Bentota Travel Forum

Hi,

I and my fiance will be staying at Lihinya Surf Hotel in December for two weeks.
Does anyone know anything about the hotel? Is it good or bad? How is the food at the hotel?

Any recomandation for day trips to national parks and other interesting places?

Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
Marcin from Sweden

The Lihinya Surf is under new management now. The same company that runs the Galle Face Hotel manage this hotel as well. It has been refurbished and enjoys a night stretch of the Bentota Beach. The food is better than it used to be and is good for the price you are paying.

You can do some day trips from here to Kandy but a trip to National Park will take atleast 2 days.

Cheers

Nilanka

Nilanka,

I've stayed at Lihinya a couple of times and it's always been friendly, if a little chaotic. It's clean and bright and will be buzzing at Christmas (they brought a blind kids choir in to sing to us on Christmas Eve - was a little odd). Food is fine too, never had a problem with anything I ate and it's a top position, right on the beach, you'll have a brill time. I'd stay there again no problem.

There's a couple of local bars you might want to try out (specially if you are not staying all inclusive) There is Wunderschun, which is one minute walk along the road at the back of the hotel (towards the Taj) and across the rail track, there is also Wunderbar (don't be put off by the names, they're both Sinhalese owned and run) Wunderbar is the best of the two but you might need a three wheeler (tuk tuk) to get to it, which will cost you 50p. Drinks in both of these are cheap and you will get to meet some locals (they're largely beach boys but they are OK) they'll sing and play drums for you, beats the entertainment in the hotel.

The Tuk Tuks hang around at the railway crossing where the hotel road meets the main road, if you are going to use one ask for Ratu, he's a great lad, he knows what’s happening and he won't rip you off.


Mister Mark

Hiya Jude, I bow to your local knowledge but I have stayed at Lihiniya twice and I think there is a road which runs from the railway crossing, behind the hotel and as far as the Taj. Ceysands Hotel is reached by ferry boat.

regards

Mark