Bentota Travel Forum

Hi It is our first time in Sri Lanka. We are looking for a relaxing holiday all inclusive for 10 days. We have been recommended Bentota. Is it bettter to go Sept, Oct, or November. weather wise and cost wise. Any recommendations for all inclusive hotels for these months.
Many thanks Suzy

Hi,
it is a tough decision: Sept is cheapest, but weather partly still monsoon, i.e. more rain (but never the whole day!)
With October starts high season at most hotels, i.e. more expensive, but weather somewhat better than in Sept.
Of the months in your choice, November is more expensive (same as Oct, = high season), but weather comparable best !

Hiya Suzy,

Bentota is as good as anywhere for your first visit, I stayed there (at the Lihinya Surf) on my first visit and I feel in love with the place.

I’m sure the advice on the weather (above) is spot on so I will stick to cost. I’m assuming that you’re booking from the UK; I’ve yet to find anyone as cheap as Mercury Direct. Have a look at their site, avoid school holidays and half term and give us a shout if you find something you like the sound of.

www.mercurydirect.com/mercury/sri-lanka-holidays.php

I think the Emerald Bay Hotel is their cheapest AI deal (I’ve stayed there and its fine) it’s in Induruwa, a little south of Bentota. If you want a bit more up-market try the Serendip (I've stayed there too) it's still cheap and spot on.

Regards
Mark

November is beginning of the peak season . will have nice weather and beautiful sea . September / October both not really ideal season as november fro visit south cost. Better compare the price deference, if it is not very much ,worth to go November.

Bentota beach is nice place to spend your holiday.



Have a nice holiday

micy

Disagree partly.

September is by far the best weather. 'West monsoon' but monsoon means a wind, not necessarily rain. Nice sunny mornings, if rain at all it'll be in evening and sometimes end of afternoon.
Oct-Nov is 2nd INTERmonsoon which is by far the worst period to be on the Lankan beaches. Cloudy days, more rain than usual etc.

The good (high) season is Mid Dec to March, 'east monsoon'. Then all sunny days and a sea which is fit for swimming, and higher prices in hotels.

All the best,

<Erik> & [Sandya]

Hi,
as a frequent traveler to Lankas southeastern coast I took some weather- statistics for the past 3 years. They do not differ in principle, all of them showing, that the two of us are right to a certain degree:
Have a look at the following data:

September: October: November:
temp:29,4 C temp:29,4 C temp: 29,7 C
rain, no sun: 14 days 12 days 7 days
partly cloudy:3 days 7 days 3 days
sunny: 13 days 12 days 23 days

You shall have a good time, weatherwise as well !

Of course I am talking about the SOUTHWEST-COAST ! The data have been taken in Bentota - sorry about the mistake!

Please try www.srilankatraveller.com

Hi, I would recomend you to stay at the taj exotica, the beach is out of this world, but it is expensive. There are very good cheaper hotels next to this one also I would recomend.

The closer you get to Beruwela village, the worse it gets. I would not recomend you to stay that side, its dirty and not private at all.

Best go after the raining season from dec.

Hope it helps.

Hiya Suzi (and Sombras),

In some ways the Taj is among the best of the big hotels in Bentota, it certainly appears to attract a more ‘upmarket’ clientele. We stayed for a weekend after an exhausting tour but to tell you the truth it was a bit too much for me, so stiff it was hard to relax (maybe I’m just an oik).

Friends in Bentota village tell me that the Taj, which is Indian owned, don’t employ local staff. I can understand this from a management point of view but it means that even less of your money goes into the local economy, which is important to some visitors.

They also say that guests at the Taj tend to stay onsite (as opposed to using local bars and restaurants) this is a matter of personal choice, guest can’t be forced out but again it means less money stays in the area.

Until recently things were relatively good for a lot of people economically but as the government spends more on putting an end to the conflict in the north prices are rising and some people are struggling again just now, any money you can spend locally will certainly do no harm.

Do get out to a local bar beach during the evening even if you do stay AI, beer is cheap and there is a usual a much better atmosphere than in the hotel bars. In some of the smaller independently run places, your waiter may be there for tips only so if the service is good please be generous.

I’m not an expert on Beruwala but I’ve been there and I agree with what Sombras says.

Regards

Mark

Sorry Sombras,

I didn't realise that you lived in Bentota until I saw your home page.

I'm sure you know this subject better than me!

Regards

Mark