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Reviews of Hotel Elephant Park

3 out of 5
Hotel Elephant Park
Hotel Elephant Park, Rambukkana

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 67 reviews" "

8.0/10

Cleanliness

8.2/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Kurt

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great one night stay! We could see all the elephants from our room! It seems the property and rooms have been updated and they are clean and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

AgnesWoon, Singapore

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Enjoyable and interesting to be close with the el
Staff are friendly and helpful Breakfast is also good
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ericka , USA Fl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved the hotel staff was amazing
Stayed 4 nights in May 2018

8/10 Good

Keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Safari location
Really friendly staff, always helpful and flexible. Great food and amazing location for safari and elephant sanctuary
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hotel overlooking river where elephants bath
Other than a small stain on the wall and figuring out the A/C unit... everything was excellent with hotel. It is at a great location (overlooking river where elephants are bathed twice daily), the service (front desk, restaurant, housekeeper) were all excellent. We booked the room with the balcony overlooking the river (and this is highly recommended). You will definitely enjoy your stay at this hotel.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Elephants!!
The elephants are super cool to watch from the balcony. The room was big and clean and comfortable. The food was OK. It's all about the elephants! Staff were great.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

joydeep

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Taylor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location right next to the river where the elephants bathe. However it is said that you receive free ticket into elephant park, however this is not completely true! We came early and were told we were not allowed to go down to the hotel early to check in without paying the ticket price because the elephants are bathing. So we had to either pay the ticket or wait until 4. Also the free ticket into the sanctuary is only for the bathing area you have to buy a new ticket to enter into the orphanage itself! Was a bit misleading!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

Ray, Rye Victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Surprisingly good stat
Located so close to the river and elephants renovated rooms good menu well maintained.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

10/10 Excellent

matt, london

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best kept secret
This hotel is far superior to its rating and should be redone, only stayed one night as touring but it had the best shower of all and a good night sleep and a breakfast feature that is proberbly one of the best in the world
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

chelsea , australia

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Perfect hotel to see the elephants
I stayed here for one night. The location was fantastic, having prime access to the elephants. Room was new, clean and quiet. Breakfast was simple but delicious. There were 2 main downsides, firstly the check in/out times. 4pm check in and 12 check out. The reasoning is to access the area the hotel is in, you need a ticket (2500Rs) before 4. The second was a massage that the hotel insisted was part of the package. I requested for a female, only to have a male arrive after an hour waiting. He was unprofessional and I asked him to leave 3 times after feeling violated. Most of the staff were abruptly and unfriendly. I would still recommend this hotel due to the prime location. I wouldn't go into the orphanage if back again. I was able to feed the animals and chat to the trainers at the hotel without the thousands of people. Make sure you have smaller notes with you to tip however.

10/10 Excellent

Phillip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Location amazing
Fantastic location,friendly staff,limited menu,nothing to do in the area after 17,30 We would stay at this hotel again

8/10 Good

Benjamin

Liked: Room comfort

10/10 Excellent

WAN CHI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect location for seeing the bathing elephants!

10/10 Excellent

Cyndi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location & Staff
We stayed at this location in 2014 and were happy with the staff. The accommodations weren't the best, but were okay ... On this trip we were pleasantly surprised with the upgrade ... The remodeling of the rooms to a more up to date environment. We are so happy with this place and will continue to visit because of the perfect location and the incredible staff and accommodations!

8/10 Good

nigel , pewsey England

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location
We checked in staff very friendly. Room was amazing and lovely and clean. Had a few minors but overall great hotel.

8/10 Good

Adam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Scenic
At 8.30 am Elephants are brought from orphanage nearby you bathe. They literally walk past hotel front door to water which has runs under your bedroom balcony. A magical experience. Bedrooms spacious but plastic mattress protectors made beds sweaty.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

6/10 Okay

Gregory

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Elephant overlook
Perfect location on the Maha Oya river, directly above where the elephants are brought to bath and play. Be sure to take a room overlooking the river. The hotel staff are friendly and accommodating! Also, make a point to be on the balcony facing the river at sunset... and look up! There is a large colony of fruit bats that nest up river and at sunset they fly as a group into the forest to feed!

10/10 Excellent

Maisarah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice hotel and great location
Must go hotel Nice place Nice breakfast I like the elephants on the river washing and hanging out.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A hidden gem in, a must for elephant enthusiasts
Amazing view for a very fair price. The hotel offers premium housekeeping services and the food is great. But most importantly, you get to enjoy an amazing view of elephants bathing in the nearby river most of the day!

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A life time experience.
We loved staying at the hotel, right in amongst the elephants. Watching them bathe in the river and so close to the elephant orphanage. Bottle feed two baby elephants.

