Anantaya Resort & Spa Chilaw

Was not happy with the cleanliness of this hotel. I've added pictures for context. The bathroom had horrible thick mold around the sink. Behind the bedhead the partition screen was packed with dust and cobwebs. The phone was disgustingly dirty as well. The cradle of the phone actually had dirt particles heaped in there. The couches were stained, the blinds in the bathroom didn't work. The entire place was pretty worn which was surprising since it apparently opened in 2014. I informed the reception staff that the room needed cleaning and showed her pictures but she just looked at me blankly. So I said we'd be out all day if she could please have someone clean. That was 0730 am when we got back at four only the bed had been made up none of the dirt cleaned. I called and informed the staff but they didn't really seem bothered. So I said I'd be putting in a review, later that night the the house keeping wanted to come into the room be shown the dirt and clean! At 9 pm at night. I refused. 🙄. The pool is reasonably nice but they really need the pool as the beach has extremely strong surf and has red flags up with good reason. Also there is a lot of litter washed up on the beach which is unsightly.

The room was nice and big but didn't get why they opted for see-through glass walls (some blinds covering it!) for bathroom?

We had a truly superb experience at Anantaya Resort & Spa, Chilaw — one that we will cherish for a long time! What stood out most was the perfect balance the staff strike between being attentive and giving guests their space. There was no unnecessary interference, which made us feel completely at home — as if the entire resort belonged to us. That sense of freedom and privacy is something rare and truly special. One thing that particularly impressed us was their flexibility with room arrangements. As most hotels strictly allow a maximum of three guests per room, we were pleasantly surprised when the resort accommodated our family by allowing our two children, both above 12 years, to stay together with us in a spacious quad room. This thoughtful gesture made our family stay so much more comfortable and convenient — and it truly reflects the guest-first mindset of the management. The rooms were comfortable, well-appointed, and immaculately maintained. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a top-class getaway in Sri Lanka. We will definitely be back!

During the dinner service, I observed a group of individuals standing directly at the buffet table, eating food directly from the serving dishes with their fingers. They did not use the provided serving utensils, nor did they move to a dining table. Instead, they congregated around the buffet station, blocking other guests from accessing the food and consuming items directly from the shared serving platters during the dinner rush. This conduct is not only unappealing but presents a significant health hazard. By using their bare hands to take food from communal dishes during dinner service, these guests are contaminating the food source intended for all patrons. This is a direct violation of standard food safety protocols and is entirely disrespectful to the health and well-being of every other guest in the hotel. Furthermore, by standing and eating at the buffet, they created a bottleneck, preventing other guests (including myself) from being able to access the dinner selection they had paid for.

‎Beautiful place, very free environment where you can be free, there is a big pool area, the food is also very delicious, the staff is special. There are very friendly staff, especially Miss Thisari, who was a waitress in the restaurant staff, served us with a very friendly and beautiful smile. She was a child who helped my father a lot. Also, Miss Sithmi was very helpful with the rooms and all the questions. Thank you, I recommend Anantaya Resort and Spa Chilaw. Hope to come back. Thank you all.

Do Not STAY IN THIS PLACE. Extremely Disappointing Experience. Not What You Expect From a 5-Star Resort We booked three rooms at Ananthaya Resort & Spa, Chilaw, expecting a relaxing and memorable final stay in Sri Lanka before returning to New Zealand. The resort itself is beautiful, and unfortunately, that is where the positives end. When we entered our rooms, everything initially looked nice. However, we soon noticed that the bed sheets and pillowcases in all three rooms appeared to be used and had visible stains and marks. This was extremely concerning and completely unacceptable for any hotel, let alone a property presenting itself as a 5-star resort. We politely contacted reception and explained the situation. We were told that someone would come and change the linen. There was no apology or urgency whatsoever. We waited for approximately 1½ hours, but nobody came. We then went to the pool and explained the situation to the pool staff member, who was actually very friendly and helpful. He contacted housekeeping again and told us someone would come. We returned from the pool at around 6 pm, and nothing had been changed. We called reception again. The response from the receptionist was extremely careless—essentially that someone would come when they could. We had checked into the hotel at around 3 pm, and by this point several hours had passed since our initial complaint. We were then told something even more shocking: there was an issue with the laundry and linen stock, and this was apparently why used linen had been placed back on the beds. We asked to speak to a manager. Reception said the manager would be informed and would call us back. Nobody ever called. Eventually, a housekeeping staff member came to the rooms. He was a very polite and genuinely apologetic young man. He explained to us that they were having problems with their linen stock and laundry, and that this was a management issue. He changed the sheets and pillowcases in all three rooms and apologised to us. We also spoke to another reception staff member later while we were having dinner. Unfortunately, there was still no genuine apology or concern. She simply said that this “can’t happen,” despite the housekeeping staff and another receptionist already telling us that the linen issue was related to laundry and stock problems. My question is simple: How can a 5-star resort knowingly put previously used linen on guests’ beds? If there is a problem with clean linen, the solution should be to delay check-in, provide alternative clean linen, or properly resolve the issue—not put used sheets and pillowcases on guests’ beds. The housekeeping employee was the only person who showed genuine concern and took responsibility for fixing the immediate problem. The pool staff member was also very helpful. Unfortunately, the overall response from management and reception was extremely disappointing. We chose this resort for what was supposed to be a special and memorable final

