The Fortress

The Fortress descritpion

Resort The Fortress sells fast on our site. The Fortress is right on the beach, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It offers spacious accommodations, an outdoor pool and 2 restaurants. Wi-Fi and on-site parking are free.
The Fortress Hotel is a 15 minute drive from Unawatuna and a 20 minute drive from Galle. Koggala Airport and Koggala Lake are about 3 miles away.
The resort has luxurious accommodations featuring a mixture of modern and colonial architecture. All rooms are air-conditioned and have private balconies. They are well-equipped with facilities like flat-screen TV and a minibar.
Hotel Fortress has a fully-equipped fitness center. Guests can relax at the Ayurvedic lounge and enjoy massages and spa treatments. The hotel’s sauna and hot tub are other great relaxation options.
Guests can enjoy authentic Sri Lankan specialties and Mediterranean dishes at the restaurants. The hotel offers great outdoor dining experiences as well. Exotic cocktails and a nice wine selection are also available.

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Facilities of The Fortress

Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Outdoor Pool

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Pool Table | Fitness Center | Spa | Indoor Pool

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for The Fortress

Review 1：Both the pool and surrounding deck needed maintenance. Broken glass tiles in the pool and splinters on the deck. Very little daylight in room 24 and 25

Review 2：Comfortable bed and pillow Quiet calm atmosphere

Review 3：We had an amazing reunion with friends and our friend's got married here at The Fortress, the staff we amazing, food drinks our rooms all beautiful. Would highly recommend to anyone who fancies a real treat!

Review 4：Great location not far from Galle and also the surfing beaches. Lovely pool and the view of the Indian Ocean is fantastic! The staff is very friendly, yet professional. Love the beautiful smiles!

Review 5：Staff not particularly attentive. The monsoon season (wind and warm rain) clearly has an impact on the building and as a result the rooms are musty and slightly decayed. Some were being renovated while we were there. Not very impressive breakfast selection compared to other five star properties in Sri Lanka. Tired looking, musty spa

Review 6：Wonderful to walk through the enormous wooden Fortress gates and to look through the open hotel foyer, across the fabulous, vast swimming pool, to the sea. Excellent cocktails and cashew nuts! Outlook from upstairs ocean front bedroom was fantastic!

Review 7：Rooms too humid due to proximity to Ocean; prices were outrageous and did not honor agreed Booking rate; did not have Imodium-AD when wife became ill to her stomach; did not have planned tours to Galle Fortress;

Review 8：View of the Ocean; Friendliness of the staff; negotiated price to airport down from $200 to $150.

Review 9：High priced Airport transport drop-off (3-4 times more expensive than standard airport taxi rate).

Review 10：We booked this hotel for the second time. Again, we loved everything about it: good location right on the beach, hi-tech rooms with sea view, huge swimming pool, very nice staff everywhere, quality food, nice spa.

Review 11：The only thing we didn't liked is the very high price quote we gotfor the transport back to the airport, with no reasonable standardalternatives, so I had to book my own taxi back to the Colombo Airport(Airport Taxi Service is 3 times cheaper and very good quality).

Review 12：We loved the hotel's location right on the beach and seeing the hugewaves from the pool. The rooms are very spacious, with a great sea viewand hi-tech facilities, a real 5 star hotel from all points of view. Theswimming pool is huge and loved to swim in it, very clean. The staff wasvery nice and there was always somebody to help you in a few seconds, wefelt this right away. The food is one step higher and more qualitativeand they cook it right in front of view, giving a feeling of freshnessto everything you eat wich is important. Very tasty and affordableprices for food in general.

Review 13：From the location to the facilities the Fortressss is hidden gem which should not be amiss! With a variety of food and fusion dishes to fulfil the culinary tastebuds the hotel topped it off with its impeccable service. Amazing as always.

Review 14：Not walkable into Galle - confusing, as it's not actually in Galle. (But as a result, you get the great beach)

Review 15：Extremely spacious rooms and bathrooms, beautiful long pool, gorgeous beach, delicious breakfast

Review 16：Excellent buffets. Staff very helpful and welcoming, particularly Asela, Shakila in the restaurant and Subash our driver. The reception staff were also very good.

Review 17：The hotel although very nice on the whole is looking tired in several of the common areas. The room we stayed in would benefit from some basic redecoration

Review 18：Beautiful grounds and outlook onto the ocean

Review 19：Nothing too much - the hotel was built around 2007 and being absolute beach front is showing some wear and tear.

