Citrus Hikkaduwa Reviews

This hotel is the worst welcoming I’ve ever experienced. I never complain. I was appalled by the welcome which was an interrogation. I was then greeted by the police which was a bill I did not sign for. Was threatened with jail on the spot. I thought I was in a movie. DO NOT BOOK OR STAY HERE. AWFUL JUST AWFUL!!

The hotel balcony has a view of the sea, and the facilities are very complete. There is a beach, a good restaurant, and lizards can be seen. The staff are also very friendly. The only drawback is that the room facilities are relatively old. The hotel is a few minutes walk along the coast to see turtles.

In July 2024, I spent several days in this hotel. In general, I liked everything, except for some moments. I'll start with the good: excellent location, opposite a supermarket, and nearby there are many shops and benches, a gorgeous view from the window of the ocean, decent breakfasts, a clean pool, the staff's willingness to help at any time, delicious dishes to order from the menu, well-groomed territory. What I didn’t like: the rooms are already tired, they need updating, I lived in room 513. The pool is open until 19.00, which is not at all convenient, because after dinner you also want activity... but there is none)

Quiet, calm, there is something to eat for breakfast. They clean well. Humidity. Loud air conditioner. Nice staff

Facilities are a bit old

Fantastic location right on the beach. We had a top floor room with amazing views. The hotel has a lawn in front with tables & chairs, perfect for looking out to sea. We arrived very early in the morning and given our room, so nice after travelling 22 hours. The food is very good, plenty of choice for fussy eaters like me. Nuwan our waiter really looked after us. Bus stop, turn left out of hotel approx 100 yards. Galle easily reached change bus there for Unawatuna beach. Bus drivers very helpful. All the staff are helpful, polite and friendly. Hope to come back next year

We stayed for 3 weeks at the citrus and had an amazing time here, the staff were so friendly and such a lovely team, a credit to the hotel. The location is perfect in Hikkaduwa village a beachfront property with everything you could possibly need there. Close to railway and on main bus route with tuk tuks galore we had a wonderful guide who took us all over, we were there over Halloween and the staff did an amazing job,the food was lovely and I am really fussy but I always found something to eat and the staff would go above and beyond to accommodate guests.

Full disclosure, this was my fourth stay at the Citrus. I have a great affection for the hotel and have reviewed it here in the past. As I recall, last year I reviewed the hotel and stated that the hotel's greatest asset is its staff. And nothing's changed, the location is excellent, the rooms are kept spotless by the cleaning team, the gardens kept tidy, the food is varied and tasty, the bar staff are attentive… what more could one ask for?

We booked with Mercury Holidays and I have had a great service in the UK and from the two resort reps Ananda and Dexter. We booked the Ella trip with the train ride which I can highly recommend, we loved the trip. Our guide Sanka was wonderful I recommended you request Sanka. Well done Mercury I’m impressed. We arrived after a 7 hour delay in Abu Dhabi and on arrival the reception staff were welcoming and very efficient The room was large with the best sea view ever. The maid was the best. Everyday the room was spotless and he made little bed decorations, towels were changed everyday, excellent job. The waiters and bar staff are good and the food was satisfactory. I loved the pool Aqua and found it was a very good workout. The two pool attenders gave a 7 star service in all the hotels I have ever stayed this was the best. The moment I arrived at the pool a sun bed was selected and the towel laid out for me. The two pools guys deserve a pay rise. We used the Spa and can highly recommend it. Really good massage. Roger, did karaoke/ DJ evenings we really enjoyed, everyone got involved on these nights , they were great fun. Loved the live music in the evening, The beach is lovely golden sand and it’s a very short walk to an area where you can swim safely and it’s here that you can feed the turtles, amazing Overall fantastic value for money Sri Lanka is beautiful the people are lovely and the country has lots to offer.

