Sri Lanka recommendations

[mk1974]

Thinking of going at the end of February,anybody got any areas or hotels to recommend,thanks


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[Tony]

The first thing you need to look at is the weather at that time of year.

For quite a small island it has very different weather patterns on the different coasts. While the east might be perfect in February, it could be full-on monsoon weather in the west (for instance).

I was backpacking there for three weeks a few years ago so I can't really recommend hotels, apart from the Galle Face if you stay in Colombo for a night or two. I did get about a bit though, so I know quite a few areas.

I assume you're looking at a beach holiday?

[mk1974]

The first thing you need to look at is the weather at that time of year.

For quite a small island it has very different weather patterns on the different coasts. While the east might be perfect in February, it could be full-on monsoon weather in the west (for instance).

I was backpacking there for three weeks a few years ago so I can't really recommend hotels, apart from the Galle Face if you stay in Colombo for a night or two. I did get about a bit though, so I know quite a few areas.

I assume you're looking at a beach holiday?

The wife does want to see a couple of things ,nothing specific,but we would want to be based on the beach


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[ZIM]

I cannot help you with any beech suggestions but if you are going to stay in Colombo at all try the Galle Face mentioned above. We stayed there recently at both ends of a trip to watch the second test. Its a great oldy worldly colonial style hotel situated on the sea front. The service is excellent and the breakfast and dinner buffets are in a league of their own.


Sean

[Andrzej]

We did a two week "guided tour" early last year. Had a great car and driver who stayed with us the whole time. we will be looking to go back again, and this time prob do a beach holiday based around Hikkaduwa. We stayed in the Hikka Tranz,and I would certainly recommend that hotel.

[crazyp]

I cannot recommend highly enough the Heritance hotels - especially the Kandalama and the Tea Factory. I would also say the areas around those two in particular are amazing and worth spending time at.

[IAmATeaf]

My wife has been bugging me about visiting Sri Lanka for he last few years, looks like I might be visiting around Easter time so will be be keeping an eye on this thread.

[mhocking]

We’ve just booked to go on the 20th Jan for 12 nights so will also be keeping an eye on this thread.


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[mk1974]

We did a two week "guided tour" early last year. Had a great car and driver who stayed with us the whole time. we will be looking to go back again, and this time prob do a beach holiday based around Hikkaduwa. We stayed in the Hikka Tranz,and I would certainly recommend that hotel.

That’s one of the hotels I’ve been looking at,do you need to go all in or is there plenty of restaurants around that area cheers mick


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[Andrzej]

That’s one of the hotels I’ve been looking at,do you need to go all in or is there plenty of restaurants around that area cheers mick


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There are other places to eat locally. However, if we were only to be staying there for a a week (we were there for about 3 days) I would go all in. The food and the variety is amazing - it made me realise I could never go on a cruise ship as I would come off three sizes bigger.

[mk1974]

Ended up booking the Rui Sri Lanka,down the coast from Colombo ,need to start thinking about trips,anyone know what is the best currency to take


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[Peck]

Just got back from Sri Lanka. Had a fantastic trip - amazing country. Just take GBP and change them up when you arrive in Colombo airport

[steptoe]

I cannot recommend highly enough the Heritance hotels - especially the Kandalama .

Stayed there for 4 nights in 2002. A very different type of Hotel.

Visited Sri Lanka for 10 years on the trot from 1995 for 4-5 weeks at a time in december and january and travelled all around the country.

Used to book direct with the Hotel, Royal Palm Wadduuaw/kalutra, about 40 Kilometers south of Columbo.
They used to do us a deal, $20 a night B&B for all the family :D used to eat out at night in local restaurants, the bill for all of us was £10-£15. and we'd travel out to various places during our stay.

Be aware of the long travelling times between destinations even when they're only fairly short distances apart.

One of the best beaches in the world used to be Unawatuna, just past Galle. But since the tsunami it's been commercialised, last visited it in 2007 and it's been ruined.

Best weather in the West side if the Island is Decenmber - January. Went to Trincomalee while the war in the north was going on, supposedly out of bounds at the time, wonderful place, should be even better now the conflict is over.

My son Jake, on the beach new years eve 1999, last sunset of the last century

.



And at Sigiriya.

[mk1974]

We will be flying on Tuesday,we’ve a few trips in the pipeline,has anyone got experience with purchasing gemstones over there


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[osmononame]

We will be flying on Tuesday,we’ve a few trips in the pipeline,has anyone got experience with purchasing gemstones over there


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Hi, we went over a few years ago. It was a great trip! I presume you will have a driver if you going for a holiday? If so they will know about places to buy gemstones. We were taken to a few but never bought anything. i know they will haggle on just about anything so doubt there are any exception when buying gemstones. One thing that would worry me would be the tourist tax at these kinds of places so you probably want to do some research on prices etc. before you go.

One thing we did when travelling across Sri Lanka was book the hotels as we went. We had a rough itinerary but that was it - if we went somewhere and we liked it we would stay a day longer and if we didn't then we would move on quicker. As far as drivers are concerned if you have one already then thats fine but i know over on Trip Advisor there are a few that are recommended so you might want to have a look there if you don't have one.

[MTM84]

A friend of mine is currently teaching in Dubai and has just returned from a 5 day visit to Sri Lanka - I have to say that the videos and pictures he sent me were amazing. Have a great holiday!

[ColDaspin]

Sigirya was the highlight for me.

[mk1974]

That’s on the list


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[mhocking]

Make sure you do the train from Kandy to Ella or vice versa. Absolutely stunning.


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[mk1974]

Well we’ve just returned,it’s definitely worth a visit if you’ve not been.
We’ll have to go again in a couple of years has there’s loads to see.


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