Nimal`s Homestay

NIMAL and his family made us feel so at home and at ease. They were super helpful, made us delicious food and even took us on a boat safari, which was a highlight of our trip. We had the best stay in Sri Lanka, and they couldn’t have done more for us. Would recommend 100 times over.

The family who run the homestay are friendly, share travel tips and will teach you a word or two in Sinhalese if you like. Their two dogs love to play and cuddle, but there’s a gate to keep them from going upstairs to the guest area if you’re not comfortable around dogs. Prices were reasonable. I’d recommend staying here early in a Sri Lanka trip, or relaxing here for the last few days. We spent two nights here at the end of November, at the end of our holiday. The rooms are lovely and have connected balconies. Breakfast is included, and the local food at dinner was delicious and plentiful. The beach and lagoon are close by and worth a visit. Other places to eat are quite far away, so we’d recommend eating at the homestay.

Nimal's Homestay is clean, colorful, friendly and safe, but it isn’t luxurious. I stayed for two weeks, and Nimal and Channey offered larger breakfasts and dinners, as well as tea, for an extra charge. Channey was attentive. The rooms were clean, swept twice a week, and the bedding was changed three times, maybe four, during my stay. In the evenings Channey lights a smoky mosquito deterrent, though sometimes the mosquitoes are still pretty brave. My room was on the second floor (1er étage in 🇫🇷), with a comfortable bed, perhaps king size and definitely bigger than a US queen, a wardrobe, a night table I used for my suitcases, and a separate bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. There’s an oscillating ceiling fan. No hot water, but the shower wasn’t cold and had a great flow. There are two bedrooms on this floor. My room had one door to a shared balcony with a table and a place to hang clothes, and another to a covered, open-air breakfast and dining area with two lounge chairs and a sink for washing dishes or clothes. There’s also a door to the bathroom. Nimal helped me rent a scooter for a week, which I parked in the enclosed courtyard with two friendly watchdogs. He also helped arrange a four-day road trip to Kandi and a few other places. As with homestays elsewhere in Sri Lanka, they get a small commission from customers they bring in, so Nimal will eagerly suggest activities and destinations. How busy or quiet you want your stay to be is up to you. He can also drive you to the airport in about two hours for $48 in his four-to-five-seat car, which has a small trunk. Galle and Hikkaduwa beach were fun, frequent scooter trips, though the hectic traffic, with zooming buses and weaving tuk tuks and scooters, isn’t for everyone to tackle alone. Nimal cooks, and his dinners were on par with some of the simpler local restaurants. I had no digestive issues. Across the narrow street there’s a school, so you get a feel for the energy of young people in Sri Lanka, and you’ll be awake around 7am. A train passes every few hours too. It didn’t disturb my sleep, though jet lag and the heat made sleep a bit of an adventure. The stairs to the room aren’t steep, but their short, narrow steps may be hard for someone using crutches, and they’re quite dark at night. There aren’t many power outlets. The windows have no netting, but the bed has a square mosquito net with two doors. The common area has an aquarium, and the courtyard is full of flowers and trees that attract hummingbirds, parrots and other birds.

Nimal's place is a lovely, calm spot for a two-day Galle trip with family, friends or a partner, especially if you want meals and a room there. The food they serve is delicious, and I really recommend the place, including to tour guides. I visited last month and appreciated both of them a lot. I hope to visit again when I’m in Galle with my family. Love it!