Neptune Hotel

We have spent 1 week in the Hotel Neptune and we got married in the hotel on the 20th of March 2007. We have had the best wedding we could possibly wish for, every little detail was taken care of and the staff was amazingly helpful and kind. The ceremony was beautiful, and we are incredibly pleased!! Thank you so much for everyone at Hotel Neptune to make our Big Day perfect! It was also one of the best holidays ever, the hotel is fantastic, very clean, well maintained and beautifully situated. The food was amazing with a great selection, even though I have gluten and lactose intolerance! The staff in the hotel were the friendliest people ever, and they just could not do enough for the guests. We have only good things to say about the Hotel Neptune, what a great experience, we would happily go back and hopefully will do so soon!

We have just returned from the Neptune on 22nd March having had a lovely 2 week stay. This was our 4th visit to this particular resort and our 1st visit to Neptune, we have previously stayed twice at the Eden and once at a private guest house. We were generally very satisfied with the Neptune, after a bit of a false start. We were allocated a room on the ground floor which we don't like, we prefer to be on at least the first floor, (you can leave your balcony doors open without te fear of someone entering, and you can normally not worry about being seen undressed in the room with the curtains open!!!). The rooms are generally a bit 'tired' and could really do with an upgrade, our first room had a poky bathroom, that whilst clean looked a bit manky. The staff at reception agreed to moving us after 1 night and we were very much happier with our new room, still a bit 'tired' but otherwise perfectly adequate. The staff are lovely! As with most Sri Lankans they can't do enough to help you. The trip from the airport to the resort is a nightmare! Normally on a good day you can do it in two and a half to three hours, but it took us nearly 5 hours from landing to arriving, which is a real pain. For first timers it will be a real experience though, cows, pigs Tuk Tuks and every other manner of life in the road. The hotel is in a fantastic position, right on the beach. Don't take any notice of the holiday reps who tell you not to have anything to do with the beach boys, they are just trying to keep all the business selling trips to themselves. Outside the Neptune you will find Sammy or Bob who are reliable. Our own boy called Viraj is very trustworthy and has organised some excellent trips for us actually works outside the Club Palm Garden Hotel, but we can vouch for him unreservedly. If you are looking for riotous nightlife....... this is not the place for you. You can visit any of the other hotel bars and there are a few independant bars but the nightlife is very low key. You will find a lot of beach sellers, try to be polite to them say No thankyou if you don't want what they have to offer, they will go away without a fuss, just remember - this is how they make their living, there is no state intervention, no dole, no holiday pay etc. If they don't make a sale they don't eat. The economy relies on tips so look after your room cleaner, waiter etc. A little goes a long way, 100 rupees is about 50p, and you will be helping out. All in all the Neptune is a good place to stay, great position, great staff, lovely surroundings, adequate rooms. Food is generally good if a little 'samey', lots of local curry. I hope you enjoy Sri Lanka as much as we do!

Just back from two weeks at this hotel. After a calming welcome, had a lovely holiday. Good food and plenty of choice, clean room, pool and gardens were lovely with the added bonus of the little chipmunks who will take nuts from your hand. Did tours through Bob on the beach and had well organised and friendly outings with him. He will put himself out for you - taking your photographs for you etc. So just enjoy - you can't do much else!

My husband and I have just returned from our holiday at the Neptune and we have had a great time. The hotel was lovelly and clean ( except for the bath which was clean but rather chipped) we didn't use it anyhow only the shower. The beds and the rooms where clean and well kept. No women work cleaning at the hotel only men but they are very keen to give you a high quailty of service. We gave our room boy 100rupees on our arrival and he made sure we was well taken care off. He came in each night to pull down the beds and light the mossie light, The rooms are all air conditioned you need it. It was so hot it was a nice feeling to enter your room that was nice and cool. The pool the staff all of them are so good and always see that you have everything you what. Its a good idea to tip the boys who put the sunbeds out each day we gave them 110 rupees (50p) and each morning our beds whas laid out with towels and sun shade well worth the tips. The place its self is well worth the visit and the 2 day trip to Kandy is well worth the £60 we paid to Bob the beach boys who are stationed on the beach just at the hotel entrance to the beach. Bob was a great guy and dont be put off booking your trips with him he is 100% and the people who booked their trips with the hotel was sorry they did not choose Bob instead. He gives you a first class tour and if he asked for a deposit dont worry he wont run away and he only takes the balance of your tour when he drops you back at your hotel. I loved this holiday but all there is to do is eat chill out drink sunbathe and relax . This holiday is aimed at couples over the twenty age group and honeymooners not good for teenager or small children . They had theme nights and special food nights. The foods was good and if you dont like curries they was plenty of other food to choose from. no small pool for children and the pool is quite deep with a smaller pool that goes up to your chest. The team who do the events around the hotel are great usal things Darts, water sport and at four oclock each day tea and cakes and a game of croquet by the pool excellent and fun. If you win on the day you get crowned and have to drink a cocktail its a laugh and gets everyone from all over the world who is on holiday there all joining in and everyone has fun. Please give this holiday a visist you will not be sorry. Anne and Fred Bibby 19/03/2007

