The YMCA in central Colombo is a terrible place. It is perhaps the only budget accommodation in central Colombo (location is good) but for you can find much better places for little more money within a short tuk tuk ride. The bulding is in terrible shape. The cheapest rooms are very old, full of bugs (the size of your finger)... More

What the Lonely Planet was doing recommending this place I'll never know. I arrived there tired at midnight with the expectation of basic, cheap accommodation. What I found was a hostel that I can only assume was in the Lonely Planet for the first time and had raised their prices to take advantage. They initially wanted 3500 for a room... More

huge bugs all over the room, stinky bad sheets, problems with electricity, stinky room. We've leaved in many nasty places but this one is the worst so far. Well, it was the cheapest accommodation we could find in Colombo but I am happy we had to stay there just a single night.

Arriving at the YMCA was something out of a movie. It was 1130 pm, rain was falling and the big steel gates were pulled closed. It was only through a small opening that I was able to get access. Inside was an older Sri Lankan man clearly in the middle of an altercation with another gentleman. A chair was thrown... More

I woke up to find about 30 bed bug bites all over my body, and saw red bugs crawling through the sheets. When I brought the sheets down to show the staff, they put me into a smaller and stuffier room down the hall and refused to give any sort of refund or compensation. I would recommend you avoid this... More

Colombo YMCA has changed a lot with the new management. It's getting better day by day. Soon all the rooms will be air conditioned and the 3rd floor with luxury rooms.

We only stayed in Colombo so we could get to the airport in time for our early flight. The options were fairly limited but the YMCA seemed the cheapest. There is a reason for that - it was very dirty, stank of urine and the rooms are basic to say the least. It was in a great location though and... More

I stayed here 1 night in March 2012. This is the cheapest bed in central Colombo (roughly 4 dollars for a private room with a sink). Don't expect much. The communal bathrooms are not for the faint of heart. Their smell penetrates the rooms. Location is key, in the heart of the fort district. The bus station is 4 minute... More

The YMCA is located in the heart of the Fort district so is extremely well located for tourists. I stayed there on three separate occasions during the 2011 ICC World Cup and found the staff to be helpful and there to be a generally good atmosphere around the place. Admittedly it won't be the cleanest or most modern hostel you're... More