How the body? ( my liberian friends used this for greetings and I loved it) I'm slowly getting into this side ( first time started using a computer regularly because of you )and appreciate all the comments, they can be so helpful to many of us. I have one request,though, regarding accomodetions. When you write names of places to stay Could You PLEASE write the prices (approx). I'm for example looking for places around 10USD and it would really help me. Sometimes I get excited about some place you mention and then I check it out and oops surprse 60 bucks and that hurts. Peace and love!
Hi Janski,
I don't know that your query is possible to answer correctly.
Most of the Sri Lankan guest house owners and hoteliers that I've met change their prices with the weather. Not all but many of them.
So a price that I or some other tourist payed last week will almost certainly not be the price which you'll be asked to pay, especially from enquieries over the net.
Again, from my experience, most prices, especially when there's a shortage of tourists, can be negotiated. I'm not saying that they always should be, if you think you're getting a good deal then settle for that.
An example,, there's a hotel in Hikkaduwa, nothing special, but right on the beach, friendly enough and reasonably comfortable.
Named the " Coral Reef Hotel ".
I stayed there last year, twice and payed 2000 rupees for an air-con, double room , including breakfasts.
A group of us returned there about August and the quoted price was 1500. One of the people I was with didn't want to stay there because there was no pool, even though it was on a reef sheltered beach. So we left. The manager actually chased us down the road asking us to name our own price.
We didn't take him up on his offer and as the 1500 was more than fair, I would have felt guilty if I'd taken advantage of him and the shortage of customers.
But, the example is there.. If I'd been asked to quote a price for that hotel I'd have said at least 2000rupees. when, someone could have walked in off the street and got a double room for 1000.
So, prices vary from week to week, different seasons, how many people are around, and often your bargaining ability,etc.
Rod.
Thanx a lot Rod. Since I'm going to travel alone , am I expected to pay the same as double or closer to half of it. I'd appreciate comment since most of the places seem to quote prices for double. Thx.
Hi janski,
No, you're not expected to pay the same as for a double although you may just come across this somewhere , with someone claiming they let by the room and not the number of occupants.
Single price is usually about 2/3 of a double price. I think you'll find, when bargaining in person, in tha guest house, a handful of rupees can quite often swing the bargain. No one wants to see the money, then watch it walk out of the door.
Rod.
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