Shell Resort

Jastija B.

16 days ago

Disappointing experience with food and service

After having breakfast at this place, I ended up with food poisoning. I ordered the scrambled eggs, which seemed undercooked and possibly spoiled. Soon after, I was hit with intense nausea and diarrhea that lasted for three days. I’m certain the breakfast was the culprit since I hadn’t consumed anything else risky that morning. Additionally, the service left much to be desired. Upon arrival, we were not greeted by anyone and waited at the reception for approximately 20 minutes before someone came to assist us. When a staff member finally appeared, they informed us that we would need to wait another 20 minutes as our room wasn’t ready, despite it already being 4:00 PM and our booking having been made the day before. The pool was in poor condition as well, filled with debris and leaves, and it didn’t appear to have been cleaned in quite some time. In summary, this place is poorly managed, and given the rates they charge, I definitely do not recommend staying here.

Food

1

Service

2

Value

1

Ambiance

1

Ana L.

16 days ago

Terrible stay with multiple issues

We had a really unfortunate experience at this hotel. Upon our arrival, there was no one available to check us in, so we had to search for someone. We chose this place because of the pool, but it was so filthy that we couldn't even consider using it. The rooms were not cleaned properly and had dead cockroaches and dust everywhere. We were also short on basic amenities like toilet paper, soap, and towels. To make matters worse, a random man walked into our room while we were there, and a day later, our friends had a significant amount of money stolen from their room. This theft occurred right after we handed our key to the staff for cleaning. Manager Rashmika initially seemed willing to help, but then became quite confrontational and eventually left without resolving anything. We never received a refund. It feels like there’s some sort of collusion with the police. I strongly advise against staying here!

Service

1

Value

1

Ambiance

1

Rashmika B.

16 days ago

Wonderful stay at Shell Resort

I recently had a fantastic stay at Shell Resort. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, which really enhanced my experience. My room was spacious, beautifully decorated, and very comfortable. The dining options were excellent, offering a great variety of delicious dishes. I highly recommend Shell Resort for a luxurious and memorable getaway. I'm excited to come back!

Service

5

Shohan S.

16 days ago

Pool Condition Disappoints Overall Experience

It's really unfortunate about this place. We reserved it primarily for the pool, but its condition was dreadful. The water was teeming with insects, bugs, and algae, rendering it entirely unusable. While the staff did mention they were addressing the issue, it was evident that the pool needed a complete drain and refill to be properly cleaned.

André V.

16 days ago

Disappointing stay with serious issues

My girlfriend and I stayed at Shell, and it turned out to be one of our worst experiences ever. Upon entering the room, it was apparent that it hadn't been cleaned properly. We found spider webs in the corners, cockroaches scurrying around, dead bugs on the bathroom floor, and hair clogging the drain. The pillowcases were torn, and the entire place felt dirty and neglected. We requested the manager to have the room cleaned, and although he did take some action, it was nowhere near an acceptable standard. A few days later, we discovered that a significant amount of money had been stolen from my girlfriend's wallet. We had left the keys with the manager that same day for room cleaning, which meant he or someone with access to those keys could have taken it easily. When we reported the theft, he mentioned that similar incidents had occurred before but admitted he never improved security or warned us to keep the windows locked. Instead of offering an apology or assistance, he became defensive, raised his voice, and his behavior only heightened our discomfort. Given that he had complete access to our room and reacted so aggressively, it’s hard not to question his possible involvement. This hotel is dirty, unsafe, and lacks respect for its guests. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Service

1

Value

1

Ambiance

1

Michelle T.

16 days ago

Comfortable Stay at Shell Resort

We spent twelve nights at Shell Resort. The manager recommended that we pay for five nights initially and then extend our stay if we liked it, which we had no trouble doing. The beds were cozy, the room was tidy, and the AC and fan kept us comfortable. The room was spacious enough for some morning yoga. While there was a bit of noise from nearby parties or sports activities at the resort, the soundproofing in the room was effective, so it wasn’t a concern. The resort hosted a pool party during the day, but it didn’t disturb us. The staff was incredibly attentive and made us feel at home. I’ll miss the pool and the resort when we leave tomorrow. Thank you for a wonderful stay that made our time in Arugam Bay unforgettable.

Service

5

phoebe M.

16 days ago

Exceptional Service at Shell Abay

We had a wonderful experience at Shell Abay! The rooms are spacious and spotless, featuring incredibly comfortable beds. Each morning of our stay, we enjoyed a nice breakfast, which we found very thoughtful. What truly set Shell Abay apart for me was the outstanding service from the staff. When we fell ill, one of the staff members went above and beyond to collect our food order from town and returned with it for us—he even declined any tip for his effort. I've never encountered such excellent customer service during my travels. I highly recommend staying here!

Service

5

isuru U.

16 days ago

Peaceful Getaway at Shell Resort

Shell Resort is a lovely and tranquil destination for a vacation with friends or family. Situated a little outside the main town of Arugam Bay, it offers a serene atmosphere for relaxation. The hotel staff are friendly and accommodating, enhancing the overall experience. Regarding the room facilities, everything is top-notch. Each room is spacious, clean, and features plenty of plug points near the beds, which is really handy. The family rooms even include a mini refrigerator. The bathrooms are also large and very well-kept. Additionally, there's a swimming pool that enhances the overall enjoyment of the stay. If you're heading to Arugam Bay, I definitely recommend Shell Resort, particularly for family holidays and group outings. They have numerous rooms available at very reasonable prices. All in all, it’s an excellent spot for a relaxing getaway!

Service

4

Value

5

Ambiance

4

Nicole W.

16 days ago

Pool Issues Overshadow Potential

It's really disappointing because this place has great potential. We chose it for the pool, but it was in terrible condition—swarming with bugs and algae, which made it unusable. The staff mentioned they were working on it, but that seems impossible without draining and refilling the water. Additionally, there were no towels in our room; we had to request some and received pool towels instead. My sister asked three times before finally getting one the next day. To make matters worse, there was no hot water in our room. The staff member said it was noted on booking.com, but we couldn't find that information anywhere. Although it’s a 15-minute walk to the main strip of town, we wouldn't have minded that if the pool was functional. Instead, we found ourselves trekking to the town and beach area frequently, especially since we could have booked somewhere in town for half the price. Breakfast was decent; on the first day, we weren't fond of the omelette, but the staff member made an effort to cook us a fried egg, which we appreciated. However, we preferred having breakfast at Shady Lane down the road. The staff member seemed upset when we mentioned this, repeatedly asking if he had offended us. He was friendly and nice, but the place itself was the issue. We paid for something that fell short of its advertising. If they put more effort into maintaining the pool and providing basic room amenities, this place could be truly fantastic. The room itself was spacious and nice, so it had the potential to be great but ultimately just didn't deliver.

Food

3

Service

4

Value

2

Ambiance

3

mjlk1990

16 days ago

Pleasant stay with great location

The spacious room was great. We stayed in the bungalow close to the restaurant and planned for just one night, but ended up extending our stay to four or five nights because we enjoyed it so much. Having our own tuk-tuk made it easy to reach all the nearby restaurants, so the location wasn’t an issue for us. Perhaps the pool could use some improvement…