Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya

Beautifully restored and preserved hotel with colonial charm. The extensive gardens are very lovely and very well maintained, a perfect feast for the eyes with flowers, well-manicured lawns and fountains. Our room was spacious with a nice view the gardens. We did not require a fan or AC because of the chill weather, but the room heater was useful during the cold nights. Bed was comfortable, amenities were good and the bathroom was spacious and modern with plenty of hot water. Staff at every level were good, efficient, courteous and very friendly. A small issue with a plug point in the room was attended to efficiently. Frazer and his concierge crew were brilliant, he helped us find transport to visit some local attractions. Staff at the restaurant were also very nice and helpful. Food was exceptional at breakfast and dinner with a wide variety in the buffets. There were many dishes not commonly found at Sri Lankan hotel buffets and they were uniformly tasty. Highlight for us was the live music by Trio Topaz on Saturday night. Beautiful music, variety of tunes and styles and warm personalities of musicians, plus an unexpected guest spot by Umara. Few points to improve though - replace plastic water bottles with reusable glass bottles in the rooms, provide a non-slip bath mat in the shower tub, improve water pressure in the shower and train restaurant serving staff to be more attentive to customers and talk less among themselves. Overall, a lovely hotel providing exceptional service and a very different experience.