The Frangipani Tree by Edwards Collection - Thalpe

We had a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka. Beautiful country, rich history and lovely people. However, I feel I should share my experience with The Frangipani Tree, Talpe. The hotel is run down and nothing like the pictures on the internet. The Wi-Fi did not work dropping out all the time. The toilet didn’t flush properly with the toilet paper getting stuck. The bathroom and wardrobe are outside which is no good for mosquitos in the evening. Our bed was uncomfortable and small. To lock the door, it was a padlock with a small key you would use for your garden shed. There were no power points, so we unplugged the bedside lamps to plug in our phone chargers. The manager when we asked where we should eat, told us don’t eat here, go down the road to Shanti Shanti which is quite a good little bar on the beach with food. There were no pool umbrellas and limited amenities. The tennis court is on its last legs. The hotel is run down with dead grass. After 3 hours we checked of what was supposed to be a 5-night stay and moved ourselves to another hotel as staying any longer would have ruined our holiday. I wish I had of read the reviews before booking this hotel.

We expected a relaxing stay, but instead had to deal with multiple issues. The pool water did not look clean, and the tennis court was clearly not maintained. These are basic facilities that should be in good condition at this price level. The room initially had very noisy air conditioning, which made it difficult to sleep. Service was not attentive — most things required asking more than once. It didn’t feel like a place where guests are proactively taken care of. Food and spa prices are very high compared to nearby places, without better experience. What stood out most was how the situation was handled — concerns were not properly acknowledged, and communication felt dismissive. The property looks nice, but the overall experience does not justify the cost.

This property creates a strong first impression through photos and architecture, but the actual experience does not align with that positioning. The most obvious example is the pool. The listing shows clear, well-maintained water, while in reality it was consistently cloudy (see attached comparison). This alone significantly affects the stay. The tennis court is in a deteriorated condition and cannot realistically be used. WiFi is unreliable — not only limited in speed, but unstable under normal use. High latency makes even basic tasks frustrating. The air conditioning in our initial room was excessively noisy, affecting sleep quality and requiring a room change. Service is reactive rather than proactive. Most interactions require prompting. Without escalation, issues remain unaddressed. Pricing for food and spa services is significantly above local standards, without corresponding quality. The most concerning part is management. Instead of acknowledging clear issues, responses were dismissive and framed as “misunderstandings,” which does not reflect the actual situation. Some improvements were made after escalation, but this does not change the overall experience. In summary, this is a property with strong visuals but weak operational standards.

Rooms are fabulous and the place is perfectly maintained. Excellent food, too. There's a beach, but sea too choppy to swim, and behind, a main road. Short rides to Unawatanu or to Thalpe itself if you aren't happy to just relax in a great place.

We came as a multigenerational group (12-82 in age) and were so well looked after by the team. The layout of the house works really well. The rooms are spacious but simple. This is a great destination, 10 minutes from the surf beaches, close to golf and 25 minutes to Galle. It is worth pointing out the sea by the house is very rough and not suitable for swimming, the swimming pool is really lovely though. There are nearby places for safe sea swimming. Areas that could be improved are the Wi-Fi and television signal but the wonderful staff with genuine warmth and care more than make up for this. Highlights include a fantastic barbecue that they set up outside for us one evening. Thank you all for giving us such a wonderful holiday.

We have just returned from an incredible 6-night stay at Frangipani Tree and could not recommend it highly enough. We had originally booked only 3 nights, but we loved it so much that we extended our stay! From the moment we arrived—very late in the evening—the staff greeted us warmly and made us feel instantly welcome. No matter the hour, they were ready to prepare a delicious meal. The location is stunning, the service is truly five-star, and the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing. The rooms are spacious, beautifully designed, and felt like a tranquil sanctuary away from the busyness. We loved starting each day with the lovely breakfast and spending time enjoying the beautiful surroundings—it was genuinely hard to leave. It was also our daughter’s birthday during our stay, and Sangeewa & Thusara went above and beyond to make it special. They surprised her with a delicious cake, balloons, and so much kindness—she absolutely loved it! A huge thank you to the wonderful kind staff , Sangeewa, Thusara, Pawan, Isura, Baragama, Dinesh & Kasun for making our stay unforgettable. We will definitely be back!

We had a fabulous holiday at this beautiful hotel. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. We were given a room upgrade to an ocean view

We went to the Frangipani Tree hotel in May. Very poor experience. No service. Staff not present - hiding whenever possible. No security at entrance booth…very weird management.