Name: Yathra Houseboat
Address: 449/1, Dedduwa, Bentota, Bentota, Bentota, 80500, Sri Lanka
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Smoke-free property

Terrace

Dryer

General

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Hairdryer

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Wardrobe/Closet

Bathrobe

Linens

Slippers

Toiletries

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Ironing

Laundry

Dry-cleaning

Luggage storage

Wake-up service

Iron

Services and amenities

Coffee/tea for guests

Diet menu (on request)

Breakfast

Breakfast in the room

Restaurant

Bottled water

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

English

Languages Spoken

Bike rental

Hiking

Fishing

Recreation

Parking

Free parking nearby

Beach/pool towels

Next to the beach

Pool and beach

Conference Hall

Business

Doctor

First Aid Kit

Beauty and wellness

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Temperature control for guests

Personal protection equipment for guests

Contactless check-in and/or check-out

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Bentota River Airport

Koggala Airport

Yathra Houseboat

Bentota

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Me and my wife had a wonderful crusise and a wonderful  sleep the food was delisious even thoug a small staff they do very wonderful  job specialy chamara was very helpful 
The captain of the boat also very good.I can recondition  this place for any honeymoon couple

There were mosquitoes  because of river side outside the balcony but not inside.

HONEYMOON NIGHT

TLDR: From our experience and from reading other  reviews, it is NOT a premium Jetwing experience. It is a boat run by a sexist and arrogant captain more suited for a large group and a party rather than a relaxing couple’s stay.

The full review:

We recently booked 1 night at Yathra for my birthday. 

We arrived at the property roughly 20min after the stated arrival time of 12pm. We took the early checkin option. 

We were not greeted by anyone and were made to sit for over an hour in a random house next to the boat we were supposed to be on. No greeting, no welcome, no manager or anyone to speak to. At some point we asked if we could at least have some water and were given two small plastic bottles of water before the staff member disappeared again. 

The manager (boat captain?) showed up around 40min after we arrived and casually strolled up to us with a huge grin. He then proceeded to say hello to my wife and I, then completely ignored her question and started questioning me about whether I’m Sri Lankan. Must be some macho thing because he refused to address her directly. 

Rather than apologizing for making us wait or offering to at least let us sit down somewhere on the boat with a refreshment, he just started getting very defensive about why we have to sit in this house in front of the boat. 

A few of the excuses that were given:
- one of the ACs in one of the two rooms doesn’t work
- everything is on the boat
- the previous guests left late
- one of the staff members is on leave today
- we were not informed/aware that you requested an early checkin

These were the reasons we had to sit in that house without refreshments, greetings or anything. These were the reasons we spent Rs. 37,000.00 (roughly $104 at the date of this review) to sit in a mosquito infested house and be ignored. 

On top of that, this incredibly rude captain/manager. He made us feel uncomfortable, unwelcome and like we were inconveniencing him. He was even giggling at our discomfort. 

I have nothing against Jetwing, we really enjoy Jetwing. But this was not the Jetwing experience. This is the backpacker experience where people pay much less per night. 

At 1:30pm (90min after the booking arrival time) we were informed that the room was ready and that we could get on the boat. We then informed the captain/manager and staff that we would be leaving as we did not feel comfortable with him or the service that would be offered. He insisted that we come on board saying “everything is on the boat”, “come come”. But after we insisted on leaving, he just said “ok”. 

We then left and waited on the road to try and find somebody that would take us to another hotel. The captain or staff did not offer to help us find any transport, provided no apology or help of any kind. They ignored our request to find help to get some sort of transport. 

We can’t comment on the actual boat experience as our Jetwing Yathra experience lasted roughly 2 hours. But we can comment on the attitude of the staff and management in general. 

I have never had to leave a hotel because I felt unwelcome and uncomfortable. 😕

Sexist and arrogant boat captain. Not a premium Jetwing experience. Not worth the money.

Outstanding!  Beautiful boat. Everything you need, great food, very good air conditioning, spotlessly clean, attentive service and value for money it is excellent. And a trip up the mango river to top it all off. A brilliant experience not to be missed in bentota.

