Singha Guest House

We were five, two adults and three children, and needed somewhere at very short notice because the place we’d booked was too poor. They offered us a spacious, air-conditioned family room with fresh, clean bed linen. The bathroom was fairly clean, too. It cost only Rs.5000, which was a good deal compared with the other low-quality places.

The accommodation is really great, and it’s a reasonably priced place to stay if you’re traveling on a budget. If you visit around April 13/14, there may not be a chef available, so you might get authentic Sri Lankan food rather than Chinese food. Otherwise, especially if you’re vegan, it’s a perfect spot for a salad or smoothie.

The owner and his family were very helpful, and the surroundings were calm and quiet. Singha Guest House in Polonnaruwa has a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor pool, a bar, and a garden. Gal Viharaya is within 7 km. There’s a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service, free WiFi, and each room has a private bathroom. A full English/Irish breakfast is available daily. They also offer a hot spring bath. Cycling is popular in the area, and you can hire a bike or car there.

The AC was the only thing we liked. The room was dirty, not very clean, and had a huge crack in the wall. There was no soap in the bathroom. When we asked for some, staff brought it reluctantly. It was okay at best, and we won’t be going back.