"The reception was warm and welcoming, and the staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring throughout our stay. The room was beautifully spacious and comfortable, creating a very relaxing atmosphere. We stayed in an ocean-view bungalow, which added a wonderful sense of luxury and made the experience feel truly special. The amenities were excellent, with a wide range of thoughtful touches that made everything even more enjoyable. This place is a perfect getaway for anyone looking to relax and unwind. We highly recommend it – without a doubt the best accommodation in the area."

"We looked forward to staying at Paper Moon. Our driver followed a sign to this hotel but travelling further saw a sign with 2 arrows pointing in opposite directions. Finally get to a gate with the Paper Moon board but no signs to reception. We called the contact number and were told we had to keep going down the driveway. Quite a few guys came running out and then disappeared. Nobody actually welcomed us and told us where we had to go. We eventually came to an open cafe area and quite a few guys just stood around not actually saying anything. No reception as such but the guy at the bar told us we were in the right place. We were given a welcome drink and they took our passports for check in but still didn’t tell us we had checked in. The rooms are individual units. Very simple but ok. The door doesn’t quite reach the ground which left me a bit nervous about creepy crawlies. The bathroom is huge but basic. No toiletries provided apart from a tiny cake of soap. The staff were mostly very friendly and helpful and provided whatever food we asked for but having all male staff just hanging around all the time was quite intimidating. Staff should probably also not hover around the tables as often and leave guests to enjoy their meals. The place is also the local bar so locals are constantly at the bar window for their alcohol. That also left us feeling a bit unsafe as there was a drunken fight one night. There’s nothing around this hotel so it would have to be on a full board basis. Luckily we had a car and driver and were able to check out local cafes. The place was clean. Probably not ideal for solo or young ladies travelling alone."

"Looking for a nice place to stay close to Arugam Bay and having had a good experience at the great value Jetwing Jaffna, we were drawn to book the Jetwing property Kottukal Beach House. We were not disappointed with our choice. The property is a nicely converted colonial era villa with a fantastic aspect and view of the coastline. From our 1st floor room with a balcony we were afforded a fantastic view of the sea and to hear the waves crashing onto the beach.  Our room was generously sized with a high ceiling and with a comfortable king bed and associated mosquito net. It had a decent bathroom with twin basins and a rain shower. Plenty of hot water. Room air conditioning worked very well and added to ceiling fans for those who prefer, which are quieter and allow you to hear the sounds of the sea. The property is small with only a few rooms, which assists the feeling of serenity but although small scale it is assigned with a couple of permanent staff members to service guest needs. A minor flaw was that there was no “official” way to make contact with them and there were no phones in the room or a bell to draw attention. One morning wanting a coffee (no kettles in the rooms) and after knocking on a few doors, I was forced to finally give up.  However, an hour later I was successful and finally had a delicious plunger coffee delivered to the room and foresightedly then preordered for the following morning. An a la carte dinner was also pre ordered and highly delicious curries were prepared by the inhouse chef. We purchased a bottle of wine in town as none was available at the property, but they did stock beer. Breakfasts were also very good. Other points to highlight include the generous gardens bordering the sea, the friendly in-house dogs and a decent pool. Would recommend if looking for a quiet and beautiful stay close by Arugam Bay (tuk-tuks easily arranged)."

"Myself and my partner had the best stay at De Pearla resort. Farah the host was the best. He cooked us the most amazing meals, helped us with anything we needed assistance with and made our trip so special. He even showed us how to cook biriyani! My girlfriend became ill with a fever on one of the days and Farah went above and beyond to make sure that we were all ok and looked after. It really felt like we became part of the family. His son was also very helpful and kind to us. De Perla is a tranquil slice of Paradise that felt like a home away from home. It was always so amazing to come back to after a long day surfing and the craziness of Arugam Bay. We hope that we come back here again one day. Thank you Farah. We hope we meet again!"

"Had a great and very relaxing week here. The cabanas are comfortable and stylish, all with great sea views. The beach is stunning and empty. Niaz and his team were very attentive and did everything to make us feel welcome. The grounds are constantly maintained and kept immaculate. The small restaurant served up great food, and always with a smile. Special mention to Rinos the chef and Bari here for their good service and friendly manner, the same goes for the rest of the staff. This is a place to come and relax, away from the hustle and bustle of Arugam Bay. Highly recommended. "

"We had originally planned to stay for a week, but it quickly turned into over three weeks. Banu and her husband made us feel so welcome with their exceptional hospitality that we immediately felt at home. Their warmth and helpfulness made our stay an unforgettable experience. Another advantage of the 20 House is the location: away from the tourist crowds, but everything important is within easy reach. The value for money is unbeatable and rounds off the package perfectly."

"I stayed at Wild Edge Panama Kumana Safari Lodge for four nights in July 2026 and had a wonderful time. It’s set in a quiet rural area in Panama within a 40 minute drive to the entrance to Kumana National Park. The rooms are very clean with comfortable double bed and mosquito netting, aircon and fan and plenty of storage and plug sockets. There is a terrace to each bedroom with outdoor seating. The en suite bathroom had an excellent shower and all the modern amenities and plumbing and toiletries. There is a stylish main entrance/reception and communal dining area and the lodge is surrounded by small ponds/water features. The beach is a short walk over the sand dunes and is clean and quiet. The local bird life is excellent. There is fast wi-fi throughout the property. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Samitha and his wife own the lodge and live adjacent and were kind and generous hosts. Samitha is an expert wildlife photographer/videographer and I had the privilege of several all day safaris in Kumana National Park with him. He is extremely knowledgable and has a real passion for the flora and fauna. I would not hesitate to recommend this lodge and hope to return again."

"We actually stayed at this resort a while ago and I have been meaning to place a review. We left after 1 night and an attempted break in. My wife found two people trying get in though the back window of our room, she startled them and screamed and they ran off down the beach. It was all reported to the hotel and they never contacted the police. Say no more. I have all the WhatsApp chats on my phone showing how they handled it. The place is also very much falling apart sadly. Just avoid."

"This was one of the most beautiful stays we had in Sri Lanka. We received a warm and friendly welcome and were given a beautiful room. We had a partial view of the sea and a lovely green area. The food was also delicious! I definitely recommend a visit!"