Happy Horizons Homestay — Hotel in Sri Lanka

If, for no other reason you visit Ella, you must go for the magical experience of staying in Happy Horizons Homestay. We thought we had won the lottery when we arrived at this absolutely gorgeous place - and we had! New in March 2019 the place shines. We could not believe our eyes that in Sri Lanka, in the forest, would be such pleasing and unique little house. It really is unbelievable. The tones of highly lacquered timber and shades of green just enhance the forest setting. One wall inside the little house is a sculptured forest giving the feeling of being plonked in a fairytale setting. The house is large and spacious with grand beds draped in mosquito netting and adorned with beautiful linen and the bathroom is large also and very modern. The space is very private with a lovely balcony overlooking trees and forest and monkeys - what a great place to day dream or read a book whilst enjoying a cup of tea or a cool drink. We were served a most delicious (and immodest!) breakfast there each morning by our adorable hostess, Chandy. Nothing is too much trouble for Chandy or her husband Ruwan who are very gentle and gracious hosts and who live very discreetly in their home behind the bungalow. Chandy offered great guidance to activities in the area one of which was cooking classes by Lanka, down in the town. We actually walked to our class from Happy Horizons which took around 20 minutes but, at a very reasonable charge, a tuk tuk can also be arranged by Chandy if you are motivation or time poor. Chandy has a little massage studio nearby and each massage is commenced with a head and shoulder rub whilst sitting on a chair overlooking the fields and valley and listening to the peacocks and other local birds calling. The sights, smell, sounds and touch all meld together to create ultimate relaxation. So good and so inexpensive. Eating can be a Sri Lankan buffet just metres away from the bungalow, delicious pizza delivered to your door or a variety of restaurants can be found in nearby Ella. We were three (husband, wife and sister-in-law) in our late 60’s to early 70’s and we were captivated by all aspects of this homestay. In fact, my husband and I plan to re-visit Sri Lanka in the not-too-distant future and we fully intend staying at Happy Horizons Homestay for a month. I hope you too have the charming experience...

My partner and I have just completed two weeks of travel in Sri Lanka from Melbourne Australia. Though we spent five days apart, travelling separately to the north and south, we agreed upon reuniting, this home stay was our favourite (and we wish we could have stayed longer!). ||The home stay is tucked away from the tiny town of Ella, away from the tourist shops and cafes catered to westerners (albeit cluey back packer style tourists... Great adventurers and keen walkers:-). It's about 300 rupees from the train station (the most exquisite 6 hour train trip you'll ever have from Kandy to Ella) to the home stay. When you first arrive you'll feel it's a bit far away from the town but once you orient yourself it's only a leisurely ten minute walk back to town. ||The good neighbors home stay has basic but pretty rooms (with private bathroom) queen beds with mosquito net, and, if you're lucky enough to get one of the two rooms downstairs as we did, a big private courtyard looking at the waterfall. ||Our hosts always had a mosquito coil going and brought us tea at the end of our long and delightful walking days. ||Breakfast each morning was delicious and we had both dinners at the home stay, easily the best food we've had in Sri Lanka for a very small extra fee. ||I was sad to Farewell the family as they were so lovely and again, wish we could have stayed longer. ||If you're looking for relaxed, tranquil, comfortable and friendly accom, this is it:-)||Kate|Ps we walked to the waterfall for a swim (bus back as its 6k all up hill), walked to little Adams peak and the nine arch bridge and had delicious smoothies at cafe chill in town. A map was provided by one of our hosts and it was a perfect circuit. Stick to his Map though- do not follow signs or locals to the 9 arch bridge... Lots...

Having just returned from a 2 week stay in Sri Lanka I feel I have to write a review of my experience in Ella.||I tried in November to book a stay at Waterfalls View Guesthouse for 2 nights in Feb '16. I received an immediate e-mail response from Chandy advising that Waterfall View was fully booked but offered 2 rooms at the Village View Homestay. This was acceptable so I e-mailed by return to book a Double room and a Triple room at Village View.||I was given 2 mobile numbers to contact Chandy prior to arrival. I e-mailed Chandy the day before our arrival confirming our expected time of arrival from Kandy. When we were about an hour away from Ella I phoned ahead. The person who answered asked to speak to our taxi driver. Upon arrival in Ella we were met at the end of a road by a chap on a moped. This turned out to be Ruhan - the owner of Village. Chandy was nowhere to be seen. Ruhan explained there was a problem and that we had been double-booked, despite my e-mails.||He showed us to some other property but this was unacceptable. It was more or less still a building site as the property/homestay had only just been completed. In fact, we would have been its first guests,||Ruhan kindly arranged for us to see a hotel in Ella, the Tea Gardens. By this time it was getting dark and we were very tired. We took 2 rooms here but early the following morning we checked out and found ourselves a better guesthouse - Shadow Inn - which was much more to our liking.||Ruhan was helpful. Chandy was inexplicably conspicuous by his absence.||I would urge caution when booking via Good Neighbours because our experience was very...