Beruwela (Sri Lanka)

Advantages: Cheaper than some of the other Indian Ocean destinations and most hotels are all inclusive, sunny, friendly people, cheap gold and saphires
Disadvantages: Poverty, mosquitos, the driving oh and the civil war...

...to the other opinion on Beruwela I can honestly say that it was one of the best holidays of my life. We booked through JMC the year before we went and managed to get 12 days All inclusive for £1400. Flights were with SriLankan on the way and British Airways returning and the contrast between cannot be emphasised enough. The SriLankan aircraft was a thoroughly modern 747/airbus size aircraft with individual Tv screens even for those flying economy. ...
...particular was divine. All in all Sri Lanka and Beruwela effects you in the way you approach it. If you are looking for a completely luxurious beack holiday then maybe it isn't for you. However if you want good food,warm weather and warm people then I heartily reccomend it. ... Read review

Advantages: Very Hot, Lovely Beach
Disadvantages: Touts, Poverty, Mosquitos

...have recently come back from Beruwela (Sri Lanka). We flew from Heathrow on Sri Lankan Air Lines. The flight it self was nearly 10 hours but made as comftable as possible. On each seat was TV screen, the various channels included 3 film channels, comedy channel and also a channel where you could map out the journey. The meal service was first class. Food was Sri Lankan food and you had a choice of meals so suitable for any taste. Compimentry drinks ...
...air conditioned minibus journey to Beruwela took approx 4 hours. The driver was great though he stopped off so we could get a drink somewhere. We stayed in Eden Resort in Beruwela, although the hotel was excellent there wasn't much to do apart from go to the beach or market. At night you couldn't go out of the hotel, as it was in middle of nowhere. When going to Beruwela beach, the touts choose which tourist they are going to hound and everytime ... Read review

Advantages: Possible base for seeing other, much more interesting parts of a fascinating island
Disadvantages: Overrated long haul beach holiday destination. Go to Shi Lanka but don't stay here.

...our beach front hotel at Beruwela – overtaking and undertaking three wheeled tuk-tuks, dodging wandering children, weaving round old ladies, dogs and meandering holy cows – clearly had to be preceded, accompanied and followed by a series of warning blasts from the on board air horn, which I’m sure was being channelled to the outside world in full Dolby surround sound through an onboard set of Marshall amps. It wasn’t dangerous ...
...to the tourist centre of Beruwela is lined with houses, ranging from fairly palatial detached houses set in their own well tended gardens though to shanty town shacks made out of sheets of rusting corrugated iron; shops of just about every description (most of which carry a name which incorporates ‘International Traders’ or something similar – surely they all can’t be relatives of Del Boy and Rodney Trotter?) and various open ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly people and cheap cheap cheap!!
Disadvantages: all inclusive hotels!

...the rep does!! If you are travelling to Beruwela and need to to arrange trips or tours please email and i can put you in touch with our friends out there, who will make it a holiday you wont forget, unless you drink to much arrack with them!! spencerleewood@gmail.com ... Read review

Advantages: FRIENDLY PEOPLE, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER
Disadvantages: DRIVING, POVERTY, BEACH SELLERS

...and willing to help! Beruwela was 3 hours from Columbo in the south of the island on stunning golden sands. Its is one of the most popular resorts in Sri Lanka. when we first arrived in Sri lanka the heat was astoundingly hot and it took us a long time to get used to it (16 people died because of the heat we heard on the radio). The roads were a huge culture shock, our rep later told us there are 3 things you need when driving in Sri Lanka "a good ...
...not exagerating! One of the first things to hit you is the poverty, even in the major cities there is nothing commercial, shops are small shacks wth no windows or doors, there are many beggars and the presence of police and soldiers is at first quite daunting but there is no need to worry they are really a very friendly nation. The local people have nothing but dont seem to mind and they will do anything for you for as little as 100 rupees (60p). ... Read review