On arriving at our hotel, we were suprised by how clean everything was. The staff cannot do enough for you and are friendly, obliging and helpful. The food was amazing and the evening entertainment was a non starter, but it gave us time to meet lots of interesting people and we even dined out with the people we met and would not have changed it for the world. They do lay on the occassional evenings entertainment but it all depends on what you class as entertainment. On a few nights turtles were seen coming on to the beach to lay their eggs, and this would out weigh any evening entertainment, as would a nice stroll along the beach. Since we were on our honeymoon this hotel was the first leg of our tour and we stayed at the hotel for 1 week before flying to the maldives. The rooms are suprisingly large and ours looked out onto the beach, in effect a sea view in every sense of the word. The only problems with had with the rooms were the mosquetos, but on speaking to reception they came and fitted a mozzie net. We did not have to wait they done that even though it was 12.30 at night. The rooms could do with a revamp but even so they are comfortable and suited our needs. We loved the fact that there was no safe in the room, they have a room next to reception where the safes are kept and the only access to them is through the guy who is in the office, which is re-assuring. The grounds are beautiful, the staff amazing and we met loads of other people who were returning to the hotel as they had previously stayed there. Some of the 'returners' were coming back for the 18th time and another couple returned for the 34th time!! All this goes to show that the Neptune and its staff are a winning combination, and we ourselves cannot wait to return. Whilst staying at the hotel there were 48 'returners' and if you do come accross them during your stay always ask their opinion with regards to trips, best places to go and any other snippets of advice they can give. We took the advice of many of the returners and booked a two day trip with the boys from the beach. They are fabulous and will take you to all the places that the tour operators will not, so you get a good feel for sri lanka as oposed to the parts they want you to see. The beach guys are also cheaper than the tour operators and they treated us like royalty, even giving my husband flowers on his birthday, which was an amazing gesture. go to the beach and ask for Bob,Sami or Tintin and they will sort you out for all your tour needs. We used them to go to the Elephant Sanctuary, Kandy, Tea plantations, Temples, and the Turtle project in bentota. By all accounts the hotel has been given the go-ahead to revamp 40 of the hotel rooms and this will no doubt make the hotel even more desirable. The best part of our honeymoon was feeding the chipmonks who roam around the grounds, and if you can book a meal in the tree house, the food was devine, the service was second to none and we sat eating and drinking whilst watching the sea lap against the beach whilst the fairy lights flickered. The staff also arranged for us to have meal outside of the restuarant for my husbands birthday, and decorated the table. We found that when you went on the tours you got a real taste for the beauty of the country and have never seen such wonderful scenery. When you see the paradise that is the hidden gems of the counrty you will want to return to see more. The charm of the people, their friendliness and there love of tourists who make their country what it is, and their hard working nature teamed with their keeness to please outshines any fears you may have about visiting Sri Lanka or the Neptune hotel . A truly magical honeymoon experience. Even if you do not have an interest in elephants, do visit the elephant orpanage, it is amazing to see such majestical creatures and when we visited there was a baby elephant of one and a half weeks old, one with only one ear and another with 3 legs, it is heartbreaking, exhilarating, overwhelming and beautiful to whitness these wonderful animals - a must for anyone who visits this Country. If you go with the beach guys and book a tour be sure to ask them to take you to the elephant bath, where you will see 80 elephants bathing. Also if you want to ride an elephant or actually bath one of these animals, mention it to your guide and he will sort it out, which is something the official tour operators will not inculde.

