Palm Paradise Cabanas & Villas Beach Resort Tangalle

We had booked a cabana, but when we arrived, we found out that they were all occupied, even though we had made the reservation through Booking.com. The reception staff just shrugged and were even slightly aggressive in their communication (by the way, on the second day, there seemed to be a manager, and everyone was super friendly). Considering the cabana was more expensive than a regular room, they didn’t offer any discounts, didn’t apologize, or do anything at all! The staff doesn’t know how to communicate. Despite the very unpleasant check-in experience, the hotel left a great impression overall. The rooms were clean and spacious, there was a small garden with chairs and a table, beach towels were provided, and the beds and pillows were very comfortable. The beach was absolutely gorgeous, my favorite in Sri Lanka! It wasn’t too crowded, it was very beautiful, and you could take a walk at sunset to a neighboring beach through the rocks. The waves were soft and fun, swimming was a delight! The hotel clearly has a lot of soul, with so many little details and thoughtful touches. There are two restaurants (both decent, with reasonable prices), good breakfasts, a game room (board games, ping-pong, darts, and other), a huge and well-maintained territory, and on-site, you can see langurs and monitor lizards! It's a shame, though, that the staff tarnishes all these positive aspects.

Lets start with the positives, as there are a few despite my experience score....||The area the cabanas are situated in is really beautiful. A real jungle type experience with lots of lush vegetation and a variety of animal life. The beautiful beach nearby is real treat. I found the staff I dealt with to be very friendly and the Manager was a great guy who tried to do all he could to make my stay enjoyable. The breakfast was decent and the coffee excellent, at the restaurant beside the lovely swimming pool area. The rooms/suites looked amazing when viewed from the outside looking in.||Now the bad.....||I booked a double cabana for 7 nights over Xmas. BIG MISTAKE. For what I was paying, I expected much, much better based on the costs of other resorts I have stayed in whilst travelling round Sri Lanka (there have been quiet a few). I understood the cabanas were not traditional rooms/suites and I had read the reviews on Trip Advisor and Booking.com before I booked. ||Make no mistake - the inside of the cabanas is not as advertised on the website/booking.com !!!!. They are very dark, dated and in pretty poor condition - not like the modern, bright images you see when booking. The covers, pillows and blankets looked very old and well worn. The noise from the beach and fireworks was LOUD and stopped me from being able to sleep. I had dogs at my cabana door at 3am and 5am. I love dogs but hearing them fighting right outside in the middle of the night was not exactly ideal.||The restaurant for the rooms/suites and pool area are lovely. The restaurant for the cabanas in dark, unappealing and I instinctively avoided it (I was told I had to use this one). It's like they have created an internal class structure at this resort. One half excellent, the other not so much. ||I was so very disappointed that I left after one night. Much credit to the Manager though for trying to find me another room and looking at issues with the wifi (pretty poor signal in some of the cabanas). He did offer me another cabana and an alternative room but I declined as one wasnt available for my entire stay (only for a couple of nights). Eventually I was refunded the majority of my payment. ||In summary - avoid the cabanas at all costs. Definitely not worth the money and a really poor experience. The room/suites look like they would be worth the stay though, going by what I saw and other comments online.||If you find yourself staying in a cabana and have a similar experience to me, talk to the manager, get a refund and move on.

We had a wonderful time here, staying in a cabana for three weeks. The resort is located on a beautiful private beach. All the staff members were very kind and helpful, we had fantastic service. We received help with organizing the trips and they made sure that we got breakfast to take away, even if we were not staying at the resort. The food was very tasty in the main restaurant and the pool restaurant as well. The cabanas were amazing, cleaned every day the fan was enough, no ac needed. The wifi is strong, even for online work. Everything was given to make us feel fantastic, we want to come back again, we wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Palm Paradise, and I can confidently say it was an amazing experience! The hotel is conveniently located just a stone's throw away from the beach, making it easy to enjoy sunrises and sunsets by the water. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring that all my needs were met throughout my stay. The rooms were spacious, clean, and beautifully decorated, providing a perfect retreat after a day of exploring. One of the highlights was the pool area, which was both relaxing and well-maintained. I loved lounging by the pool with a refreshing drink from the bar. If you're looking for a peaceful getaway with stunning beach access, I highly recommend Palm Paradise. I can’t wait to return!

My partner and I enjoyed a wonderful four-night stay on one of the spacious villa rooms. Fabulous location right behind the stunning Goyambokka beach, only a minute’s walk through the palm grove – a little slice of paradise. The hotel grounds are extensive and beautifully kept, and we loved spotting the local wildlife while walking through the grove (monkeys, peacocks, hornbills, kingfishers, barbets, monitor lizards etc.). Great food at served at both restaurants, we particularly the authentic Sri Lankan dishes and fresh seafood. Our room was cleaned daily and kept spotless, and the hotel staff were very friendly. The manager helped arrange a kayak tour of the lagoon and transport to our next accommodation, which was much appreciated.

I had a deeply disappointing experience at this hotel. We booked a cabana room with a bed and breakfast package, but it fell far below expectations. The room was extremely old and poorly maintained, lacking even the most basic essentials like a kettle, cups, or tea bags. For the exorbitant price of 22k for two people, this was an utter waste of money. The bathroom was outdated and poorly cleaned, and the entire room had a run-down, neglected feel. The breakfast was another letdown—only five mediocre items were offered, which was far from satisfying or worth the premium price. The overall lack of care and maintenance was evident everywhere, from the old furniture to the general cleanliness of the property. I expected far better for what we paid and would not recommend this hotel to anyone. It was a complete disappointment and definitely not worth the cost.

I stayed for two nights in Cabana 11, and the experience was terrible. I understand that a cabana is less comfortable than a villa, but I never expected it to be in such a deplorable state. The only reason the interior disaster isn’t fully visible is the poor lighting, which partially hides the dirt and wear.||The furniture is extremely old, the blanket was torn and had an unclear color, the pillow was visibly stained, and the additional pillows made you wonder whether they were just old or actually dirty. The entrance door was in terrible condition, and the entire cabana gave the impression that you didn’t want to touch anything. I ended up sleeping fully dressed for two nights, using beach towels as a barrier over the pillow to avoid contact with the bedding.||It’s a shame because the location is stunning – the surrounding nature and proximity to the beach are excellent. The breakfast was good, and the staff was friendly. Additionally, the cabana looks okay from the outside, but the interior conditions are unacceptable, especially considering that the price isn’t much lower than that of a villa.||The owners need to understand that these cabanas accommodate tourists, not wild animals. A minimal investment in cleanliness and repairs could turn this negative experience into a positive and memorable one. As it stands, I cannot recommend staying in the cabanas, at least not in their current condition.

The family villa was cozy and perfect for relaxing, though it lacked a TV—not a big deal for a vacation. The food, however, was a bit of a letdown. While the taste was satisfactory the HB option didn’t feel worth the money. Choices were ordered through a limited option set menu and even breakfast had to be pre-ordered which is quite disappointing. Most staff were friendly, but the reception could have been more welcoming (perhaps because we were locals). Nonetheless a warm smile, especially after a long journey, would have made a difference. Stay: 9/10 Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10