Looking for opinions and advice on Sri Lanka itinerary with Mumbai extension (page 3 of 4)

I was thrown off by the ratings on book*** for hotels in Sri Lanka; a lot of them have super high scores, and I suspect hotel owners are lobbying to buy ratings 😕.

In Tangalle, I booked the top-tier option to avoid any (bad) surprises 😕.

https://www.booking.com/Share-qiesZg

Anyway, it’s great—let me know how you feel about more modest places 😉

Hey Bruno

If a place catches my eye, I don’t just look at the ratings—I read the reviews, flip to page 2 or 3, and check how many reviews the guest has written. If they’ve only left one, they’re Sri Lankan, call it "exceptional," and don’t add any real comments, I’m *super* skeptical I usually cross-check with Tripadvisor.

I’m doing the same as you. But I was struck by the number of places with ratings > 9 in Sri Lanka! 😊

First off, I mentioned budget hotels, not cheap hotels—those are two very different things! 🙂

When it comes to my own hotel searches, I also prioritize charm (of the room, the location, the building—or all three if possible) and avoid 500-room resorts, whether all-inclusive, floating, or on land.

I have two criteria you didn’t mention: absolute quiet and non-smoking rooms.

As for India, I particularly love hotels that are converted palaces. I was lucky enough to travel there when it wasn’t very expensive, and I have great memories of the Lake Palace or the Imperial. Especially since, back then, they still had a slightly kitschy vibe.

India can be the best or the worst, and it’s also in this country that I’ve slept in some real dumps. Not because of my budget, but mostly because of the options available...

In Sri Lanka, I loved the creations of architect Geoffrey Bawa, especially the Heritance Kandalama. 😛 Polished concrete in the middle of the jungle with monkeys—such a sublime contrast.

Well, prices have gone up a bit, especially in high season... (The upside of traveling in August is the prices!) 🏴‍☠️

Otherwise, I don’t have any particular memories—none of the cheap ones, at least.

About the hotel you linked, I’d cross it off immediately (smoking rooms) and even more so with the bad reviews (cockroaches, dilapidation, dirt...). Actually, I think now I only read the bad reviews on sites.

If the worst starts at 6, it’s fine. If it starts at 1...

Hi, Have you checked Airbnb? Best regards

Hello

We prefer a hotel. Thanks 🙂

Hello, Have you at least given it a try? Best regards, JPBRIERE

Hello

We need 3 rooms in the same neighborhood with equivalent amenities—an Airbnb apartment would be more expensive. Otherwise, we’ve already done this in India, specifically in Madurai, and we were really happy with it.

Hi Catherine,

We had one night left to fit in, and I planned it in Tangalle but kind of randomly... Would it make more sense to place it at another stop? Or an intermediate stop I hadn’t thought of?

Maybe in the "Rain Forest" of Sinharaja, but you’d need to spend 2 nights there. I really liked that spot—it was so peaceful. Back then, the accommodations were pretty rustic, but things have changed a lot since, based on what I’ve seen in lodging recommendations online. No need to do a trek! https://ann.fr/la-reserve-forestiere-de-sinharaja-au-sri-lanka/ https://www.unpasseportencavale.com/le-sri-lanka/decouvrir-la-foret-de-sinharaja/ On the other hand, I’m not sure if a safari in Sri Lanka is a good idea. I imagine a lot of noise and vehicles lined up one after another... You might want to save that idea for an African reserve instead. Otherwise, your itinerary seems fine. The idea of going east to Tamil country doesn’t seem wise given the time you have. I didn’t go to Haputale since I stayed in Nuwara Eliya (which was pretty chilly, by the way!), but it sounds like a good idea—probably less crowded with tourists than Nuwara Eliya.

hi Kate

For Dharavi, try this NGO: https://www.dharavidiary.org/ https://brulemedia.com/2026/02/05/inde-dans-les-bidonvilles-les-femmes-a-lassaut-du-savoir/

On a side note, I’ll allow myself a little digression: I volunteered for two months in a Jaipur slum, teaching (in English) children from the Dalit community—it was the most beautiful experience of my life. I took sick or injured kids to the nearest hospital, cooked with the moms (and picked up tons of recipes in the process), the slum was partially destroyed by a storm, so we cleaned up, rebuilt, replanted vegetables…

I hope you get to fulfill your wish of meeting these people. HAPPY TRAVELS!!! (but what am I still doing in France?)

Hi Jean-Marie,

I had considered Sinharaja, but my travel companions aren’t too keen on snakes and other bothersome critters. In the end, me neither 🤪

I’ll do the safari no matter what, even if I end up complaining afterward. I imagine we won’t be alone!

Hi Christine,

Thanks for these addresses! 🙂

As for the safari, I did one pretty quickly in Yala... the jeep broke down at the edge of the park near the coast. I asked the driver to get out of the jeep and continue on foot to reach Pottuvil along the coast. I can still picture his face when I made that suggestion! Anyway, you’ll see elephants and probably buffaloes too ;)

Too bad, you're gonna miss the Mood Indigo Festival in Mumbai this December...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwlbD2BsJU0

Good evening, Is it possible to spend more time in India instead? As for Sri Lanka, I stayed in Colombo for 3 weeks for work, and I wasn’t really blown away by the city. That said, there *is* a nice beach in Colombo. I spent one night at the famous Taj Samudra—obviously very upscale—with some colleagues.

If you want to be by the sea, you should go to the Maldives—it’s absolutely amazing. Otherwise, in India, a country I’ve never visited, there’s obviously much more to see than on the island of Ceylon.

Hi Mathews,

We’ve been to India twice (Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, etc.). This stop in Mumbai is just to dive back into the vibe—it’d feel weird being this geographically close without a little immersion 😉 We won’t be going to Colombo or the Maldives, unfortunately—time’s too tight. We’re traveling with friends who only have 3 weeks off...

You’ve never been to India, then? Doesn’t it tempt you at all?

Hi there, If I loved India, Sri Lanka—which we still called Ceylon—will remain one of my most beautiful trips, if not *the* most beautiful, both in terms of human connections and the sense of being somewhere completely different! Back then, in the Maldives, you could stay with locals in fishing villages where the houses were built from coral. But when it comes to connecting with people, nothing compares to Sri Lanka! In the Maldives, you’d better love diving because, apart from that, there’s not much else to see or do!

Hi Kate, oh my bad then! As for going to India, yes, of course I’d love to visit that country.

Hi, I’ve stayed at the Residency Fort several times. It’s true that it’s a bit pricey, but this is Bombay, and the rooms are very clean. The metro is right nearby, which saves time when heading to the airport. Otherwise, the Abode Bombay hotel has a cheaper room category. The rooms are really nice with private bathrooms, but be aware that the toilets are shared (though they’re very clean).

As for Dharavi, I was skeptical, but the friend I was traveling with really wanted to go. We did the tour with Reality Tours and Travel. They hire young people from Dharavi. The tour is very interesting—photos aren’t allowed, and 80% of the money goes toward projects within Dharavi. Have a great trip!

Hi Nicotch

This reinforces my choices for Mumbai 😉 The Regency, which seems really nice and ideally located, and we’ll visit Dharavi with Reality Tour. Like you, I’m still a bit hesitant, but my curiosity wins out.