We enjoyed our time at the resort. The pool area was great and the food was good. It was also nice to have the option to go to the adjourning Anantara resort for additional meal options and spa facilities.

Our holiday was ruined as the hotel failed to tell us prior to our stay they were double booked with a corporate booking and MID STAY (10 night booking) we were told that the following day we would be moved to a different hotel. I have a young toddler under 2 this was extremely upsetting. The hotel they moved us to was complete opposite of the relaxed open plan setting being a horrible high rise that also gave us food poisoning. The hotel knew of the double booing but failed to inform us prior to our stay. We were there as a group with family staying in Avani the neighboring hotel Anantara as we were there for a family memorial. This split up our group and ultimately ruined our whole holiday and our family groups holiday.

Our holiday was ruined as the hotel failed to tell us prior to our stay they were double booked with a corporate booking and MID STAY (10 night booking) we were told that the following day we would be moved to a different hotel. I have a young toddler under 2 this was extremely upsetting. The hotel they moved us to was complete opposite of the relaxed open plan setting being a horrible high rise that also gave us food poisoning. The hotel knew of the double booing but failed to inform us prior to our stay. We were there as a group with family staying in Avani the neighboring hotel Anantara as we were there for a family memorial. This split up our group and ultimately ruined our whole holiday and our family groups holiday.

Good service and good food. But terrible location!

Good service and good food.But terrible location!

It's a nice hotel with a great location - the river on one side and the sea on the other. But Avani is primarily a family resort with lots of kids and large families as guests! Also they don't have a spa in the premises but guests can use the Anantara spa which is amazing but a little pricey. Even though we had a good time, it just felt that the hotel was a little bland, lacked a certain character..

I was staying at the Avani Resort for a friend’s wedding. My friend was getting married at the Anantara Kalutara Resort next door and because rooms there were sold out, she recommended booking at the Avani. I was glad I did, because it was just a 5 minute walk to their hotel next door and everything at the Avani was impeccable. The hospitality we experienced from the moment we arrived was warm and welcoming, and the room and amenities were top-notch. The room and bathroom were very clean and spacious - we also had a view of the ocean. There’s a pool and fitness center, the beach is literally a 30 second walk from the pool, and there are a couple restaurants with many types of food options. The food at the restaurant was good, especially the breakfast which comes with many types of juices, fruits, bread, and Sri Lankan specialties. I would 100% stay here again and I would highly recommend this resort to others coming to stay in the area!

We had a great stay here with our 2 year old. Great pool and the drinks prices were very affordable. Breakfast buffet was good too. The room service menu was a bit limited and quite expensive compared to some of the other hotels weve stayed at. The complimentary soft drinks were a nice touch and they were very kind about providing warm milk for our little one for all his feeds. There was no shower gel or body lotion, which was a bit of a pain as you expect that at hotel chains. But overall we had a great time.

We had a great stay here with our 2 year old. Great pool and the drinks prices were very affordable. Breakfast buffet was good too. The room service menu was a bit limited and quite expensive compared to some of the other hotels we've stayed at. The complimentary soft drinks were a nice touch and they were very kind about providing warm milk for our little one for all his feeds. There was no shower gel or body lotion, which was a bit of a pain as you expect that at hotel chains. But overall we had a great time.

We arrived early morning and they tried to put us in a room that was directly below building works going on with hammering noticeable, this in peak season We then finished up in a room next to the bar and also cleaning facilities which was also very loud The general quality was not what you would expect from a £280 per night resort, with lack of regular maintenance particularly noticeable Food choice was very limited and expensive Transfer cost of £81 from airport was unacceptable, we got there for £5 using bus and train

Avani was advertised as a 5 star resort. However we have found that the rooms are more like a 3 star tourist class hotel. Can’t believe that they have patches of rust on the mirror and has a rusty looking IKEA quality bin in the toilet. The rooms are also small. Room amenities are also not good. The swimming pool is tiny and when water Volleyball is played, there is no space to swim. One can only stand in the water. The service of the staff was also poor, particularly those in the restaurants and bar, They are not friendly, not helpful and sometimes almost rude. Food quality in the restaurants are also not good and expensive. Buffet spread is limited and not tasty. The cooked scrambled eggs as if it is a fried egg. Wifi is incredibly unreliable and super slow. It keeps dropping off, making it impossible to surf the net.

Stayed 3 nights in total over New Year.Hotel was very clean and comfortable.Service was top rate. We left at 4:30 one morning to go on a day trip (with a third party tour guide) and the hotel packed a little breakfast pack for us to to for the journey.Food at breakfast and lunch very good and very reasonable priced.The New Year Hala which we attend (charge is compulsory for staying over new year) was the best New Years party I’ve every been too.To be honest couldnt knock the hotel or Service in anyway. Only thing to be aware of is not much to do in local area. However lots of tours available via hotel

Stayed 3 nights in total over New Year. Hotel was very clean and comfortable. Service was top rate. We left at 4:30 one morning to go on a day trip (with a third party tour guide) and the hotel packed a little breakfast pack for us to to for the journey. Food at breakfast and lunch very good and very reasonable priced. The New Year Hala which we attend (charge is compulsory for staying over new year) was the best New Years party I’ve every been too. To be honest couldnt knock the hotel or Service in anyway. Only thing to be aware of is not much to do in local area. However lots of tours available via hotel

Found some things too expensive and not worth the money. For example bicycle rentals were too expensive and they werent even in good condition.

