Shangri-La's Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa, Sri Lanka Reviews

This resort is not like the Shangrila in Colombo, where the Colombo one looks newer. The services are okay. The location is ok. You have to drive very long to get here.

Enjoyed our stay, peaceful. However beach isn’t flat and one has to be careful around it.

Despite being a 5-star hotel in Sri Lanka, our initial experience was subpar. The room we were allocated seemed hastily arranged, lacking even basic amenities like towels. Despite calling reception multiple times, the room wasn't cleaned promptly, and we only received water the next day. The overall experience, excluding breakfast and the scenic outdoor location, fell short of expectations. Throughout the night, power interruptions were frequent, causing the AC and other devices to go off briefly before backup kicked in. The hotel staff's knowledge and efficiency in managing guest requests were lacking. During dinner, we observed identical spreads placed in three different corners, offering limited variety. The cost of approximately 8,000 rupees appeared disproportionately high compared to city hotels, considering the taste and variety of the buffet. While the hotel boasts picturesque views and a serene location, experiencing genuine hospitality may require patience and multiple requests. If you seek a peaceful location, it may suffice, but for a truly satisfying hospitality experience, it might be worth reconsidering unless you are prepared for persistent follow-ups.

Beautiful resort, probably the best in sri Lanka. Top service and loads to do on site highly recommend

Environment: The hotel has its own beach, which is very convenient for walking and clean Room: Average, I was given a room on the third floor with a view of the golf course. Although it is a bit far to go downstairs to the beach, it is not humid Service: I asked for water twice at 9 o'clock in the evening, and they promised very well, but they didn't deliver it. The room service is average. It was my mother's birthday, so I booked a cake when I checked in. When we had dinner in the evening, the chef and waiter brought the cake and sang to celebrate for my mother, which was very thoughtful. Golf: I decided to play golf on a whim. The playing and tips were very cheap, but renting balls and buying gloves and balls was very expensive!!! It's outrageous. If you want to play golf, at least bring your own gloves and balls. Don't come here to buy expensive ones that make you want to cry. The golf course is well maintained, and the caddies are generally professional but full of emotions.

It is a holiday estate with a very British style, with careful decoration details and full of South Asian characteristics. The whole park is very large, the room is also very large, and the balcony can directly see the beach. The only drawback is that the sound insulation is very poor, and the sounds in the corridor and upstairs are clearly audible... and after eating two meals in the buffet restaurant, I felt obvious stomach discomfort. I don’t know if it’s the food.

Great hotel, great sea view, great breakfast and dinner

I have to say we were really looking forward to going to this hotel on our trip. What a total letdown it has turned out to be. The hotel is very tiered looking and in need of a total refreshment. The quality of the food is poor the room are in a poor condition the mini bar has 1 bottle of water in it.

Hotel is lovely - for those who likes nature, peace and who wants to get away from the crowds. I really enjoyed my stay here. Swimming can get a bit dangerous in a an ocean, but there are lifeguards. But anyway - swimming in ocean here is for those who can swim very well.

This review is almost entirely positive. It was my second visit to this resort. The first visit was shortly after it originally opened (7-ish years ago), when the golf course was not yet complete. PROs: Amazing suite, amazing buffets, super-friendly staff across the board who really care and want to help, and a pretty good golf experience with a great caddie. And though it's not my situation, it's clearly a family-friendly resort but not in a way that would detract from an adult experience. CON (singular): Management needs to support the staff to help them be the best they can be. They do very well, but at a resort of this quality they could be even better. Every detail matters. You can complain about the length/detail, below, if you want. Or just stop reading now. My short visit (Dec 30 and 31, checking out New Year's Day) was simply to play golf and relax over this holiday. Enter the open-air lobby and enjoy a welcome drink and a cool washcloth. Take a deep breath and start relaxing. Between the main lobby open-air bar and the Clubhouse restaurant/bar (Ulpatha) I was very well taken-care-of. Because of my golf schedule (more below) I only had breakfast one morning, but the buffet was impressive (and included hoppers -- if you don't know what a hopper is, give it a try). Traditional western breakfast choices, plus curries and pretty much anything you can think of. The coffee was the best I had in Sri Lanka. Golf: The first day, I played 9 holes early afternoon after an early check-in and a light lunch (an excellent ceviche in Ulpatha). My caddie, Eshan, was a big help, while also being sympathetic (I lost a few balls) and friendly. The course absolutely isn't boring. The condition is good but not great (i.e. not the perfect grooming of most private clubs or tour venues). The timing of this round was perfect -- shortly after finishing, there was torrential rain. New Year's Eve morning. On the range at 6:30 with my new acquaintance. His game clearly outclassed mine, but we had a fun round with Eshan guiding us. We agreed that the course was a challenge (very tight in more than a few place) with many opportunities for balls lost in the water or in very thick low brush. Only one very difficult par-5 seemed unfairly punitive (the 7th), and given the chance I'd prefer playing the back 9 again rather than the front if I were only playing 9 holes. New Year's Eve. This was a miss for me, personally. Admittedly it was a very personal miss and this day only happens once a year. It does not run afoul of TripAdvisor policy on complaints on closing/hours: I had asked for (and was given!) a reservation at Sera (their most upscale restaurant) for New Year's Eve, a reservation I made shortly after checking in on the 30th. Unfortunately, at 7 pm, the restaurant was closed. I talked with the manager. He was clearly sympathetic and did his best under the circumstances. Nothing from room service caught my eye, so I chose to join

Our vacation at ShangriLa Hambantota has been amazing! The hotel manager Rifan and his entire staff is first class. From our room to activities and amenities to our dining experience and the attention our waiter Rasanjana provided elevated our experience beyond a typical hotel stay to a truly wonderful experience! We will definitely return on our next trip to Sri Lanka! Thank you to the entire team for a memorable experience! Thushari, Kevin & Cammi

Had good stay but didn’t meet the expectations! The facilities were good for a family trip. The pool area was brilliant and the whole atmosphere is calming. But I do not recommend the staff as we were disappointed from the entrance it self. The staff need a good training and have to improve hospitality. Except for Ranepura whom we met at the restaurant. He was the only person who acknowledged our baby even offered appropriate food for her. He is the only one who made us feel welcomed where others didn’t even help us with our luggages. Also Navindu gave us a good service at breakfast. As Shangri-La we suggest you enhance the welcome and create a better vibe.

We enjoyed the lunch buffet at ShangriLa Hambantota. Food was delicious and the range of foods were perfect. Very beautiful location. Nice atmosphere Prasad , a staff member from there gave us a really good service. Worth visiting again .

Rooms are clean and super comfortable.. You must experience the buffet with different varieties Chai ☕️ tea was one of my favorites Kids can enjoy their pool with slides nice and clam environment which helps us to relax and getaway from busy days was really worth