Kandy City Monkey

The ladies who run the hostel are really helpful, and they even teach you to cook Sri Lankan food. Breakfast is pretty standard, but good fuel to start your day. It's a nice place if you're traveling on your own, with lots of people staying or passing through. There are large rooms, good social areas, and a big garden to chill in. Shops and places to eat are quite close. You can use the free Wi-Fi and desktop computer, and get your laundry done there too.

The backyard was a highlight for me, with a beautiful view, lots of space, and a badminton net. It was easy to socialize here, and the host was incredibly kind and made the place feel like home for everyone. There was hot water, mosquito nets, and tea, plus a piano, which was a huge surprise. Finding one in a cheap hostel is rare anywhere, not just in Sri Lanka. Wi-Fi was okay. The shower area is slightly separated from the main bathroom floor, which was better than average, but the lockers were too small for my bag. There's a restaurant close to the supermarket nearby with a very good value lunch. You can walk to the Tooth Temple and the Big White Buddha. This is great value in Sri Lanka, and I'd recommend it if you're staying in Kandy.

The caretakers said my friend could stay, but I had to leave because I was carrying a Sri Lankan passport. I'm Sri Lankan, and I was visiting Kandy with a university friend from Chile. It was late in the evening, but somehow we found a more welcoming hostel. My friend even asked if the caretakers were stupid to suggest that. I'm disgusted this happened in front of her, especially since I was the one who suggested we check the place out. This was the first time I'd visited somewhere racist toward its own people. I'll never recommend it to anyone coming to Sri Lanka. Such trash.

We were four people in a room meant for four, but weren't given keys to lock the door. When we arrived after 16:00, the room wasn't ready. The staff were unfriendly, the living conditions were bad, and there weren't enough towels or pillows for everyone. There were no bedspreads either, and the toilet and shower were very ugly. Staff made us take our shoes off inside the hostel, and the internet wasn't stable. I won't come back and strongly wouldn't recommend this place.