FAQ
Sri Lanka Beachside Retreat

Yes. It’s fairly reliable but we do have the occasional dropouts and slow downs.

Electricity is at 220v in Sri Lanka. As with most of Sri Lanka, our sockets accept UK-type plugs, for other types be prepared. 

There’s loads to see and do in Sri Lanka, we can’t even begin to list everything you could do on a holiday here, in this teeny FAQ section. We've had a really good stab at creating our own version of Lonely Planet for you though, and compiled our very own insider's guide to South Sri Lanka. 

But there are some things you could do within a day, local to us, whilst you’re with us.

• Whale watching, mainly from November to April
• Tea plantations tour
• Udawaluwe National Safari Park visit (a very long day, but do-able)
• Galle – historic fort town, now a cosmopolitan arty hangout.
• Sport fishing trips

Ask us in advance and we can help arrange a day trip or you could tag some extras days before or after your stay with us.

You really can travel light but here is a quick reminder list of some basics to bring.

• Warm water surf wear, shorts, bikini, leggings (if you are prone to a rash) etc.
• Reef boots for those surfing reefs (not necessary if you are a beginner)
• Swimwear
• Beach towel
• Waterproof sunblock and zinc
• Sun hat
• Yoga gear
• Light clothing, it’s hot!
• Some long-sleeved and leg-covering clothes to protect from the sun
• A personal first aid kit containing disinfectants, band aids, perhaps some antibiotics
• A decent deet based mosquito repellent
• Bring plenty of vitamin C against infections. You might also take some general vitamin supplements plus calcium and magnesium to keep your immune system boosted.
• Comprehensive travel insurance including watersports
• Stuff for your kids. You can get the basics here, but it’s worth bringing your usual items and preferred brands.
• Specialist food-stuffs. If you have special food requirements it is best to bring what you can, as many specialist western products are just not available in Sri Lanka.
• Plastic is a huge problem in Sri Lanka, we encourage all of our guests to bring a reusable water bottle. If you don’t have one, you can pick up one of our own bottles in advance via our store

We are pretty much equidistant, about 30 minutes depending on time of day, between two pretty good hospitals in Galle and Matara. Although the administration and organisation can be fairly hectic, the standard of medical care is good. People tend to visit hospitals for all but the most minor of illnesses.

For very minor issues we have a good english-speaking Doctor nearby in Habaraduwa, about 15 minutes from us.

Check-in is from 3 pm on arrival day and check-out is at 10 am, we’ll feed you before you leave us, but we have to be strict on the room & hotel check out time so we can get it ready for the new guests. Of course you are welcome to stay around hotel. 

Almost all citizens visiting Sri Lanka for less than a month can get a Visa On Arrival. This can be pre-arranged and prices checked by visiting this website.

International networks work in Sri Lanka but charges will really stack up if you need to use your phone regularly. As we write this (do check though) foreign tourists receive a SIM card at immigration which you can use during your stay in Sri Lanka, otherwise SIMs can be easily and cheaply bought locally.

We very much welcome families coming to stay with us and do what we can to make it affordable and workable with the kids. But we have to be realistic too, we’ve got a small number of rooms so we need to get income from them when they’re being used.

So if we can add extra beds or a cot to your room we can keep things very reasonable, if the kids need their own room we have to charge the normal rate.

We’re not allowed to recommend or offer baby-sitting or childcare as a service as our UK insurers advise us not to since the local mums from the village aren’t qualified, registered or insured. But we can introduce you to some of the Sri Lankan ladies from the local village that look after Ed & Sofie’s baby and our friend’s kids and if you feel comfortable you can arrange child-care whilst you surf or practice yoga with them directly at very reasonable rates.

We love the kids to join in with whatever we can reasonably allow them to do. Surfing is inherently dangerous activity so we have to have some limitations. Talk to the yoga teacher when you arrive if you’d like your kids to try yoga. It has the be at the yoga teachers discretion and not to the detriment of our other yogis experience. There’s plenty of other stuff we can fully allow the kids to get involved with.

Yes, there are a handful of little surf shack shops springing up in the area for your basic surf equipment requirements, including some pretty good repair shops. We will also stock a careful chosen selection of surf equipment and accessories in our shop.