Outstanding boat!

Unforgettable and unique experience!first class service with cosy rooms and delicious food!the view is one to die for!the sunset cruise makes every cent you pay worth it!highly recommend!would love to come back again!hats off and two thumbs up!

Honeymoon stay

Nice boat but the food was horrible. I didn't get a proper lunch just some sandwiches. Also dinner was crap- the cook cannot even make a decent steak. If you go take your own food with you or order pizza

Crap service and Horrible food!

I was finding a different  place to celebrate my partner's birthday..Finally i found a wonderful lovely place as 'Jetwing houseboat' Aluthgama..Actually it was a memorable stay...and also new experience for both of us..Luxury Cabin was Superb with Balcony and river view..Very beautiful mini Bathroom with hotwater..Staff Was Superb and also Professional with hospitality...Really appreciated..Captain 'Leel Koralage ' had arranged everything nicely  as i required..Nice Birthday Decoration..was there..Actually we were Suprised..Specially We got a great service from 'Chamara  priyadarshana' the boy who served us. Chamara Was a very good Care taker...Really Appreciated his service..Also We enjoyed the cruising With 'Chaminda Kumara'..He gave us an introduction about the houseboat tour and areas..Thank you so much,Captain Koralage/Chamara/Chaminda,Really Appreciate Again your warm hospitality🙏🙏🙏Finally i recommend the Jetwing Houseboat  for everyone who like to get a wonderful and different  experience..

Lovely & Wonderful Experience With Great Hospitality...

Due to corona pandemic were bit reluctant to book crowdie places but wanted a place to celebrate our wedding anniversary with kids. So I found this place which is not far from Colombo (only 100km/1.5 hrs away from Colombo via southern highway), own by Jetwing hotels but has only 2 rooms which is exactly suit my purpose. This is a house boat in the river with two rooms. Both the rooms had balconies with river view. It had a rooftop gathering area / viewing deck. My son enjoyed fishing. This place is unique unusual and safe specially due to the pandemic. No buffet only the set many was there. No much food choices but tasty. Not many facilities available like in big hotels but safe for a family outing at this days.....

Unusual but very relaxing place........

I made a reservation for one of my friend's and her fiancé for lunch. Their main concern was high privacy and also a relaxing place to chill out. Eventhough it was a busy day with full house guests, Captain Leel went out of his way to make my friend's visit much more memorable. The service had been so wonderful. Food had been tasty. Thank you so much Captian Leel and the lovely team. You are a great asset to your hotel. 

Lunch out 

This time, it's the whole boathouse we reserved with multiple cruises in even and morning. On top of that, the team has decorated the boats and cabin in an amazing way. Further, the fireworks done at the dinner were really impressive, and hats off to the team for arrangement on short notice. The service, food, and hospitality at the highest level with Captain Koralage and 3 of his teammates did a fantastic job to make the whole stay memorable. Definitely we will cruise once again with your new route coming soon. Highest level of safety measures against C-19 and superb service from all 4 in the team despite the pandemic led constraints. All the best Captain and team, you are really great.

Highest level of customized hospitality from Jetwing

Yathra by jetwings is a novel concept which brings the river cruising one would experience in the Nile or Kerala to Sri Lanka. Our stay was short and undoubtedly memorable. The place is easily accessible through the main road. The boat has a Kerala houseboat vibe yet has in its rooms the star luxury of jet wing property. The ship is docked through out the day and sails under the safe hands of a former naval officer for two hours around the lagoon from 4 to 6 and it’s a magical opportunity to see the sunset and fauna and flora.
The rooms are comfy and the open areas with the view of the lake is the highlight. Rooms are clean and elegant and washrooms too are good.
Food is set menu and is great to taste and they do make changes if requested which is great. 
The hospitality of the three staff members are amazing and they are the epitome of great Lankan hospitality.
The only small issue is the slow WiFi and lack of good cellular service. I advise you to bring a good book and enjoy it whilst drinking in the view 
We will come again and highly recommended for both foreigners and locals

Yathra Houseboat

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