Buckingham Place

Of all the places we’ve stayed in Sri Lanka this sets the highest bar and we couldn’t praise it highly enough. From the greeting on our arrival, to the beautiful presentation of our room for our wedding anniversary, to the food, the views and the staff, everything was 100% perfect. We were personally approached by the owner Nick (an English man) on many occasions who took a genuine interest in all his guests. The staff were 100% attentive, knew the guests by name and took the utmost care with everyone. On the evening of our anniversary the staff had hung a ‘happy anniversary’ banner above our table, decorated it with flowers and gave us a handmade card signed by all the staff, a beautiful touch. The rooms are, as Nick described, a sanctuary for his guests and they a very roomy, very comfortable and styled beautifully. The bathroom featured an open air shower and a covered tub area. We had a balcony where we could sit and look out over the lagoon. We thoroughly enjoyed the live piano by Sanjaya a local musician and the atmosphere was relaxed. We truely felt like we were being looked after in the best way possible, everyone made us feel so comfortable and at home. We couldn’t recommend this place any higher, if we could give it 10 stars we would. Thank you so much Nick and the crew for making our time so enjoyable and special; we will be back!

If you’re reading this you’re considering a stay in Buckingham Place. Don’t waste your time with these reviews - book it now, book if for sooner than you planned, book it for longer and let yourself be blown away by the level of service and stunning surroundings. This is a 5* hotel with all the charm of a luxury boutique hotel whilst being warm, welcoming and unpretentious. We stayed for our honeymoon and ended up extending our stay as we loved it so much. Never been much of a beach dweller but Buckingham place allows you to truly switch off. Waking up to the lagoon and lying on the Indian Ocean through the day. The place is a menagerie with peacocks, monkeys and mongooses trotting around the property - amazing to watch their routine from the terraces. The team led by Madu, Kalpa and Chamindu couldn’t do enough for you, whilst not being overbearing but preempting your every need with minimal fuss. Just heaven. The owner Nick and his lovely dogs Bella and Gracie gave the place a homely feel and their love of Sri Lanka was infectious. The food was excellent and a great balance of local and European food and the team were so accommodating of any dietary preferences. Especially enjoyed my spa treatments- definitely factor this in to your stay.

If you are looking for a hotel where you feel that you ‘fit in', where you are instantly made to feel 'at home' and where your every need can be catered for...look no further than Buckingham Place. It sounds like a bit of a cliché, but this place really is a home from home. The rooms are spacious, the beds large and comfortable, air conditioning excellent (and quiet), the gardens are quite extensive, well maintained and home to various interesting birds and animals all of whom seem to quire enjoy being photographed. The pool is also well maintained, the surrounding area is a wonderful place gather and make new friends. There is a swim-up bar in the shallows, and they are always happy to make cocktails to your specification as required. The breakfast, lunch and evening meal menus offer a wide variety of cuisine styles, and, in the unlikely event, you don't see something you fancy, the chefs will happily cater for your needs. The hotel is located within the Rekawa village, and if you take a late afternoon walk (when the day is a little cooler) you will be able to observe village life where people are often happy to chat and to direct you to points of interest. The hotel provides bicycles (free), so you can venture further afield if you wish. As a base for excursions, Marissa for whale watching is close by, as is the local turtle watch, Yala safari park is also easy to get to and Galle is great for sightseeing and shopping. The hotel manager, Kalpa, and his team will be happy to advise you and arrange for transport. The evenings are always fun at BP, the restaurant transforms, it has an enticing, sophisticated atmosphere where you can dress up or down, enjoy a quiet table for two or, as quite often happens, join with other guests to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Nick Buckingham (the owner) is always around to ensure that any celebration becomes an ‘occasion’ whether you are a first-time guest or a ‘returner’ like us. Finally, a word about the staff, the service at this hotel is first class, every single member of the team at BP work hard to ensure guests have everything they need, and they always do so with the warmest smiles. And, if any maintenance issues do arise Chamadu and his housekeeping team work quietly and efficiently to address them. By the way, there are also a couple of canine members of the team (Bella & Gracie), both are very used to meeting new people and will let you pat them - when they feel like it! We have, of course, booked for next year.