Review 20：We stayed in an Ocean Loft room (one of 2 only) and had a butler so that was easy to enjoy. Our butler Ashoka was around whenever we needed him and served us during meals as well - easy to get used to. Excellent meals and wine in Duo. Just a great location - right on the beach and perfect for sunsets. Plunge pool in the ground floor of the room & watching the cricket on the TV while we cooled off.

Review 21：Any extra activities organised by the hotel were ridiculously overpriced. Would recommend organising separate transport and trips as its often a third of the price. At times the service didn't seem genuine as the level of service seemed to correspond to the amount of money spent.

Review 22：The infinity pool, rooms, food & beverages were excellent and the beach was beautiful. The pool staff were amazing taking us snorkelling and pointing out the turtle hatchery and wild turtles swimming in the ocean in the afternoons.

Review 23：Nothing!

Review 24：From the moment you walk through those BIG Fortress gates, you know you're in for something really special and we were NOT to be disappointed. Lovely, friendly staff, superb position, great food, just wonderful.

Review 25：Breakfast (eggs) - not nice. All other breakfast was good.

Review 26：The ocean and beach. Pool was nice. Room ocean view. Staff. Untouched long beach strip. The burger in Pepper restaurant was nice.

Review 27：A few junior staff members could have done with a bit more training before being allowed to serve. The senior staff members were very experienced.

Review 28：There were sunbeds for every guest. Ample staff around in reception, restaurant and around the grounds. very polite and pleasant.

Review 29：Gym can be better equipped with more free weights; Menu can have more variety of food with, maybe, specials thrown in every day. Especially if guests are eating all their meals in the hotel.

Review 30：Lovely view of the sea; fantastic and comfortable sea facing rooms; Great food and excellent personal service.

Review 31：Staff at restaurant and reception area need better training - too many of them not doing much although they have good intentions but seems like management has not given them the training needed to run a hotel which offers rooms at the rates they do. I also fell twice since all the floors around the hotel were wet and humid due to rain and weather conditions. They need to do something about the floor otherwise guests risk seriously hurting themselves.

Review 32：Loved the view and proximity to the ocean.

Review 33：-Poor level of English -No private beach (no beach actually at all) -Quality of food fair, *5* star hotel should have more qualified chef -Lack of any other service within or directly outside the hotel

Review 34：-Spa -Cleaning service

Review 35：The day it rained we decided to try the jaccuzzi. Unfortunately the water was cold so no fun. :(

Review 36：It is the most beautiful hotel with wonderfull people working there! We both were taken by surprise by the location. We had a lot of attention from staff but without bothering. The food is great too. We are definatelly coming back soon!

Review 37：The main attraction is Galle which is 13km away. The mattresses seem to need replacing. The staff, whilst friendly spend a lot of time standing around in groups, chatting to one another rather than attending to customers' needs (particularly male restaurant staff). "3" restaurants boasted of are in reality only one with three areas, we saw only one menu.

Review 38：The sea facing rooms are very well appointed, stylish & clean. The swimming pool area is idyllic.

Review 39：Very bad food (Too much peper. I eat pizza for all two days). The room was very disgasting, humid and slipery. All the clothes and bed are humid. The bathroom was dirty. The room was dirty and dark. No comfort at all. The sofa is no comfortable, the tv is in the bad position (You can not watch by the bed). Completelly bad experience. They are crazy about prices. This the worst place that I had stay in all Sri Lanka (I stay 2 weeks in more than 10 hotels). The fort is like a prison. No beach, no place to stay, its a shame. Very bad experience. I had paid more than 300 dollars per night. The meals custs more than 50 dollars per person. Didn't vallue 10 dollars. It was an absurd !!!

Review 40：Good bed.

Review 41：Not much to be honest, it was pretty perfect! Out only one, small quibble was the lunch menu could have had a few more "light" dishes like salads or a BBQ instead of heavy "main" meals.

Review 42：Stunning Setting, it felt like we were in a Bounty advert! Gorgeous Rooms Massive, extremely comfy beds The whole place oozed luxury Stunning Pool Yoga Beautiful chilled out spa (treatments not cheap though) Friendly, helpful staff who were wiling to go the extra mile every time

Review 43：I consider myself lucky to have found The Fortress. It was a gem of a place! The rooms, the food, the service, the facilities, the view were amazing. My family and I wished we had more than 2 nights there. We vow to return one day

Review 44：Non sea view rooms all face a wall; they would charge 25usd per kid over 3 yrs old sharing room and bed with parents. Ocean is rough and not really suitable for swimming. Practically no good sitting area in the event of heavy rain.

