The Lake Hotel
The Lake Hotel descritpion
Spread over 3 acres of landscaped gardens, Hotel Seruwa overlooks the scenic Parakrama Samudra Sea in Polonnaruwa. Offering free parking, it is just 800 feet from the famous King Parakrama Bahu Statue.
Simply furnished, rooms come with either a fan or air conditioning. Each has a private balcony with views of the natural landscape. Attached bathrooms have shower facilities.
Hotel Seruwa is 3.1 miles from Parakrama Samudra and 8.7 miles from Hingurakgoda Airport. Nearby attractions include Wasgamuwa Wildlife Park and Tivanka Image House.
The hotel's tour desk can help arrange bird watching, fishing and boat trips along Parakrama Samudra. An on-site restaurant and room service are also available.
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Facilities of The Lake Hotel
Outdoors ：Grounds
Pets ：Pets are not allowed.
Food & Drink ：Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is needed).
Services ：Room Service
General ：Air Conditioning
Reviews for The Lake Hotel
Review 1：Hall is not divided from the restaurant and when you stay there you smell of fried all the time. Wifi is available only in the hall
Review 2：Staff was very friendly
Review 3：The front desk staff needs more training. They don't know,and have no interest to know,the logistics suggestion,which is surprising for a tourist city. When I checked out, all staff were chatting and no one helped me to carry the luggage out from the steps.
Review 4：With beautiful view towards the lake and closeness to ancient city, it is one of the best locations.
Review 5：We booked this hotel on the strengths of the photo which shows a beautiful infinity pool, with sun loungers over looking the lake. On arrival, the pool was a building site and there were no sun loungers. So we were left with a pretty unimpressive hotel missing the only reason for booking it. Completely unacceptable not to mention this on booking.
Review 6：Great location. The breakfast includes hoppers which made us all happy. They were helpful in arranging bikes for us
Review 7：Room was not ready at 16 pm and as apologize staff gave us a suite,after a 30 min. waiting.The room anyway smelled to medicine for insect,naftaline,provoking insomnia and headache.Staff very rude,unfriendly and unefficient,seldom to find in sri lanka such an attitude.Swimming pool ok but worthless for one night stay.
Review 8：Nothing
Review 9：Swimming pool was closed for repairs but no warning of this on website. Travelling with teen children this was a letdown and we had to pay to use the pool in the adjacent hotel. Monkeys are also a problem - warnings need to be more evident about not opening windows in rooms. The biggest disappointment was having to pay much more than the advertised price on booking.com because of three different taxes being imposed on top. Which added 25 per cent to our accommodation bill. We think there should be provision for extra beds to make the roooms triple... we had to book three rooms for our family of five but our three teen children would have been happy to share...also wifi very intermittent and only available in the small foyer, which would be acceptable in a modest guest house but not when charging these prices...
Review 10：Beautiful location on the lake, and good size rooms with comfortable beds
Review 11：Not kids friendly at all. Rooms very small at ground floor. Hardly possible to go around the bed. Better at first floor. We had to ask to change to 1st floor with our 2 babies and insist a lot. No baby chair in the restaurant. Pool is nice but dangerous as the wooden terrace around is deeply damaged. Breakfast was very basic and cold. Same with dinner buffet. Staff level of English was poor making it difficult to get understood. Staff clothing is not very clean.
Review 12：Lake view is fantastic. Large pool overseeing the lake. All rooms have view on the lake. Really quiet.
Review 13：Disturbed by a party that was going on in adjoining land, fortunately stopped by a heavy thunderstorm.
Review 14：Great food, all buffet style though Great location looking out across the lake Nice pool, not so sure about the navy tiles though, but hot as a bath. Good bathrooms & showers
Review 15：Frequent electricity breakdowns,almost no water in badroom, no new toiletpaper, no cleaning of the room,5 sunchairs (3 of them broken) at swimmingpool, very basic breakfast for the price of € 75/per night;we did stay 2 nights)... 1 km from mainroad in absolute darkness... so a now go area !!
Review 16：The staff in the restaurant was very nice and helpfull
Review 17：Everything looked tired. The rooms, the hotel, the pool deck needed repairs. Even the towels could have done with a good bleaching to remove the damp smell.
Review 18：Two best things about this hotel are the location: its right on the lake with beautiful views and sunsets. Also the food was great. Had traditional Sri Lankan food and western food was of good standard also.
Review 19：Old and tired bedroom furniture. Insufficient deck and garden furniture. Dining room too small (for the high season). Worst internet in the whole of Sri Lanka.
Review 20：Very good location on the lake shore. Nice outside sitting by the lake in superior rooms.
Review 21：Lovely view from upper floor room. Delicious meals and good spread. My personal request of getting my car washed was also taken care of, even though that service is generally not provided.
Review 22：No wifi available in bedrooms.
