O2 Ella

Our search for a hotel in Ella was trickier than is usually the case. After positive experiences in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, but also less positive experiences in Delhi, we did not want to make a mistake this time.

O2 Ella Sri Lanka

On top of that, we filter carefully on how the internet and Wi Fi signal is. As a digital nomad, it is important to have (good) internet and that is less common in Sri Lanka than you might want.

we initially considered Zion View Ella Green, but because of the internet connection, we chose O2 Ella. You can read how we liked it here.

Location O2 Ella Hotel

O2 Ella’s location is excellent. It is just off the main street (the city centre) and almost all restaurants and coffee shops are less than a 10 minute walk away.

For enthusiasts, Little Adam’s Peak is about a half-hour walk (to the foot) and the Nine Arch Bridge is also a half-hour walk.

Around the corner are restaurants, a gym (yes really) and a very good laundry.

Price O2 Ella hotel

We booked O2 Ella for €50 per night. This includes breakfast (Nov 2023). You can find the cheapest offer for O2 Ella here.

Remote working Sri Lanka

We mentioned in the introduction how important internet and Wi Fi are to us, yet we were not able to work properly in this hotel. It really can.

While checking in, we checked how fast the internet was. We were happy to see that it was 50 Mbps, however, in the room the speed was lower (around 15 Mbps).

Yet things look less rosy. The fast signal was only available close to the modem at reception. In the room where we wanted to work, we sometimes reached 1 Mbps, but usually not.

After indicating that wifi is important to us for our work, every effort is made to put the modems somewhere else. We even get a modem in our room. Every now and then it worked and we achieved 20 Mbps there as well, but it is by no means stable.

This seemed to be the case throughout Ella, by the way. It is fine for getting rid of emails or working in online documents, but it is not stable enough for video meetings via Meet or anything like that.

On our last day in Ella, we worked from Cafe Chill. One of the few places where you have stable and fast internet. Keep in mind that staff repeatedly ask what you would like to order (not very patiently).

O2 Ella breakfast

During check in, we were told that we would receive free breakfast. Since we are booking 6 nights, they want to accommodate us. Always nice!

Breakfast in itself is fine, but don’t expect too much from it. The fresh fruit and fruit juice are nice, the egg is fine, but the sandwiches are cheap white bread which does not make me very happy. There’s not much O2 Ella can do about that, as this is common in Sri Lanka.

If you would like yoghurt, a spring roll or something else? Then they laugh and run to the kitchen. A few minutes later, it’s freshly made on your table. With a smile, they are really happy to serve you.

Hotel in Ella

Although I have stayed in many hotels, O2 Ella is one of the few that I can recommend despite its shortcomings. If you are looking for a hotel in Ella within this price range, this is a great place to stay.

You’re close to the centre where you can have a nice breakfast, the staff are there for you all day and if you have any problems (with wifi) they fix it for you.

Is it luxury? No. Is the shower relaxing and warm? Not always. But it is clean, located in a good area and you will unwind just fine on the good beds.