Sri Lanka has more good places to stay than any listing site shows you, and a fair number of expensive ones that are not worth it. We spend our time separating the two so that you do not have to.
What we cover
- Full island coverage, from Jaffna to Yala
- Boutique, luxury and budget properties
- Colonial-era hotels, tea bungalows and jungle lodges
- Beach resorts along the south and east coasts
- Best-rate negotiation on your behalf
Booked direct
We book with properties directly rather than through listing sites. That usually means a better rate, and it means someone at the hotel knows you are coming — which matters when you arrive at 2am off a delayed flight, or when a room needs changing.
How we choose
We have stayed in, or sent guests to, almost everything we recommend. Tell us your budget band and what you want from the stay — a pool, a view, walking distance to town, somewhere the kids can run — and we shortlist three or four rather than sending a list of forty.
Good to know
Most Sri Lankan hotels quote half board, which covers breakfast and dinner. In the hill country and the national parks that is genuinely useful, since there is often nowhere else to eat nearby. On the coast you may prefer bed and breakfast so you can try the local places. We will tell you which is which.
Seasons matter more than star ratings here. The south and west coasts are at their best from December to March; the east from May to September. Booking the right coast for your dates makes more difference to a trip than any amount of thread count.