Beach Wave Hotel

A really cute, quiet, spotless place where you fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The bed was made up beautifully, and the team was very kind. Thank you so much :)

The best part of our stay was the surf lessons with Thaj. On the first day it was my wife and me, then I had a solo session on the second. Many surf schools in Arugam Bay have groups of 4-6 people, but our lessons were nearly private, for the same price as at the bigger schools. We also had a private tuk-tuk for each session, with the driver ready for the return trip or any stopovers. The location and food were excellent. The hotel is right by the beach, and the “Surf & Turf” bar was great. The owner even speaks German. Just across the road, the “Banana Café” has excellent coffee and breakfast. Our room felt damp and quite dark, probably because it doesn’t get much sunlight, which affected our comfort. We also started with about 30 mosquitoes in the room, many inside the mosquito net. We later realized housekeeping had left the net open and the door wide open while making the bed. There’s a small open bathroom window without an insect screen, which didn’t help. We cooled the room as much as possible with the AC and killed a lot of them on day one, which made the rest of the stay more bearable. To be fair, we heard mosquitoes were a problem at other Arugam Bay hotels too, so the issue was only because of the housekeeping stuff. A note for animal lovers, July 2025: at the beach bar “Surf & Turf” in front of the hotel, the owners have rescued two baby kittens and a puppy. When we arrived, the kittens looked weak and very young, and couldn’t yet eat the chicken pieces the staff tried to give them. We bought dry kitten food, Whiskas, at the supermarket and mixed it with water; the staff kindly provided a bowl. The kittens ate as if they hadn’t had real food before. If you happen to be there and love animals, buying a small bag would mean a lot. It cost around €4-5, manageable for tourists but a lot for locals. The little ones would surely appreciate it 🐾

We liked it so much that we added two nights to our stay. The beach is right there, and restaurants and bars are all within walking distance. Malé was an amazing surf instructor, so I’d recommend booking lessons through the hotel. Milos, the owner, made us feel really welcome. Our room was spacious and very clean, with great air conditioning, a roomy bathroom, and a mezzanine with hammocks. The staff were fantastic and friendly, and the attached bar was great too. Thanks to the whole team!

We had a really great time here. It’s right on the beach, with a good-sized room, a clean bathroom, and a comfortable mattress. The air conditioning worked well, and the staff were always ready to help, whatever time it was. They tidied the garden every day, and they can arrange a tuk-tuk if you need to go somewhere.