The Residence Bentota

Beautiful pool, good aircon, well located, comfy bed

Insufficient kitchen items

Beautiful accommodation - the garden and pool are spectacular. Iran was very kind, accommodating, generous and helpful.

It is a very nice resort property. The villas are nice, lots of greenery around, a swimming pool.... The property has a lot of potential.

Our check-in experience could have been better. There was only a night watchman who could only speak in sinhalese. Our room was given to someone else. They then tried to give us a lower category single room first and then moved us to the category we had booked. However, the room was not as described. We had booked a 2 bedroom villa with air conditioning with 3 doubled beds. While the villa had 2 bedrooms only one was air conditioned. The other wasnt and it was around 32 degree cel. Also there were only 2 double beds. We were finally provided another separate ac bedroom, and two of us had to share a bed, after a long discussion and back and forth with the manager on the phone who made it sound like he was doing us a favour. We wasted around an hour until the room issue was sorted out.

We went for a wedding in Bentota, and many friends stayed at very expensive beachside villas with bars and restaurants. So, when I booked the Residence, I assumed it would be a budget alternative. It was NOTHING like that, at all. The whole residence is immaculately clean; our room was huge and airy, with both a private balcony AND a terrace with excellent views of the trees (and the bats at sunset), not to mention the cool outdoor shower. Quick walk to the beach (we found a turtle laying eggs one night!) for when you're feeling active, lovely pool for getting through the hot part of the day on a hangover. Relaxed, attentive staff; we asked to extend our stay with like half an hour to spare and they were incredibly accommodating. On the whole, a quiet, relaxing oasis, with everything you need only a few minutes away. Highly recommend nearby cafes for breakfast: Esprit for mountains of fruit and the full english, or Randy's coffee for omelettes, lattes, lassi's and games. We played many a chess match there. My only regret is I was having such a good time I took like no photos lol