Dear Kate,
Thanks for your kind words re the house, staff and effort we went to prior to your arrival. I appreciate your flight arrived very early in the morning, and the staff worked very hard to clean and organize given previous guests left that same day. As discussed our check in time is 2pm, so your experience may have been different if you arrived at this time.
The kitchen is equipped like any other western kitchen (4 burner gas-top set into marble, 450l fridge, microwave, espresso maker, blender, toaster, kettle, pots & pans, utensils, cutlery, crockery and glassware et). As a guest, if there is something you don’t see please just ask the staff, as things get moved around by staff or other guests.
We get many comments on the beautiful concrete pendants, although agree, they do create more of a ‘mood’ affect, so perhaps we should revisit. The local supermarket, Keels, is part of a national chain. There is a larger store in Galle and worth visiting at the beginning of your stay, or for fresh baguettes etc.
We do have a number of fold up beach chairs, and previously had deck chairs that guests would use on the beach, but staff need to pick up or they disappear quickly!
We aim to provide a range of beach games/equipment such as cricket and badminton sets, frisbees and kids buckets/spades etc. Again, please ask the staff if you can’t see what you are looking for. We are always updating our board games as pieces do go missing over time.
We have deliberately left the palm trees - to create shade/cool, but also a privacy screen. I love that you can step from the yard onto the sand, but that the house is also private from anyone looking in.
The half roof protects the toilet and vanity during wet weather, but given the sometimes heavy rain, we have 3 other bathrooms completely internal jic.
The Australian boys who run the Youth Hostel (HangTime) are lovely, and I highly recommend their wood fired pizzas. It is a very different offering however, and I think when you consider rental p/n for a private beach house sleeping 9 people versus 4/5 rooms in a hostel, no breakfast, no kitchen, tv, living room or beach, our house may not look so expensive. Dec 17 when you arrived is our peak time, with varying rates during the year.
I'm sorry that you didn’t enjoy your stay more, as our following guests wrote me a lovely email after enjoying their holiday with family. Best, Michelle