Sri Lanka with Kids: Where Nomad Families Could Base Themselves (and the Honest Catches)

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🐘 Why Sri Lanka Almost Made the Cut

🔎 Researched, not visited yet

Sri Lanka has been on our family list for years. My mum was meant to be the first of us to go, until an elephant in Nepal had other ideas. That whole story is in our Sri Lanka visa guide.

When Marty and I were planning our next base in Asia, Sri Lanka came very close. We looked at a few places. One was on the east coast, with long beaches and a school we were researching for Louie about a 20-minute bus ride away. On paper, it worked.

The rentals were the problem. The homes we found weren’t really our style, and they cost a bit more than similar places in Vietnam. For the price, they just didn’t say yes to us.

Then there was the calendar. We were leaving the Netherlands in August, and fitting Sri Lanka’s two monsoons around our dates felt like a puzzle we couldn’t solve. So we chose Da Nang, and Sri Lanka went back on the list.

It hasn’t left. The wildlife, the surf and the food still pull at all four of us. This guide is the homework we did, and kept doing. We haven’t lived in Sri Lanka, so we’ve stuck to sources we can check and flagged what you should confirm before you book.

The Short Version

• Best for: families who love wildlife, beaches and slow travel, and can plan around the seasons.
• Main bases: the south coast for nomad life, Colombo for schools and hospitals, the hill country for cooler air, and the east coast from May to September.
• Biggest catches: dengue, heat, patchy internet outside the hubs and long drives to good hospitals.
• Visas: a free 30-day ETA for Australian and Dutch passports, extendable up to 270 days, or the Digital Nomad Visa for legal remote work.

🌦️ Seasons: The Piece That Didn’t Fit for Us

Sri Lanka has two monsoons, and they hit different coasts at different times. That’s handy for a short holiday. For a long family stay, it takes real planning.

The Department of Meteorology splits Sri Lanka’s year into four seasons:

What This Means for a Long Stay

• A six-month stay in one spot will almost always include some wet weather.
• The south coast is at its best from roughly December to April. It’s also when prices peak.
• The east coast is at its best from roughly May to September.
• Surf follows the same pattern: the south coast from about November to April, the east coast from about May to September.

Our Version

We were leaving the Netherlands in August. The east coast would have been dry when we arrived, but its rains usually begin around October. The south coast runs the other way. Neither gave us six settled months in one place, and that helped tip us towards Vietnam.

Comparing other countries too? Our month-by-month guide to family travel covers the rest.

📍 Choosing a Base: Five Very Different Sri Lankas

A week in Ella feels nothing like a week in Weligama. That variety is useful for nomad families, because you can pick a base that fits your current stage and move on when the season changes.

We’ve looked at five areas: the south coast surf towns, the east coast, the hill country, Colombo’s suburbs and the Galle area. Each has a different pace, a different level of infrastructure and different trade-offs for kids.

🏄 South Coast: Weligama, Ahangama, Hiriketiya and Mirissa

The south coast is where most of Sri Lanka’s nomad scene lives. The sea sits at the end of most roads, and days tend to organise themselves around surf, work and long meals outdoors.

Weligama is the busiest of the towns, with the most cafés and services and train links to Galle and Matara. Ahangama, just west, is calmer and popular with longer-stay nomads. Further east near Dikwella, Hiriketiya is a small horseshoe bay with a quieter, yoga-leaning crowd.

Mirissa sits just east of Weligama and is best known for whale watching, roughly November to April.

What Works for Families

• Weligama’s sandy bay is a classic beginner surf spot in the November to April season.
• Cafés cater well to vegetarian and health-conscious families.
• Other nomad families are easiest to find here, especially in peak season.
• Train access makes day trips to Galle simple.

The Trade-offs

• Internet quality drops quickly away from coworking spaces and newer rentals.
• Power cuts still happen, so ask about backup power before you book.
• Rents rise and availability tightens from December to April, when tourist and nomad demand overlap.
• There are no international schools along this stretch, so school-age kids will be homeschooling or learning online.
• Colombo’s specialist hospitals are a few hours away by road.

Coworking Spaces

The south coast has the island’s most active coworking scene outside Colombo. Spaces nomads often mention include Outpost in Weligama (coliving and coworking on the bay), Focus Hub in Ahangama and Dots Bay House in Hiriketiya, where café customers can work.

