The Hideout Sigiriya in Sigiriya

We stayed here for three nights and had a mixed experience.

First of all, the staff is truly wonderful. The reception was very friendly, and the team in the breakfast and dinner area was extremely kind and attentive throughout our stay. Service overall was warm and welcoming.

Breakfast is simple but adequate. It includes fresh fruit, a rice and egg dish prepared on request, yogurt, toast, butter and jam, as well as coffee, tea, milk, and one fruit juice served buffet-style. In the evening, you can order from the menu. The selection ranges from small snacks to local dishes. Beer and wine are available, and the drink menu is reasonably sized.

The property itself is very nice and well maintained. We especially enjoyed the small private terrace in front of our bungalow. In the evenings, with proper mosquito repellent, it was a lovely place to sit and relax.

Now to the room:

We stayed in a bungalow-style unit. The size was sufficient, and the beds were reasonably comfortable. However, there was a noticeable musty smell upon arrival. After ventilating, we discovered that the odor seemed to come from the sink in the small tea and coffee preparation area. There was no way to close the drain, so smells came up from the pipe. We improvised by covering it with a cup, which helped somewhat.

The bathroom was unfortunately the weakest part of the room. Cleanliness and maintenance were below expectations. The shower curtain should be replaced. The windows and window sills need proper cleaning. The fixtures are old and partly unstable. The toilet seat was thin, slightly loose, and discolored. There was no proper storage space for toiletries. If you bring your own shampoo or personal items, there is almost nowhere to place them except for a very small soap dish attached to the shower rail.

In terms of ratings:
• Bathroom: 3 out of 10
• Coffee and sink area: 5 out of 10
• Main sleeping area: 6 out of 10

The sofa had visible stains. There were limited storage options in the room, and one side of the bed lacked a bedside table and light, which was inconvenient.

The WiFi worked, but it could be more stable and stronger. We would rate it around 6 to 7 out of 10.

Location-wise, the hotel is about two kilometers from the start of the village. Tuk-tuks do come, but the road is quite bumpy, and drivers are sometimes hesitant to drive out there. It just takes a bit longer.

Overall, since the focus of a vacation is not the hotel room itself, our stay was acceptable. However, we would not book this specific room again. Other rooms may be better, as the hotel has received higher ratings overall. Compared to our previous accommodation in Sri Lanka, this one was noticeably more basic.