Drift BnB

This is a comfortable, affordable place for a minimalist or backpacking-style stay, as long as you’re not expecting luxury. The host gives you a great map of things to do in Colombo and can point out nearby restaurants within walking distance. Rooms are spacious, clean and well kept, with a nice touch of plants, and room service is good. Breakfast is less flexible: there aren’t many food choices in the pantry, and if you miss breakfast hours, you don’t get breakfast. The building is easy to find on a main business street, has good parking, and there are plenty of public transport options. Colombo beach is within walking distance.

My sister and I stayed at Drift B &B last December, and we’d gladly return. The staff were honest, attentive and friendly, always ready to help, and they looked after our suitcases for a couple of days while we were out of town. The deluxe double was spacious enough for two, with clean, comfortable beds, working air conditioning and shower, and fresh towels. It was safe, decent and clean, with lots of places to eat nearby and easy taxi access as soon as you step out to the Galled road. Getting around Colombo was convenient too. One small thing I’d change: I wish every room had a mini bar, especially in Sri Lanka’s high humidity when you need to drink a lot through the day. Cheers, and hope to see you this December.

From the street it looked a bit shady, but inside was a really nice surprise. There’s a pleasant shared space for eating, reading or using the computer, and the staff were helpful. They give you a handy map of nearby places of interest. The rooms are very clean, though there were occasional bugs, which I associate with bathroom windows in Sri Lanka not being fully sealed. I found it annoying that there were no kettles in the rooms for hot water. Still, I really liked staying here and recommend it if you’re in the area.

There are shared bunk rooms as well as private rooms, and breakfast is available, sometimes included. I found plenty of good restaurants and a great ice cream parlor within a 5-10 minute walk. My room was large, with a comfortable bed, desk, little window-side sitting area and a good-sized bathroom with a waterfall shower head. The WiFi worked well. There’s no passenger elevator, so you’ll need to take the stairs, but there is one for luggage, which helped both me and the staff. Check-in was quick; even though I arrived incredibly early, I waited only about 15 minutes in the lounge while my room was made ready. Staff were polite and helpful with restaurant suggestions and advice about when to leave for the train. Walking in also came with a unique, special surprise.