Hotel River Front

Sasha K.

15 days ago

Wonderful stay with attentive staff

This is an incredible place to stay, featuring a wonderfully sweet and caring staff. My boyfriend and I spent two nights here, and everyone was exceptionally welcoming and attentive. The rooms are comfortable, and after going on a safari, you can enjoy the pool to relax. The hotel also arranged our safari, which we truly appreciated. It seems the hotel is situated not far from a Buddhist temple, which you can hear, but it’s not too loud! A special shout out to Chamika from the team; he was very kind, welcoming, and helpful! The restaurant at the hotel offers a wide variety of options, and the food was delicious, leaving us very satisfied. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to stay, and I would recommend it 10 out of 10.

Food

4

Service

5

Ambiance

4

Hanna O.

15 days ago

Luxurious hotel, disappointing safari

The hotel is excellent, with luxurious rooms considering the price, and a lovely pool! Unfortunately, the safari experience fell short. Having previously enjoyed a three-day safari in South Africa, we tried to keep our expectations in check for Yala, but we ended up quite disappointed. As others have mentioned, the national park is rather crowded and seems poorly organized. For example, when a leopard was spotted, all the vehicles lined up one after the other. We found ourselves in the middle of the queue, waiting for 40 minutes. By the time we reached the leopard, we only had 2-3 minutes to see it, and none of us in the car managed to spot it, yet we had to move on regardless. This issue isn't specific to River Front, but rather the overall setup in the park. The vehicles used are extremely bumpy, and the wait for the leopard was, ironically, one of the better parts of the safari since we were at least stationary. Additionally, our vehicle lacked seatbelts, which felt quite unsafe during the long, high-speed drive to the park (about 40-60 minutes). Overall, I don't think these problems are unique to River Front and may improve with better regulations in the park, but for us, the safari was not a pleasant experience. On the bright side, the hotel is truly great!

Владимир Ш.

15 days ago

Great stay with attentive service

We spent a night at this wonderful hotel. Right from the start, the staff was very attentive; we arrived a bit late and had an early safari planned for the next morning. They kindly prepared breakfast for us to take with us. After our return, we enjoyed lunch at the poolside restaurant, where the food was incredible—everything we ordered was fresh and delicious! Later, we celebrated a friend's birthday, and the staff arranged a cake with candles for the occasion. The rooms were clean and spacious, and there was a lovely scent when we entered. We didn’t experience any issues with electricity or water; everything was functioning well. They also have a small pool and gym, which is a nice option for relaxing or exercising after a safari. A big thank you to the entire hotel team for their hospitality and amazing service! We will surely come back!

Food

5

Service

5

Ambiance

4

Fabián D.

15 days ago

Magical stay with great safari access

We spent two nights here, and it was truly magical. The location is ideal for safaris. The hotel is clean, modern, and quiet. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The pool is amazing, and the views of the river are stunning. You can arrange various tours and safaris through them, which is definitely worth it. The WiFi connection could be stronger, but overall, it was a fantastic experience.

Service

5

Value

4

Ambiance

5

Phil E.

15 days ago

Great hotel with excellent safari experience

This is a wonderful hotel situated right by the river, making it easy to reach the town. The service was top-notch; everything was handled seamlessly, and the hotel itself was immaculate. We stayed in the treehouse that offered a view of the river, which was gorgeous, featuring two balconies, a double bed and a single bed, plus a spacious bathroom with a fantastic shower. The other rooms appeared lovely as well. Breakfast was enjoyable, offering fruit, a selection of eggs, pancakes, toast, juice, tea, or coffee, along with an extensive menu that included English or Sri Lankan breakfasts for an additional charge. The hotel also organized a full day safari for us, with a guide named Chinthaka. Although we had read some negative reports about Yala, concerning the number of jeeps and ethical issues, our experience was fantastic. Yes, there were a few jeeps when animals were spotted, but the animals were treated with respect. Chinthaka was very knowledgeable and had a genuine passion for nature. He used his understanding of wildlife to find a leopard, a method employed by those familiar with the area. Throughout the day, we were fortunate to see two leopards, along with numerous birds, buffalo, elephants, reptiles, and mongoose. Out of the three national parks we visited, Yala was definitely the highlight. Overall, it's a great hotel for anyone looking to explore Yala or Tissamarahama.

Food

4

Service

5

Ambiance

5

Georgia M.

15 days ago

Great stay for Yala safari

This hotel was an excellent choice for our Yala safari. From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly kind and attentive. I especially appreciated how they helped us with our luggage up and down the stairs. Our room was spotless, featuring modern finishes and an excellent air conditioning system. I must highlight the shower, which was outstanding. The hotel grounds were also very clean and well-kept. The pool looked beautiful and was well-maintained. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast as well. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel; you definitely won’t regret your booking!

Food

4

Service

5

Ambiance

4

Nadarajah M.

15 days ago

Great stay at River Front Hotel

We spent one night at the River Front Hotel in Yala and had a fantastic experience. A special shoutout to Mr. Champaka Jayaruwan from the Management Department for his kindness, friendliness, professionalism, and immense help during our visit. The staff were welcoming, and the food was top-notch. Plus, the hotel’s location is perfect for accessing Yala Safari and other local attractions. Getting around and reaching nearby spots was also very easy. We truly enjoyed our time here and strongly recommend this hotel for anyone traveling to Yala. Regards, Nadarajah Mathanaruban

Food

4

Service

5

livelifeHampshire

15 days ago

Convenient stay near Yala Park

We spent a night to explore the Yala National Park safari. Our room was located on the ground floor, close to the reception and restaurant. Unfortunately, the view from our window overlooked the staff sitting area, which meant we couldn't open the curtains. This also affected our overall experience.

Phoebe M.

15 days ago

Fantastic stay with exceptional service

This accommodation was wonderful from beginning to end. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming, assisting with our bags to the room and offering attentive dinner service alongside great amenities and spotless rooms. The hotel organized a full-day safari for us with a personal tour guide and vehicle, which included a packed traditional Sri Lankan breakfast and lunch. Our guide, Channa, was outstanding. He picked us up from the hotel, set up our packed lunch, and was always eager to get ahead of other vehicles to ensure we had close encounters with the animals. We feel so lucky to have seen leopards, elephants, and other wildlife right next to our car. I couldn't find any faults with Channa or our entire experience at Hotel River Front. I highly recommend it.

Service

5

Anael E.

15 days ago

Outstanding stay with top-notch service

We had a fantastic experience at this hotel and can't recommend it enough! The staff were exceptional – always friendly, incredibly attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect. The food was a major highlight – tasty, fresh, and diverse at every meal, with everything being of high quality. The pool area was a slice of paradise: immaculately clean, well-kept, and the perfect place to unwind after busy days. Our room was impeccably clean in every nook – even behind the bed! The AC functioned brilliantly, keeping the space cool and comfortable regardless of the weather. The entire property was consistently cleaned and maintained to a high standard, which we truly appreciated. All in all, it was a smooth and enjoyable stay. We left feeling rejuvenated and will definitely come back. Book it!

Food

5

Service

5

Ambiance

5