Shangri la Hotel Colombo

Extremely satisfied 👍. After the chain bombings in '19, the security measures here are truly commendable; I didn't expect such strict security checks. Shang Palace is as delicious as ever, and the chef even came out to greet us, which was lovely! Our room faced the sea, and we enjoyed two beautiful sunsets! The second floor has direct access to the mall, with all the tourist-favorite brands located near the hotel. Since my flight was late, the hotel allowed me a late check-out. I really love this Shangri-La!

The hotel facilities are great, but the atmosphere was a bit tense. Overall, the hotel itself is good; the rooms and service are all up to par. However, this experience felt a bit strange. We arrived in the middle of the night, and as soon as we entered the hotel, there were two layers of security checks: first, military personnel with sniffer dogs, and then the hotel's own security. Honestly, this kind of setup made me feel a bit tense and unable to relax. I was looking forward to the sea view when I woke up, but the weather wasn't great that day; neither the sky nor the sea were very blue. The advantage of the large floor-to-ceiling windows wasn't really utilized, which was a bit disappointing. After leaving the hotel, the street outside was full of tuk-tuks, emitting a strong diesel smell. It instantly pulled me from the vacation vibe back to reality. 😑

Shangri-La's quality truly lives up to its reputation. The location, service, and room amenities are all top-notch. I felt that the staff's professionalism was significantly higher than in other hotels. However, the security checks when entering and exiting the hotel were quite strict, which was a bit inconvenient, likely due to a government building being right next door. The hotel's direct connection to the mall is a fantastic feature; you can walk straight from the lobby into the shopping center, which is great for shopping even on a hot day. The mall also offers a wide variety of restaurants with different cuisines. There's a large city under construction directly across from my room, which will probably take a year or two to complete, and this does impact the quality of the sea view. Still, I caught a beautiful sunset from my room on the day I checked in. Finally, I have to mention Shang Palace – it was quite disappointing. The dishes I ordered were all very average. I had held onto some hope after seeing mixed reviews, but it didn't meet expectations. If you have high standards for Chinese food, I wouldn't recommend trying it. I hope the hotel considers improving the quality of its Chinese cuisine.

The room felt a bit different from the pictures online; at best, it's comparable to an Atour Hotel in China. The restaurant, however, was great! Lots of variety, friendly service, and good food. Oh, and the hotel requires security checks, which is pretty unusual.