Welcome to our comprehensive review of the Riu Sri Lanka Hotel in Ahungalla, where we recently spent two unforgettable nights as part of our cherished honeymoon tour.
This blog post offers an in-depth look at our experience, giving you a first-hand account of what to expect when staying at this luxurious establishment.
To make navigation easier, we’ve included a table of contents. Feel free to jump straight to the sections that interest you most.
Table of contents
Now, without further ado, let’s share more about this Sri Lankan hotel and its great hospitality. We have stayed in many Riu hotels, you can check out our Riu Palace Tikida in Agadir review.
Location
Riu Sri Lanka Hotel is located in Ahungalla, a serene town on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.
The hotel overlooks the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by lush greenery, offering a tranquil and picturesque view from all areas.
Booking
You can book a stay through Tui if you are staying for a while, or if you are staying a few days, book your stay through Bookings.
Lobby
The lobby is spacious and beautifully decorated with local and modern designs. We were greeted by welcoming staff, who quickly assisted us with our luggage and check-in process.
Restaurants
The hotel has three restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines.
Ritti Panna – Buffet
The main restaurant Ritti Panna, serves a buffet with an array of international options. Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Kaori – Asian
Asian Restaurant Kaori serves oriental food at dinner time; there is no need to prebook. We didn’t try during our short stay as we enjoyed the buffet. But if you were to stay longer, it would make a welcome change.
La Forchetta – Italian
Italian restaurant La Forchetta offers authentic dishes made with fresh ingredients. We did not eat here during our stay.
Saute – BBQ Restaurant
The Riu Sri Lanka also offers its guests the option of a BBQ restaurant, an exciting change from the buffet.
Mealtimes
Here are the mealtimes and where you can eat.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served 7am – 10am in the main restaurant. With a delightful spread of fruits, pastries, breads, cereals, and traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Many egg dishes and even bacon, sausages and baked beans.
Lunch
Lunch at the Riu Sri Lanka Hotel is served in the main buffet between 12:30 and 3:00 PM. The selection of dishes is vast, catering to various dietary preferences.
We were spoilt for choice with the assortment of local Sri Lankan cuisine, Western favourites, and fresh seafood options. The restaurant staff were accommodating, ensuring a pleasant dining experience each time.
Dinner
Dinner at Riu Sri Lanka Hotel is an experience to look forward to. It’s served from 18:30 to 22:00. The diverse menu features a broad selection of dishes, from traditional Sri Lankan fare to international cuisine.
We enjoyed trying different dishes every evening, and the freshness and quality of the ingredients were commendable. The dinner setting was also very romantic, perfect for our honeymoon getaway.
You can have dinner at the Italian, BBQ or Asian restaurants instead, as mentioned above these are included on the all-inclusive meals.
Bars
The Riu Sri Lanka offers a variety of bars for all tastes. Here are the options available within the Sri Lanka Riu Hotel.
Drinks Menu at Riu Sri Lanka
Each bar at the hotel offers a variety of cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Lion beer, white, rose, red and sparkling wine.
Nuwara – Lobby Bar
Open from 10:00 to 00:00, it’s a perfect place to relax after exploring.
Purple Bar
During our stay at Riu Sri Lanka, we loved spending our evenings at the Purple Lounge. Open from 6 pm to 11 pm, it had a cosy vibe with an extensive drinks menu.
The live music and open-air terrace made our nights even more enjoyable.
Flamingos – Pool Bar
At Riu Sri Lanka, we adored the Flamingos pool bar. It was open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and sipping cocktails by the poolside was such a treat!
Disco
Although the disco at Riu Sri Lanka sounded exciting, starting at 11 pm and going until 2 am, we didn’t manage to stay up late enough to experience it. But for night owls, it seemed like the perfect place to dance the night away with a cocktail in hand!
After Hours Bar
We heard about the After Hours Bar, which sounded like quite the nightspot. Operating from 10 pm till 7 am, it catered to those who wanted to keep the party going or start their day early with a drink. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to experience it ourselves.
Rooms
At Riu Sri Lanka Hotel, our honeymoon was made extra special with an upgrade to a sea-view room. Spacious and stylish, the room featured a comfortable king-sized bed and a balcony offering breathtaking views of the pool, beach, and sea.
The bathroom was well-appointed, featuring his and her sinks and a large shower area.
Small touches like swan art made from a towel on the bed and the next day a dog, and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine for our honeymoon added to the charm.
The room also included tea and coffee facilities.
A stocked fridge with water, soft drinks, and juices ensured we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
Pools
The Riu Sri Lanka Hotel is home to three fantastic outdoor pools, each with its own unique charm.
Located next to the Flamingo Bar, is an infinity pool, which was our favourite. It overlooks the beach and provides a tranquil environment perfect for relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere and stunning views made for chilled-out afternoons soaking in the sun.
The middle pool is where fun and fitness combine. With various games and fitness activities taking place here, it’s a hub of energy and excitement.
Then there is a second, long infinity pool, a family hit. Its elongated shape offers plenty of space for everyone, and it’s where families spend most of their time enjoying the water. It was beautiful at night time, we enjoyed a evening dip to cool off.