Review 45：Beautiful pools and view, enormous rooms and bathrooms, free wifi

Review 46：Just got back from Sri Lanka, stayed at the Fortress for four nights. Really pleased I found this place, it came highly recommended by friends. Went with no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised with the high standard this hotel has. Had a certain calmness about the place, the service, the rooms and good food. If you are looking for a quiet break away from it all,then I would highly recommend this place. Choose the Ocean view rooms, they are lovely

Review 47：Nothing

Review 48：Location and staff

Review 49：Beach and cost. Hotels around the world has never charged us a additional fee for children age 4.

Review 50：Staff and service

Review 51：Nothing!!!!!!!!

Review 52：This hotel is exceptional!! Service second to none, staff very helpful kind and attentive.

Review 53：Patchy service. Poor communication by staff.

Review 54：Amazing service and staff, great pool, good breakfast. Amazing in-room bathroom!

Review 55：very kind people; good kitchen

Review 56：Only 1 restaurant.

Review 57：Staff was most obliging.

Review 58：over priced

Review 59：Nothing really

Review 60：The bed and then whole atmosphere in the lobby and restaurant area

Review 61：Food was bad

Review 62：1- over priced 2- the beach is not for swimming its all rocks

Review 63：1- staff 2- service

Review 64：staff and service

Review 65：the ambiance was good

Review 66：Not having a sea view meant our room was a little dark.

Review 67：Excellent service and great public areas to hang out in. Loved the pool.

Review 68：Nothing, overall was a wonderful stay.

Review 69：Amazing pool and beach view.

Review 70：The mattress is a bit soft.

Review 71：The view and the design of the hotel are very luxury, the service is good and the food are very tasted.

Review 72：Spacious rooms wonderful service and great views of the beach.

Review 73：everything

Review 74：Everything! Best place to stay in Sri Lanka for a luxurious girls weekend away.

Review 75：no atmosphere, low quality of the food, service very average

Review 76：nice beach, even though not good for swimming

Review 77：The fact that we had to work!

Review 78：Food Rooms Bathroom Ocean views

Review 79：Only one restaurant... and the service was very very slow...

Review 80：Open Toilet in the room very bad. No private sandy beach

Review 81：Very nice & romantic hotel for honeymoon. Staff friendly and polite.

Review 82：Simply perfect. One of the best hotels i've seen in my life.

Review 83：Excellent location, wonderful stuff, clean , delicious food, they Handel my occasion in very professional way.

Review 84：price not in line with Sri Lanka , even more expensive then the 5 star hotels in Colombo

Review 85：building , food, staff , swimming pool

Review 86：Wifi was for one device per person

Review 87：Great food Option of swimming in the huge pool or sea Friendly staff

Review 88：Allways with VIP s it's not feel we are in hotel

Review 89：Like location and building

Review 90：Humidity in the room;

Review 91：Service;

Review 92：Excursion paid is not worth it

Review 93：Excellent facilities

Review 94：Everything was just perfect

Review 95：everything was amazing

Review 96：Absolutely nothing.... only that we had to check out.

Review 97：This place was absolutely stunning. Everything from beginning to end was first class. The staff, the food, the facilities, the room, the view. We had planned to use the hotel as a base for some day trips but it was so nice that we didn't leave the complex for 3 days. Best place on the coast to relax in luxury!

Review 98：The sea wasn't 'swimmable' at the time of year we visited (not the hotel's fault!) but we knew it wouldn't be before we traveled so this is not a complaint.

Review 99：Amazing location, fantastic building, wonderfully helpful and friendly staff and great (long) pool. Truly an amazing hotel that I would recommend to all.

Review 100：the breakfast buffet It was a little boring. they didn't change for the 5 days I was there, I like it! but I think if they'd it change some food It will be better Overall beatuiful place great food ! And I would recomend it totally !

Review 101：Pool view The entrance (lobby) The spa The small shop Warm people Great food

Review 102：Spa was not great. Rushed out at the end of our treatment as it was closing time. Water was given in plastic bottles; i felt this cheapened the experience. Random beach vendors constantly hassling. Staff were too keen to sell us excursions - they must realise that we have paid a large amount to stay at the hotel. We felt that we were treated great at the start when staff were trying to sell excursions but the level of service dropped when we made it clear that we didnt want any excursions.

Review 103：Staff were very helpful and friendly. Lovely hotel, nice rooms and clean.

