 | Sri Lanka Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 289 |  |
The Sampath house is not a hotel or even a guesthouse, it is simply a room in a real Sri Lanka home which the family will let out to occasional paying guests and guests is the operative word because you really are more a friend of the family than a customer, the attention you receive is second to none. There is only one room so you are guaranteed to have the place to yourselves, you will be the only western guests in the village and the only tourists for miles around.
The Sampath family live in the village of Dematapitiya a few kilometres outside the town of Bulatsinhala, tourism is something of a sideline for the family so you will need to arrange your visit in advance. I have stayed there numerous times since 2001(last visit January 2009) and the only problem is that my intended two or three night stay will stretch to at least a week. It is just so easy here, a chance to experience real Sri Lankan village life with little or no hassle.
There is a rock pool in the river across the road from the house which is perfect for a morning swim. The house is a good base for walkers, turn left outside and there are unlimited hills and forest. They are no professional guides available locally but Lahiru Sampath knows the locality well (Lahirus excellent company comes free). There is little or no nightlife in the area except that a night in a Sri Lanka village is always something of an entertainment and a beer in the garden always a pleasure.
Expect to pay 3,000 rupees, less than £15 per day per couple (children sharing their parents room stay free) board is more or less all inclusive (break fast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee snacks etc) except that you buy your own bottled water and alcohol from the town (or someone will get it for you). Lahiru Sampath can arrange an airport pick up or drop off for around 20.00 pounds.
By western standards the accommodation is basic but comfortable, food is largely rice and curry based but Mrs Sampath will do her best to vary your diet and you can do this yourself by visiting the local market and shops which have everything from melons to marmite.
You can email me if you want more information, photographs and contact details (and no, I am not on commission!) Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Western ProvincePhone: 0342 282490Directions: Dematapitiya Village near Bulatsinhala. The house is next to a road which has little traffic but when the buses do pass they are noisy - and the first ones comes about 5am.
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 The surroundings (from the
wunderbar website) by Maxus, 2 more photos
Incidentally, when the Tsunami hit these guys stopped partying and worked day and night to help survivors, never questioning who they were helping, they honestly deserve support.
The management is friendly but never in your face and goes to great lengths to see you get just what you want from your holiday. Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Robolgoda, Bentota, Sri LankaPhone: +94. 34 22. 75 908Directions: On the beach at Bentota, about 60 km south of Colombo.Website: wunderbar@sltnet.lk Other Contact: Fax: +94. 34 22. 71 342
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The Field View Inn is a good example of how places can change quickly, the wonderful little gem of a place you found on your last visit could be a dirty arak den the next time you call so always check a place out before you commit, if one place is no good, there'll usually be another not too far away.
In August 2005 I was traveling from Rakwana to Aluthgama when I realised that I wouldn’t make the coast by night fall, while passing through Bulatsinhala I came across the Field View Inn and at the time it was a real find. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the food was good and the staff welcoming but more recently things have changed for the worst.
I stayed here again in October 2007, it's still about the best place in town and its still very cheap but to be honest I would no longer recommend the place unless you particularly needed to stay in Bulatsinhala, which is unlikely. Its got grubby, there is a different, less welcoming management and the drunks in the bar are noisier and more unpleasant.
This is not a tourist area and whenever I have stayed here I was the only foreigner, the other customers in the bar were all local Sinhalese people. However the décor suggests it might occasionally be busy with local wedding parties so it might be as well to telephone ahead and reserve your room. Tel: 034-2283021
Getting There
From Panadura on the west coast, which is well served by buses and trains from Colombo and the west coast resorts, head for Horana (21 Km inland) at Horana you can pick up direct and frequent buses to Bulatsinhala. Alternatively you can take a bus from Aluthgama to Matugama and pick up the Bulatsinhala bus there.
There is more information on the town of Bulatsinhala in my tip 'Small Town Sri Lanka' which you can reach via my Sri Lanka page. Theme: InnPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: BulatsinhalaPhone: 034-2283021Directions: The Field View Inn is literally 2 minutes walk from Bulatsinhala bus halt, you can see it from the clock tower on Main Street. It's the only place in town so ask anyone.
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Clinging to a steep mountainside 3km outside the hill town of Haputale, Dias Rest (AKA the White Monkey Guest House) is maybe not the most accessible of places but it is an ideal base for the independent traveller and for anyone who really wants to get away from it all, if I had a book to write I would write it here.
Due to a derailment I arrived at the Guesthouse quite late but I had telephoned ahead and Dias was waiting with the warmest of welcomes and dinner. Because I arrived in the dark I was totally unprepared for the sight that hit me when I emerged from my room on that first morning, I like my superlatives but I was honestly lost for words to describe the views from this place.
There is a cottage with two double beds and a lived-in feel to it, I preferred the simply furnished family rooms (also two double beds) all have bathrooms with shower and toilet. It is incredible value for money, I questioned the bill because I thought Dias had simply not charged me enough.
