Mihin Villa Bentota

We loved staying at Mihin villa with Mahinda and his family. We were initially booked for 2 nights but extended our stay to 4. Really comfortable room, big bathroom with hot water. The WiFi worked well and there was a fridge in the room which was an added bonus. Fantastic traditional breakfast cooked by Mahinda's wife which we ate in the lovely garden. It's a couple of minutes' walk to the beach. Bentota beach is stunning. The family are incredibly welcoming, friendly and helpful. I would recommend hiring bikes from them to explore the area. We will definitely go and stay there again next time we visit Sri Lanka.

The family are great, very friendly and helpful. I wouldn't call it a villa though. Our room was off from the main living room which was full of cluttered items and a loud TV. The room was dark, the beds were uncomfortable, the mattress was about an inch think. The bathroom was old and in need of a revamp. The main road is on the doorstep and very loud 24/7. The breakfast was nice in the morning. I was glad to leave after 2 nights.

Too expencive considering the room. Close To the beach so location was good. Great breakfast.

Our room was just almost in the dining room, so it was very noisy. As we had come from a tiring plane+car travel, we slept early but woke up like an hour later and could sleep only at around 2 a.m. The staff is very friendly and helpful though. They were ok with our late check-out. You should definitely go to the Turtle Hatchery - just 5-7 kms to the hotel- at around 5.30 and release some baby turtles to the ocean. The staff will help you do that. Unfortunately though, the room was not clean. The bed sheets were dirty and most probably not washed. (Maybe it is the case with many budget hotels in Sri Lanka) There is an AC, which is not that common in budget hotels here. But the people are so friendly, helpful, and sweet that you just ignore the negative points. Also about Bentota: If you prefer a more quiet and peaceful stay, Bentota is a good choice (the ocean is a bit wavy though), if you love beach parties and surfing you'd better go to Hikkaduwa. If you don't like rough water but still like more people around the beach area with lots of restaurants and cafes, Unawatuna is just for you. That is what we are doing now. We will also stay one night in Mirissa for whale-watching. We just heard that it was also a surfers-spot.