Ballena Regency

I loved my stay here, as the room was spacious and clean. The bed was super-comfy, with a medium-hard mattress. Slept SOOOOO well. Get the breakfast to start your day well - fruit plate, Sri Lankan omelette, coffee, tea, juice. The staff speak moderate English, and will make every attempt to ensure your stay is comfortable. Although this establishment is located well Google Maps is NOT to be trusted! Maps will take you to a location over the nearby creek (which stinks during the day). Maintenance on the place could be better, and overall looks a little tired. Pool is not over-chlorinated, which is a bonus.

This place has had some poor reviews due to it only being a year old and already needing major maintenance. Yes, the hallways and fittings throughout the hotel are pretty dodgy, but the room was fine. Modern, clean and comfortable. I think some people need to remember this is Sri Lanka, and is only just becoming touristy, so a lot of things aren't quite up to "Western" standards. Our room was big and comfortable, the bed was massive, and definitely the best shower we had at all of the places we stayed throughout the country. Hot water, and great pressure. The Wifi even though we had full bars, was pretty much non-existent though. There is also a roof top bar and restaurant advertised, however it is only open for breakfast. Pool area is great. The manager and staff were super lovely and helpful. Probably couldn't have picked a better location. You pay a little bit extra to stay here, but not that much, and compared to what you get for a little less everywhere else, the bed and shower were worth a couple of extra dollars.

We very much enjoyed our stay at the Ballena Regency. The hotel is new (its a year old), and has been finished to a very good standard. Our room was large, and being on the third floor, had great views including a side view of the ocean. The room was very clean, lots of storage and hanging space, and very good a/c! We also had a spacious balcony with seating area. The pool area is lovely, with loungers and umbrellas for shade. The breakfasts at the hotel are hard to beat - with fresh fruit platters, juice, tea/coffee, pancakes, omelette etc all offered and freshly made to order for guests. The location is great - a couple of minutes stroll and you are at the central entry point for Mirissa beach with all the bars and restaurants. As the hotel isn't directly on the beach, you are protected from the noise from the bars when you retreat back to the hotel at the end of the evening. Perfect! The staff were brilliant - always helpful, and cheerful. They organised our onwards transfer to Thalpe, and were always available when we needed them. We would definitely recommend the Ballena Regency, and will stop there again if we return to Mirissa!

Ballena Regency is basically a four storey building with nine bedrooms, a breakfast room on the roof and a decent sized swimming pool. The sea is just visible from the top two floors. The beds are huge and comfortable and so are the rooms. Not much of a garden but a small still river next door full of fish, turtles, iguanas and birds and monkeys in the trees. Cleanliness is good though the shower soap dish in our very nice bathroom was caked in old, dried soap and never cleaned. Mirissa beach is a little crowded but good fun and lots of beach restaurants. Plenty to do in the area by tuk tuk or taxi. Location of hotel is excellent, a short way back from the busy main roàd. Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Thoroughly recommended.

Upon late arrival we got a very dirty and unclean room. It was disgusting. We complained about that and got the answer that it was cleaned the day before. We were offered a new room which was OK and we could move in one day later. The management avoid to answer our request about compensation but after six days we could reach a solution only due to the fact that we kept asking and asking. There was also rats running around in the corridors. This hotel could be a great place with the right management and reliable and well trained staff. Now its is like they do not know how to provide a descent and clean standard and how to respond to the guest demands.

As new hotel, a little bit weird that the ceiling of the bathroom is seriously mould. Would be good to have a restaurant even though there is lots of choices at surrounding area.