Review 23：The view from the bedrooms were fantastic as they overlooked the lake. The Buffett options offered a plentiful array of delights, good value for money. Staff very professional and obliging. Excellent experience overall.
Review 24：Prices for diner were higher, spaghetti very small, the pool service was not so well ( we never got a pillow or towel)
Review 25：Nice hotel, naert he old city, good breakfast, comfortabel room
Review 26：No Wifi in room, Thousands of mosquitos in the lobby area at night
Review 27：Nice lake view from the hotel room, ,can watch beautiful sunset from the swimming pool area, comfort bed, Quiet, a bit far away to the Ancient City, but the view of the road from hotel to the Ancient city is very beautiful
Review 28：flies can be very annoying as its right on the lake although there is nothing the hotel can do about that its a part of the nature of the location
Review 29：nice place, very good staff all very helpful arrange trips for us at a very good price
Review 30：Breakfast is very poor Food, not testy at all Swimming Pool is not good enough
Review 31：Excellent location with very nice lake view This is very worth for the money
Review 32：Dirty terrace of the pool, rooms are not completely clean, management of the hotel seems not respectful towards little hotel employeed they eat in restaurant and swim in pool.
Review 33：Location, lakeview, food, nice service
Review 34：The hotel is really in the middle of nowhere so you're pretty much stuck there once you arrive and there isn't anything to do in the evening. Dinner is buffet style - based on the reviews e.g. in Lonely Planet we were hoping for more of a fine dining experience based on the reviews. I would rate as 3 star.
Review 35：View from the room over the water
Review 36：No wifi in room.
Review 37：All rooms have beautiful lake view. Many birds and eagle near the lake. The staff is helful and kind for our travel plan in Polonnaruwa. Good service and food from the hotel restaurant. It was a pity I didn't have time to enjoy the pool. I am very satisfied with staying at the lake hotel. Highly recommended.
Review 38：- lack of maintenance, run down - the usual stuff; dirty bathroom, stained sheets, low water pressure - it takes literally ten minutes before the water gets hot
Review 39：Poorly trained staff. Willing to help but not well trained. Very limited variety of food and drinks and of poor quality.
Review 40：Locatiion. Just by the lake good relaxing views. Close to some interesting and historical sites. Good wifi coverage.
Review 41：It was very difficult to get in touch with the hotel before our stay as there seems to be no direct way to email them and no reply to the general email address. Once there, wifi was only available in the lobby with limited connection.
Review 42：Beautiful views across the lake from a nice, clean room. Very well located to explore the nearby archaeological site.
Review 43：Staff are VERY slow and also unhelpful. We were disgusted to find a hair in one of our omelettes! Wifi is slow.
Review 44：Location was good, out of the way of noisy, smelly streets. Hotel and rooms are clean, modern and well equip. Comfy bed. Good variety for breakfast.
Review 45：Wifi working only on receprion, and if there is a lot of people - you can't connect to Access Point. Moscitos.
Review 46：Good staff, cozy rooms. We stayed there during 3 nights, lokation is good, very comfortable rooms.
Review 47：We arrived in a storm to be informed that we couldn't stay due to a private function so had to go to their neighbouring hotel 2 or 3 miles away. We really didn't appreciate this after 8hrs travelling to get there
Review 48：Excellent location
Review 49：Staff on every corner, starting to clean your terrace at 7am, when its uncomfortable to open blinds to see the lake cause someone is watching from outside... Poor internet connection
Review 50：Lake view and the good work of landscape architect around the hotel yard
Review 51：The furniture was quite word for its star rating. We could not find the key upon check out. We were not notified of what the policy was under the circumstances and were therefore all continuously retracing steps and looking through bags and drawers. We could not find it and when iterating our last remembrance of the key things became accusatory with one each side saying they didn't have it, rather than just telling us what the policy was for a lost key. Then, when we finally did find it, we received a less than professional attitude from the Manager.
Review 52：The ambience. The welcoming nature of the hotel and atmosphere. Being close to nature.
Review 53：I understand it is on a lake and there will be bugs. But room imperfectly clean, which seems to be consistent in Sri Lanka. Not acceptable for a 100USD/night room. Breakfeast was meh.
Review 54：Location. Staff is courteous and not intruding.
Review 55：Firstly we booked two rooms with double or queen bed. The booking was not taken correctly and we were given two single beds in each room. Mosquitos were a problem. Food was not to our expectation. No A lacarte available the day we went. Too crowded and noisy. A bit too out of the way.
Review 56：We had no bad experience.
Review 57：We liked that everything was provided for travelers' comfort. The view is spectacular.
Review 58：The pool needs a renovation
Review 59：Perfect location, amazing views
Review 60：Perfect location, great swimming pool and beautiful sunsets.
Review 61：Poor Wifi service. Decking around pool was broken and worn.
