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Is Colombo worth a visit? I can`t find a hotel, please help!

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722

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 14:45

enjoy!!!

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 14:29

best place to stay i think is the Tintagel, ex presidents house, owned by the Paradise Road people (and that is a store definitely worth visiting!!) great restaurant as well. they also have a property in bentota, the Villa Bentota. its a fair drive there though, ie 3-4 hrs, although by the time you are going the new highway *should* be open. there is always the air taxi which is 15 mins. enjoy!! I`s beautiful and almost fully booked! Thank you :)

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 14:22

You must go to Odel for shopping. Lovely clothes, handicrafts & jewellery. It looks great! Thank you for the tip:)

722

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 13:58

best place to stay i think is the Tintagel, ex presidents house, owned by the Paradise Road people (and that is a store definitely worth visiting!!) great restaurant as well. they also have a property in bentota, the Villa Bentota. its a fair drive there though, ie 3-4 hrs, although by the time you are going the new highway *should* be open. there is always the air taxi which is 15 mins. enjoy!!

704

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 13:53

You must go to Odel for shopping. Lovely clothes, handicrafts & jewellery.

48

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 19:20

Haha, you most welcome :) in a good mood today, end of the week etc. + love SriLanka. You will have a great time!

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 19:18

I do not remember the name of the government taxi company, but it has office at the airport. It is safer that way and you won't get cheated. If you go by car from Kandy to the South check small town with R to see how the locals grab straight from the river precious stones that in Europe cost 30 times more. We`ll do that. Also, thanks tons for taking the time to explain things:)

48

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 19:01

I do not remember the name of the government taxi company, but it has office at the airport. It is safer that way and you won't get cheated. <em>edited by AAQ on 12/10/2011</em>

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:50

In Colombo there are 4 stores that sale Noritake. I prefer bone china, but do your homework and check the designs online. On the South, the name of the place was something like Bentota, 150 km from Colombo approx. Tea plantations are also interesting - Nuwarala Ellia is the most interesting one. If I am to visit now, I will take car with driver, go from Colombo to the elephant orphanage, than to Kandy and after on the South. From Bentota back to Colombo. Check also Galle. The history museum is very good in Colombo too. Bentota looks very pretty, hotels seems to be reasonably priced too, will do more research on this one. Tea plantations are on my to-do list. Thank you loads for all the info! So if we are to take a car with driver to:Colombo-Kandy-Bentota it has to be arranged by the hotel/agent? Can`t we just negotiate and go with any airport taxi?

48

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:45

Mount Lavinia is great - live band by the pool & fantastic food, especially Friday brunch. You can visit even if you do not stay in the hotel. Most popular transport in Colombo is tuk-tuk, but do not pay more then 200 in their currency.

250

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:32

We enjoyed our stay in Mount Lavinia, just south of Columbo. It is a Colonial house which used to be the Governor's residence. Bit shabby but full of character and spectacular views of the ocean as it is on a peninsular. The railway station is right behind the hotel (no noise as it is in a cutting) and you can take the train into Columbo (20 mins and costing about 2AED) along the coast.

48

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:21

In Colombo there are 4 stores that sale Noritake. I prefer bone china, but do your homework and check the designs online. On the South, the name of the place was something like Bentota, 150 km from Colombo approx. Tea plantations are also interesting - Nuwarala Ellia is the most interesting one. If I am to visit now, I will take car with driver, go from Colombo to the elephant orphanage, than to Kandy and after on the South. From Bentota back to Colombo. Check also Galle. The history museum is very good in Colombo too.

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:11

Three things you can buy in SriLanka: sapphires, Noritake porcelain and Ceilon tea. Hilton is a good hotel. Kandy is boring - there is only one tample and the Noritake factory. Train in SriLanka is a BIG NO No, but you can hire car wit driver for a day. The hotel's concierge will sort you out with a government operator. Costs approx $80 a day. I would recommend the South part - great beach, tortouses , elephant safaris. Pinnawala is worth visiting also on the way to Kandy. Interesting, will definitely look for porcelain. Thank you for the train tip. At which town/beach to book the hotel?

48

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:04

Three things you can buy in SriLanka: sapphires, Noritake porcelain and Ceilon tea. Hilton is a good hotel. Kandy is boring - there is only one tample and the Noritake factory. Train in SriLanka is a BIG NO No, but you can hire car with a driver for a day. The hotel's concierge will sort you out with a government operator. Costs approx $80 a day. I would recommend the South part - great beach, tortouses , elephant safaris. Pinnawala is worth visiting also on the way to Kandy. <em>edited by AAQ on 12/10/2011</em>

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:54

Kandy does look much better. More greenery and plenty of hotels, thank you for the suggestion, it`s a great place!

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:48

Why not travel up to Kandy, spend a couple of nights and a day there before heading back to Colombo? I did it years ago and went by train to Kandy. Googled it. It`s 2-2.5 hours by car from Colombo which is OK, how many hours by train? Where did you stay?

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:43

Why not travel up to Kandy, spend a couple of nights and a day there before heading back to Colombo? I did it years ago and went by train to Kandy.

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:43

we stayed at the cinnamon grand S. L. and it was lovely, as to sightseeing there are a few things to see but you can do colombo in half to one day, its rather boring to be honest. Thank you! I thought it would be boring. Do you know of any town/place which isn`t too far from Colombo but better?

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:41

Just thought of something-it doesn`t have to be Colombo, if there are other places/towns which are better for tourists and just a short (2-3 hours max) drive from Colombo a/port - we would rather go there. It`s a small island after all.

870

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:38

we stayed at the cinnamon grand S. L. and it was lovely, as to sightseeing there are a few things to see but you can do colombo in half to one day, its rather boring to be honest.

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:33

Thank you! I will be waiting:)

sarahloudxb29364

303

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:27

I will ask my friend she has just returned from her hols there... I will post tomorrow

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 16:37

Myself and DH will be returning from Bangkok with stop over in Colombo in the end of January. We would like to use this opportunity and stay in Colombo for 3 nights before flying back to Dubai. Now, i can`t seem to find a decent hotel! I did search Trip Advisor and booking.com but the results are few and most hotels (apart from 5* chains which are also very few) look shabby and unreliable. Can someone recommend a hotel and maybe itinerary for a short stay please? Tickets are already bought and Colombo was my idea, but i`m stuck:( I would be grateful for any information...

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