We have studied reviews of tourists about holidays in Sri Lanka in 2019 and 2020. Let's see what tourists think about the weather, beaches and prices on the island. Find out all the pros and cons of a holiday in Sri Lanka.
The exotic island of Sri Lanka - the birthplace of the famous Ceylon tea - attracts lovers of a good beach holiday. The mild climate, warm Indian Ocean and hundreds of kilometers of sandy beaches scattered throughout the island. For some travelers who went there for the first time, it was a revelation that the island is rich in monuments of ancient culture.
Most tourists rated Sri Lanka as a relaxing holiday destination. There are no noisy nightclubs and shopping centers, there are no crowds of tourists like in other places. Shoppers have nowhere to turn around - mostly souvenirs, Ceylon tea, natural cosmetics and leather goods are sold.
We have read and systematized the reviews of tourists about Sri Lanka so that you do not have to spend time studying them before the trip. Below we will provide reviews about Sri Lanka: about its nature, beaches, prices and hotels in 2021, about the weather on the island and attractions, as well as give tips and recommendations from tourists who were vacationing in Sri Lanka.
Reviews of tourists about Sri Lanka
Nature
The nature on the island is impressive: exotic plants, palm trees with coconuts and bananas, tea plantations, walking turtles, monitor lizards and other animals - reviews of tourists about Sri Lanka and its nature are usually enthusiastic. Unfortunately, there are also enough mosquitoes and other flying and jumping insects, so it is advisable to stock up on repellents.
Sri Lanka has excellent diving spots. Excursions to grottoes, rocks and caves, sunken ships and other wonders of the underwater world are specially organized on the island.
Sights
Sri Lanka has a lot of magnificent sights, visiting which tourists speak extremely well: Kandy Botanical Garden, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Sigiriya Rock, Temple of the Tooth Relic, Aluvihara Temple, Dambulla cave temples, the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the summit of Sri Pada and others. All places are interesting, unique and leave a lasting impression. The only drawback is the high cost of entrance tickets and organized excursions for foreigners.
Hotels
Some tourists who decide to go to Sri Lanka on their own complain in their reviews about the condition of the hotels in which they stayed, which clearly does not correspond to the declared prices. The hotel base is different, there are hotels of both a high level and not so. If you wish, you can find a decent guesthouse. Such accommodation is often rented by people traveling around the island and not wanting to spend a lot of money for a night. If you want to stay in comfort, we recommend looking at a selection of the best hotels in Sri Lanka.
Hotels in Sri Lanka search on Rumguru - it will find the best deals among many booking systems. You can also read hotel reviews there.
Population
Regarding the local population, the opinions of tourists were divided: some had good impressions of communicating with the Sri Lankans, others are outraged by their thirst for profit and a frank desire to make money on gullible tourists. As for the language, in the resort areas the population speaks English, there are no problems with communication.
Reviews about the beaches of Sri Lanka
In general, the reviews of tourists about the beaches of Sri Lanka are positive, many of them were highly appreciated by vacationers. Natural beauty is difficult to spoil, unless people themselves behave inappropriately.
Judging by the comments, one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka is beach in bentota - he received the approval of the vacationers. This is a place for respectable clients - a beautiful and well-groomed coastline, perfect cleanliness, expensive hotels and good infrastructure.
Beach in Hikkaduwa more appreciated by young people and amateurs of diving and surfing. There are mid-range hotels and inexpensive cafes. Another similar beach, but quieter and more modest, is Arugambey. This is a good place for a secluded getaway, as small bungalows are rented here.
Wadduwa Beach, according to reviews, great if you are resting in a particular hotel. Each hotel only monitors its own section of the beach, as such there is no single tourist zone, so the state of the coastline is not ideal everywhere.
Deserved good responses Tangalle beach... People say that it is uncrowded and calm, very clean, there is a cafe on the coast. One drawback is the distance from Galle and the airport.
Beach at Unawatuna for a long time it was considered one of the best among tourists, many love it for the absence of waves, especially vacationers with small children. There are small mid-budget hotels here. Judging by the latest comments, after the reconstruction undertaken by the authorities in 2013, part of the beach was washed away, and the service somewhat deteriorated, there was a feeling of slight desolation.
Last Minute Tours search on Travelata and Level.Travel - they compare offers from many tour operators.
