Ravana Heights in Ella

Mixed feelings about this place!
This property is advertised as a hotel, however it operates more like a bed and breakfast with no additional facilities. Unfortunately, for what is offered it is extremely overpriced.

That said, the rooms are clean and well maintained, though noticeably outdated in appearance. Guests should also be aware that the property is located on a hill with many steps leading up to the accommodation, which may be difficult if you have heavy or multiple pieces of luggage. The older ladies who work there are very kind and helpful and assisted us with our bags.

One concern of ours was that staff do not remain on the property after 8pm. If you require assistance after this time, there is no on-site support, which can feel unsafe and inconvenient - particularly for solo female travellers, as it is a small property and you may be the only guest. This information was not disclosed in the listing nor communicated to us at check-in. The owner was too busy talking about himself in conversation.

On one occasion, we returned after 8pm and left our key with the staff to pick up on our return but the reception was locked and we had no contact number available. We were later told we were supposed to call Yvette (I believe she works at the front desk and manages bookings), however this was never explained to us. We ultimately had to enter through an open window of one of our rooms to open the door from inside. Had the window not been open, we would have been locked out for the night.

Breakfast options are very limited and become repetitive quickly. Additionally, one small suggestion, kitchen staff should avoid cutting fruit on the same board as ginger/garlic, as the flavours transfer and ruin the fruit. Other than that the food was good especially the 'pancake' (basically a crepe with bananas and syrup inside).

The only positives of this property are the staff; the hardworking old ladies were so kind and warm (they even helped us get tuktuk on checkout when our driver cancelled early morning), daily room servicing, the views from the property, and it's proximity to nearby cafes and restaurants.