visa can be paid online, so no need to do it in airport, surf board rental - 3$ per hour. Local food... only if you can bear it long term. Normal european food is more expensive then in Indonesia (Bali for example). Accomodation is cheaper then at Bali
Thanks Dan! I am sad to see such high prices for tourists. Paying $150 dollars for that taxi when the average salary in Sri Lanka is typically USD 190 per month! It is a complex issue but I don't like paying over the fair price! 😎👌🌴 Happy travels!
Hey mate!! Yeah, it is a shame and it does seem like everything is inflated for tourists! Aside from those transfers though, you can still keep things cheap :)
Its called petrol dude. Even in Bali the fuel is similar to Australian prices. Sri Lanka won't be far off and they did have a shortage just over a year ago.
True@@charliefox9424 good point! Perhaps they need to use solar not petrol... even wood or coconut alcohol - all cheaper and more sustainable and home produced.
I would also recommend not using Airbnb there. Most listings have no reviews and are overpriced. It’s really easy to just go to different hotels in the area, ask how much it is and they will even show you rooms.
@@JoselitoPapafrito you could maybe book something for a night or two but once youre there just check out the places in person, theres tons of availability
Any advice for getting around with a 3-4 board bag when traveling around and taking taxis? (And not just in Sri Lanka.) Do you bring straps with you and do you wing it and hope a taxi driver is willing to strap it to the roof? Or do you always book a surf specific taxi in advance? This stresses me out a lot on trips haha, maybe could be a video itself
i used to carry straps now just thin nylon string is fine for big board bag at 100km/hr, tie them on the roof anywhere in the world if its going to rain make them put inside easy, never met a taxi driver who wouldn't let me tie my boards to roof in over 20+ years of consistent surf travel, if one did u literally get the next taxi driver,..easy
I learned to surf in weligama and the instructors dont fuck about. they'll push you if they see potential but they also cover the basics like safety. as their english is basic, they really get to the point. they are good people (unlike some arrogant western instructors) and want to see you ride waves and improve.. the ones i met anyway.. side note: please wear crash helmets if you're hiring scooters or motorbikes - I went in jan 2024, first time in peak season, i usually go off season..and they were a few traumatic road accidents with mainly foreigners getting killed. (no crash helmets/drunk) the bus drivers are insane also..
Exactly the kind of video I needed. Going to go this summer I think. If anyone has recs for surf instructors in Arugam Bay for a beginner? Not a complete novice and would like to surf consistently for a month and might do a school for a week or so
Hey mate!! Epic! There are some surf schools right on the point in Arugam! You'll have no trouble finding somewhere to grab a board or take a lesson :)
How about the air fare? What airline did you use and what class of ticket and where did to fly round trip and what was the cost of the board bag? How far in advance did you book the plane, and how did you find you place to stay? Did you arrive and walk around or did you use an online booking website (I didn't actually say their name). I find I get better air fares if I go to the airlines website and just shop the different days of the week and times of the year. Did Sri Lanka have good surf when you were there? Is there a rainy season? Is there a Flat Ocean Season?
Hi Dan, thank you for videos as always. Do most hostels (outside of sri lanka like central america) allow surfboard bags? I want to do stay at some hostels but I'm not sure about the surfboard bag situation, is it common in these surf towns/countries?
Great video! It seems the best way to go from Colombo to Arugam Bay is via the south coast, so would you recommend perhaps stopping for a few days on the south coast to surf (in mid May), or just heading straight on to Arugam Bay?
You can apply your visa on the internet
I do that, o recive a mail with a number, but no documents...
Visa and the arrival card can be done easily online. Highly recommend doing that, and your arrival will be one of the fastest in Asia!
Great advice!! I didn't know that so thanks for the heads up :)
I've done that but it cost almost 90 euro's and it's valid 30 days.
Love the videos mate, especially the sri lanka ones!
Thanks mate!! Stoked you enjoy them :)
visa can be paid online, so no need to do it in airport, surf board rental - 3$ per hour. Local food... only if you can bear it long term. Normal european food is more expensive then in Indonesia (Bali for example). Accomodation is cheaper then at Bali
Ahhh ok!! Epic, I didn't know that so thanks for the info!! And yeah curry and dhal do get boring after a few weeks haha!!