8/10 Good

Candice, San Diego

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Elephants!
I was nervous when checking into this apartment after reading some negative reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised when we checked in. The front desk staff was not friendly at all, but the rooms were better than expected. They were clean and the AC worked well. The location cannot be any better. When we were eating the delicious Sri Lankan breakfast, we got to watch elephants walking around the river and enjoying themselves. It was really cute when we had ordered the Western breakfast, you could tell that our server was disappointed that we wouldn't be trying the traditional food so he ended up bringing us a taste as well. We were glad that he did, as it was delicious!! I highly recommend staying here if you want to be in the elephant action. They walk the elephants down to the river right in front of the hotel, and it is magical.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location to see elephants bathing!
Good basic hotel. Clean, good service and comfortable. During our stay there were 3 weddings on the first day and 2 on the second, which made it a bit crowded, especially parking. Great location for seeing elephants bathing - just below the hotel and they walked right past us on their way to the river.

10/10 Excellent

Darrell, Australia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stay at elephant park
Great location to see elephants

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disappointing
Very good location to watch the elephant bathing in the river. Appart from this, nothing much going for it. Slow and unfriendly staff.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect View
I highly recommend this hotel - just when we arrived we could see bathing elephants from our room window! In case you are not so lucky and you have window to another side than the river is you can still have the nice view from shared balcony or restaurant. Perfect also in the morning - you can watch elephants while having a breakfast! Really perfect stay. We went there in September (non-season), so not many people were there and not many shops were open. The village itself was quite boring, but still the view was worth staying the night!

2/10 Terrible

Fox, UK

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Elephant Park Hotel
Complete rubbish . This is a real let down. Rooms are dirty, smells so fusty. First the team gave us small dirty rooms looking over a car park when we said this was not suitable they said we can upgrade but at additional cost .we got one room changed but never paid the extra. I spoke to the resturant staff about the poor conditions and they said everyone knows but nothing is done about it. We never had our breakfast and checked out at 5 am . The place is dirty dirty dirty and would never call this a hotel.The checkin staff are very unprofessional also trying to get you to sign what time you would like dinner , we said if we want dinner we will let you know later. We will definitely never return and wish we never went in the first place. The wife never slept all night the bed sheets were coverd in stains so had to lay a bath towel over the bed . Absolutely disgrace. Should not be allowed to operate.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
stay away, especially with kids
We had 2 rooms: one smelled terrible. Both beds were comfortable when you laid on them; one had bed bugs which we didnt sleep on. Room 104 smelled terrible, even after the staff "cleaned" the room again. When we complained to the manager, he said he didnt smell anything wrong. The hotel agreed to change our rooms the, then changed their minds, then gave me the key after I insisted they do so (long protracted argument) . Room 103 was ok, but staff and drivers were outside the window below making noise until 2 am. Upon seeing breakfast, we did not eat. Riverside rooms are best, room 101 was ok, you can open the window and air it out. My advice is to avoid this "hotel" completely! The only thing there are tacky, expensive shops & the elephant park. The nastiest place we have seen thus far. Avoid this: take a day trip if you want, we chose not to support the elephant park and left earlier than planned. Having travelled to all continents except Antarctica, this is the worst placed I have ever stumbled across...including hostels of India. Ugh

6/10 Okay

Lisa

Liked: Staff & service
Suitable hotel in fantastic location
Hotel is suitable, needs updating. The location is fantastic for the elephants but cross out anything else. Food was just ok.

8/10 Good

Jiri, Florida USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Pinnawala
Is all about elephants and if that is the main reason for visit you cannot be disappointed. You are able to watch the big and small Asian pachyderms throughout the day from this hotel and always have the best seat. The room we had was good size and clean but did not have a wardrobe closet.

6/10 Okay

Hammie, Australia

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Great location if you love elephants
This was an average hotel, with average service, OK rooms for not more than 2 nights while the food .......pretty average too. We had lunch at the next door hotel which was good but it's the elephants who are the draw they walked right past our bedroom window, about 30 of them and you could watch them all day playing from the river, from the balcony or even nearer

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst hotel they are making money on elephants nam
Terrible hotel the hotel management will cheat u horrible food and beverage service.