Coworking businesses open and close often on this coast, so check current details and day-pass prices before you go.

🌅 East Coast: Arugam Bay, Pasikudah and Trincomalee

The east coast is where our own search took us, and it’s quieter than the south. Its beach season runs roughly May to September, while the south coast is wet.

• Arugam Bay is the east coast’s surf town, with beginner spots alongside well-known point breaks.
• Pasikudah is known for a long, shallow bay, which suits small kids.
• Trincomalee is a larger town, with nearby beaches at Uppuveli and Nilaveli.

The Trade-offs

• Fewer coworking spaces and a smaller nomad community than the south coast.
• A long drive to Colombo’s hospitals.
• Rentals that, in our experience, didn’t match the price.
• Many places get much quieter, and some close, in the off-season.

Businesses here change often, so check current details before booking.

🌿 Hill Country: Ella, Haputale and Bandarawela

As the train climbs into the highlands, the air cools and tea plantations cover the hillsides. For families who struggle with coastal heat, the hill country can feel like a different country.

Ella is the best set up for visitors, with cafés and easy access to Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak and the Nine Arches Bridge. Haputale and Bandarawela are quieter and more local, with old bungalows and misty hills. Both suit families who want a slower, quieter stay.

What Works for Families

• Cooler days than the coast, which makes outdoor play and hiking easier.
• Nature on the doorstep, with walks, waterfalls and tea estates.
• Rentals are often more spacious, many with gardens.

The Trade-offs

• Internet is limited, so plan your work setup carefully.
• Healthcare is basic. Serious medical care means travelling to Kandy or Colombo.
• There are no international schools.
• Small towns can feel isolated on longer stays, and finding community takes effort.
• Ella gets busy in peak tourist months, which pushes prices up.
• The hill country gets heavy rain during the southwest monsoon, from May to September.

Coworking Spaces

We couldn’t find dedicated coworking in the hill country. Most remote workers work from home or from cafés with decent Wi-Fi.

If you need reliable internet, choose a rental that advertises fibre, ask for a recent speed test and keep a mobile data plan as backup.

🏙️ Colombo Suburbs: Battaramulla, Nugegoda and Dehiwala

Colombo is loud, busy and full of traffic. It’s also the most practical base in Sri Lanka if your family needs international schools, specialist healthcare or fast internet.

Most families skip the city centre for the suburbs. Battaramulla, east of the centre, is home to the Overseas School of Colombo and popular with expat families. To the south, Nugegoda has a busy local market and good transport links. Dehiwala sits on the coast, with beach access and an easy train ride into the city.

What Works for Families

• Fast fibre, international supermarkets, specialist clinics and embassies.
• Most of the island’s international schools.
• An established expat community.
• The best option for older kids who need curriculum continuity.

The Trade-offs

• Traffic can be brutal, especially at school-run times.
• Air quality in the centre can be poor.
• Colombo is the most expensive place to live in Sri Lanka, and suburbs near good schools carry higher rents.
• City energy can wear thin for families used to quieter bases.

Coworking Spaces

The capital has the island’s widest coworking choice. Names that come up often include Hub9, CO-LABs in Havelock City and Hatch, which combines coworking with a startup community.

The scene changes quickly, so check current locations, hours and prices before you go.

🏰 Galle and Surrounds: Galle Fort, Unawatuna and Talpe

Galle Fort is a walled old town built by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch, with ramparts, cobbled lanes and the sea at the end of many streets. It’s small and walkable, and the ramparts make an easy family walk at sunset.

Just outside Galle, Unawatuna is a curved bay with swimming and snorkelling in the calmer months. Talpe, a little further east, is quieter, with coastal villas and less tourist traffic. Both are close to Galle’s shops and services.

What Works for Families

• An active expat community.
• Yoga studios, art classes and markets within easy reach.
• A strong food scene in and around the fort.
• Trains to Colombo, which take roughly two to three hours.

The Trade-offs

• December to April brings crowds and higher prices.
• Homes inside the fort can be small, with little outdoor space for young kids.
• Specialist healthcare means a trip to Colombo.
• The expat community is active but small, so building friendships takes effort.

Coworking Spaces

Formal coworking in Galle is limited. Most remote workers use home rentals with fibre or work-friendly cafés in and around the fort.

If remote work matters, prioritise a rental with tested broadband and carry a local SIM as backup.

