Length of trip recommendation

While, I agree that you can see the highlights in 14 days, if you have more time 21 - 30 days would be ideal. It's a small country but so much to see and it can take a lot of time travelling between destinations.

Thank you very much Laurel and everyone for taking the time to help my husband and I. Conclusion: we will plan to stay in Sri Lanka about 24 days but will perhaps stay longer, though the visa is for 30 days... I can't wait to be in SL and thoroughly see the sights and get to know the country and meet the people. We want to travel in southern India too, on this 3 month trip :)) I wish everyone a great day.

Hi, you sound like the perfect expert to ask questions about SL :)
So I was thinking of backpacking in Sri Lanka in February or March, but I've read that you should book hotels/hostels or other places in advance in these months. My plan was actually to just find a place to stay as I go, but is that not possible? Hope to have the time to answer.

thanks for the lovely compliment
I think Feb/March will be fine for accommodations. We do things as we go too but we book the next town accommodation when leaving a place.

Great, thanks!

Hi rikke14.760313
Thanks for the complement. Well should I put it as local know how as I originally coming from there :-)

Well about your visit. weather wise January, February and March is very good. You don't get much rain and believe me you don't want to be there when it rains. That (and the winter in northern hemisphere) makes this is the high season of the tourism calendar. Makes finding a place as you go is bit of a risky business. You might end up paying lot more than you should for your stay. Well the best thing to do is decide your travel plan way in advance. then you would know where you gonna stay overnight. and in a world of trip advisor, booking.com and air bnb (or whatever they call it) rest could be a piece of cake. Almost all the accommodation are in those sites now. Let me know if you need any more information. Sri Lanka is a good place for backpackers by the way. there are lot you can enjoy except night life. Cheers

I spent 3 months (2+1) in the last 2 years cycling around SL, which is pretty much backpacking. I only booked the first nights in Negombo and then also the last one because I stored my bike box in the same hotel. I recommend you book your first night or 2 in Negombo, which is a beachside town near to the airport. You can do this on a hotel booking site.

After that I never booked any accommodation. Feb March is a popular time, but if you think about it, it is not nearly as busy as Dec Jan (Christmas /New Year) which means there are plenty of spare places.

It is not true that all places are on the booking sites. The more expensive ones are, but the backpacker budget type places are not. If you want, you can book your places a day or so in advance, but I certainly wouldn't advise that you book them all before you go as this will fix your plans and mean you won't have any flexibility.

Well you look like an explorer to me more than a backpacker :-) Guess what you have done is very brave and would be most free spirited thing to do. I always dreamt of traveling without knowing where I am gonna be heading next day.. but wasn't brave enough.
Anyway it all depend on individuals. If you have a good negotiation skills, thick skin and less care of the world your way of travel is very possible. But what I know for a fact is when its late and they realise you have no place to stay and you have no other options they will charge you double as there is no set prices in those places eventually you will end up paying more. and on top you would end up in a mosquito den.
Booking sites usually do some preliminary checks. That's mean if they are in a booking site they are relatively safe and can be trusted. For the matter you are saying only expensive places are on booking sites.. Just done a search on Ella (Backpackers hotspot) and I see accommodation starting from 10$ for that period. I guess that's very much of a OK price even when you are backpacking. for the assurance if guaranteed place I will take it all day long.
You can always check away from main booking their own sites. most of them leave an online footprint somewhere for contacts at least. well that's how I would do and somebody else's could have done a different way doesn't mean either of us are wrong

I think you have rather changed the argument. In your first post you said " the best thing to do is decide your travel plan way in advance. then you would know where you gonna stay overnight. "

I suggested a more flexible approach, saying they could book a day or so in advance. I also said that I only booked first and last and that availability wasn't a problem.

Of course, you have to use common sense. If you know you will be arriving late then book somewhere, if you are arriving early then it is often good to look around and find somewhere you like.

Yes, I am an experienced traveller, on and off bike, but arriving and finding somewhere to stay is what thousands of backpackers are doing all over Asia every day. The poster did say they were a backpacker, this in itself indicates a certain sort of travel.

I remember in Bentota in early March going along the beach road and people were coming out of the guest houses and offering me accommodation. When I refused, they lowered the price. I then found somewhere I really liked and got it for a good price. It was the same in Mirissa.

The best thing is not necessary the thing you want to do Simon. I like never to work. roam free and drink everyday.. but not the best thing to do for sure.. :-)

I have met couple of travellers over the years who came to SL with no plans and actually once had to help someone with last few days of his stay until his departure day. You may be a seasoned traveler and everything went well and of course have enough common sense to figure out the trouble and trouble makers. Doesn't mean the story of everyone. I was giving him the safe option and there is no way I can advice anything riskier out of the box and can live with knowing how this unregulated accommodation work and the people who run/promote those.