Buckingham Place

Buckingham Place, seems to have a magic that casts its spell on you the minute you arrive. We have always had a rule how ever good a hotel is, not to return as the next time around the edge has gone but not here, this is now our third visit and it just gets better and better. The hotel itself is set in the most spectacular surroundings, the 16 large and beautiful suites overlook the Lagoon, so while sitting on your balcony or terrace you have the company of birds of prey gliding on the thermals, monkeys having family time and magnificent Peacocks strutting their domain. You then have oceanfront where the restaurant, bar and infinity pool are housed, overlooking the sights and sounds of the Indian Ocean and from here you access the most beautiful unspoilt beach. What sets BP apart from other places is its ethos and soul and this has been created by its owner Nick and his loyal team, the smiles and the warmth of everybody at BP are infectious. Friends came with us this time as we had praised BP so highly and there is always a concern because we all don’t like the same things in life but after 2 weeks they didn’t want to leave and that says it all. The food here is excellent with the most amazing breakfast menu served between 8 and midday. The evening meal is based on a 5 day rolling menu and the quality and choice of Sri Lankan and Western cuisine is second to none. Spa treatments are superb, bikes and canoes can be provided and day trips organised. I celebrated my 60th Birthday at BP and wow a night I will truly cherish for the rest of my life, but it’s the people at BP that make this place so special. Nick you truly are a very special man who has the most amazing team behind him. We want to personally say a massive thank you to Kalpa, Umesh, Chamindu, Depal, Ashan, Aruna, Ruman, Niluka, Harshana, Heshan, Madushaka, Rohan, Nadun plus all the other members of the team in the kitchen, garden & housekeeping Until next time we thank you with all our hearts Dave & Kim

Normally we don't share our secret hideaways, to Keep away the Influencers But this time we have to. We go all 2-3 years to Sri Lanka and we always end up in Buckingham Place. The service you get here is heavenly. The hole staff tries to fulfil your wishes before you tell them. But the most outstanding person is Chamindu, the Guest facility Manager. If you have a request, as unusual it seems to be, he complies it in no time at all. And you can bet on it, that it will be done. We thank the hole team including Nick the owner and Kalpa, but the biggest hug goes to Chamindu.

Huge rooms, fantastic food, spotlessly clean and a relaxed atmosphere away from the crowds with the best service from the friendly staff you could imagine. Nick, the charming resident owner, has created somewhere very special and makes sure that everything runs perfectly. As well as enjoying the great food and pool, we took a tuk-tuk to a local rock temple and saw turtles on the local beach.

Wow! It is the best place we have ever stayed! As soon as we arrived at Buckingham Place, we were greeted and welcomed with excellent service. Throughout the stay, the service was outstanding, and nothing was too much trouble. The food was out of this world. The service was fantastic, with water being topped up without even being asked and a different menu every night for dinner. The food on the menu had excellent choices to suit everyone. Some of the best meals we have ever had. Indeed, some amazing chefs!! The waiters were superb! They were always ready to welcome you. They welcomed you into the restaurant and bar area always with a smile and prepared to attend to your needs. We have never had service like this before. Just fantastic!! During our first night, Nick, the owner, came over to introduce himself. He was so welcoming and made sure everything was perfect throughout our stay. He truly is a fantastic person who has done so much for Sri Lanka and is changing so many lives. It was a pleasure to meet Nick and get to know him. We enjoyed spending time with Nick and hearing about his time in Sri Lanka. Kalpa, the guest manager, was fantastic with our every need. Nothing was too much hassle. Even when we needed him very late one night, he was more than happy to help. Kapla was always there to check everything was perfect! The room was beautiful! So much space and lovely decor. The room was cleaned when needed, and nothing was too much trouble. The spa was one of the best massages we have ever had. The service and choice of treatments was perfect. We felt so relaxed after our treatments. Overall, we would recommend this hotel to everyone! You must visit this hotel while in Sri Lanka!! You won’t regret it! We can’t wait to go back again. Thank you to all the fantastic team for making our stay so memorable. Nicole and Kaidyn Jersey

This is a well appointed hotel run by an ex- pat Englishman, the personable Nick Buckingham. I would describe it as ideal for anyone wanting the universal resort style accommodation and facilities: the infinity pool outside the dining area, the billiards room, the decor , the presentation of the rooms. There is a garden pool which is lovely for a less public bathe. A spa is onsite and I enjoyed the pedicure. There is a good range of cocktails and the dining is excellent: my husband had the best prawns of the trip. No spoiler alert, but there is a special touch to the dining experience. It was disappointing to have no hot water in the shower. It also seemed very odd to have no tea/ coffee making facility in the room: this is most uncommon, and certainly the only place in Sri Lanka to lack it. I was told I could order tea any time, day or night, but this is not quite the same, especially when I saw we had been charged US$5.00 for every cup I had. There is a pleasant walk along the beach, but we did not get to see the turtles nesting.