Very quiet. Staff were lovely. They couldn’t do enough to help you. It was lovely to have a view over my own pool & a view over the river & the boat trip on the river was very interesting. Nice choice of food.

Disappointed that there was no floating spa. Apparently it was damaged due to rising levels in the river this year, but they are hoping to build another one at the front of the hotel by next year.

A unique Villa style hotel with only 5 villas of different sizes with private pools. We stayed in Elephant Villa which stands alone with river frontage. All the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful without being intrusive. We had breakfast included which consisted of juice, fresh fruit, tea/coffee and a choice of hot dishes. Lunch and dinner is also available. We had one lunch served on our pool deck and ate twice in the restaurant for dinner. Food is plentiful and tasty. Wine and local beer available. It should be noted that prices are in US$ and that 10% service charge is added to all items including activities, but this is totally transparent. We settled on Mastercard in LKR. We took the late afternoon river safari with excellent guide, had a cycle around the local area on the hotel bikes. We hotel have four Tuk Tuk drivers on call that operate on hotel agreed prices. We had one to Negombo strip for meal one evening and another to Negombo Fish Market which is an experience not to be missed. Elephant Villa had every amenity including a fish pedicure!

Can’t think of anything!

nicely located, 30min from the airport so good to stay there on day of arrival or the night before leaving. in proximity to the river in a quiet neighborhood! staff is friendly and helpful and food is delicious! rooms are nicely decorated especially the elephant room and peacock room!

prices are a excessive for Sri Lanka especially for the food and other services like safaris. we went into a river safari but unfortunately the guide did not speak English so he was simply pointing and we were guessing… we wanted to do a massage but they told us that we should have booked the day before (and we didn’t know!) then told us they were on leave…

1. We have traveled frequently, but this destination was undoubtedly our top choice for accommodation. It made us feel like royalty, especially with our private pool and the beautiful river view from our bedroom. The bed was cozy, and the bathroom offered a really cool outdoor shower experience, which we absolutely loved! 2. The staff at Waterland were incredibly hospitable, and the chefs treated us to delicious meals each day. Our month-long vacation in Sri Lanka and the Maldives started off on a good note.

This location isn't ideal for those seeking little shops and cafes. It's primarily a spot to unwind and appreciate your surroundings. You'll find yourself quite secluded, but we found that to be quite pleasant.

Our stay at Waterland Sri Lanka was nothing short of perfect! The highlight of our visit was the lagoon boat safari, which offered breathtaking views and an unforgettable connection with nature—a truly serene experience. The room service was exceptional. Every request was met promptly, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. The attention to detail and the care they put into everything truly made our stay special. We also indulged in a massage during our stay, which was a wonderfully relaxing experience. The masseuse was skilled and created a peaceful atmosphere that allowed us to unwind completely. The breakfast deserves a special mention—absolutely delicious! There was a wide variety of fresh, flavorful options, and everything was beautifully presented. It was the perfect start to each day. All in all, Waterland Sri Lanka exceeded our expectations. From the incredible lagoon safari to the top-notch service, relaxing amenities, and delectable breakfast, this place is a gem. I can't recommend it enough for anyone seeking a tranquil and luxurious getaway.

Nothing.

We were a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 children) and booked the Monsoon villa for 1 night, and we had a fabulous stay! The 3 bedroom villa was so beautiful. It was spacious, comfortable, nicely decorated and the bedrooms were large (only the 3rd bedroom off the pool area doesn't have AC). The bathrooms were also modern and well equipped. Most impressive of all was the pool adjacent to the living room, where we also enjoyed a boat of breakfast! There was also an area for coffee and tea making our stay very comfortable. We also particularly liked the ordering system through WhatsApp that allowed us to easily order anything we wanted and helped with ongoing communication with the staff as necessary. The food overall was very good. We booked a lagoon tour as well and were picked up directly from the hotel. The tour was fascinating and the hotel even gave us a gift of a mug with a photo of our family on the lagoon tour! The staff was overall incredible. They were kind, caring and went out of their way to ensure we had a magical time.

Nothing

The beds and pillows were so comfy, much needed after a long flight with small Children. The location is great when your children love nature, so many birds around the property. The food was delicious and the staff were brilliant, always going out of their way to help and make our stay a great one!

Nothing we didn’t like. All was fantastic! Just be aware if you stay on New Year’s Eve the fire works and bangers will go on ALL night. We didn’t sleep but that’s on the accommodations fault.

We loved the friendliness of all the staff. Two of the young men seem to take on most of the work themselves and they worked very hard. We loved opening the window in the morning and seeing the infinity pool and the river outlook.

We were a little surprised at how far it was from the Negombo but it was in a nice quiet area. We were not too keen on having to decide what to eat at the meal beforehand rather than at the time but this is due to the fact it was a very quiet dining area.

- Privacy: you can hardly hear anyone from your villa - well-equipped and very clean bungalows with swimming pools - staff is amazing - nice green hotel's territory

- in my view, the main area for improvement for the hotel is food (may be more fresh fish from the neighborhood, more options to choose, etc...) - not many places to visit around the hotel if you are staying more than 1 day - ocean and beach nearby is not good for swimming - given all above, i believe the price is relatively high, compared to other accommodation options on the island

We loved this hotel! We stayed 3 nights in the Elephant Villa. - The staff is super respectful and helpful. They are very attentive to the client's needs and react quickly to any request. - The room is clean and has everything you could need. - The bed is big and comfortable. - The pool is very nice. - The air conditioning and wifi work perfectly. We would definitely recommend it!

- Poor variety on the menu for breakfast. - Mirror, door and toilet bowl cover in the bathroom could be renovated. - No sunshade at the swimming pool.