A.I.O Home Stay

A.I.O Home Stay is covered in trees, mostly mango trees, and has the calm feeling I wanted from a homestay instead of a hotel. The family was friendly and helped me plan the whole trip. They arranged an amazing safari where I saw lots of elephants, at a fair price, and helped me catch a bus to Sigiriya. Buses to other places are just a minute away, and Dambulla town is five minutes away. This was my best stay, thanks to their wonderful hospitality. I’d love to come back when I’m in Sri Lanka again and highly recommend it.

Breakfast was a feast, with a wide choice of dishes and fresh fruit for dessert. The room, bathroom and property were just as advertised and as other guests had described. From my first inquiry through booking, the host was professional, and check-in was easy since the room was ready when I arrived. It was my first local homestay, and I’m glad I picked this comfortable place in Dambulla. It’s a simple, convenient stay at a reasonable rate, suitable for foreign visitors and local guests alike. I’d recommend it and plan to stay here again next time I’m in Dambulla.

Dambulla itself isn’t very interesting, but the room was clean and nice for the price. Breakfast was good, with Sri Lankan dishes, and you can order a good dinner too.

Sam and his family gave us a wonderful experience in Dambulla. We wanted to get a feel for the culture of this beautiful country, and staying with them did exactly that. Our room was comfortable, with a fan, air conditioning, mosquito net and private bathroom. Breakfast was included, very tasty and plentiful. We also ate dinner there. It’s a little farther from Dambulla on foot, but Sam was happy to arrange a short tuk tuk ride. We were lucky to celebrate New Year with the family after they kindly invited my wife and me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’re grateful to Sam and his family. They offered airport pickup for 10,000 rupees, the same as a taxi, a drive to Sigiriya with waiting time for 2,000 rupees, and a ride to Kandy for 6,000 rupees. They also helped us buy train tickets.