Coral Seas Beach Hikkaduwa

We paid US$70 a night for two nights. The location is beautiful, right on the beach and close to shops, restaurants and transport. We wanted two sea-view rooms but they were sold out, so one of us stayed at Mayo, a couple of buildings down the road and beach. We chose the family room because it was the only one left with a sea view. It had two double beds with plenty of space between them, so each of us had a bed to ourselves. The view was outstanding, and from anywhere in the hotel you could hear and feel the lovely sea breeze and waves. Our room had a balcony with three chairs, a mini fridge, fan, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. We opened the balcony door and windows, switched off the air conditioning and slept very comfortably. The room was completely private, with no overlooking buildings or other rooms. Breakfast was included in the price for three of us eating together. Along with the usual eggs, toast, fruit, tea, coffee and juice, there was also yoghurt and cake.

The breakfasts were generous, and having them on the terrace each morning was lovely. The staff were attentive and helpful, and by the time we left it felt like we were part of the family. The owner arranged a taxi to the airport and a tuktuk trip to Galle fort, where we also stopped at a Buddhist monastery. The fort was well worth seeing. The hotel is right by the ocean in a handy central spot. We could get to Hikkaduwa national park for snorkelling, or head the other way to watch the turtle hatchlings being released each night. Our room was roomy, with a large balcony facing the sea and good air conditioning. Even on a busy street, it felt safe and we couldn't hear the traffic. The place is a little dated, though the owner is doing maintenance. It has an old-world charm and is very affordable.

We left after just a few hours and found a much nicer homestay down the road, in a better part of the beach, for under $15. The manager wouldn't accept our offer of a much lower rate for just a short night's sleep, even though we didn't need to use the shower or fridge. They wanted $50, which gets you top-class accommodation in Sri Lanka. We'd stayed in 15 places during our month of travel, so had a fair basis for comparison. We rarely cancel a stay, but this place didn't meet the advertised standard. The building was run down and needed serious work. Our room and bathroom were dirty, and the fridge was disgusting. The only light was nearly off the wall, and it lit up an a/c unit that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in decades. From the balcony we could see the partly collapsed roof of the terrace below. The bathroom wiring was odd, with the light fixed to the wall using cable ties.

A lovely, affordable hotel in hikkaduwa and well worth the price. The staff were really friendly and happy to accommodate requests, especially for a large group. Breakfast is included, with a nice choice plus bread, butter, jam, and freshly cut fruit. Our sea-facing room was clean and quaint, with a spacious balcony and a few chairs.