🌴 Our Family Wish List: What We’d Do First

If we go, here’s the shortlist for our family. None of it is first-hand yet, so treat it as researched ideas rather than reviews.

🐘 Wildlife for All of Us

Udawalawe National Park is known for reliable elephant sightings, which is why families with younger kids often choose it. Yala is famous for leopards, but it gets busy in peak months. We’d pick a safari operator who keeps a respectful distance from the animals.

From Mirissa, whale-watching boats run roughly November to April. With a toddler, we’d check sea conditions and trip length first. And we won’t ride elephants. Our wildlife travel guide has more on learning through wildlife trips.

🏄 Surf Lessons for Louie

Louie is nine and keen to try surfing. Weligama’s wide, sandy bay is a classic beginner spot in the south coast season, roughly November to April. On the east coast, Arugam Bay has gentler beginner breaks from about May to September.

We’d look for a surf school with kids’ boards and an instructor in the water. Leo would stay in the shallows with one of us. 🌊

🍛 Food and Markets

Sri Lankan food is easy for a family that cooks vegetarian. Think dhal, vegetable curries and coconut sambol with rice. A local cooking class and a weekly market run would be top of my list.

🚲 Cycling, With Caveats

We love exploring by bike, but busy main roads and fast buses make Sri Lanka harder than it looks. Hiring bikes to get around the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is a gentler option. With Leo on the back, we’d keep rides short and stick to quiet lanes.

🏛️ History, Temples and Train Rides

Sigiriya, the 5th-century rock fortress, makes history easy for kids to picture. The ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist site.

The hill-country train between Kandy and Ella is a long, scenic day. We’d book reserved seats and skip the open-door photos with a toddler.

👶 At Leo’s Pace

A two-year-old sets the rhythm. We’d plan fewer moves and longer stays, with a calm beach or pool nearby and quiet time in the midday heat. Sigiriya has a lot of steps, so we’d bring a carrier.

🏡 Finding a Family Home in Sri Lanka

This is where our own search came unstuck, so it’s worth taking time over. Monthly rentals are common in the nomad areas, but quality and price vary a lot, and the best-value places are rarely on the big booking sites.

South Coast and Galle

Expect furnished villas and bungalows, often with gardens and ceiling fans. Fibre varies from house to house, so confirm it before you book. Prices rise sharply from December to April.

East Coast

Choice is smaller, and many places are set up for short holiday stays. In our search, the homes we found cost a little more than comparable rentals in Vietnam and weren’t our style.

Hill Country

Old bungalows and wooden hill houses are common, with verandahs and valley views. They’re often more rustic than coastal homes, so check hot water and whether nights get cold.

Colombo Suburbs

Modern apartments and family homes in the suburbs offer the most complete amenities, including air-con, backup generators and security. Numbeo’s average for a three-bedroom apartment outside the centre is about €380 a month (checked 09-10-2026), but furnished lets for foreigners usually cost more.

Tips for Finding a Rental

• Book a short stay first and look in person before signing a longer lease.
• Ask about internet speed, mosquito screens, generator backup and drinking water.
• Ask about damp and mould, especially in the hill country and after the monsoon.
• Local Facebook groups and direct contact with landlords often beat booking platforms on price.
• Many owners offer better monthly rates for stays of three months or more, so ask.

👉 See our full guide: Accommodation for Digital Nomad Families

💻 Working Remotely from Sri Lanka

Remote work from Sri Lanka is doable with the right setup and realistic expectations outside the main hubs.

Internet and Connectivity

Colombo, Galle and the main south coast towns have fibre in many rentals and coworking spaces. Elsewhere, it’s patchy. Dialog and SLT-Mobitel are the main mobile networks, and Numbeo lists a monthly mobile plan with 10GB+ data at about €4 (checked 09-10-2026).

Power cuts still happen. A small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) keeps your router and laptop running through short outages, and coworking spaces with generators help on important call days.

Is connectivity a deal-breaker? Our internet speed ranking compares 50 family bases.

Coworking by Region

• Colombo: the widest choice, including Hub9, CO-LABs and Hatch.
• South coast: Outpost (Weligama), Focus Hub (Ahangama) and Dots Bay House (Hiriketiya).
• Galle, east coast and hill country: limited options, so most people work from home or cafés.

Coworking spaces change often, so check current details before you go.

