Awards and Customer Feedback for Sri Lanka Accommodation

Accommodation Media

Awards

Sri Lanka’s first and only Relay’s & Chateaux Hotel

Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice 2011
Listed on 'Top 10 All Inclusive Resorts in the World'

Ceylon Tea Trails wins Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice awards for 2010 in three categories:
Top 10 All Inclusive Resorts in the World
Top 10 Best Service in Asia
Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Asia

TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2009 Award
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2009 Award in two categories: Best Hidden Gems – Asia; Best All-inclusive - World

Conde Nast Traveler UK 2006 Hot List

Media Review

Nigel Tisdall, Bring me Sunshine, Marie Claire , Nov 2011

as we climb into the hills we are greeted by the astonishingly beautiful landscape born out of the world’s devotion to the daily cuppa. Set at 4,000 feet, the hills here are luminous green embroidery of neatly arranged rows of tea bushes. Their lush leaves create an air of permanent spring that is complemented by a decorous tableau of misty lakes, peaceful woods, Victorian churches and grand 1920s bungalows that are now guesthouses. Book one of the four run by Tea Trails and you can take dreamy walks through the tea plantations, have a green tea bath, have pears poached in cinnamon tea – and learn so much about this lucrative leaf it may well change your life.

Juliet Coombe, Serendib – Sri Lankan Airlines inflight magazine , Jan 2009

'Tea Trails offers a range of luxury rooms and suites, each property being recently charmingly restored to offer a unique luxury experience of life on a working tea estate. All bungalows differ in style: on the shores of Lake Castlereagh is Summerville, which has the air of an English country cottage with lovely sitting room with doors opening out to the Lake. On the other side of the valley is the more modern looking Norwood, where delicious Tea cuisine gained its inspiration; and in the valley beyond is Tientsin, an eccentric Colonial property chock-full of fascinating paintings…'

AsiaSpa , Feb 2008
	'Its hard to find the words to describe the colonial, culinary and service perfection that is the Ceylon Tea Trails. Four bungalows – Castlereagh, Summerville, Norwood and Tientsin, previously the homes of tea plantation managers, look down over different corners of the Castlereagh Reservoir. Many guests book a night in each…'

Delerine Munzeer, Serendib , Jul 2006
	'The laid-back, languid and luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by tea planters of yesteryear still prevails on the slopes of this island’s tea country, a throwback to those wonderful days of wine and roses’, when life still went on at a leisurely pace……taking to the Tea Trails of Sri Lanka is an adventure for the mind, body and soul.'

Royston Ellis, Explore Sri Lanka, , Apr 2006

'The idea of Ceylon Tea Trails is for guests to holiday in one of four plantation bungalows close to the Castlereagh Reservoir, part of the famous Bogowantalawa tea district at over 1,219m (4,000ft) above sea level. The bungalows are all run to the same high standard and guests stay in one – or all if the like – while learning about tea, village life, and experiencing the remarkable scenic diversity and adventure activities of the area'

Emma Boyle, Travel Sri Lanka, Vol 3 No 8

'This is not a hotel, it’s your second home’. These were the words spoken to us by our butler-for-the-night, Claude, as my partner and I were warmly welcomed on our arrival at our first Tea Trails bungalow, the beautifully positioned Norwood. These words echo the vision of Tea Trails that all guests should use the fine comfort of the bungalows as they would their own homes, only with the extra special addition of having personal service at their beck and call at any time of the day or night.’ The Tea trials bungalows are perfectly in keeping with the heritage that befits this world famous golden valley of tea. Anything is possible. You can spend your time either doing absolutely nothing or by filling it with activity by visiting a tea factory, hiking or trekking the tea trails, or by kayaking on the lake.'

Customer Feedback

Aug 05, 2011 : Amazing!

MM, Surrey

Feb 26, 2010 : Castlereagh was really wonderful in every way. The only part that I was upset about was that my daughter had paid for 11/2 hours of spa treatment and I hadn’t realized that my daughter was involved in the payment. The massage I decided to have ½ hour and didn’t enjoy it very much. The masseuse hurt me when he put his fingers through my hair, but if I had known my daughter had paid for it I would have approached it differently and asked him to give a different.

-- HR – Longniddry

Nov 26, 2009 : Amazing! Wish we'd stayed longer. Words cannot describe how good it was. Food was fantastic and the tea factory tour with Andrew was very interesting. Well worth the money!

--- RH – Herts

Mar 16, 2009 : A lovely place. Everything was lovely and the setting next to the lake was awesome.

--- EG – Surrey

Mar 14, 2009 : Faultless! Stunning location. The staff, property, service and food was superb

---JH – Leeds

Jan 30, 2009 : The location was superb. Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Food was delicious and there was plenty to do.

---PD – London

Dec 25, 2008 : Excellent in all respect

--MS – USA

Dec 22, 2008 : Stunning location, delicious food, very accommodative staff ad excellent service especially New Years eve the bungalow was exquisitely furnished. Great attention to detail. We highly recommend.

---LT – Kent

Aug 04, 2008 : Just amazing! Everything was perfection.

CA – Cheshire

Jul 30, 2008 : Stunning place!!.. most informative and fascinating tour around the tea factory..

CG – London

Jul 15, 2008 : We had high expectations of this accommodation and it did not disappoint. It was real luxury in an outstanding setting.

AT – Sussex

Mar 13, 2008 : Food and service exquisite. Scenery is stunning. Wonderful bird spotting too.

JC – Essex

Aug 24, 2007 : Four meals a day in unashamed luxury, with beautifully-landscaped gardens, a superb vista, attentive staff and wonderful food – who could ask for more?

JE – Bishop Auckland

Aug 24, 2007 : Four meals a day in unashamed luxury, with beautifully-landscaped gardens, a superb vista, attentive staff and wonderful food – who could ask for more?

JE – Bishop Auckland

Aug 10, 2007 : The bungalow and staff were amazing. Every need taken care off and we wish we could have stayed longer. The best hotel we have ever stayed in.

JP – London

Apr 20, 2007 : Superb service and wonderfully relaxing, although the guided walk was a disappointment as the guide was obviously in a hurry and didn’t want to walk slowly. Definitely highly recommended.

MP – Surrey

Mar 15, 2007 : Amazing, relaxed environment. Delightful people. Excellent concept.

SD – Surrey

Mar 10, 2007 : Absolutely loved every single minute. The only difficulty was when one of the butlers was aggressive to Ananda and would not let him in.

ET – London

Feb 10, 2007 : Heavenly.

JA – Gloucs

Dec 23, 2006 : We weren’t that keen on Norwood – not the location, which was lovely, but the style of décor didn’t really appeal. Loved Castlereagh though – our room was super. We were extremely well-looked after – and well fed in both.

CO – Edinburgh