Disappointed as hell. I think the people ( except Mr Anjana and the tall chef and the two smiling receptionists and the person at the front door ) are not trained at all. No smiles. No welcome. Everyone looks angry / agitated. So I come and ask for a baby cot. Which they told me they have. Now this badly trained lady ( I’m being polite here ) was all smiles and full of attitude in explaining why there are no baby cots. Then Mr Anjana came in was polite about it and he explained. I was ok. Then came to the restaurant. What a joke it was. Table was not ready. Ok that’s fine. So they made it ready. But no cutlery’s. Then we had to ask. Then with zero smiles just gives away the stuff. Even when we say thanks. Then came to the room. Guess what. No towels. 45 minutes informed. And I’m typing this while waiting for a towel. Dear management you guys are not doing it right. Mr Anjana is good. Learn from cinnamon or shangri la or Jetwing chains. So annoyed with this. I booked 3 rooms for 2 nights. In vain.

I came to Anantaya after 10 years for the 3rd time and it was very disappointing to see how they provided the service. The maintenance was very bad and in Room s10 the AC was leaking and the floor was wet. When we checked they failed to explain everything. We booked through Find my Fare and we were informed we can check out at 12 but they requested the room at 11. They don't even clean the place or check the cleanliness all the time. Check the attached picture the plates and cups were just left near the stairs and not cleaned from the time we checked in until we checked out. We will never visit Anantaya again and I don't recommend this place to anyone. The food was good but the service was not that good.

Our stay at Anantaya Resort & Spa, Chilaw was, unfortunately, one of the worst hospitality experiences we have ever had. What should have been a pleasant stay turned into a series of frustrating and disappointing incidents from check-in to check-out. We made our reservation through Find My Fare and, because this was an immediate check-in, I had to call five times just to obtain the payment link. When we finally arrived, there was no proper welcome or hospitality from the front-office staff whatsoever. I was also unaware that the property had changed management/ownership. I had arranged a lunch meeting with several of my clients and wanted to order from the à la carte menu. I was told by the receptionist that à la carte service was not available and that we had to use the buffet. Unfortunately, the buffet was nowhere near what I expected from a resort of this standard. The seafood was particularly disappointing, and after consuming it, some of us experienced itching and discomfort. The problems continued throughout our stay: * From the moment we checked in, our luggage was initially delivered incorrectly. * Luggage delivery was handled using what appeared to be a local private truck, rather than what we would expect from a professional resort operation. I have photographs of the vehicle and can provide them if required. * The overall service lacked professionalism and basic hospitality standards. * Several broken or damaged items in the room had apparently been left unrepaired, creating concerns about guest safety. * There was very little genuine hospitality or attention to guests. * The so-called international buffet certainly did not meet the standard I would expect from an international resort. * We were told that rice and curry were being served, yet at one point there was no rice available on the buffet. * I repeatedly had to call the restaurant staff simply to request drinking water for our table. * Staff appeared to have very little awareness of basic guest-service etiquette and did not seem attentive to guests’ needs. * Most disappointingly, the receptionist began calling from around 9:00 a.m. to remind us to check out on time, which felt unnecessary and extremely unwelcoming given the overall experience. What concerns me most is the apparent lack of basic hospitality standards. The staff did not appear to have the level of training or industry experience one would reasonably expect from a resort of this nature. Even the identity of the management/company operating the property did not appear to be clearly understood by some members of staff, which raises further questions about management, training and operational standards. Sri Lanka is renowned for its hospitality, and properties operating under the country’s tourism industry should uphold at least the basic standards expected by both local and international guests. Unfortunately, our experience here fell far short of that. I am seriously considering forwarding the details, phot