Time Zones and Family Rhythm

Sri Lanka runs on UTC+5:30. During European summer time, a 9am start in Amsterdam is 12:30pm in Sri Lanka, which is easy. Brisbane is harder: its working day starts around 4:30am Sri Lankan time.

In the tropics, many families shift work early, before the heat builds and before the kids need company. Afternoons then go to the beach, a walk or the market. Map out your calls before you commit.

👉 See our full guide: Remote Work for Digital Nomad Parents

📚 Schooling and Childcare in Sri Lanka

Schooling options depend almost entirely on where you base yourselves. Colombo has nearly all the international schools. Elsewhere, most travelling families homeschool or learn online.

🏫 International Schools

The capital is Sri Lanka’s international school hub. Options include:

• The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) in Battaramulla, the only school in Sri Lanka authorised for the full IB continuum, from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma. It opened in 1957 and has students from over 40 nationalities.
• The British School in Colombo, which follows a British curriculum.
• Colombo International School (CIS), with a British-influenced curriculum.
• Gateway College, which runs several campuses.
• Lyceum International Schools, a larger group with campuses around the country.
• Galle International College, one of the few international options in the Southern Province.

Government schools mainly teach in Sinhala or Tamil, so they’re rarely practical for short-stay nomad families.

How Much Does International School Cost?

Fees vary enormously. Numbeo’s crowdsourced average for international primary school in Colombo is about €1,070 a year, but its range is very wide. Premium schools cost far more: OSC’s listed day fees are around US$13,610 to US$29,240 a year.

Always get current fees directly from schools. Our international schools directory compares options in other nomad cities.

🌍 Worldschooling and Homeschooling

Outside Colombo, worldschooling is how most nomad families make Sri Lanka work. The island gives you plenty to build on: tea estates for geography and economics, temples for religion and history, tide pools for marine biology and markets for maths and language.

Online Programmes and Tutors

For structure, many families combine an online programme with local tutors for language, art or music. Our guide to online homeschool programs lists 90+ options by subject. For how we structure our own days on the road, see Homeschooling on the Move.

Meeting Other Families

On the south coast, families often connect through WhatsApp groups, coworking events and the beach. Ask around in your first week to find out what’s running during your stay.

The Legal Picture

We couldn’t find Sri Lankan rules aimed at foreign families homeschooling during a short stay. Your home country’s rules may still apply, though, so check whether you need to notify or deregister with authorities before you leave. Our worldschooling legal guide covers the rules country by country.

👶 Childcare and Early Years

Nannies

Local nannies, sometimes called ayahs, are common in Sri Lanka, particularly in Colombo. Rates vary by area, hours and experience, so ask other families on the ground for current prices. Personal recommendations are the safest way to find someone, so give yourself a week or two before committing.

Preschools and Playgroups

Private preschools are widespread. Numbeo’s crowdsourced average for a full-day preschool in Colombo is about €33 a month (checked 09-10-2026), with a wide range. On the south coast, ask in local family groups about playgroups and early-years options running during your stay.

Outside the Main Towns

Childcare thins out in the hill country and rural areas. Families there tend to rely on informal arrangements, so build local connections early.

👉 See our full guide: Education and Childcare for Digital Nomad Families

🏥 Health and Healthcare in Sri Lanka

Medical Care

Colombo has Sri Lanka’s best private hospitals, including large groups such as Asiri and Lanka Hospitals, with English-speaking staff. Kandy has reasonable facilities too. In coastal towns and rural areas, care is mostly basic, so serious or complex problems mean travelling to Colombo.

Comprehensive international health insurance, including medical evacuation, matters here. Our health insurance guide for nomad families compares the options.

💛 Our Pick for Getting Started

SafetyWing is genuinely where we started, and it’s still what we recommend to families just stepping into this lifestyle. No annual contracts, no huge upfront cost, cancel anytime it doesn’t suit. It’s not the most comprehensive option on this list, but it’s the easiest way to get real cover in place before you overthink it.

Get Covered with SafetyWing

💉 Vaccinations

Talk to a travel health clinic about six weeks before you leave, because some vaccines need more than one dose. Recommendations depend on your family’s history, ages and plans, so treat this as background, not medical advice.

