First of all, I recommend you not to select a 5 stars hotel in some kind of closed area like in Bendota. If you travel a lot, you must know that all 5 stars hotel offers a High Aulity service, but you will not see a real life of the country. Of course you can order a standard excursion and take a look at standard things. Why standard ? Simple ! Just imagine, each day, hundreds of tourist visit the same place(s). As a result all locals already knows that, and trying to do their best to show something interesting to the tourist.
If you eant to enjoy the REAL life of the country, it's better to stay in different places, and to stay in guest houses. You can even imagine how beatifull and real they looks like. Of course if you select a guest house for 6$ per night, you will get only bed. But you can take a guest house for 30$ and get a really nice place to stay. With not so many peoples around you, and a raw life.
I can recommend you to take a look at Lanka Houses website. This guys personnaly visiting each place, make photos and videos and publish them. You can select a place thets suite for you better and make an online reservation.
It's a real phot of me, taken 2 days ago in Tangalle, in one of beatiful gesthouses that I found in Guet House area of lanka houses website. Just for 25 Euro per day, you can rent a natural bangalore on the beach. And enhoy the beatifull beach and RAW ocean.