Each pool was clean, well-maintained, and surrounded by ample sun loungers, ensuring we always had a spot to relax and soak up the sun. The variety of pools catered to different moods and activities, making our stay at the hotel a truly enjoyable stay.
Beach
The hotel is positioned directly on the public beach and ensures security is stationed at the beach-side entrance/exit. While tour sellers are present on the beach, they courteously withdraw after a brief conversation.
The ocean’s waves can be quite rough, making swimming not advisable. Despite this, the pristine and serene beach makes for an enjoyable experience.
Our long walks along the shoreline before dinner, taking in the mesmerizing views of the Indian Ocean, were truly memorable.
Entertainment
At Riu Sri Lanka Hotel, they entertain in leisure, sports, relaxation, cultural experiences, and all night enjoyment, ensuring there is never a dull moment.
This perfect balance of activities offered relaxation and stimulation, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local culture.
To keep you informed about the day’s happenings, an touchscreen electronic board in the lobby updates the day’s activities and events. This ensures that guests are always aware of the entertaining options.
Daytime
The RiuFit team offers a diverse range of activities for those seeking more active pursuits. You can join in a water polo game, try your hand at darts, engage in a friendly volleyball match, or partake in a bowls round.
If you’re looking to stay fit during your vacation, you can participate in water aerobics or dance programmes offered by the hotel.
One of the highlights is the assortment of board games available in the lobby, including Carrom (see carrom rules here), Sjoelbak, and Chess. These classic games offer a great way to relax and engage in friendly competition with fellow guests.
In addition, Hotel Riu Sri Lanka also offers bingo games for guests who enjoy this classic pastime. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a novice, playing a game of bingo can be a fun and exciting way to spend your afternoon.
Evening
The evening entertainment at our hotel in Sri Lanka was a delightful blend of live music and cultural performances. We spent our evenings in the lobby, entranced by the soothing live music that filled the air. The ambience was perfect for winding down after a day of exploring and soaking up the sun.
Additionally, we had the opportunity to witness a traditional Sri Lankan dance performance. This culturally rich spectacle was an immersive experience, offering us a glimpse into the vibrant local traditions and customs.
The Purple Bar, with its large stage, is another venue for performances, though we didn’t get to see a show during our short two-day stay.
For those who enjoy late-night fun, the disco stays open until 2 a.m. We didn’t quite make it to the disco, but it’s a great option for night owls looking to dance the night away.
Kids Club
While our visit to Riu Sri Lanka was a child-free honeymoon getaway, we can confidently say that this resort caters excellently to families. The hotel offers a kids club program filled with engaging activities to keep children entertained and happy and a babysitting service.
In addition to these services, the hotel features a separate splash pool area specifically designed for children.
Let’s not forget about the character dress-ups. Kay, even had a delightful encounter with one of the turtle and managed to snap a memorable picture!
Gym
The gym at our Riu Sri Lanka hotel is available for guests to use free of charge. It caters to all fitness enthusiasts, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete. The gym has various basic equipment suitable for weight training and cardio workouts.
You’ll find everything you need from fitness cable machines to treadmills and stationary bikes to maintain your fitness routine during your stay.
One of the standout features of the gym is an intriguing stretching machine. It helps improve flexibility and promotes better posture. It is the perfect solution for guests looking to stay active during their vacation.
Spa
The Riu Sri Lanka spa adds a layer of luxury and relaxation to your stay.
It features two large Jacuzzis, each offering a distinct experience.
One Jacuzzi is filled with hot water, perfect for soothing sore muscles and unwinding after a long day. The other Jacuzzi has cold water, ideal for a refreshing dip that invigorates the senses.
The spa also offers separate steam rooms within the male and female changing areas.
These steam rooms help to cleanse the skin, promote relaxation, and improve circulation. However, couples or mixed sex groups cannot use them together due to their location in the gender-specific changing rooms.
If you want to pamper yourself more, try their beauty, hair, and massage services. Remember that these are chargeable services not included in the standard package.
Things to do near the Riu Sri Lanka hotel
The hotel’s location offers easy access to many attractions.
We visited the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, went on a river safari on the Madu Ganga, and enjoyed a trip to the historical Galle Fort.
We used Apple Vacations for all our journeys throughout Sri Lanka. They come highly recommended, our driver Christo was brilliant, we will write more about our whole trip with them soon.
The Yala National Park is not that near (3 hours away) but we highly recommend going that little further to experience a safari at Yala National Park. We stayed at the Yala Cinnamon Wild which was an amazing hotel too!
Conclusion Review of Riu Sri Lanka Hotel
In wrapping up, our experience at the Riu Sri Lanka Hotel was nothing short of fantastic. The staff were warm and welcoming, the facilities were top-notch, and the location was breathtaking.
We can’t recommend it enough to anyone planning a trip to this beautiful island nation.
Everything was brilliant, from the scrumptious food catered to all nationalities, the extensive cocktail menu included in the all-inclusive package, and the spotlessly clean and spacious rooms with stunning views. Truly, our stay was an unforgettable one.
I would give this hotel a 9/10.
What a great hotel. Your room looked beautiful 😍
Thank you, Nic, for your kind review! We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed our blog post on our stay at Riu Sri Lanka hotel in Ahungalla and yes the room was lovely 🙂