Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa — Attraction in Sri Lanka

This review covers a 2 night stay in mid-December 2024 by a family with 2 young kids in a standard room which was booked using Marriott points.

LOCATION: the hotel is centrally located in Weligama with a number of shops and local restaurants within walking distance or a short tuk tuk ride away. There are also 3 beach clubs right next door. The location is certainly an advantage versus a lot of other beach resorts in Sri Lanka which are often quite isolated. Weligama itself is also quite a buzzy little town.

STANDARD ROOM: a spacious entry level room at 46m, albeit it felt a bit dated. It was generally well appointed but I wouldn’t call it particularly luxurious. The best part was definitely the ocean view. We were on the 10th floor (the highest in the resort) and the views were pretty special especially at sunset time. On that note, it is worth checking out the hotel’s rooftop to get the best of the views.

POOL: the hotel has two main swimming pools which are side by side, both similar in design but with respective depths of 90cm and 120cm. There is also a separate water slide feeding into a tiny third pool. It was an ideal setup being quite a compact area which allowed us parents to sit in our loungers while having eyes on the kids as they rotated between the two pools as well as the water slide. The pools were also heated to a comfortable temperature. The water slide was basic but high speed and the kids really enjoyed this. The music and saxophone player created a bit of a nice vibe at the pool in the late afternoons.

BEACH: just a few steps away from the pool is the beachfront. It is a public beach hence there are no sun loungers or hotel service once out there, plus there are quite a few scalpers around selling surfing lessons and water sports. The beach itself is pretty decent though – for Sri Lankan standards – with soft sand, a gentle decline and no rocks or other debris. The waves are moderately strong and constant supervision was required for our younger aged kids, but they did love being thrown around in the water.

OTHER FACILITIES: right next to the pools there are a couple of ping pong tables, a foosball table, a pool table plus a sad looking kids club that caters more to babies/toddlers. What was very much of interest to our older kid was the newly opened video games room. This housed a PS5 on a huge projector screen, an arcade style driving game, plus a couple of other things. Note these items were chargeable but not that expensive ($5 for 30 min on the PS5).

FOOD: we had both breakfasts, one buffet lunch and one poolside lunch at the hotel. I was pleasantly surprised to get free breakfast on a points booking (not the norm). The food was generally decent. There was a wide selection at the buffets, while our poolside lunch was enjoyable.

SERVICE: I have become accustomed to slow, often disorganised service on my trips to Sri Lanka, and was pleasantly surprised to see very efficient service at this resort. Staff here have clearly been well trained. Check-in was very friendly, and we were given a WhatsApp contact number through which any requests were attended to speedily. For example, a local restaurant booking request was sorted within a minute of me asking. Poolside food and drinks service was also above average. The service aspect certainly enhanced our overall experience at the hotel.

PRICES: I haven’t noted specific prices down, but to give an example we spent around 24k rupees (£65) for an entire day at the pool, including lunch for the 4 of us and a couple of cocktails/juices. Within reason I would say.

CONCLUSION: I was very pleased with my stay at the Weligama Marriott. While not the most luxurious of properties, the prime location, nice pool and beach, generally compact layout, beautiful views and excellent service all came together to leave me with a very positive view, and I would certainly consider returning in future. In my view this property is miles ahead of the only other Marriott beach resort in Sri Lanka (the...

When people book a five-star property, especially from a globally recognized brand like Marriott, it’s for the luxury of relaxation and peace of mind. But apparently, Marriott Resort & Spa, Weligama Bay has no concept of this.

Yesterday, I experienced the most appalling violation of privacy imaginable. While I was in the shower, a room service staff member came to the door with some razor or other item (the details are honestly a blur given what followed). He rang the bell three times, to which I clearly responded, “Please wait for 2 minutes.” He acknowledged my request.

And yet, within two minutes, as I was just stepping out of the shower looking for my bathrobe, I heard the door open. The staff member had used their employee key card to enter the room, despite my clear instruction to wait. In what world is this acceptable? How dare a member of housekeeping enter the room without permission, particularly after being explicitly told to wait?

This was an unacceptable invasion of my privacy, and frankly, an incredibly distressing experience. I was vulnerable, exposed, and violated in what should have been the safe confines of my hotel room. I immediately reported the incident to the manager, and her response was to offer me some breakfast and dinner as compensation. Are you serious? I wasn’t looking for a free meal; I was asking for accountability and basic respect.