Review 104：Very poor bar area, fairly untrained staff, terrible cocktails, food was well cooked but very overpriced. Felt we were in a very unethical environment

Review 105：The location, right on the beach. The pool staff were excellent

Review 106：Waves are very strong in this area, so you are only allowed to go into the ocean in a special, limited area. So be prepared to only swim in the pool.

Review 107：Food was very nice in the evenings. We went out few times to eat, but I would recommend to stay in hotel. Because some places, "local restaurants" didn't have wine, or very limited variety, also if you take a starter and main to almost pay the same as you would pay in hotel for all you can eat. And as I said food was lovely.

Review 108：Very Bad experience. I don't agree with most of the opinions placedon booking.com. I've spent 5 days in Fortress. I really did'tlike the fact of nasty atacks about giving tips to staff in the hotel(recepconist called me and told me that I've got my wallet open inmy room, when I entered the room one of houskeepers forced me to givehim a tip saying that he saved my life reporting that my wallet wasopened). Second thing one of housekeepers must have dropped my blacberryduring cleaning, front glass broken. I noticed that just beforechceckout. Hard to prove. But really this place for me was verydissapointing.

Review 109：A la carte menu was a bit limited and quite expensive but a great place to have lunch and dinner! Buffets were amazing

Review 110：Great hotel. Really enjoyed our 4 day stay!

Review 111：Rooms lacking in functionalality eg lack of storage space, insufficient lighting and towel rails. Different menus in restaurant confusing and not explained. Limited kids menu (3 options) Some broken Swimming pool tiles (daughter cut her toe)

Review 112：Very Personal service Staff great with kids Small, friendly hotel Relaxed atmosphere Stylish, beautiful design/architecture Huge comfy beds Turtle breeding on site - we saw some hatch out of their eggs. Proximity to crashing waves

Review 113：The place is near to being perfect, but they would make it really perfect if they did not put such a high hotel premium on basic services (drivers, tours) and local foods.

Review 114：The setting of the place is idyllic, the infinity pool and the ocean make for a real postcard feeling. Squirrels leisurely run around the premises and there is a small turtle hatchery next to the hotel. The beach is stunning, the water rough. The food in the restaurant is very good, though a little overpriced.

Review 115：Not a thing

Review 116：Amazing stay at the Fortress. When you walk through the door and see that beautiful view of the endless pool and beach. Rooms are well designed. We have been here twice and will more certainly come back.

Review 117：Should be more drinking water provided on a daily basis. Children in a clearly adults hotel!

Review 118：Breakfasts were superb. Plenty of loungers around the pool. Beautiful rooms, great staff and great food! Worth every penny!

Review 119：Not much activities. They need to add some water activities.

Review 120：Loved everything. Top notch. Cleaniness, friendliness, food, pool,views, lovely squirrels everywhere...room is very luxurious and beautiful bathroom with jacuzzi. Extra large kingsized bed. Bose sound system and LCD in room. Curtains work wirelessly as well as the whole room ambience. Little expensive but seen in service and facilities. Staff are very well trained to make you feel really special. It was our anniversary and they made special. We were given room #1 which was very close to everthing. They provided a complimentary cake and fresh fruits. At night they arranged for us a special dinner table in d middle of the pool which costed arround $300 for a sea food dinner. Really loved it and strongly recommending it...

Review 121：The spa experience was not very convincing (the massage)

Review 122：Amazing pool, very nice building nicely converted into an hotel, huge and very confortable rooms, very nice restaurant (the "plancha" buffet was just delicious, we could not stop eating), wonderful location... We did not want to leave...

Review 123：We had a dark room with a wall view instead of a garden view. Impossible to swim in the sea. Happily the swimming pool was perfect.

Review 124：Hotel staff very friendly and efficient, great food, very big and nice swimming pool, huge room and bathroom. I loved the cinnamon smell all around the hotel.

Review 125：We thought our room did have a courtyard or garden view, but unfortunately it was a wall! Very dark all the time - whilst in the room.

Review 126：Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. All the food was good and varied.

Review 127：Our entire stay was excellent. Very good facilities excellent attentive staff. Possibly one negative point was the constant evening buffet meals with limited a la carte menu

Review 128：our duplex suite with inside plunge pool was very nice, but the little pool created so much humidity, so we couldn`t turn off the AC - otherwise everything would become soaking wet. dont book these rooms, it just doesnt make sense!

Review 129：bed and linen were perfect, hotel garden and view amazing, rooms very nice, staff very helpful. simply a stunning place!