I was unsure about this hotel after reading some of the reviews, but I have to say it was unfounded. We stayed in a deluxe sea view room on the 3rd floor. From the minute of our arrival we felt very welcome. We were greeted with a refreshing drink and didn’t have long to wait for our rooms. The hotel is in a beautiful setting on the beach and with plenty of bars and restaurants outside on the road in both directions. We stayed on an all inclusive basis and found the food very good with plenty of choice. We did eat out nearby also on occasion. Yes the hotel could do with a little updating in particular the rooms and pool. However there were works being carried out whilst we were there and I believe they were closing in April to carry out more. Saying this however everywhere was miticulously clean. Only issue we found with our room was storage. There was a lovely wardrobe area, but the room could do with some drawers. There wasn’t many coat hangars but we just asked our room boy and he got us more. The staff at this hotel really make it. Every one of them with a smile on their face and very helpful. They make it 5 stars! Three of the staff in particular made our holiday. Nuwan who within minutes of our arrival spoke to management in order for me to have coke zero (I am diabetic) included in our all inclusive (as it isn’t normally) which was above and beyond. He also looked after us on many occasions in the restaurant. Also Chinthaka and Sanjeewa who again looked after us, always having a table ready for us every meal time. All were a pleasure and we had some great chats with them. They are a credit to the hotel. Our room boy (can’t remember his name) left our room clean and with great towel art every day, thank you. Also a special mention to management, who on Independence Day made us feel so included in your celebrations. We really enjoyed it, especially the tea 😊. A big thank you to you all and your staff. Would I stay again? Without a doubt. Not at hotel but if you want a great guide in Sri Lanka contact Charu Tours - Sri Lanka on Facebook. Best you can get 😊

Hello. I was at Citrus Hikkaduva at the turn of November and December. The hotel was great, the food was good and everything was close. I liked it very much. However, I was most surprised by the nice and very professional service at the reception. Beautiful, young and with great potential Malsha Kavindi. Always smiling, polite and helpful. During the rain I went to the store for fruit, but it was raining heavily. There were no hotel umbrellas, but Malsha was nearby. She lent me her private umbrella. I will be happy to return to this hotel, especially with such staff. Bogdan

On the 31st of January, Mr. Saman Jayasooriya and his foreign business partners from Japan visited this hotel, and they were truly impressed by the outstanding service they received. From the moment they arrived, the hospitality was exceptional—starting with the front office, where the staff provided a warm welcome. The food was excellent, the service was seamless, and the entire team carried out their duties with professionalism and dedication. A particular incident during the visit highlighted the honesty and integrity of the hotel staff. One of our Japanese business partners had unknowingly left behind a valuable laptop. The hotel staff promptly contacted them, ensuring its safe return. This act of honesty deeply impressed our foreign guests, as they were amazed by the sincerity and ethical values upheld by the Sri Lankan staff. Mr. Saman Jayasooriya and his team expressed their gratitude, especially towards the front office manager, Mr. Sampath, who played a key role in providing exceptional service. Our Japanese partners repeatedly mentioned how this experience strengthened their admiration for Sri Lankan hospitality and professionalism. Given the remarkable service and integrity displayed, I would confidently give this hotel a 100% rating. It is a place that not only offers comfort and excellent service but also upholds the highest standards of honesty, leaving a lasting impression on international visitors.

I immediately regretted my decision to book this hotel for my family and me as soon as we entered our room. The room quality was poor far below my expectations for a reputed hotel. Having stayed at Hikka Tranz several times, I had hoped that Citrus would at least be a decent alternative. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The room we received was extremely basic and lacked essential amenities, except for shampoo and body wash in the bathroom. To make matters worse, the toilet wall had visible fungus, which was both shocking and disgusting for a hotel of this reputation. Even the swimming pool was disappointing and did not meet our expectations. We genuinely felt that the experience was not worth the money we paid. In the morning, as we stepped out of our room, we were greeted by a plate of leftover food on the floor. Additionally, a broken bed and mattress were left in the hallway. Even the framed pictures on the walls had mold growing inside them. It was disheartening to see that no effort had been made to maintain or improve the hotel's quality. When we inquired about this, the staff mentioned that renovations were planned for April, but this still did not justify the current condition of the hotel. The only redeeming factor of our stay was the staff they were wonderful! They ensured that we had a pleasant experience wherever possible, and even at the restaurant, they served us with warm smiles. I sincerely hope that the hotel management takes immediate action to refurbish the hotel and improve its standards. Otherwise, guests will soon realize that the pictures shared online do not reflect the reality on the ground.

On January 30, 2025, we had the pleasure of celebrating our engagement at Citrus Hikkaduwa, with the registration taking place as a stunning outdoor ceremony by the beach. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. The entire team, especially our coordinator, Dayan, went above and beyond to accommodate our special requests, even on short notice. The food was absolutely delicious, and the overall organization was flawless. Every detail was handled with care, making our special day truly memorable. Without hesitation, we highly recommend Citrus Hikkaduwa for anyone seeking a well-coordinated and beautifully executed event.