It was already our 5th day in Sri Lanka. Before that, we had already visited two hotels and managed to make sure that the island is not only tasty and welcoming, but also the service is at an excellent level. And here it is. . . Reef Villa & SPA sounds like it! Yes, and everywhere it says 5 stars, the price tag is appropriate.
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It was already our 5th day in Sri Lanka. Before that, we had already visited two hotels and managed to make sure that the island is not only tasty and welcoming, but also the service is at an excellent level.
And here it is. . . Reef Villa & SPA sounds like it! Yes, and everywhere it says 5 stars, the price tag is appropriate.
At first glance, the hotel looked amazing, the interior and decor were striking and everything was interesting to look at, well, the fish in the makeshift river along the perimeter of the building also brought their own flavor. But that's all. . .
Someone may decide that we are spoiled, but read to the end and you will understand that for the same money you will receive not only much better service, but also a decent attitude not only towards you personally, but you will not listen to the attitude towards Russians in in general. Yes, just like this.
We were met by a very friendly manager, showed us everything, told us, showed us to the room and, which seemed strange, offered us to make a choice of dishes an hour before visiting the restaurant for dinner, and also to say in advance that we would be for breakfast. Strange, but ok, then we understood why.
The room is quite spacious, with many interesting details. A spacious bathroom with a shower and a bathtub, on which there is a "device" with a holder for a candle and a glass of champagne, and even a glass (unfortunately one and empty), there is no candle itself, but it still looks cool. But why is it so stuffy in the bathroom? Hmm. . . because ventilation is a decorated window to the street, just a window without glass, just an opening. . . probably not only stuffy, but insects fly in the evening, we thought (and were not mistaken). Oh, and here is a bathrobe. . . one. . . for two, and here are slippers, two pairs, but both are size 38. . . so other details began. . .
Yeah, it's time for dinner, we're coming, everything's nice. We ordered food in advance. I don’t remember exactly what, but two different chicken dishes. They bring the bar menu, take two glasses of different red wine. They bring it chilled, so that the glasses are fogged up. Please bring a normal temperature. Bring. Damn - I've never drunk anything like that, it's understandable why they bring it cold, it's harder to understand that for $ 10 / glass they brought you wine for $ 2 per liter. I'm taking a beer. They bring food, damn it, two different dishes... both have chicken skewers on skewers, covered with different sauces on top. Really? They are also cold, including rice! Damn, they don't cook it themselves, it's food delivery! And these dishes are about $15 each, which is really expensive for Sri Lanka.
OK. Time to sleep. Air conditioning in the room is great. We go to bed. Oh, where's the blanket?? ? No. . . We are looking for a phone reception. The front desk is no longer open. He, it turns out, only until 10 pm. What a twist, in a five-star boutique hotel! Okay, I'm going down. The light in the hall is off, there is no one in the hall. The doors to the street are closed! Wow! I pull one, the other, some give in, I go out, no one... I see figures in a restaurant, I go there. People! I ask for a blanket, they say, but we do not give, only on request. I say it is necessary. They say that through the reception. I say it doesn't work. But the people they are friendly, decide to help. Hooray! I return to the room. Knock. I open. A kind restaurant employee brought a blanket crumpled in a ball, literally. Where's the duvet cover? He's crumpled inside the blanket! And it doesn't look fresh either. We decide that we will definitely leave, despite the prepayment. Sat wrote a review. We turn off the air conditioner (it’s cold with it), we sleep without a blanket.
In the morning we have breakfast, breakfast - well, norms, I will not slander.
The manager who met us approaches, says that he saw the review, begs to be deleted. I explained that I would not, because this is not a 5 * hotel service, for the money of a 5 * hotel. He offers us a big breakfast so we take down the review. . . Seriously? I explain that we have decided to move to another hotel and the best thing you can do is to return the money for the second night. The manager promises to talk to the owner.
We collect things, go downstairs, call a taxi. The manager approaches, says that the owner refused to return the money. OK. To spoil your vacation further - no desire, maybe they will buy a bathrobe or slippers for new guests with our money. But then... the owner appears, or rather the owner of the hotel and explained everything. A European-looking lady began a dialogue with a hidden arrival - "are you at the airport? ", she asks, being aware of our decision to move, thus hinting that we arranged it all because we were flying away, and that is why we want to return the money. We explain that no, we did not like it, we decided to move. The lady, it turns out, read our review and stated that they are not a 5 * hotel, so why the hell did we expect service like in a 5 * hotel? (Let me remind you that in all booking services they give themselves exactly 5 * and the cost is the same as in 5 * hotels in Sri Lanka). Well, not 5 *, but a blanket that you don’t give. To which we were arrogantly told that this is not some kind of Russia for you... What? And here is this? What is the joy of visiting our country at all? There was no desire to talk with her further, and the taxi was already approaching... not without sarcasm, he told her that it was nice to meet her and her appearance explains a lot, and we drove off.
Just 10 km from this mountain of a boutique hotel, they found a chain, but in fact a 5 * hotel, for the same money. Believe me, the quality of everything was just an order of magnitude higher, incomparably higher. I will not write the name, so that no one regards it as an advertisement. But if you look on the map a little to the south, in a neighboring village, then I think you will find it. We have not regretted the move.