My wife and I stayed here for a few days to wind down from the hectic touring of India. I wish we'd gotten here sooner! The location is absolutely perfect as far as a great beach and some fun waves. The hawkers on the beach are a little persistant and annoying after a while. No need to worry about finding Sammy or the other beach boys. They wait beside the fence on the beach and as soon as you make a move towards the beach, they'll meet you. We were trying to just relax and didn't want to go anywhere, by boat or car. However, many of the quests that were there for longer periods of time used and highly recommended their service. We found the food very enjoyable and the service impeccable! We also found that a little tip goes a long way. Everyone that we tipped was most grateful and it really took very little money. Our room was very large and comfortably furnished. We had a great view of the sea. The room could use a little paint and the ceiling had a leak (we weren't on the top floor). Overall , I'd stay in the same room again. Lots of hot water and large shower. The shops on the beach, just north of the hotel , are fantastic. You can get clothes made or altered in hours for an incredibly reasonable price. The staff are all wonderful!

I timed my stay at the neptune, towards the end of the monsoon season. There were only a couple of heavy downpours. Rooms - The rooms would benefit from improving the quality of the beds, very uncomfortable. The bathroom would benefit from having a new suite installed. Food - For the first few days the food was fine. However, there was a lack of variety, but the main concern is that the quality of the ingredients were poor. I can't fault the service as all the staff are very attentive. Location. Absolutely perfect. Tours and Trips. Use the beach boys. Bob, Sammy and Upol. They are all brothers. They know their stuff and are a far cheaper option than using the reps. I went to Galle in a Tuk Tuk with Upol, amazing. Did a two day trip to Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya and the elephant orphange with Bob. These guys are registered with the Tourist Board. Be prepared to be stopped by Police and Security services when out on tours, The industry is heavily regulated. Tipping - I hate tipping. I expect good service regardless. However, be prepared to donate to the tour guides, assistants and at the temples. I was a single female traveller, so this hotel is perfect for combining some sightseeing with a relaxing beach/poolside holiday catching up on reading and recharging your batteries. The hotel is usually quiet during the week, but fills up with locals at the weekends. It has a multinational clientele. Safety, Security and Terrorism. I felt really safe, more so than I do back home. Yes there are terrorism attacks, but all the hotels have gated entry at the front and security on the beach. Expect to be constantly approached by street hawkers when not in the hotel complex, you can say no, and offence won't be taken.

We had stayed at the hotel Neptune both before and post tsunami. What had been the best hotel we had ever stayed in was not quite back to normal. That was only to be expected and we excepted our still rather damaged room because we had especialy asked for it . The previous touches of flowers in the room every night appeared to be dependant on whether the room attendant was tipped or not as was the ability to get a sun lounger in the morning and good service at dinner . The boys on the beach I am sure provide an excellent service but as independant travellers we found their constant attempts to persuade us to go on one of their trips as soon as we set foot on the beach quite a strain. We also tried to buy goods from most sellers but found the pushyness of the sirong sellers (from whom we had purchased goods the day before) too much. However we will possibly go back again as the hotel setting and friendlieness of the staff were still excellent. I feel that the hotel has a good way to go to achieve its previous standard

just come back from our two week stay at the neptune hotel, and wow what a holiday, ALL the staff were very friendly, we all had a really enjoyable time. we didnt use our holiday rep for tours as used the beach boys , found just outside the hotel towards the beach. We had Saminda, he was very polite and also had a great knowledge of the local places of interest.. hope to be booking up again soon for next year!

This is our second visit to Sri Lanka staying at the neptune, the staff could not have done more for us. Such a friendly atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. Glad the beach boys were still there to take us on 2 wonderful overnight tours at less than half the price of tour rep quote,Sammy is the man to see for tours, just step onto beach and ask for him,you wont be disappointed. Noticed the tour rep moved the welcome meeting forward to 9.30 am to try to get us to sign up for tours before we had a chance to see the beach boys-cant blame him for trying!!! For a reliable tuk tuk driver i have to recommend Mikey, He has just managed to get his business up and runnung after the Tsunami ,he wont rip you off and will take you anywhere, (took us to a great t shirt shop where we bought loads of quicksilver, billabong,von dutch etc. really cheap)staying with you as a guide if you want him to.Again, just ask for him on the beach. Hope the info helps