The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Bed Station Hostel Sri Lanka is an extremely cute, family-run hostel where you will definitely be looked after. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed with smiles and a warm atmosphere and you leave as part of the family. For some reason, the place is a lot more popular with women than men, so expect some girly chats and board-game nights in the evenings.
The Location
The hostel is located in the southern part of Dambulla, further away from the bus station and the town center with its restaurants and supermarkets, but closer to the sites of interest. Dambulla Lake is right on its doorstep and the Golden Temple and Cave Temple are only about twenty-five minutes away from here on foot. It is easy to approach the place from the main road that connects Kandy and Trincomalee, but the hostel still manages to retain its hideaway quality and authentic atmosphere. It is also very well signposted, so you definitely won't have any problems finding it.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are only seven beds in this tiny hostel, distributed over two rooms. However, as the popularity of the hostel is growing, the place is often fully booked, but the friendly owner won't send anybody away and will gladly improvise alternative solutions. The rooms have mostly bunk beds, which are protected by a mosquito net. The space is not huge inside and if the place is full, you might feel a little claustrophobic with all the bags. The toilet and shower is at the back of the hostel and is shared with the owner's family. There is only one for more than ten people, which might be responsible for some queues, especially in the morning.
Common Spaces
There is a terrace in front of the hostel, which is a very nice place to sit and relax. This area has a variety of different chairs, including a swinging chair. The garden has a set of stone table and chairs as well. It is on the terrace that the free breakfast is served in the morning which is a traditional Sri Lankan meal with curry. Dinner is available for order as well. The inside common area looks like a living room, complete with a TV and family photos, but most guests prefer to hang out outside anyways. The kitchen is only for the use of the family, but filtered water as well as hot water are available nonstop.
Summary
While Bed Station Hostel is definitely not for everybody, if you enjoy a familiar atmosphere where you will constantly be asked how you are feeling and what the owner can do for you then it is definitely the place for you. The small number of beds helps guests bond and it is not uncommon for the owner to offer a walk to a further-away lake for a swim together with all the guests.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.