In general, do not repeat our mistakes. Don't believe big names. Beware the haughty Europeans in Sri Lanka. Have a great holiday!
And here it is. . . Reef Villa & SPA sounds like it! Yes, and everywhere it says 5 stars, the price tag is appropriate.
At first glance, the hotel looked amazing, the interior and decor were striking and everything was interesting to look at, well, the fish in the makeshift river along the perimeter of the building also brought their own flavor. But that's all. . .
Someone may decide that we are spoiled, but read to the end and you will understand that for the same money you will receive not only much better service, but also a decent attitude not only towards you personally, but you will not listen to the attitude towards Russians in in general. Yes, just like this.
We were met by a very friendly manager, showed us everything, told us, showed us to the room and, which seemed strange, offered us to make a choice of dishes an hour before visiting the restaurant for dinner, and also to say in advance that we would be for breakfast. Strange, but ok, then we understood why.
The room is quite spacious, with many interesting details. A spacious bathroom with a shower and a bathtub, on which there is a "device" with a holder for a candle and a glass of champagne, and even a glass (unfortunately one and empty), there is no candle itself, but it still looks cool. But why is it so stuffy in the bathroom? Hmm. . . because ventilation is a decorated window to the street, just a window without glass, just an opening. . . probably not only stuffy, but insects fly in the evening, we thought (and were not mistaken). Oh, and here is a bathrobe. . . one. . . for two, and here are slippers, two pairs, but both are size 38. . . so other details began. . .
Yeah, it's time for dinner, we're coming, everything's nice. We ordered food in advance. I don’t remember exactly what, but two different chicken dishes. They bring the bar menu, take two glasses of different red wine. They bring it chilled, so that the glasses are fogged up. Please bring a normal temperature. Bring. Damn - I've never drunk anything like that, it's understandable why they bring it cold, it's harder to understand that for $ 10 / glass they brought you wine for $ 2 per liter. I'm taking a beer. They bring food, damn it, two different dishes... both have chicken skewers on skewers, covered with different sauces on top. Really? They are also cold, including rice! Damn, they don't cook it themselves, it's food delivery! And these dishes are about $15 each, which is really expensive for Sri Lanka.
OK. Time to sleep. Air conditioning in the room is great. We go to bed. Oh, where's the blanket?? ? No. . . We are looking for a phone reception. The front desk is no longer open. He, it turns out, only until 10 pm. What a twist, in a five-star boutique hotel! Okay, I'm going down. The light in the hall is off, there is no one in the hall. The doors to the street are closed! Wow! I pull one, the other, some give in, I go out, no one... I see figures in a restaurant, I go there. People! I ask for a blanket, they say, but we do not give, only on request. I say it is necessary. They say that through the reception. I say it doesn't work. But the people they are friendly, decide to help. Hooray! I return to the room. Knock. I open. A kind restaurant employee brought a blanket crumpled in a ball, literally. Where's the duvet cover? He's crumpled inside the blanket! And it doesn't look fresh either. We decide that we will definitely leave, despite the prepayment. Sat wrote a review. We turn off the air conditioner (it’s cold with it), we sleep without a blanket.
In the morning we have breakfast, breakfast - well, norms, I will not slander.
The manager who met us approaches, says that he saw the review, begs to be deleted. I explained that I would not, because this is not a 5 * hotel service, for the money of a 5 * hotel. He offers us a big breakfast so we take down the review. . . Seriously? I explain that we have decided to move to another hotel and the best thing you can do is to return the money for the second night. The manager promises to talk to the owner.
We collect things, go downstairs, call a taxi. The manager approaches, says that the owner refused to return the money. OK. To spoil your vacation further - no desire, maybe they will buy a bathrobe or slippers for new guests with our money. But then... the owner appears, or rather the owner of the hotel and explained everything. A European-looking lady began a dialogue with a hidden arrival - "are you at the airport? ", she asks, being aware of our decision to move, thus hinting that we arranged it all because we were flying away, and that is why we want to return the money. We explain that no, we did not like it, we decided to move. The lady, it turns out, read our review and stated that they are not a 5 * hotel, so why the hell did we expect service like in a 5 * hotel? (Let me remind you that in all booking services they give themselves exactly 5 * and the cost is the same as in 5 * hotels in Sri Lanka). Well, not 5 *, but a blanket that you don’t give. To which we were arrogantly told that this is not some kind of Russia for you... What? And here is this? What is the joy of visiting our country at all? There was no desire to talk with her further, and the taxi was already approaching... not without sarcasm, he told her that it was nice to meet her and her appearance explains a lot, and we drove off.
Just 10 km from this mountain of a boutique hotel, they found a chain, but in fact a 5 * hotel, for the same money. Believe me, the quality of everything was just an order of magnitude higher, incomparably higher. I will not write the name, so that no one regards it as an advertisement. But if you look on the map a little to the south, in a neighboring village, then I think you will find it. We have not regretted the move.
In general, do not repeat our mistakes. Don't believe big names. Beware the haughty Europeans in Sri Lanka. Have a great holiday!
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