8/10 Good

Kaare, Denmark

Liked: Staff & service
Elephants just outside your window
If possible, book a room with a view to the river and watch the elephants come for bathing two times each day.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Asoupcan, Myanmar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Elephant Resort has heard your call!
I was apprehensive about going to Elephant Resort because of all the reviews saying that it was a hotel in sad shape. I thought I'd rough it out anyway to see the Elephants. Well, as it turns out, they are completely renovating the hotel. I'd say in a couple months from the date of this review, they should be back to their former glory. Even though it was under construction, I was never disturbed by noise. The hotel staff was very pleased to help. They were also good about not disturbing me when I was sitting at the restaurant, reading my book. Very intuitive. The elephants are great and I must report that it is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Or, you'll never forget the time you spend here. Imagine eating breakfast while twenty elephants come strolling down the street (elephant cubs and all), and then start bathing in the river. It's really a spectacular sight - and your day hasn't even started yet! The bed was the most comfortable that I have experienced in a hotel. Unfortunately my room didn't have a view of the river, and if I were to go again, I would demand a riverside view. For breakfast, they had an tasty tomato and cheese sandwich with a small bowl of ketchup. I haven't been back to North America in a long time, and this was the closest thing to a grilled cheese sandwich I have had since leaving. For dinner, I had the pepper pork steak - delectable.

10/10 Excellent

Edbhoy, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Place Great Service: A Wonderful Experience
If you want UK 5 star luxury then nowhere in Sri Lanka is for you. The Elephant hotel is beautifully situated and professionally staffed. Although the hotel is a little tired with no TV, the food and service are excellent. Would we use it again? You bet we would

10/10 Excellent

Neumann, Australia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Do this before you die!
Hotel offers an opportunity to watch elephants throughout the day. Ringside seats from the hotel dining and balcony areas. One of the best located hotels in the world I would say.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

8/10 Good

Anthony

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

KARIM

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Pavel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Отличный отель в отличном месте.
Отличный отель для тех кто хочет насладиться утренним купанием слонов. Персонал был очень дружелюбен. Возникла 10-минутная заминка при регистрации, потеряли уже оплаченную бронь. Но в итоге персонал разобрался и нам выделили самый лучший номер в отеле с Супербалконом и Супервидом на реку. Вечером в отеле спокойно, для релаксации идеально. Ужин и завтрак были вкусными. Всем рекомендую.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Siril

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ivan Steen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Ielephants Right in front of you
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
ゾウの水浴び見学を目的にするには良いホテル
ゾウの孤児院からゾウたちが毎朝川に水浴びに来る。その水浴び場の目の前にあるのが売りのホテルです。通常であれば孤児院のチケットを持っている人しか入れないのですが、ホテルの宿泊者は見学自由です。ゾウの水浴びは朝8時30分ごろ（ゾウの数は多くない）と10時すぎ（本隊、ゾウたくさん）との二段階にわかれているようです。最初の回は近隣ホテルの宿泊者しかいないのでのんびり見学できますが、本隊が来るときには大勢の観光客が押し寄せます。 つまり、このホテルのアドバンテージはゾウの水浴び見学ができる点にあります。それ以外の点については、悪いというわけではないのですが、少々目をつむったほうがいいかもしれません。部屋は一見するときれいですが、棚はほこりが積もっていました。シャワーのお湯はちゃんと出ました。ベルボーイなんかもいます。なんというか、運用は一昔前のホテル、という印象でした。 レストランは川を眺められるテラスですが、カラスが襲来しますし、吹きさらしなで、ここもほこりっぽかったです。 ビールはライオンですが瓶ではなく缶でした。味はまあまあ。朝食はビュッフェで、種類が多かったです。オムレツを焼いてもらいました。スリランカカレーもおいしかったです。

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Schönes Hotel direkt am Fluss wo die Elefanten bad
Morgens beim Frühstück den Elefanten beim baden zu Sehen
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Yoshihiko, Kyoto

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
リバービューの部屋の予約をお勧めします
かなり前から、ゾウの水浴びを見られる部屋をリクエストして予約しました。 宿泊は、午後4時からのチェックインを厳しく運用してるようで、チェックインするまでにずいぶん待たされ、近くのレストランでビールやコーラをを飲んで過ごしました。 近辺のホテルでは、ゾウの水浴びを見るには一番ロケーションが良く、部屋のバルコニーからゾウの水浴びの様子を眺めたり、写真を撮って過ごすことができ、楽しく時間を過ごせました。 室内はやや狭いものの、よく効くエアコン、テレビ、ミニバー、冷蔵庫があり快適に過ごすことができました。シャワールームはアメニティもシャンプー、コンディショナー、ボディローション、石鹸と一揃いあります。 朝食は１階のレストランで、フルーツ、卵料理、薄いトースト、紅茶かコーヒーの簡単な食事ですが、こちらからも早く水浴びに来ているゾウを見ることができました。 ホテル宿泊者はゾウの水浴びは無料で見られますが、ゾウの孤児院は有料となります。
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2017