Thanks Dan! I am sad to see such high prices for tourists. Paying $150 dollars for that taxi when the average salary in Sri Lanka is typically USD 190 per month! It is a complex issue but I don't like paying over the fair price! 😎👌🌴 Happy travels!
Hey mate!! Yeah, it is a shame and it does seem like everything is inflated for tourists! Aside from those transfers though, you can still keep things cheap :)
Its called petrol dude. Even in Bali the fuel is similar to Australian prices. Sri Lanka won't be far off and they did have a shortage just over a year ago.
True@@charliefox9424 good point! Perhaps they need to use solar not petrol... even wood or coconut alcohol - all cheaper and more sustainable and home produced.
I would also recommend not using Airbnb there. Most listings have no reviews and are overpriced. It’s really easy to just go to different hotels in the area, ask how much it is and they will even show you rooms.
THX, i'm going in march and i was searching in airbnb
@@JoselitoPapafrito you could maybe book something for a night or two but once youre there just check out the places in person, theres tons of availability
@@KnotchiGaming it's not too crowd?
Thanks for the heads-up on that one!! I used Booking.com during my trip :)
Wait till it catches on like Bali, prices will sore guaranteed, just like everwhere else did.😊
Thanks for the information 🤟
Great content brother
Any advice for getting around with a 3-4 board bag when traveling around and taking taxis? (And not just in Sri Lanka.) Do you bring straps with you and do you wing it and hope a taxi driver is willing to strap it to the roof? Or do you always book a surf specific taxi in advance? This stresses me out a lot on trips haha, maybe could be a video itself
i used to carry straps now just thin nylon string is fine for big board bag at 100km/hr, tie them on the roof anywhere in the world if its going to rain make them put inside easy, never met a taxi driver who wouldn't let me tie my boards to roof in over 20+ years of consistent surf travel, if one did u literally get the next taxi driver,..easy
@@----79821 thanks for the tips!
yes me too
I learned to surf in weligama and the instructors dont fuck about. they'll push you if they see potential but they also cover the basics like safety. as their english is basic, they really get to the point. they are good people (unlike some arrogant western instructors) and want to see you ride waves and improve.. the ones i met anyway.. side note: please wear crash helmets if you're hiring scooters or motorbikes - I went in jan 2024, first time in peak season, i usually go off season..and they were a few traumatic road accidents with mainly foreigners getting killed. (no crash helmets/drunk) the bus drivers are insane also..
what is the hotel shown @5:56 for $20 per night? Thanks
Hey mate!! It's called Copacabana Hotel in Hikkaduwa :) Great spot!!
Amazing, thank you so much@@DanHarmon123
I will be there in a week! Might see you out in the surf@@DanHarmon123
Exactly the kind of video I needed. Going to go this summer I think. If anyone has recs for surf instructors in Arugam Bay for a beginner? Not a complete novice and would like to surf consistently for a month and might do a school for a week or so
Hey mate!! Epic! There are some surf schools right on the point in Arugam! You'll have no trouble finding somewhere to grab a board or take a lesson :)
How about the air fare? What airline did you use and what class of ticket and where did to fly round trip and what was the cost of the board bag? How far in advance did you book the plane, and how did you find you place to stay? Did you arrive and walk around or did you use an online booking website (I didn't actually say their name). I find I get better air fares if I go to the airlines website and just shop the different days of the week and times of the year.
Did Sri Lanka have good surf when you were there? Is there a rainy season? Is there a Flat Ocean Season?
But no transfer back from Arugama in that price
No that's one way!! So does get expensive both ways!
We are going to the east coast in June, would you recommend spending any time on the south or west coast during that time ?
Hi Dan, thank you for videos as always. Do most hostels (outside of sri lanka like central america) allow surfboard bags?
I want to do stay at some hostels but I'm not sure about the surfboard bag situation, is it common in these surf towns/countries?
Is it easy to buy a decent board at Arugam bay?
Did you pay mostly in US dollars or Sri Lankan rupees? Or best to take both?
Epic
Better than Bali?
Anywhere's better than Bali nowadays ...
Cheaper than Bali!! Not sure the waves are better though ;)
Great video! It seems the best way to go from Colombo to Arugam Bay is via the south coast, so would you recommend perhaps stopping for a few days on the south coast to surf (in mid May), or just heading straight on to Arugam Bay?
Good info
Thanks Wendy!!