Sri Lanka weather reviews
Despite the rainy season in Sri Lanka, tourists dare to travel at any time of the year. Monsoons and storms do not frighten vacationers, and, judging by the reviews, you can always go to the island, the main thing is to choose the right resort, so before the trip, check the weather in Sri Lanka by months (follow the link for a detailed overview of the weather and seasons in different parts of the island ).
December - february
The best weather in Sri Lanka, according to tourists, is from December to February. Warm ocean, a lot of sun, rains are extremely rare. This is a very good period for excursions and beach activities.
March and april
The weather is sunny, in April it gets really hot. Vacationers consider a good time for swimming and water activities.
May - September
Many people write about heavy rains and periodically slipping sunny days. The rainy season is in full swing, stormy, sometimes windy. The weather in Sri Lanka, according to tourists, in these months largely depends on the chosen resort.
October and November
The weather in Sri Lanka, according to the responses of those who went to the island in October and November, is changeable. Tourists noted light rains, sometimes cloudy, it is advised to use raincoats, which are better to take with you. The rest of the time it is sunny, a wonderful beach holiday.
Prices in Sri Lanka in 2021
Not all reviews about holidays in Sri Lanka are rosy - tourists are outraged by too high, in their opinion, prices on the island.
According to tourists, the prices in Sri Lanka in the tourism sector are unreasonably high: for example, the prices for entrance tickets when visiting attractions on average range from $ 25 to $ 35 per person. Souvenirs are also very expensive.
According to reviews, prices in Sri Lanka for public transport (except for tuk-tuk) and food are quite affordable. But tuk-tuk drivers strive to make money on tourists, so it is advisable to negotiate the cost of the trip in advance.
At the same time, cheap exotic fruits can be bought on the island: mango, papaya, pineapple and bananas are sold in any fruit market.
Many tourists compare the island with another popular destination - Thailand, and their reviews are clearly not in favor of Sri Lanka.
Some believe that Thailand is much more flexible in terms of infrastructure development, pricing policy, leisure activities and even attractions. The street food system on the island still leaves much to be desired; it will be difficult to find a decent catering establishment in the wilderness of the main tourist routes. Tourists complain about the high cost, especially with regard to paying for housing and visiting local attractions.Compared to Thailand, the difference in prices is 1.5-2 times for similar services.
Reviews about holidays with a child in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is not the best destination for families with children. The flight is long and tiring, even adults get tired. Swimming in the ocean is dangerous, in most places there is a strong wave. Of the calm beaches, only Unawatuna and Bentota are suitable.
Another danger is insects and tropical diseases; unsanitary conditions are often observed in street cafes, which also contributes little to a calm rest. There is no special children's menu, for small children it is better to take food with you, although there are juice, yoghurts and other dairy products on sale.
Find out: how to travel with children to Sri Lanka.
Those vacationers who nevertheless ventured on vacation with a child in Sri Lanka speak enthusiastically about nurseries and reserves, such a number of exotic animals can be seen only in Africa. But it is better to postpone many hours of excursions and long journeys around the island until better times - trips in transport will be tiresome for kids.
Useful tips and advice from tourists
- It is better to take food at the hotel or eat in local establishments, since tourist cafes are much more expensive. Seafood dishes are expensive and the meat is often tasteless. It is better to pay for all services immediately, sometimes they include commissions that were not previously agreed upon.
- Alcohol in Sri Lanka can be purchased in special stores. Experienced tourists recommend shopping at the local duty-free shop. There are several such shops at Colombo airport, prices are affordable.
- It is better to buy tea not in duty-free (it is more expensive there), but in special stores or at tea factories. Souvenir prices in tourist places are greatly overpriced.
- The voltage in the network in Sri Lanka is 220 volts, but the sockets are different. The adapter must be taken from the hotel or bought.
- Every full moon, Sri Lankans celebrate Poya Day. Shops and banks do not work on the island, alcohol is not allowed. It is advisable to clarify this point before traveling in order to plan your "outings" and trips around the island.
- To visit Buddhist temples, be sure to wear closed clothes and take off your shoes.
- It is better to take repellents from mosquitoes and other animals with you; it is not always possible to get them on the spot at a normal price.
The exoticism of the island and the wonderful climate will surely not leave you indifferent, and a vacation in Sri Lanka will be fabulous and memorable if you prepare well for it. We hope the reviews and advice from tourists who visited the island in 2019 and 2020 will help you with this.
