Reviews of Yathra Houseboat 5 stars
449/1, Dedduwa, Hapurugala, 80500 Bentota, Sri Lanka
#66 of 66 B&Bs and Inns in Bentota
Guests' ChoiceReview score
Based on 8 hotel reviews
Score breakdown
-
Cleanliness
7.0
-
Comfort
6.8
-
Location
7.7
-
Facilities
6.8
-
Staff
7.7
-
Value for money
5.7
Showing 1 – 8
-
Reviewed: 15 April 2024
Nicola
United Kingdom17 reviews“AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE A COMPLETE RIP OFF”EVERYTHING. We were greeting by the housekeeper of the boat who spoke limited English. The owner/skipper/captain did not introduce himself to us. There were no welcome drinks. We boarded the boat at 3.30 approx and the skipper did not want to take us out due to the rain and stated we would not see any wildlife but did offer to take us out in the morning instead. We opted against this and went out at approx 4pm for 1.5 hours where we did see some wildlife. On returning to the jetty the housekeeper said he would serve dinner at 7.30 but he served it at 6.50 and everything was heated in the microwave aboard the boat. The food did taste good but the main course did not match what was on the menu. From looking at pictures on the advertising shots of evening dining, we did not experience any of this, our table was set whilst we sat at it and the front area of the boat did not have any tables/chairs set up. The pictures advertised show a table with a table cloth, wine glasses and flowers. We were not offered any drinks only water. After dinner approx 7.45 the housekeeper said goodnight and told us the security guard would be around as there was nobody else staying on the boat. It did feel a bit strange staying on a boat moored on a jetty in the middle of nowhere, therefore we did sleep well. The generator ran all night and the air con was also loud so if you wanted to waste money staying here would highly recommend ear plugs and bring your own wine/ beer/entertainment/music. A complete waste of money, we could have done a 1.5 hour cruise and stayed in a lovely hotel for what we were charged, a total rip off.
NOTHING except the dinner was lovely but only found out when paying that it was not included and it cost $25 dollars per person which we would not have had if we had known that we had to pay. From the advert on Bookings.com nothing matched the description on the property, i.e. dinner on board, soft drinks included, cruise in the evening and in the morning totalling a four hour cruise.
Stayed in April 2024
-
Reviewed: 1 February 2024
Udo
Germany2 reviews1 helpful vote“an absolute disaster”The accommodation is absolutely overpriced. Dinner from the microwave for €50 per person is a disgrace. The boat is not in good condition. After arrival there is no tour or anything like that. The refrigerator barely worked and is very dirty. There is no beer or wine for sale. The photos with tablecloths and decorations do not correspond to reality. Of all the destinations, the worst!
The tour the next morning
Stayed in January 2024
-
Reviewed: 2 January 2023
Titov
United Kingdom4 reviews3 helpful votes“From start to finish it was the worst experience I’ve had travelling.”We’re do I start. We left a day early. The member of staff looking after us had blood pouring out of his mouth, constantly. The blood could be from a number of reasons, one of them, the use of narcotics. Despite us having a privacy notice on our door, he regularly knocked on our door. I order a New Years dinner a week before our arrival, I ordered champagne with this. On New Year’s Day, I was asked 4 times what we would like for dinner and I had to pay extra for the bottle despite ordering in advance. If you expect to cruise along the river all day, this won’t happen, maximum what you will receive is an hour and a half trip in the evening which doesn’t consist of anything special and constant promises that tomorrow morning you will go on a three hour cruise, these promises do not come to fruition of course. I urge anyone who is thinking of staying here not to and especially not to pay the ludicrous amounts of money for this genuinely awful experience.
The Pumpkin soup on the first night. We ordered it on the second evening, it was made for us on the third morning, and it was completely distasteful.
Stayed in January 2023
-
Reviewed: 29 January 2022
Peter
Australia26 reviews4 helpful votes“lovely relaxing break from busy srilanka”could use some maintenance-boats need a lot of constant care
quiet and peaceful location
Stayed in January 2022
-
Reviewed: 22 December 2021
Sajeev
Sri Lanka1 reviewGoodThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in December 2021
-
Reviewed: 5 January 2023
Nazar
United Arab Emirates8 reviewsSuperbThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in December 2022
-
Reviewed: 10 April 2022
Vanessa
United Kingdom7 reviews2 helpful votesVery goodThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in March 2022
Showing 1 – 8