• Routine vaccines, including MMR, should be up to date for everyone.
• Hepatitis A is recommended by the US CDC for unvaccinated travellers aged one and over.
• Typhoid, rabies and Japanese encephalitis are worth discussing, especially for long stays, rural travel or animal contact. Rabies is common in dogs in Sri Lanka.
• Chikungunya: CDC’s current Sri Lanka advice is that vaccination is generally not recommended. Ask your clinic, as outbreak advice changes.
• Yellow fever: a certificate is only needed if you’re arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk.

There’s no malaria in Sri Lanka. The World Health Organization certified it malaria-free in 2016.

Dengue is the big mosquito risk, all year and island-wide. No dengue vaccine is routinely recommended for travellers who haven’t had dengue before, so use repellent daily, choose homes with screens and cover up at dawn and dusk.

Our travel vaccinations guide for families has more detail.

🌱 Food, Water and Everyday Health

Sri Lanka’s food culture is plant-forward, with fresh fruit, vegetables and spices at every market. That makes healthy eating easier for vegetarian families.

Drink bottled or filtered water, and use it for brushing teeth if you’re unsure. Many rentals have filtered water dispensers, and large bottles are cheaper than small ones. Busy local restaurants with high turnover are usually a safer bet, and it’s worth washing and peeling fruit.

The heat is the other daily factor. Plan outdoor time for early mornings and late afternoons, keep kids hydrated and use sun protection every day.

🛂 Visas for Families: The Short Version

Our Sri Lanka visa guide has the full detail, sourced from official government pages. Here are the essentials, checked 30-09-2026:

• Tourist ETA: free for 30 days for Australian, Dutch and many other passports. Apply on the official ETA website before you fly, with one application per person, kids included.
• Longer stays: you can extend inside Sri Lanka up to 270 days. Every family member pays extension fees, including children under 12.
• Digital Nomad Visa: launched in February 2026, it lasts one year and can be renewed. You must remit at least US$2,000 a month into Sri Lanka, plus US$500 for each dependant beyond the first two. For a family of four, that’s US$2,500 a month (about €2,200). The fee is US$500 per person per year.
• Work: a tourist ETA doesn’t give you permission to work. The nomad visa is the route designed for remote workers.
• School: nomad visa dependants can attend international or private schools.
• Tax: renewing the nomad visa involves registering with Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department. Get advice on your own tax position before you commit.

Visa rules change, so check the Department of Immigration and Emigration before you apply.

🤝 Finding Community in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s nomad scene is smaller and more scattered than Bali or Chiang Mai. For some families, that’s part of the appeal. For others, especially when one partner is nervous about the move, a ready-made community matters more.

South Coast

The Weligama, Ahangama and Hiriketiya stretch is the social centre. Coworking spaces run events, and surf breaks and beach cafés make it easy to start conversations.

Colombo

Expat life in the capital tends to centre on school communities, work networks and Facebook groups. Searching Facebook for Sri Lanka expat and digital nomad groups is a good first step before you arrive.

Worldschooling Families

On the south coast, families often coordinate meetups and shared activities through WhatsApp groups. These come and go with the seasons, so ask in your first week.

Start Before You Land

Our own Facebook group is a good place to ask other families about Sri Lanka before you book anything. You’ll find the link just below.

🧳 Practical Tips Before You Go

• 📱 Get a local SIM on day one. Dialog and SLT-Mobitel both sell prepaid data plans, and a SIM is your backup when the Wi-Fi drops.
• 🦟 Make mosquito protection a habit. Repellent, screens and long sleeves at dawn and dusk, every day.
• ☀️ Use sun protection from the moment you step outside. Hats and shade matter as much as sunscreen for little ones.
• 💧 Drink bottled or filtered water, and use it for brushing teeth if you’re unsure.
• 🩺 Book a travel clinic early. Allow about six weeks, as some vaccines need several doses.
• 🗓️ Plan around the monsoons. The southwest monsoon (May to September) brings rain to the west, south and hill country. The northeast monsoon (December to February) brings rain to the east and north. Our seasons section has the full picture.
• 🌡️ Give yourselves time to adjust. Plan a lighter first week or two before starting a full work and school routine.
• 🚗 Choose a car over a scooter. Roads are busy and need constant attention. A hire car with a driver is safer and easier with young kids on long trips.
• 💰 Look at rentals in person. Booking platforms add premiums, and photos don’t show damp, noise or internet speed.