Review 62：Staff were excellent. They couldn't have been more helpful.
Review 63：well enough.
Review 64：Very unclean
Review 65：The room is very comfortable. The view is amazing. The location is near to the tourist attraction place.
Review 66：attentive staff, view from the pool and restaurant is picturesque
Review 67：Location Excellent food Very helpful staff Great price Lovely pool
Review 68：No internet available in the rooms.
Review 69：Friendliness of staff and ease of check in
Review 70：Great hotel, service and nature/lake view
Review 71：Priced at 4.5 star when rooms are at 3.5 star.
Review 72：Location and staff
Review 73：A bit difficult to find
Review 74：Good swimming pool Great view Good food No mosquito issues (good considering its proximity to the lake)
Review 75：The view is nice if it is sunny, and the location is great.
Review 76：Food wasn't too good
Review 77：The room was good and the pool was very relaxing.
Review 78：The Lake Hotel is well placed to explore the near by historic sites, and to enjoy the beauty of its position. A great pool.
Review 79：Such a relaxing place to stay. Not too far to ride a bike into town. Beers by the pool and elephants at sunset
Review 80：Average food , need a new chef!
Review 81：Location and pool plus nice view
Review 82：There were weddings on two lunchtimes we stayed, which made using the facilities a little awkward. However, the weddings finished early and in no way changed our opinion of this fantastic hotel!
Review 83：We stayed for three nights in early June and absolutely loved it! The views are stunning, particularly at sunset. The staff are really helpful and polite and couldn't do enough to help. The pool is a welcome respite from the warm temperatures and there are few better places to enjoy a beer by the pool at sunset! Highly recommend.
Review 84：It can't be helped but those pesky lake flies were really annoying.
Review 85：Fantastic location with absolutely stunning views. Excellent staff and delicious buffets!
Review 86：This hotel is definitely among the best we experienced in Lanka. If we have to say something about it, I remember I had to use the internet in the lobby instead of the room. And the swimming pool could have some lights around it to avoid people accidentally walking into it at night :P
Review 87：The lake view; the size and decor of the room; the design of the hotel.
Review 88：Breakfast wa not buffet. We left the room in the evening to get internet connection in the lobby. When we came back we found someone came into our room during our absence but we did not ask for any service. This scared us a little bit.
Review 89：Location is good. Lake view is fantastic. In the evening the water buffalo came to the garden and the guard drove them out.
Review 90：Buffet (freshness of salad bar, one type of fresh fruit at breakfast, curries were average) Room a bit small Times to access the swimming pool closing to early and opening too late
Review 91：Lake views Swimming pool
Review 92：Staff were attentive, but at times overly so. For example, every time I returned from the buffet at breakfast a waiter would rush over to pull out my chair and they do tend to hover over you a little too much while you are eating. We are not used to this in Britain and I have no doubt this is because of the hospitality of the Sri Lankan people, but it did become a little annoying. The room seemed a little tired and possibly in need of some redecoration. It was quite small, but fine if you are only staying a night.
Review 93：Sadly we arrived late and left early the next morning so did not have a chance to fully explore the hotel. However, from what we did see, the location was beautiful - positioned right on the lake. It was very peaceful in the morning eating breakfast overlooking this wonderful view and watching fishermen in their boats. Breakfast was enjoyable with freshly made eggs, fruit and pancakes on offer.
Review 94：Hotel location shown in booking.com is incorrect. Some insects in the room. The hotel had charge the room cost by credit card before we arrived, no flexibility to settle the payment by cash.
Review 95：The nice Lake view.
Review 96：The room is smaller than expected and a bit basic. But it's hot what one needs: hair dryer, shampoo conditioner shower gel and soap etc. AC works but for some reason there is an annoying buzzing sound, not sure if it is our AC or our neighbor's. Wifi only available in dining area and reception area. The hotel charged the full fare before I even started my trip, which is a bit weird. I had to call booking.com to find out which hotel charged me.
Review 97：The food is excellent although it takes quite a while to prepare. The hotel location us impeccable, right by the lake, the swimming pool facing the lake as well. The room is clean.
Review 98：Compared with other hotels that we stayed in, i think the cost of the hotel was on the high side.
Review 99：Beautiful setting overlooking the lake. The swimming pool area was lovely, and very inviting after a long day looking at the ruins.
Review 100：Besides the hotel restaurant or bring your own food, you don't have a third choice to have a meal or you need to take a 30 minuates driving.
Review 101：Excellent view just next to Polonnaruwa.
Review 102：staff makes everything far more complicated than necesarry. Maybe they try to stick to some usual 5*etiquette, but taking it way too far. For example when asking for a pool towel on the way to the pool reception doesnt hand it out. They send someone that gets it and brings it to your room. So you go back to your room, wait for 10 minutes for the guy with the towels...
