemplary. From his kind, attentive service to the care he displays to guests and the property (and of course by the way he treats Kalu, the adorable orphaned puppy), Yasith leads from the front. I noted among other things his meticulous bookkeeping skills, which is a rare find for any property. Suffice to say I have found my stay whenever I return to Tissa. What better place for a morning/evening stroll than the bank of Tissa lake. For any reasonable person willing to stay at a 3-star hotel and not expect 5-star amenities, Serene Park Hotel by Ark has all the right things in place. Full disclosure, I did not have any meals at the premises; as I am very familiar with Tissa I enjoy the many local options available nearby.
訪訪客Bed, room, shower, good ac, breakfast, balcony/terrace. Everything about the room is very good. It is new and in perfect condition. Even better are the hosts and their service. You get a great and daily changing breakfast, nice dinner if you like, and help to plan your activities in Tissa. The place might be a little out of the town, but that is not a bad thing! The town does not offer much. To get around, to town or to the next beach, you can rent a scooter there and directly behind the property is the Yoda lake. It is perfect for walks in the morning, or for sunset. The sun sets over the lake. It's very quiet and you can see a couple or nice animals there. The 2 times we went there, we saw Grey langur monkeys. Also you can see the buffalos around and in the lake, with just their heads looking out and many different kinds of birds.
訪訪客Nice rooms overlooking extensive rice paddies. The restaurant and pool were also located so as to overlook the same view. I think most visitors are coming to visit Yala Park. Available material indicated that there were nature hikes and a visit to a place where buffalo curd (yogurt) was produced. However upon inquiry, we were told that the buffalos were gone and that there were no hikes. It would probably be best to remove these suggestions from company material. However we did find a very nice hike through adjacent village back roads. The manager was very nice.
訪訪客Great ambience and staff were amazing, we liked the way how they treated us and they were very friendly. I would suggest everyone to visit this amazing place if you are planning to Yala. The only drawback is, it is but far from the park. You need to travel for 30minutes. But, the accommodation is extraordinary.
訪訪客Fantastic Yala Safari and great little hotel! We had a great time staying here - and went on a great Jeep safari with Pasanna organised through the hotel. The whole family (2 teenage boys) were totally enthralled by the safari and would totally recommend Pasanna! We went on the full day safari (starting at 430am … totally worth the early start to be the first in the park!!) - which allowed a full day of immersion and a slightly more relaxed pace. (The half day safaris seemed much less relaxed…). Pasanna the driver/ guide has over 13 years experience in the park, had great 4wd drive skills, clearly knew all of the possible routes in the park - and was passionate about showing us all that was possible in the park! He was excellent at spotting hard to see animals! Note that all jeeps have to have 12-2 as rest time in the park …. We easily passed it having lunch and reading books- when the jeeps are not allowed to drive around) . We managed to see a great selection of animals including 2 leopards (which I hear is very rare), multiple families of elephants with their babies which we were able to watch for an extended period of time, water buffalo, deer, samba deer, mongoose, jackals, monkeys, peacocks, lots of amazing birds, crocodiles, monitors and bats. It truly felt like the jungle book. We got home tired, but truly satisfied with the experience! Definitely felt like it was value for money.