🙏 Culture and Travelling Respectfully

Buddhism is central to Sinhalese life, Hinduism shapes Tamil communities, and Islam and Christianity are part of daily life too. Religious festivals and temple rituals are everyday realities in Sri Lanka, not tourist shows.

Visiting Temples with Kids

Dress to cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats, and keep voices low. It’s also customary not to pose with your back to a Buddha statue. Let your kids’ questions lead: temple visits are some of the easiest worldschooling lessons you’ll find.

Treading Lightly

Plastic pollution, coral damage and pressure from tourism are real issues on parts of the coast. Buying from local markets, choosing locally owned stays and cutting single-use plastic all help. So does choosing wildlife experiences that keep their distance from the animals.

⚠️ The Honest Catches: What Gave Us Pause

Dengue with a Toddler

Dengue is a risk all year, all over the island. No dengue vaccine is routinely recommended for travellers who haven’t had dengue before, so prevention is everything. That means repellent, screens, long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and knowing the warning signs. Talk to a travel clinic about your family’s situation.

The Heat

Coastal Sri Lanka is hot and humid all year. With a two-year-old, that shapes the whole day: early starts, shade at lunchtime and air-con for naps.

Distance to Hospitals

The best private care is in Colombo. From the south coast, that’s a few hours away. From the east coast, it can be most of a day by road. Know your nearest decent hospital before you sign a lease.

Rentals That Don’t Add Up

We found this ourselves: homes that cost more than Vietnam and didn’t feel right. Give yourself time on the ground before committing to a long lease.

Internet Outside the Hubs

Test speeds before you book, and keep a mobile data plan as backup. Video calls from a hill-country bungalow can be hit and miss.

Peak-Season Prices

From December to April, south coast prices rise and availability tightens. Book early or plan to be elsewhere.

Paperwork

Visa extensions and school enrolment take time. Use official government sites only, because Sri Lanka’s immigration department warns against applying through third-party websites.

❓ Sri Lanka with Kids: FAQs

Is Sri Lanka good for digital nomad families?

It can be, especially for families who love wildlife, beaches and slow travel. The trade-offs are patchy internet outside the hubs, a smaller nomad community and healthcare concentrated in Colombo.

Where should families base themselves in Sri Lanka?

The south coast (Weligama, Ahangama) has the most nomad infrastructure. Colombo’s suburbs suit families who need international schools or specialist healthcare. The hill country is cooler and quieter, and the east coast is best from May to September.

When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka with kids?

For the west and south coasts, roughly December to April. For the east coast, roughly May to September. The hill country gets its heaviest rain during the southwest monsoon, from May to September.

How much does it cost a family of four to live in Sri Lanka?

Numbeo estimates about €1,620 a month in Colombo before rent (checked 09-10-2026). With rent, a rough estimate is €1,700 to €2,600 a month, before school fees, flights and insurance.

Can we stay six months on a tourist visa?

You can extend a tourist stay inside Sri Lanka up to 270 days, and every family member pays extension fees. A tourist visa doesn’t give you permission to work. See our Sri Lanka visa guide for details.

Is there malaria in Sri Lanka?

No. The World Health Organization certified Sri Lanka malaria-free in 2016. Dengue is the mosquito risk to plan for.

Are there international schools outside Colombo?

Very few. Most travelling families outside the capital homeschool or use online programmes. Our worldschooling legal guide is a good place to start.

Is Sri Lanka manageable with a toddler?

Yes, with planning. The biggest considerations are heat, dengue prevention, road safety and how far you’ll be from good hospitals. Fewer moves and longer stays make it much easier.

🌴 Our Takeaways

Sri Lanka nearly won. A beach town on the east coast, a school we could picture Louie riding the bus to, elephants within a day’s drive: it ticked a lot of boxes.

What stopped us wasn’t the country. It was rentals that didn’t feel right for the money and a calendar that wouldn’t line up with the monsoons. Those are planning problems, and they’re solvable for families with more flexible dates than we had.

If your family can follow the seasons, start with a short stay on the free ETA and give yourselves time to find the right rental. Then decide on the longer route.

We’ll be watching the calendar for our own window. When it comes, Louie wants waves, Leo wants sand, and I want rice and curry. 🐘🌊

Still comparing? Our Thailand vs Vietnam guide explains what tipped us towards Vietnam, and our Asia guide covers the wider region.