Hitchhike Backpackers

It's very clean and in a good spot for town, with plenty of shops nearby. The woman who works there is lovely, and they have some of the nicest bunk beds I've seen. But the room has only a fan, there's no Wi-Fi, and the kitchen doesn't offer a way to make a hot drink. Everything costs extra, and they're planning to charge 100 rupees an hour if you arrive before check-in, so don't get there early. The owner is a hard businessman. It's a nice building otherwise, but expect only the absolute basics.

Hitchhike was a wonderful place to start our month in Sri Lanka. We were the only guests when we arrived, which meant we got really personal service from this friendly family hostel. Khanthi and her nephew Lucky clearly love their country and are proud to show it off. Their travel advice comes from firsthand experience and was so valuable. The hostel is spacious and beautiful, with everything we needed, including a Karrom Board, table tennis and a lovely rooftop view. It's not in the city centre, but regular buses make it easy to get around, or you can take a quick tuk tuk from the main train station. The beach is a 10-minute walk away, and there are plenty of good, cheap local places to eat. I can't recommend staying here enough.

The place is amazing and really comfortable, with lots of couches and areas to relax. There's also a common room full of entertainment where you can fresh yourself. The management are very nice and cooperative. I highly recommend it, best experience!

The place was totally empty, and all it had was beds, a shared shower and toilets. No kitchen, personal lights, chairs or closets. The owner was rude and even tried to throw me out when I came to get my bag. Worst hostel I've ever seen. Stay away!