Review 103：top place, excellent view over the lake, pool next to the lake, excellent restaurant, very helpful staff
Review 104：The ground floor rooms lock at front but not at back if accessing pool, so a room safe would give extra peace of mind.
Review 105：Pool and view. No issues with mosquitoes, clear instructions when to close doors at night and management visibly proactive.
Review 106：Wifi is required in a place of this standard. Hard to justify the Luxurytag without that.... I am not sure they have it, or it just wasntworking while we were there. The rest was perfect.
Review 107：This is one of the best hotels I have had the pleasure of staying in.The staff were above fantastic. I have worked in many Michelin Starredretaurants and these people could easily have worked in a starredetablishment their level of service was that high. The location wasmagical, from the rear of the room you have access to a simply fantasticview of the lake, the wildlife and the gardens. There is a nice pool anddeckchairs out there too. The room was clean, well equipped and verynicely decorated. I only stayed one night but wish I could have stayedlonger. The hotels location is great (on the lake and that view) but isalso only 5/10 mins away from the Ancient City. ThoroughlyRecommended.
Review 108：If the Hotel staff had accurate information for tourists regarding sight seeing and related information that would be really helpful The house keeping manager was rude and curt when asked to change the wet floor mat in the washroom.
Review 109：the chef was kind enough to make us some Indian food. But he might some training in getting the stuff right. friendly staff. well located.
Review 110：Variable water pressure. Limited driver accommodation places.
Review 111：Location, the view of the Lake is wonderful. Good buffet meals. The pool is very well kept.
Review 112：Minimalistic lobby area leaving little or no space for the guests. The restaurant was packed with tables and chairs beyond its capacity. The bar did not have any space at all guests to sit and unwind. The placing of the swimming pool could have been done better.
Review 113：Rooms clean. Clean hotel ideal for one night only and value for money
Review 114：Meal menu was extremely poor. Neither srilankan or western. If you do not eat meat you do not get enough choices even for breakfast.
Review 115：Staff is very helpfull and friendly. They found driver accommodation for our driver as their was a vacant slots.
Review 116：it would have been nice if we could have had drinks and food at the pool side
Review 117：we arrived at an ungodly hour of 2 am and the Hotel Manger and the Receptionist could not do enough to welcome us. the food was fantastic and the service was same. i would reccomend this hotel with out hesitation
Review 118：No internet wifi access in the room! It was only available at the lobby or at the restaurant which was not very convenient!
Review 119：The room was clean and spacious. The bed was comfortable and the linen clean. It had a great view over the lake! Overall it was a pleasant stay.
Review 120：As per above
Review 121：Very poor service from the cashier: he was very poor in his customer service aspects. Other than that the general facilities were sufficient. Food was average to say the least.
Review 122：The toilet's flushing system wasn't very efficient. We needed to get the staff to take a look at it twice in our 2 night stay there. But I think it was room specific. Not a general bad fault of the hotel.
Review 123：The hotel looked awesome. Great rooms. Balcony doors open right up to the beautiful lake. Great spot for photographers. Staff was very friendly and the kitchen staff was very nice about our constant requests for various things. Decently priced food options at the hotel's very pretty restaurant.
Review 124：food is adequate but a bit disappointing for such a great location.
Review 125：Most wonderful location - incredibly relaxing. Great view of the lake, water Buffalo on the edge of the garden and an abundance of birds. very nice pool and they DO have WIFI.
Review 126：One evening we were urged to pay in the restaurant before having finished to eat and drink, No mosquito nets, very small bathrooms.
Review 127：The location right at the like offers wonderful views.
Review 128：Twice a day clean towels is maybe too much.
Review 129：Sit and nothing but staring across the lake. Gazing at bats, ospreys, herons and elephants. Cool down at the pool. Excellent buffet (3x a day)
Review 130：The Lake Hotel, Polonnaruwa, is one of the best hotels we stayed whiletraveling on Sri Lanka. Staff excellent, good restaurant, very clean andwith stunning view over Lake. Our warm recommendations !
Review 131：Because we booked with Hotel.com, our Driver got no accomodation in the Drivers quarters. The front-desk manger is rude. We don't visit the hotel again. I could not believe that two different Hotels from the same Company are so different (Safari :) / Lake :(!
Review 132：A bit far from everything. Staff is friendly, but service is slow and not always that good (for example, I asked for clean towels, they told me they would bring them, but after 30 minutes I went to the reception desk again and the same people seemed to have no idea what I was talking about).
Review 133：Nice rooms, clean. Good breakfast. Quiet location (we slept very well).
Review 134：staff spoke very poor english, no mosquitos nets, but million of mosquitos. If is buffet for dinner, it's perfect, buta la carte it is not so good. Poor bar. Nobody knew about our reservation, altough it was confirmed!
Review 135：location lake view