Rooms are fine although some maintenance required here and there. The view from our balcony was lovely and Sri Lankan breakfast was delicious. The staff were proud of their hotel and very courteous. No card payments was unusual but we had enough. Booker beware….. it has been mentioned in other reviews that the access is a challenge. No kidding! Our driver initially refused to drive his van up the hill but eventually tried but got stuck. We tried a local TukTuk driver he also refused to go up it. Be warned, it is short (150m) but it is VERY steep.

​Lakshmi’s Hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. It is neat & clean, and offers incredible value for money. Plus, its location is unbeatable—just a 5-minute walk from the Ella Railway Station. ​Exceptional Service by Sam! ​A special mention goes to the manager, Sam, who is incredibly humble and polite. During my stay, he single-handedly ran the property in the absence of a chef, bell boy, and laundry staff. ​From carrying luggage to rooms and check-ins to cooking breakfast, handling room service, and calling cabs, Sam did everything alone. He managed it all with a constant smile and a helpful attitude. ​Clean, comfortable, and centrally located—Sam’s hospitality makes this a must-stay in Ella!

This hotel failed to maintain basic professional and ethical standards. A reception staff member crossed personal boundaries by sending friendly and intimate messages to my girlfriend and addressing her as "dear." Such behavior is completely unacceptable and highly disrespectful. Guests should feel safe and respected, not approached in a personal manner by hotel employees.

I really wish I had stayed at a different hotel in Ella. My overall experience here was terrible. The only positive was the view from the room—I could see the train passing by, which was nice. Unfortunately, everything else was disappointing: The hotel does not accept card payments at all. This was the first hotel I stayed at in Sri Lanka that didn’t accept cards. Expecting guests to carry such a large amount of cash feels unreasonable and honestly a bit shady. I was forced to pay via PayPal and ended up losing money due to PayPal charges. The hotel is located at the top of a hill, accessible only via a very narrow road. Ideally, the hotel should inform guests in advance or offer assistance. No such communication was sent. Unlike other hotels in Sri Lanka that showed basic courtesy, this hotel did nothing. The cab I took from Nuwara Eliya refused to go up the road, and I had to drag my luggage all the way to the hotel myself. They provided only two bottles of water on the first day and charged for water from the next day onward. This was another first for me in Sri Lanka. Every other hotel I stayed at provided at least 1 litre of complimentary water per day. The restaurant below the hotel operates on very limited and specific timings, and breakfast must be ordered a day in advance. I don’t understand how this place is labeled a 3-star hotel when the service doesn’t even meet basic 2-star standards. The wifi bandwidth is very poor I strongly recommend avoiding this hotel. You can easily find much better options in Ella at a lower price with far better service.

Wonderful hotel with fantastic staff! Special mention to the brilliant Kurt who has gone out of his way to ensure our stay was perfect! He greeted us every morning for breakfast and engaged in some good chit chat. Very helpful with laundry services & even arranging for us to have a tuk tuk driver for the day. Perfectly positioned at the end of the Ella strip, there are two reasonably steep hills (one short and one slightly longer) to get to this hotel, but the views and kindness of the staff are worth it. Everything we needed and more. Would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Ella 🫶