To make matters worse, when I told her that I was going out and couldn't do dinner now, but asked if she could arrange something tomorrow, she called me back half an hour later and said I had to speak with her General Manager first. Until then, they were halting all services to my room. Not only was I harassed and violated in my own room, but now I’m being denied services unless I talk to the General Manager? The manager’s tone was condescending, dismissive, and downright insulting. She made it clear that she didn’t believe me, implying several times that I was fabricating the story. When I asked her to bring the housekeeping staff for clarification, she outright refused.

This wasn’t about breakfast or compensation. I wanted an apology, some shred of basic human decency, which, apparently, is too much to ask from Marriott Weligama.

When the General Manager finally called, he doubled down on the hotel’s absurd stance, suggesting I should have put the room on “Do Not Disturb” mode if I didn’t want to be intruded upon. Excuse me? I told the staff to wait two minutes while I was in the shower! This was not a DND issue—it was a blatant violation of my privacy and intrusion into my personal space.

It is absolutely outrageous to imply that it’s my fault for not preventing an invasion of privacy! Marriott, is this how you operate? Where the blame falls on the guest for your staff’s incompetence and blatant disregard for basic guest privacy?

I’ve stayed at properties like Taj, ITC, and even Marriott hotels in India, and this level of harassment, unprofessionalism, and complete lack of respect has never happened. This incident is a disgrace to the Marriott brand. I felt threatened and vulnerable, and instead of empathy or a genuine apology, I received condescension and total dismissal of my experience.

This is not hospitality; this is harassment, plain and simple.

The General manager involved is PIYUSH TYAGI AND manager...

I was a pleasure staying at the Marriott Weligama hotel and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. While I may not have a specific title for this review, I assure you that my overall impression of the hotel was exceptional. Allow me to elaborate on the various aspects that made my stay truly memorable.

First and foremost, I was thoroughly impressed by the hotel staff. They were incredibly responsive, friendly, and always ready to assist with a warm smile. Their attentive nature and genuine care for the guests truly enhanced the overall hospitality experience.

One aspect that immediately caught my attention was the impeccable cleanliness throughout the hotel. From the lobby to the rooms, everything was spotless and well-maintained. It was evident that the hotel takes great pride in upholding high standards of cleanliness, which made me feel comfortable and at ease during my entire stay.

Now, let's talk about the food. The hotel's culinary offerings were simply outstanding. With a wide variety of options available, I found myself spoilt for choice. From breakfast to dinner, the meals were delectable and thoughtfully prepared. While the hummus fell slightly short of my Lebanese expectations, I must emphasize that the rest of the food was truly amazing. The variety and quality, combined with reasonable prices, left me thoroughly satisfied.

Moving on to entertainment, the Marriott Weligama hotel truly excels in providing options for leisure and fun. The presence of a football table, ping pong table, and billiards pool added a playful element to my stay. It was refreshing to have these activities readily available, offering a great way to unwind and connect with fellow guests.

The hotel's location by the beach was another highlight of my stay. Although the wind and high waves created a not so good swimming atmosphere, it was perfect for surfing enthusiasts. My daughter even managed to learn how to surf in just five minutes with the help of a skilled instructor she found on-site. The beach, albeit a bit windy, offered a picturesque setting for relaxation and beachside activities.

Now, let's talk about the rooms. The spacious accommodations with stunning ocean views left a lasting impression on me. The rooms were tastefully decorated, and the wide balcony provided a tranquil space to enjoy the scenery. The highlight for me was the luxurious bathtub, allowing me to indulge in a soothing bath while gazing at the mesmerizing ocean vistas.

However, I must address the only negative aspect I encountered during my stay, which was the fridge in the room. Unfortunately, it did not cool effectively, and we had to rely on the hotel's fridge outside the room to store our beverages. While this was a notable inconvenience, it did not overshadow the overall exceptional experience.

In conclusion, my stay at the Marriott Weligama hotel was nothing short of extraordinary. The attentive and friendly staff, impeccable cleanliness, delicious food (excluding the hummus), abundant entertainment options, breathtaking beach, spacious rooms with stunning ocean views, and the only minor issue with the fridge made my experience truly memorable. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a remarkable and enjoyable stay...