Unawatuna Nor Lanka Hotel in Unawatuna

We had a very disappointing and upsetting experience from the moment we arrived. Our check-in time was around 1:00 PM, but we reached the hotel at approximately 3:00 PM. Even then, we were asked to wait for about 30 minutes because the room was not ready due to a previous guest’s late checkout. While delays can happen and we were initially understanding, what followed completely ruined the experience.

While we were waiting, the hotel owner openly shouted at the staff in front of guests, complaining about accepting bookings from local travelers. This was extremely uncomfortable and humiliating to witness, especially since we had made our reservation properly through Booking.com. Being made to feel unwelcome purely because we are locals was deeply hurtful and unacceptable. The tone, behavior, and attitude of the owner were shocking and left us feeling disrespected before we had even stepped into our room.

Ironically, the staff—who were being treated so poorly—were the only positive part of this stay. They remained calm, polite, and genuinely supportive despite the owner’s aggressive and disgusting behavior. Their professionalism deserves appreciation, as they did their best to make us feel comfortable in a very unpleasant situation.

The room itself was clean and fairly okay, and the breakfast was simple but acceptable. However, no level of cleanliness or basic comfort can make up for the emotional distress and discrimination we experienced at check-in.

As a local traveler, I strongly and honestly do not recommend this place. Hospitality should make guests feel welcome and respected, not judged or humiliated. Unfortunately, the racism we faced here completely overshadowed any positive aspects of the stay.