Riu Sri Lanka

We stayed at RIU Sri Lanka for one week on the all-inclusive package with my wife and our 6-month-old daughter. Unfortunately, our holiday didn't get off to the best start. When we arrived on Sunday morning, the room we were initially allocated had paint on the floor and felt quite damp. It was also located on the opposite side of the hotel from where we had hoped to be. After speaking with reception, they acted quickly and moved us to another room, which was fantastic, so full credit to the team for resolving the issue promptly and professionally. One thing worth mentioning is that weekends (particularly Saturdays and Sundays) can be extremely busy with local visitors. On the day we arrived, the hotel felt very crowded, and we unfortunately witnessed some unpleasant behaviour around the main bar area, including guests being sick near the loungers. It certainly wasn't the relaxing start we had imagined. If you're considering staying here, it's worth bearing in mind that weekends can have a very different atmosphere compared to the rest of the week. That said, once Monday arrived, the remainder of our holiday was absolutely fantastic. The food throughout the week was exceptional—fresh, varied, and of a very high standard. We loved that the chefs were constantly preparing dishes fresh in front of guests, and there was always plenty of choice available. The restaurant staff were outstanding and genuinely made our stay special. A special thank you to Marshall, one of the restaurant supervisors, and Samera, who both looked after us brilliantly throughout our stay. An even bigger thank you goes to Malinda, the restaurant supervisor, who went above and beyond for our family. He absolutely adored our daughter and always took the time to stop and chat with us, making us feel incredibly welcome every day. We'd also like to give a special mention to Gehan from the entertainment team. He was always full of energy, kept guests entertained throughout the day, and really helped create a fun atmosphere around the resort. Like Malinda, he absolutely loved our daughter and always made a fuss of her whenever he saw her, which made our stay even more memorable. The pool area was lovely, the grounds were well maintained, and the reception team were always friendly, helpful, and eager to assist whenever we needed anything. The only reason I'm not giving the hotel 5 stars is because of the disappointing start to our holiday and the fact that some areas, particularly the rooms and sun loungers, are beginning to look a little dated and could benefit from refurbishment. Overall, however, we had a fantastic stay and would happily recommend RIU Sri Lanka to others. The staff truly made our holiday memorable, and we would definitely consider returning in the future.

Another stay at the amazing Riu we will definitely be back. The staff were amazing as always and food delicious.

it was very pleasant experience i had starting from the extremely friendly staff at the front bar who served with a smile and made our experience more comfortable around people like that. on 27th the chef who was preparing battered fish was not that pleasant and had a attitude except overall experience is superb as this was the second time i visited Riu. my recommendation is to educate some of the chefs in the counters so they understand customer service.

The RIU Sri Lanka won us over completely: the food was varied and delicious, the staff were consistently friendly and attentive, and the resort was always clean and well-maintained. For our personal taste, the hotel was a little too large – especially on weekends, when many locals take advantage of special deals and the resort gets noticeably busier. That said, it’s purely a matter of preference and really speaks to how popular the hotel is. The true highlight of our holiday, however, was beyond the hotel grounds. Together with our three boys (aged 1, 4 and 7), we explored the region extensively – and we owe that entirely to Kumar, quite simply the best driver you could wish for! We found him by chance on our very first day outside the hotel – an absolute stroke of luck. He is an officially licensed driver approved by the hotel, drives safely and calmly, and always kept a close eye on our kids. By tuk-tuk, we visited temples, elephants, jet skiing, sea turtles, jewellers and local shops. For one day trip, Kumar spontaneously organised a small minibus: we headed down the coast, stopping at a gemstone mine, a cinnamon factory, a turtle sanctuary and local fishermen – all the way down to Weligama for surfing, finishing up with a beach club and amazing local food. Without him, we would never have seen and experienced so much of Sri Lanka! Simply ask for him outside the hotel or contact him directly – he comes highly recommended! 📱 Kumar: +94 77 602 5103

I visited this hotel on 28th May and checked out on 29th May with my closest family members. In total, 13 of us joined to celebrate my twins’ birthday in advance. We booked 3 triple sea-view rooms and 2 double sea-view rooms for the stay. Before arriving, I checked with the reception regarding bringing an outside cake, and they kindly allowed it, although they informed us that the cake cutting could only be done inside the room. This was actually my second visit to the hotel. During my previous stay, I visited with my family for 2 nights and booked one triple room and one double room, both with sea views as well. The hotel is truly full of entertainment and has one of the best entertainment experiences in the country. The atmosphere, performances, music, and overall vibe were excellent and very enjoyable throughout the stay. Although the beach itself is not very safe for swimming, the hotel makes up for it with 4 swimming pools, including one adults-only pool which was very peaceful and relaxing without kids shouting around. The bar service was very good, and there was a nice variety of cocktails available. However, all the cocktails were prepared using only local alcohol brands, which were not very smooth in taste. Offering a few international alcohol options would definitely improve the overall experience further. Alcohol service starts at 10:00 A.M., while the pool bar opens at 10:30 A.M. It would be even better if the bars could start operating from at least 9:00 A.M. The food variety was also very good, with many tasty options to choose from. However, the dining experience could be improved by providing side plates and proper napkins instead of only paper serviettes. Another positive point is the good parking facilities available at the property. It would also be even better if the online check-in system allowed guests to upload passport or ID copies in advance, as this could significantly reduce waiting time during check-in. Overall, we had a memorable family celebration and enjoyable stay, and I would definitely consider visiting again.