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Reviews of Nooit Gedacht Heritage Hotel (Original Dutch Governors House) 3 stars

Unawatuna, 80000 Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

#105 of 105 hotels in Unawatuna

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 349 hotel reviews

8.3

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.4

  • Comfort

    8.4

  • Location

    8.9

  • Facilities

    8.4

  • Staff

    8.9

  • Value for money

    8.4

  • Free WiFi

    7.6

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 2 November 2024

    9.0
    Stay here, but look out for the best deal first.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    -

    The property itself is stunning. Well maintained and super clean.

    Stayed in November 2024

  • Reviewed: 23 October 2024

    8.0
    This hotel was a good choice
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Little humidity smell in the room. You have to pay rent for beach towels (not deposit).

    Location is on the main road near bus stop and not far from the beach. Good continental breakfast. Spacious yard with nice pool area and garden. Big shower space with quality toiletieres. In room kettle, complimentaries, bottles of water, safety deposit box, useful cable TV, good wi-fi in whole hotel area. Beds and pillows were good for sleeping.

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: 9 October 2024

    9.0
    Nice food ☺😍 keep it up
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Budget Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Naturally beautiful 🥰❤️

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 October 2024

    8.0
    Beautiful garden!
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Budget Double Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    noisy air conditioning and little smell in the room- but we had only budget room

    Beautiful garden and big pool is the nice place to rest. Breakfast was tasty (but not sri lankan dishes). Room was good.

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 September 2024

    8.0
    Value for Money , Good Location, Nice staff and nice Dutch architectural Property.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 1 night

    - Some Local group guests kill the ambient by Noisy music and partying at Pool Area. - In our stay continues dog bark near room around 2-3AM which killed the sleep. - AC cooling is bit slow

    - Value for money - Dutch Ambient - All the facilities are there. - Fair Buffet type Breakfast - Supportive staff.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 September 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    A bit overpriced but the amazing pool and lovely breakfast made up for it. Off a very busy road so a bit tricky to walk anywhere, but otherwise pretty central. Staff were really helpful too. The restaurant was very pricey but it's a short walk to the main shopping strip and lots of cheaper eats.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 September 2024

    8.0
    It was a peaceful gateway.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was small but it was alright as it was the standard size room.

    I loved the experience at nooit gedacht. The environment was so beautiful and calm.. it was a perfect gateway. It was very safe and we had a really good time. I would recommend nooot gedacht to anyone. The staff was helpful as well. They had a good breakfast spread. The pool was big and mostly loved it coz it had a huge garden and it was calm and quiet.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: 16 September 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Standard Triple Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    -

    great breakfast, very well served

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 16 August 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 1 night

    - None

    - Very supportive staff - Nice Dutch ambient - Value for Money - -

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 16 August 2024

    9.0
    A very comfortable and pleasant stay with a lovely colonial touch
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Quadruple Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 1 night

    The front office reception staff in particular were great - warm welcome with a smile and efficient check in process. The rooms and toilets were clean and sleep comfort was good with AC's working well. Breakfast provided was good. Has a beautiful garden and large pool in lovely setting overlooking forest patch across and you can enjoy the visiting monkeys and bird life. The main building itself and the governor's residence has its old charm and is well maintained.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 August 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Standard Triple Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    - Pool is ready after 9.00AM and missing early swim who like - better few Srilankan items to the Breakfast buffet.

    - Very Dutch Ambient Property - Good Staff - Location - Surrounding

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: 8 August 2024

    7.0
    Perlect location
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The breakfast could be improved: have more choices and be more local with Sri Lanka delicacies for example.

    The swimming pool is great. The location is amazing close to the beach and the restaurant. The garden is beautiful with all the animals.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 29 July 2024

    8.0
    Great little hotel with helpful staff
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The festival that was on during our stay (22-26 July) made it very crowded and difficult to get about with my elderly mother. The noise from the loudspeakers which were blaring religious speak was hard to handle as it was constant..

    It's great that you can catch a bus to Galle from just outside the hotel. There are also a couple of small stores located close by fron which you can buy water and fruits at a reasonable price.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 9 July 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing in particular

    It has an easy vibe, yet it was homely, and a well maintained hotel .They upgraded my room which u really appreciate . The breakfast was wholesome.

