The Elephant Stables

The general staff were very nice and helpful when we arrived (the hotel had only 3 other guests), but once they all left for the evening it felt very empty and isolated. The property looks very classy, and it is a shame that it is located where it is as it seems the constant dog barking may be something they can do little about, but the guest's should not have to tolerate it, not all night !! The mosquito issue could have been easilly addressed by fogging or citronella etc, but there was simply no one around to provide any assistance at all. The prices were the highest we found in Kandy, and we liked the idea of the exclusivity, but that is so far removed from the reality of this place.

We booked the Royal Tented Suite. The location is not as it appears in the photos, it is perched on a low hill surrounded by local housing, very claustrophobic and incredibly noisy (turn right at the scrap yard off of the main road !). We had imagined a former elephant stable to be set in lush expansive grounds, peaceful and tranquil, we were wrong ! We were unable to sleep at all due to a combination of barking dogs and mosquito bites (the tent, the most expensive room the hotel offers, is just a breeding ground for mosquitoes and, due to its position above the adjacent properties, all of which house seemingly packs of dogs, is just unbearable). Calls to reception went unanswered as no staff remain on site after pethaps 9pm, so no late dining or room service, and, as the hotel is unlicensed, no alcohol unless you byo. None of this is made clear when you book. Avoid like the plague - we cut short our trip to Kandy as we were exhausted through lack of sleep and due to being bitten raw. I fully understand that Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise and we have to tolerate certain inconveniences etc, but at circa US$350 per night, we expected so much more. Complaints to the manager, when he returned the following morning (yes, not even he sleeps on site) acheived little as the damage had already been done. We received a free meal as compensation, gee thanks ! 2 star at best.