Thalapathpitiya Holidays from £1,477

Clean, very nice staff, perfect view

The Fortress Resort and Spa is a five-star hotel. It boasts a prime location—if your travel destination is the famous "stilt fishermen," several such sites are just a two-minute walk from the hotel. From the hotel grounds, guests can enjoy panoramic, spectacular views of the ocean. The hotel offers top-notch service and world-class facilities. Its restaurant, however, is merely average; the variety of food available does not quite justify the price point.

Beautiful location surrounded by stunning nature, with amazing rooms and a breakfast of a very high standard. However, the grounds and overall maintenance do not reflect the level expected from a Relais & Châteaux or Michelin Key property. There were dry leaves and weeds throughout the territory, and several trees appeared infested or dying. For such a large estate, there should clearly be more gardeners and stronger attention to maintenance and cleanliness. The lunch and dinner offerings were also disappointing considering the prices charged. At this level, the quality should match the cost. In particular, dishes prepared with raw tuna were served with the fish appearing brown rather than bright red or pink. As a cook myself, I know this indicates oxidation and a lack of freshness. I was also surprised that the concierge sent me an unsolicited bill via WhatsApp the night before checkout while I was still relaxing and my departure was only the following morning. At high-end properties, the guest experience is usually handled in a far more seamless and discreet manner. I have stayed at several Relais & Châteaux hotels before, and unfortunately this was among the weakest experiences in terms of service and guest handling. I would recommend taking inspiration from the Constance hotel group, particularly Prince Maurice, which understands luxury hospitality and guest relations at a much higher standard.