Found some things too expensive and not worth the money. For example bicycle rentals were too expensive and they weren't even in good condition.

Attentive and responsive staff. Menus could be improved. My mothers 80 birthday dinner was arranged by the staff and it was wonderful.

Could not fault our stay. Welcome and check-in was superb. Room was so clean and well looked after during our stay with some lovely peronal touches. Food was very good - both breakfast and dinner. The pool service and pool itself was perfect. Such a relaxing few days and every single member of staff was friendly, helpful and courteous. Can highly recommend this hotel for peace and relaxation. It was a tuk tuk ride from the main shopping area, but we didn't even want to leave the hotel except for a walk along the beach to the local beach restaurants and a lovely massage!

Could not fault our stay. Welcome and check-in was superb. Room was so clean and well looked after during our stay with some lovely peronal touches. Food was very good - both breakfast and dinner. The pool service and pool itself was perfect. Such a relaxing few days and every single member of staff was friendly, helpful and courteous. Can highly recommend this hotel for peace and relaxation. It was a tuk tuk ride from the main shopping area, but we didnt even want to leave the hotel except for a walk along the beach to the local beach restaurants and a lovely massage!

The hotel is beautifully designed, with amazing landscapes. The staff are very friendly, and polite. I truely enjoyed my stay and had a great relaxing time. The pool is beautiful and clean as well as the beach is just amazing. The only issue is while exiting the hotel premises, there very few street lights which gives you an uncomforting feeling to walk out of the hotel premises after sunset to see the village and surrounding local restaurants.

Great service! The hotel staff are very attentive and our kids enjoyed the pool. The receptionist Udeshi went out of her way to ensure that our little one was okay.The sea was unfortunately too rough to swim in. Food variety and quality could be better/authentic at the hotel.

Great service! The hotel staff are very attentive and our kids enjoyed the pool. The receptionist Udeshi went out of her way to ensure that our little one was okay. The sea was unfortunately too rough to swim in. Food variety and quality could be better/authentic at the hotel.

Very good. Staff were helpful and informative and always polite. I really can't understand some of the other reviews which seem to be picky comments about trivial issues made for the sake of whinging! The hotel was spotless and delivered exactly what was described. What more do you want? Complaints about bar prices seem out of place. The buffet (there is also a la carte) provided an excellent meal in three or more courses, was plentiful and varied. At Rs 2,600 you would, in the UK, be lucky to get 2 pints of warm beer and a bag of fish and chips! The gardens are well maintained and patrolled unobtrusively and, if you wander from the pool to watch the fishermen in the lagoon, you should see kingfishers, chipmunk-like squirrels and the occasional snake and iguana amongst the palm trees. Warning: the hotel-arranged taxi transfer was more than a little expensive. Cost me US$85 arriving and Rs5,000 (privately arranged local taxi) departing - almost 3-times cheaper. Don't go in the monsoon season if you want to swim in the sea - the waves and undertow will have you in East Africa before you're missed.

All I can say the staff the hotel the view was a mazing, I really felt welcome when we arrived I will for sure be back with new friends and family.

Lovely location and hotel? A few minor changes would make it easier for someone with difficulty walking. (room rug needs to be taped down so it isn't curled up an poses a tripping hazard - breakfast needs to be served downstairs or a lift put in - shower needs to have anti-slip strips installed) very friendly staff. $90 "required" Christmas Eve dinner +wine costs made us cut out stay there short so we would not have to attend.

Lovely location and hotel? A few minor changes would make it easier for someone with difficulty walking. (room rug needs to be taped down so it isnt curled up an poses a tripping hazard - breakfast needs to be served downstairs or a lift put in - shower needs to have anti-slip strips installed) very friendly staff. $90 required Christmas Eve dinner +wine costs made us cut out stay there short so we would not have to attend.

I enjoyed the hotel.

We had a very pleasant stay at Avani. Unfortunately they have this silly custom of not selling alcohol on a night of a full moon. In our case this coincided with a Saturday evening of our two night stay. I feel this should have been communicated in advance at time of booking or a discount made to the room rate to compensate for the lack of an advertised facility.

This hotel forces you to unwind and just breathe. It has the effect of a retreat with everything from the bungalow layout to the friendly (if somewhat too laidback) staff that very quickly learnt your name, to the view of either sea or lagoon that surrounds the hotel from all angles (very unique). There is a wonderful elephant called 'Monika' that comes to the hotel to take the odd tourist for a ride and she also serves as a bridesmaid for the odd wedding (there are plenty of those 'al fresco' in this hotel. This hotel is the ultimate relaxation place for when you really need to be forced to do nothing (for your own welfare) and when the hardest decision you need to take in a day is what to have for lunch or which book to read (yes they even have a library with novels left behind so no need to bring your own). The only negative is; watch out for the beach-boys.....I'll leave you to find out what I mean.

Travel time to hotel was extremely long- 2.5 hours to travel 60 km. once we arrived we were greeted with nice cool cloth and fruit drink. One thing I didn't like was the actual check-in. Staff was unorganized and seemed to be short a few or maybe inadequate. Overall- i wouldn't return because of location. If you'd like to see Sri Lanka, don't stay in one place. Travel around for 2-3 nights per area, much easier way to see the major attractions.