"Myself and my partner had the best stay at De Pearla resort. Farah the host was the best. He cooked us the most amazing meals, helped us with anything we needed assistance with and made our trip so special. He even showed us how to cook biriyani! My girlfriend became ill with a fever on one of the days and Farah went above and beyond to make sure that we were all ok and looked after. It really felt like we became part of the family. His son was also very helpful and kind to us. De Perla is a tranquil slice of Paradise that felt like a home away from home. It was always so amazing to come back to after a long day surfing and the craziness of Arugam Bay. We hope that we come back here again one day. Thank you Farah. We hope we meet again!"

"I have stayed in hundreds of hotels worldwide – from budget hostels to 5-star resorts – and I have never experienced anything this bad. What happened at Paper Moon Kudils is not just “poor service” – it’s a case study in how to destroy guest trust. We booked two bungalows for my family: two small children, an elderly relative, and myself. From the moment we opened the door, it was obvious: We were not in a hotel. We were in a health hazard. This is what we walked into: Mouse droppings across the floor, furniture, and even close to the beds where my children would sleep Dirty, stained bedding – clearly used and never replaced Filthy, wet floor mats with a smell that turned my stomach No mosquito nets, despite being clearly promised in the booking No toiletries whatsoever – not even soap to wash our hands A rooftop terrace that was closed, crumbling, and unsafe to enter Everywhere you looked, it felt abandoned for months, left to decay while still taking money from guests under false advertising. The beautiful online photos? Pure fiction. What you see there does not exist here. Because of our children, we couldn’t leave instantly – but we checked out after just one night. Staying longer would have been irresponsible. We reported everything to Agoda, who repeatedly tried to contact the property. They never replied. No apology. No explanation. No accountability. Weeks later, the only “solution” was a 15% refund for one bungalow – a number so ridiculous it almost felt like mockery. As a German medical specialist and frequent global traveller, I understand both health standards and honesty in service. This property fails at both. It is not just below standard – it is dangerous and deliberately misrepresented. We have photo and video evidence of every detail. Believe me: The pictures speak for themselves – and they tell a story of neglect, deception, and contempt for paying guests. If you value your health, your safety, and your money: Avoid Paper Moon Kudils at all costs. Frankly, this place should be removed from all booking platforms and inspected by health authorities."

"Unfortunately, our stay was quite disappointing. When we arrived, there was no one at the reception, and we had to call the hotel to begin the check-in process. A few staff members arrived later, but the initial lack of assistance left a poor first impression. The Wi-Fi was extremely poor and barely connected throughout our stay. The restaurant was completely closed, so we had to go outside the property whenever we wanted food. There were also no clear instructions about the hotel's policies or amenities. Because of this, we were unexpectedly charged for water bottles we requested to our room, even though the hotel provides 1 liter of complimentary water per room per day. Better communication would have avoided this confusion. The biggest disappointment was the swimming pool. It was dirty, had a strong unpleasant smell, with visible algae and mosquitoes around it. After getting into the pool, I developed a skin rash, which was very concerning. The property itself has a lot of potential and looks beautiful, but it is clearly not being maintained well. With better maintenance, clearer communication, and improved guest services, it could offer a much better experience."

"We had an incredible stay at Wild Edge Panama safari lodge. We were very fortunate to have the owner Samitha, a wildlife biologist and filmmaker be our naturalist guide during our two-day safari. The lodge is in a lovely setting just behind the dunes. The rooms are basic and very comfortable, good bathrooms, good bed and very clean. Nice outdoor seating. The food was incredible. We booked full board and had an amazing sit down lunch brought out to the national park for us. Sam, Kanishka, Madhusan, the cooks and the team at Wild Edge took very good care of us. We have such special memories of our time there. Truly an unforgettable stay."

"This hotel is so far one of the best sustainable luxury cabana’s we have been to. A huge thank you to the General Manager Hafie and his team. They looked after us like their own family. The General Manager Hafie had organised so many activities for us from the day we arrived, that made us feel very special, which would have been we were a family of 16. The hotel is also very close to the best surfing beaches and wild life parks. The 22 cabana’s are just beautiful and very clean and the water is filtered. The little things they did for us made feel so welcome."

"Had a great and very relaxing week here. The cabanas are comfortable and stylish, all with great sea views. The beach is stunning and empty. Niaz and his team were very attentive and did everything to make us feel welcome. The grounds are constantly maintained and kept immaculate. The small restaurant served up great food, and always with a smile. Special mention to Rinos the chef and Bari here for their good service and friendly manner, the same goes for the rest of the staff. This is a place to come and relax, away from the hustle and bustle of Arugam Bay. Highly recommended. "

"This was one of the most beautiful stays we had in Sri Lanka. We received a warm and friendly welcome and were given a beautiful room. We had a partial view of the sea and a lovely green area. The food was also delicious! I definitely recommend a visit!"

"Looking for a nice place to stay close to Arugam Bay and having had a good experience at the great value Jetwing Jaffna, we were drawn to book the Jetwing property Kottukal Beach House. We were not disappointed with our choice. The property is a nicely converted colonial era villa with a fantastic aspect and view of the coastline. From our 1st floor room with a balcony we were afforded a fantastic view of the sea and to hear the waves crashing onto the beach.  Our room was generously sized with a high ceiling and with a comfortable king bed and associated mosquito net. It had a decent bathroom with twin basins and a rain shower. Plenty of hot water. Room air conditioning worked very well and added to ceiling fans for those who prefer, which are quieter and allow you to hear the sounds of the sea. The property is small with only a few rooms, which assists the feeling of serenity but although small scale it is assigned with a couple of permanent staff members to service guest needs. A minor flaw was that there was no “official” way to make contact with them and there were no phones in the room or a bell to draw attention. One morning wanting a coffee (no kettles in the rooms) and after knocking on a few doors, I was forced to finally give up.  However, an hour later I was successful and finally had a delicious plunger coffee delivered to the room and foresightedly then preordered for the following morning. An a la carte dinner was also pre ordered and highly delicious curries were prepared by the inhouse chef. We purchased a bottle of wine in town as none was available at the property, but they did stock beer. Breakfasts were also very good. Other points to highlight include the generous gardens bordering the sea, the friendly in-house dogs and a decent pool. Would recommend if looking for a quiet and beautiful stay close by Arugam Bay (tuk-tuks easily arranged)."

"The hotel rooms, pool and garden are AMAZING! Possibility of bungalows with small private pool. Friendly and helpful staff! The restaurant is the only negative thing: the staff is very kind, but the food is mediocre and very expensive. Very positive experience anyway!"