Palm Grove Holiday Inn is a business in Colombo. Address: Pottuvil. Phone: 0632 248 457. Average rating: 4.0 out of 5 from 10 customer reviews on Review Guru.
4.0
Based on 10 reviews
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interloperxx
I spent nearly three months there at the end of 2020. After dealing with various issues at other accommodations in Arugam Bay, I finally found a place where I felt at ease. Positives include: - a peaceful environment that’s great for resting and sleeping. - a comfortable, firm bed.
Khawar (.
The ambiance is fantastic with positive energy and friendly patrons. It's located in a quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of traffic. The venue features a pool and has an excellent sound system with a great DJ.
Lindsay L.
This hotel is situated outside the main tourist area, in a somewhat residential zone, yet it hosts a party every Sunday night that disrupts the entire neighborhood. The music is unbelievably LOUD each Sunday, audible even with ear plugs from over a kilometer away. I can't fathom how anyone can stay here! I also question how local children can focus on school or how anyone can be productive at work on Monday mornings. The music blares until 5:30am without any reduction in volume throughout the night. Neither the hotel nor the party organizers seem to care, and the police are inactive. Enjoy your stay!!!
Milly N.
Initially, we were uncertain about booking this place due to the limited reviews on Hostelworld. However, after reading some positive feedback on Google, we decided to try it because the price was reasonable and there was a pool available. The room was satisfactory, quite basic as expected for the price. However, the curtains were quite sheer, compromising our privacy. While the room was generally clean, we did find a used contact lens on the bedside table, which was unfortunate. The air conditioning worked well, but it lacked a remote, so we couldn't adjust the temperature. It got rather chilly at night, and when the A/C was off, the room heated up quickly. When we arrived, a man greeted us, checked our booking on his phone, and informed us of our room number, but didn't provide any helpful information. The rest of the staff we encountered also seemed uninterested and unhelpful, making us feel like an inconvenience when we asked questions. We stayed for three nights: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. On Sunday, we went to bed early, around 9 PM, but were disturbed by loud music that started at that time, shaking the walls. It was clear there was a party happening, which we weren’t informed about. We could see tourists entering from our window. It was disappointing not to have any warning about this; the music continued until 5 AM, resulting in very little sleep for us. Even earplugs didn’t help. The next morning, we inquired at reception whether there would be parties every night, and we were told it was only on Sundays. So, if you're looking for a quiet stay, keep that in mind. The pool area was pleasant, albeit a bit dirty after the Sunday festivities, but it was cleaned up quickly. On one occasion, a man was adding chemicals to the pool, so it appeared to be well-maintained. The sun loungers were somewhat uncomfortable, but it was a nice spot to unwind. We spent a lot of time by the pool, often having it to ourselves. There was a bar/restaurant next to the pool, but when we tried to order drinks, no one was around. After asking at reception, the staff member gave vague answers, first saying it wouldn’t open that day, then stating it would open at 3 PM. On our second day, after half an hour of inquiries, we finally managed to get some milkshakes, which were enjoyable. However, the menu was quite limited, and we can't comment on the food since we dined out in Arugam Bay each time. The location is about a 10-minute walk to the beach and nearby restaurants, which we didn’t mind at all. We usually walked there and took a tuk-tuk back to avoid walking along the main road in the dark, with a tuk-tuk costing around 500 LKR from the town to the hotel. In summary, I wouldn’t recommend staying here. There are better options closer to the action. Despite the nice pool, we didn't feel welcomed and even contemplated finding alternative accommodations. The information on Hostelworld is quite misleading, so keep that in mind.
Gyles A.
I’m not sure about the negative reviews. My girlfriend and I just stayed here and had a fantastic experience. The staff was friendly and always ready to help with any questions we had, and our room was clean and comfortably cool, so no complaints there. Given the area, the pricing is very reasonable, especially with a large outdoor space featuring a pool and a bar offering affordable drinks. I would definitely recommend this place and would love to return to Arugam Bay in the future.
Sophia F.
This might be the worst place I've ever stayed at, and I've done plenty of backpacking. To start, the room we initially booked wasn’t the one we got. It was filthy, with dirty beds, no bed linens, and a shower that was flooded and clogged with gunk and hair—completely unusable. We moved to another room that was similar, though the shower was just slightly less disgusting. It was a ridiculous setup; the sink had a hole straight to the floor with no plumbing, so brushing my teeth meant everything just went through to the floor. There were no top sheets on the beds, and we found blood on the bottom sheets. We also spotted multiple cockroaches in the room. What really pushed me over the edge were the loud parties. Like others have mentioned, we had no warning about this and weren’t informed when we booked or checked in. When we returned from dinner, there was a huge line of people outside waiting to be let into our hotel by bouncers who wanted to charge us to enter our own place! When we inquired, they said there was a big party happening that night but it would end by 5am—like that was somehow acceptable. The music was over 100 decibels in our room; we actually checked. The whole room was shaking, and there was no way we could sleep. The manager was completely indifferent and showed no remorse. It’s absurd to not be warned about this in advance. Given all this, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, not even an enemy.
Femke
We had a wonderful time here! The rooms were very comfortable, the swimming pool was clean, and the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. There was also an amazing party on Sunday that we were informed about ahead of time. As two female travelers, we felt very welcomed and safe during our stay. I would definitely recommend this place! It's conveniently located just a nice 10-minute walk from the city center, or a quick 3-minute scooter ride.
casualray
The hotel is situated in a peaceful area of the bay, which we appreciated. The rooms and bedding were clean, as were the showers and toilets. Our room was spacious, well-maintained, and equipped with air conditioning. The breakfast was quite simple, consisting of eggs, toast, and coffee, among other items.
Imke P.
We had an absolutely fantastic stay here. The rooms are spotless, equipped with air conditioning, and the showers have hot water. The staff is exceptionally friendly and ensured that our experience was comfortable from start to finish. The pool is gorgeous and well-maintained. Plus, the Sunday rave is a highlight—definitely the best party in Arugam Bay! The location is just outside the busy center, but it's only a 10-minute walk away.
JeVais T.
Stay away from this place! We made a reservation and paid a booking fee of 3,000 LKR online, which they confirmed. Just four hours before our arrival, we called to check on our family room, and they assured us it would be ready. However, when we arrived, the receptionist was completely unprepared and had no record of our arrival. We ended up waiting about 15 minutes in the lobby because our room wasn’t ready at all. When we handed over our ID, he kept it until "tomorrow," which meant we couldn’t leave that awful place right away. The room was absolutely disgusting: • An overpowering odor coming from the bathroom. • A broken sink tap that sprayed water everywhere. • The AC barely worked, and the ceiling fan made loud, irritating noises. • The bed was filthy with crusty sheets that looked like they hadn’t been changed, and we were missing a pillow that we had to request. • There were insects everywhere. Yet, this wasn’t even the worst part. In the next room, another guest had locked a small dog inside and left. The poor thing barked in fear from 11:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and we couldn’t get any sleep. When we called reception, a staff member promised to call back in 10 minutes but only did so after 20, showing no care or concern for the guests. The pool was disgusting as well. There were insects floating everywhere, and the bottom was so rough it actually cut our skin. The changing rooms smelled of urine, were strewn with empty alcohol bottles, and the only working feature was the shower—if you could ignore the bottles lying around it. DON’T BOOK HERE—for your own safety, hygiene, and sanity.
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