Buckingham Place

Of all the places we’ve stayed in Sri Lanka this sets the highest bar and we couldn’t praise it highly enough. From the greeting on our arrival, to the beautiful presentation of our room for our wedding anniversary, to the food, the views and the staff, everything was 100% perfect. We were personally approached by the owner Nick (an English man) on many occasions who took a genuine interest in all his guests. The staff were 100% attentive, knew the guests by name and took the utmost care with everyone. On the evening of our anniversary the staff had hung a ‘happy anniversary’ banner above our table, decorated it with flowers and gave us a handmade card signed by all the staff, a beautiful touch. The rooms are, as Nick described, a sanctuary for his guests and they a very roomy, very comfortable and styled beautifully. The bathroom featured an open air shower and a covered tub area. We had a balcony where we could sit and look out over the lagoon. We thoroughly enjoyed the live piano by Sanjaya a local musician and the atmosphere was relaxed. We truely felt like we were being looked after in the best way possible, everyone made us feel so comfortable and at home. We couldn’t recommend this place any higher, if we could give it 10 stars we would. Thank you so much Nick and the crew for making our time so enjoyable and special; we will be back!

This was our 4th visit to the incomparable Mr Nick's (😉) amazing hotel, each time we have stayed for longer, this time for 2 solid weeks. As soon as we recognised the familiar surroundings we were back in our happy place. Familiar faces amongst the amazing team were warmly greeted and we settled in. The food choices, quality and service were, as ever, excellent. The dinner menu has changed since our last visit, giving more options for those staying for longer than the 5 day menu rotation. We have our menu favourites and to be able to choose these on multiple occasions made us happy. As always all food is fresh, well cooked and presented, having pre-dinner nibbles and drinks in the bar talking to other guests was nice. Both pools are immaculate, bed chairs and towels are clean and comfortable. The evening frog and toad journey through the pool, restaurant and bar kept me entertained. The rooms, we stayed in 2 due to availability, were cleaned daily, large and perfectly adequate, if you need anything just ask! There are plenty of places to walk to see the wonderful wildlife that Sri Lanka has to offer, do ask Kalpa to arrange a visit to the Rekawa Turtle Sanctuary next door, or Kalamatiya bird sanctuary both are great value. There's a reason that people return, we met several that have whilst we were there, and it's the familiarity and comfortable atmosphere that Nick has created. It's our happy place...make it yours!

We stayed here as part of our trip via Rickshaw Travel/Heritage expediciones for 5 nights. The thing that stood out at this hotel was the amazing staff and atmosphere. It wasn't your typical boutique hotel that concentrates on style alone. It has a vibrant and welcoming feel and the service was first class. The staff were friendly and Nick the owner made you feel part of the family as soon as you arrived. If you wanted to be left to yourself that was not a problem either but if you needed anything it was not a problem and always done with a smile. It was my birthday while I was there and my husband arranged a number of surprises on the day with the help of Kalpa that made the day all the more special. The room (standard) was comfortable with a large bathroom including shower and bathtub and balcony. The breakfast menu was extensive and included lighter options (such as fruit and toast) as well as good mains. We also ate here in the evening and the menu varied daily and had a selection of meat, fish, veggie dishes. We also had a massage while we were here (arranged as part of our trip) which was fantastic. We aren't generally people who go back to the same hotel/resort but think we might be making this the exception to that!

Stay here for longer than you intend! We enjoyed an unforgettable 9 night stay over Xmas in this most wonderful gem of an hotel in a breathtaking setting with hospitality and service that surpassed our expectations. The warmth, friendliness and efficiency from everyone was truly outstanding. It’s the kind of place you can check out from but you can never leave. The level of service surpasses most 5* hotels by far. Stunning grounds, glorious pools, wildlife galore, delicious food, lovely rooms. What’s not to like?! It doesn’t really get any better than this. The invitation is to truly kick back and enjoy yourselves. The beach in front is absolutely stunning with the thunderous roar of the crashing waves. We did an amazing day trip to Udawalawe park. A pleasure chatting to Nick the owner and wishing you a speedy recovery. Your Place is amazing and can’t wait to return. Thanks to Kalpa, Madu and all the staff 🙏

We stayed at Buckingham Place for the last 5 days of our nearly 4 week travels around Sri Lanka. The rest of our trip had been pretty budget, so we decided to splash out and spoil ourselves at the end. Buckingham Place exceeded our expectations in all ways. Rooms are spaced out in the gorgeous grounds, ensuring peace and quiet and privacy. They're well appointed, very spacious and beautifully clean. The bed was comfy and the open air bathroom was a cool feature. Staff are quietly attentive, anticipating what you need, whether it be a foot stool for your feet, another drink, or a fresh towel for your poolside lounger. We had breakfast provided as part of our deal - a lovely variety of choice, so we worked our way through the menu. The dinner menu was of a high standard and changed nightly, with both Sri Lankan and European/fusion choices, so the food also become one of the highlights of our stay. The pool is gorgeous, the swim up bar well tended and all in all, we couldn't fault our stay. Well worth the cost for a relaxing, pampered time. Buckingham Place sits at the crossroads of friendly, personalized luxury and owner Nick and his team do it very well. Thank you for my little birthday celebration, too, guys! Irene & Mike, NZ