Its not the Ritz and the mountainside position makes access difficult for anyone with heavy luggage or mobility problems but I cannot speak highly enough about this place.
If you are travelling light the walk from Haputale is worth the effort, otherwise a three wheeler from the town will cost around Rs 200.
You will feel like a friend of the family rather than a customer, Dias will make sure you have everything you need without getting under your feet, if you want it just ask.
The views all around are second to none and the cool mountain air comes as a blessed relief from the heat of the lowlands, my one regret is that I was only able to spend two nights here, this is a real gem of a place and I will be back.
The best information resource on this area is an excellent website (http://www.haputale.de/) by a German guy named Oliver, check it out.
This is not a 'luxury' destination, it's a basic but friendly place in a wonderful postion. Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Thotulagala, Haputale, Sri LankaPhone: +94-(0)575681027Directions: Haputale is on the main rail and bus routes between Colombo and the Hill Country, the guesthouse is at the 3Km post on the Thotulagala Road.Website: http://people.freenet.de/diasrest/ Other Contact: mailvaganamdias@yahoo.co.uk
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This guesthouse was our base to visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa (both about 1h drive away by public bus), Sigiriya and Dambulla (both about 15 minutes by public bus). It's a quiet place with two different kinds of rooms: the downstairs rooms are smaller with only cold shower (800 Rupees) and the bigger and newer upstairs rooms with hot shower (1500 Rupees). The owner is very friend and the curries there are really tasty.
Lots of monkeys around the area, so keep all the windows closed and don't be scared if you're woken up by strange noises. Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Sigiriya Road, InamaluwaPhone: 072 515210Directions: 500 m from the turn off to Sigiriya
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 View from the balcony by bijo69
Breakfast and dinner is also served there, but we didn't try.
Fantastic views from the balcony! Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Rajapihilla Mawatha 65A, KandyPhone: 222 2832
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We did not stay in this hotel by means of having booked a room there, but it was the next to our hotel (Lihinya Surf) and we visited it and had a lovely time at their bar. We really enjoyed that and went back a few times.
As it is situated at the end of the small street leading there, the location is very calm - same as Lihinya Surf - but still not too far away from Alutgama and its shops (10 Min. walk) And the restaurand "Wunderschön" is very near by, too. (Wunderschön offers great food at very reasonable prices - a must to go there!).
Great Pool area on 3rd floor (if I remember it correctly), very nice reception. Bar offers great live-music every night.
A "may be contra": No views to the beach from the sunbed area (gras) though, as there is a huge hedge in between the beach and the hotel ground. Of course it is possible to reach the beach any time by "openings" in this hedge. Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Bentota - AlutgamaDirections: At the south far end of Bentota Beach - next to Lihinya Surf Beach Hotel.
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The quiet Minara Hotel is a well managed and reasonable priced modern boutique hotel adjacent to the magnificent Bopath Ella Waterfall. No doubt it gets busy in the season but when we stayed in June 06 we had the place to ourselves.
I would recommend this place to any traveller (particularly those looking for a break from the grubby bed sheet circuit)
A small modern, professionally run place with air conditioned rooms, a good restaurant and an unrivalled view of the falls. Theme: HotelPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Bopath Ella, Sri LankaPhone: +94-45 2263610Directions: A few kilometres off the A4 at Kurawita. Ask for Bopath Ella.Other Contact: minarahotel@yahoo.co.uk
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 Hotel Accommodation at
Dhambulla by Sunchild
We found the stay there was perfect for sightseeing and we really enjoyed to have a rest at lunch time at the pool area and started refreshed again in the afternoon!
And one other thing made our days there: The cute decoration on our beds when we came back to our room after having spent a nice evening in the open reception hall of the hotel and after a delicious meal!
We loved their buffets! Very spicey and hot but delicious - well, for us! We love hot and spicey food!
By the way: During our stay there we met German travellers who had checked in that night without having booked it before at an agency.... and you know what: They paid .... nearly double the rate than we did for the same bungalow type and services!!!! (We paid approx.100US Dollar/room - they paid 180/room!) Not joke - seriously! We could'nt believe it!
Well, I suppose that's the "con" you have to consider about when you want to be totally "free" but still have a higher standard now and then! Each time, when I compared agency prices to direct booking prices - this was always the case! And I do that nearly every time when planning our holiday! The best I got so far - and that was by even bargaining over the internet - was the same rate than in one of the agencies here. This applied for all countries so far.
Excellet location, nice Pool, lovely "hot" food, great accomodation in lovely furnished bungalows, located at a big lake and within a huge parc ground! Ideal for bird watching. Lot's of (wild) animals around (monkeys and ...?) Great! Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: DhambullaOther Contact: via Kumara-Reisen (or others)
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 from their homepage by bijo69
Just don't try the food...
We paid 1200Rupees for a room.
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