Grand Oriental Hotel

I've been there several times. This is not a terrible place, as some people portray it. Yes, you may be able to book a better room in a guest house or somewhere similar. But this is a heritage icon, so the building is very old. If you're someone who admires old architecture and enjoys that kind of atmosphere, this is a really nice place. You can also visit their restaurant. I guess they have a little museum inside. Couldn't visit it during my stay, though. Since the hotel is located a bit inside, the privacy is also really great, and there’s nothing to worry about. The room is okay, bathroom is okay, AC is working fine and the bed is clean. The room is also filled with antique furniture. The old world feeling is part of its charm, so you should know that before booking a room. It's ideal if you're traveling from far away and need a comfortable, budget friendly stay in a heritage hotel. Also, if you are a foreigner and need a quick stay for a few days on a budget, this is an ideal choice instead of roaming around and looking for unknown places. However, if you're not a fan of an antique or heritage vibe, this isn't the place for you. You get what you pay for. The vibe is calm, unlike noisy hotels, and the dim lighting makes you feel like you're living in history. Not super luxury but it is what it is and it is not bad.

There’s a little complaint I have to mention: whoever is behind the number ending +94 XXX716932 on WhatsApp. That person doesn’t even greet us when we greet them. That person has left some messages on seen. It’s alright not to fulfill our requests, or any other matter but as a basic texting etiquette, it’s better to at least respond rather than leave them on seen. Another thing, just like most people say, there are a few cockroaches in the bathroom. Also, the hot water doesn’t work properly. It also depends; sometimes it works. The TV is outdated, so you may not be able to watch online, and you can’t connect your devices to it either with a cable or wirelessly. However, sometimes you get a modern TV if you’re lucky. Since I’ve visited several times, I got a new TV during my recent stay. It depends. Maybe they will upgrade all the TVs in the near future, hopefully. For me, it’s not so terrible. The only issue was the text communication. No major complaints; everything else was nice.

The grand old ambience .

Run down in some areas , windows faulty difficult to open and close in room , didn't like the fact if I had a visitor they had to pay a 1500 lkr deposit , outrageous !! No mattress protectors on beds , unhygienic .

I loved the historical aspect of this grand old hotel. The room was lovely and located in a quiet part of town yet near all the "tourist" sites. Having a beer on the 4th floor at the end of the day was a bonus.

Perfect in all ways.

Good location, tasty and cheap breakfast with good views from restaurant.

Not very clean, very old fashioned and outdated. Uncomfortable bed. Grumpy staff.