    Stayed in June 2024

  • Reviewed: 1 April 2024

    9.0
    A wonderful find.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Triple Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Steeped in heritage, this is a real treasure for those wanting to experience something a bit special. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the main building and the beautiful gardens.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 March 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    ordered food poolside only once as it took an hour and was of very basic quality. felt quite young here at 45.

    beautiful old historic building obviously with some terrible past. the huge pool and garden are a perfect spot to watch chipmunks, monitor lizards and a huge array of birds, short ride from Galle. breakfast is varied every morning and great Sri Lankan options

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 28 February 2024

    8.0
    Beautiful hotel and grounds but needs maintenance
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Sometimes room cleaning wasn’t until late in the day, needs to be earlier and not when you are wanting afternoon rest time. Shower pressure very low and mostly cold water. Awful creaky wooden bed frame very noisy. Breakfast could be improved very repetitive, same food every day. This hotel needs to be updated, having said that, hotel has so much potential. Used spa area, nice but again needs sprucing up and maintenance. Should definitely have a large fan in the reception area which was very hot and humid when guests are waiting.

    The location was fab very central to all amenities lovely balcony view of the lake. Lovely friendly staff. pool area nice and good towel service.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 22 February 2024

    8.0
    An oasis of calm
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 2 nights

    They breed mosquitos with all the standing water they have around the property yet provide no nets for protection. Also, they tend to overpromise. We had confirmed twin beds upon booking (buddy trip). They put us in a single. When we protested, they upgraded us to a triple room that had multiple beds, but if they hadn’t had any available rooms, it would have been bad. They claim it’s a 5-minute walk to a super awesome beach. Try 15+ minutes of traffic dodging to an OK beach. General maintenance is mid-level.

    Has sizeable grounds making it a nice oasis in an otherwise busy location. Very good breakfast buffet. The air con worked great, and we had hot water in the shower (a rarity for us in Sri Lanka). Good wi-fi, which I mention because sometimes with heritage buildings the construction interferes with the wi-fi. Here, the heritage buildings are used for the lobby and eating areas, while the guest rooms are more modern construction (maybe 20 years old). On-site wildlife including monkeys, birds, and monitor lizards. Don’t let your kids play in the pond out back, saw an alligator in there.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 February 2024

    8.0
    A good hotel, well located, quiet and away from the bustle of the main street
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Quadruple Room with Garden View
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Wifi was intermittent in the rooms

    Good breakfast, plenty of choice on the buffet, nice rooms, pool was good, friendly staff

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 February 2024

    8.0
    We loved our visit and would happily return to it anytime.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Budget Double Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing.

    Old fashioned but with wonderful staff and gardens.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 February 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The wifi was patchy and only really worked on our balcony.

    The room was really comfortable, with tea/coffee facilities and a fridge. The balcony was lovely, overlooking the pool. Shower was (very) hot! The pool was great and lots of wildlife in the gardens. There was a large selection of food for breakfast everyday. We also used the spa which was nice. The location was ok - about a 10 to 20min walk to the beach, along the way there are lots of restaurants and bars. Although it's on the main road, you don't notice it at all once you're in the hotel.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 February 2024

    8.0
    Very nice stay, relaxing after an intensive tour of Sri Lanka
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Technical maintenance could be improved. Noisy ceiling fan, lack of mosquito netting, small but significant things that could easily be fixed

    Very atmospheric hotel, stylish, with beautiful pool and garden, close to beach.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 February 2024

    7.0
    Great historical hotel just lacking modernisation hindering its potential
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Budget Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very dated room, which requires better ventilation, I.e. mosquito net windows so you can sleep at night without waking up to a musky mildew smell everywhere. As fantastic as the history of the hotel is, the rooms could do with some TLC. With upgraded rooms, this hotel has amazing potential to possibly be a 5 star with its grounds and facilities.

    Colonial history, beautiful garden, wildlife from monkeys to frogs, great front entrance, and swimming pools

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 February 2024

    9.0
    Probably the best location in Unawatuna
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Superior Double Room with Mountain View - Free 24 Hours Check in & Check out (Offer valid till 20th Dec 2021)
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Low pressure in the shower, but it’s not a deal breaker.

    A real historical location in an amazing garden. Even though it is close to everything, it’s an island of peacefulness. Beautiful place, good breakfast.

    Stayed in January 2024

Showing 1 – 25

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