There's a reason Sri Lanka is called "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean" -- it's an absolute gem. And it's a traveller's paradise as there's tons to do and see, all on one relatively small space. If you're cool with local buses and trains, Sri Lanka is cheap to get around, too. What's not so cheap, sadly, are the entrances to the major sites (all average around $30, whether it's hiking in a National Park or visiting an ancient city and visiting temples averages around $10), and accomodation is not as cheap as you'll find in other parts of Southeast Asia. On one hand, that's good -- Sri Lanka is not going to become Thailand any time soon and be overloaded with drunk young kids looking to party to excess. On the other hand, some of the price points (especially the entries) feel a bit off, like they should all be $10 - $15 cheaper than they are. The other big drag in Sri Lanka is a lack of air conditioning everywhere; in Vietnam or Laos a $20 room gets you something pretty nice with a/c, but in Sri Lanka that's a guesthouse room with a fan.