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Hotel Sunflower Beach – reviews, photos

3.0 of 5
289 Lewis Place, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Hotel amenities
Hotel Sunflower Beach
Ranked #16 of 26 hotels in Negombo
3.5 of 5 stars 11 Reviews
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11 reviews from our community

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Traveller rating
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    5
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Cebu, Philippines
Senior Contributor
36 reviews 36 reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
85 helpful votes 85 helpful votes
“Get another one if you have other options!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 September 2007

sunflower hotel was my worst experience in my sri lanka trip. the hotel is a bit old and there's a certain fishy smell in the lobby. we got a deluxe room, and it is nothing remarkable at all. room is simple, just the basics and was smelling of cigarette smoke. the AC wasn't cooling at all so we accordingly advised front desk to get it fixed while we went out to grab dinner. they assured us to send somebody to fix it, but was disappointed upon our return to learn that nobody ever did come and AC was still not working. i had to raise my voice to get a new room.

i did get a new room but it seems all their rooms don't have working ACs. we called front desk again to complain and they sent someone who apparently didn't know what to do. we finally gave up and just resigned ourselves to the fact that we will sleep without AC.

rooms are weirdly designed. the lone available outlet is located behind the headboard so if you need to charge your phone or laptop, you have to move the heavy bed away from the wall! it was really crazy! it supposedly had a balcony but the huge door to the balcony is made of wood, located at the center so it practically blocks the view of the beach! i don't understand why they still had to have a balcony!

bathroom is not totally clean, hinges falling off from the foot cabinet, they just stuck a piece of paper to keep it in place.

i don't receommend sunflower hotel at all. from the outside, it looks like it would be one of the better hotels in that street, but don't be deceived. staff needs training as well, you can see the attempt, but it jst doesn't meet up to expectations.

  • Liked — location
  • Disliked — AC not working, room not too clean
  • Stayed August 2007
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
    • 2 of 5 stars Business service (e.g., internet access)
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Ask tambalyn about Hotel Sunflower Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
UK
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Good start to our holiday”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2007

Excellent place to start and or end your stay in Sri Lanka

We stayed two nights at the start of a three week holiday and we wished we had arranged to stay there at the end instead of further away from the airport in a less Sri Lankan hotel.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and didn't make any fuss when I lost my key in the sea.

The hotel grounds open out onto the beach and we had great fun playing in the surf. We are not strong swimmers so wouldn't have strayed too far out.

The food was excellent with a real Sri Lankan choices but also dishes for a western palate just arrived from UK

Lots of local places to eat shops and excursions

The hotel could do with a lick of paint but the beds and rooms were clean and the water was plentiful and hot

  • Liked — The beach location food and friendly welcome
  • Disliked — The crows
  • Stayed May 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Chris-L-Eveque about Hotel Sunflower Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Munich
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
“Adorably Tacky”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 January 2007
3
people found this review helpful

Definitely not a boutique hotel, the Sunflower is however the ideal place to stay at the beginning of your trip and at the end. It is only 20 minutes from the airport, it is located right on the beach - ideal for chilling next to the pool after a long-haul flight. The road outside the hotel is full of shops and restaurants and of course tuk-tuks to take you wherever you want. I called this review "adorably tacky" - the place has a weird 70's vibe, for example, the architecture could be East Berlin 1978, it could do with a coat of paint, a few tiles are missing from the floor of the pool - all this however seems to make it even more adorable. The rooms are large, looking out over the palm trees onto the Indian ocean, sparsely but adequately furnished and kept clean. The poolside restaurant has great food and the staff are friendly and helpful. I think we must have arrived there right in the middle of the wedding season! Huge affairs, with sumptuous buffets, Sri Lankans in beautiful saris in all the colours of the rainbow, flamingo flowers in ornate arrangements and the perfidious sound of live bands singing the shmoltziest romantic hits. There is however a limit to the number of times one can bear Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" or Elton John's "Can you feel the love tonight". Definitely a cultural experience! Excellent value for money.

  • Liked — beach location, friendly staff, convenience for airport.
  • Disliked — Ominous-looking crows curiously checking out whatever you ordered as a poolside snack.
  • Tips/Secrets — There is a traditional wooden catamaran parked on the beach in front of the hotel - the snorkelling is not so hot , but sailing in the catamaran is a real trip!
  • Stayed January 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask McPauli about Hotel Sunflower Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Chester. United Kingdom
1 review
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“Fantastic hotel. Lovely Pool. Friendly staff.”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 August 2006
4
people found this review helpful

Stayed at The Sunflower Beach on the last day of a fantastic tour around Sri lanka.
The Hotel is very clean the rooms are fabulous for the price. Air conditioning, balcony (I had beautiful sea view) Parque floors and very tasteful furniture.
Very central for restaurants,shops and booking further tours if required.
Staff cannot do enough for you.
One word of note...on arrival at the pool I wondered why there was netting cordening off the adjoining restaurant/dining area.
Whilst trying to eat my sandwich by the pool I was harassed by a very eager crowd of crows who were very keen on my lunch!!!
If you intend to eat ...do it in the restaurant where they can't get to you!!!
This only added to the fun of the place and is only meant as a word of warning. Not as a reason not to stay there as it was thoroughly enjoyable.

  • Liked — Great Room
  • Disliked — Stern female receptionists. Think this is the norm for Sri Lanka as experienced it else where.
  • Tips/Secrets — Enjoy it
  • Stayed August 2006, travelled solo
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask walmsley987 about Hotel Sunflower Beach
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
A TripAdvisor Member
UK
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“great food, friendly staff, more than value for money”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 March 2006
2
people found this review helpful

I would recommend this small wonderful hotel to people who love food and want to experience Sri Lankan Hospitality.

  • Stayed January 2006, travelled on business
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Hotel Sunflower Beach Also Known As

  • Sunflower Beach Hotel
Address: 289 Lewis Place, Negombo, Sri Lanka

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