Quickest way from Colombo to Galle or Kandy?

I liked the Galle Face in Colombo: probably not the most plush or luxurious hotel in town but it has a lot of character and history. A cocktail (Colombo Sunset) on the terrace as the Colombo sun set was one of the highlights of my stay.

I have recently been to Sri Lanka. I didn't particularly enjoy it and wouldn't return, but lots of people say it's ok, maybe we were unlucky. We hired a car and drove everywhere. Lots of people seem to hire with a driver but unless you like having a third person on holiday with you i don't see why this is necessary. It is around the equivalent of 2000 dirhams a week for a corolla type car and don't expect it to be particularly new or well serviced! If you don't need a car once you get to your destination (which you prob won't if you are just doing 3 days or so) the hotel you stay at will very likely organise transport to pick you up and drop you off at the airport (even if it's 4 or 5 hours away!). If you are going for a weekend only, you really don't want to be travelling so much. I went to Colombo, Kandy, Bentota and a beach just south of Galle and the best place by far was Bentota. Actually this is the nearest to Colombo - only a 1.5- 2 hour drive (about 2.5 -3 hours from the airport) or you would be able to get a train there too. Despite what i read in the guide books i found Kandy very disappointing. Just a dirty old town really with a few temples etc and not worth the effort to get to at all but I know a lot of people would disagree with me. I was astounded at Galle too and not in a good way. The standard of hotels in Sri Lanka isn't as high as other asian countries like Thailand or Malaysia. I found this place in Bentota which was really lovely though. http://www.paradiseroadhotels.com/villabentota/index.html. The food was amazing and the train passes through the grounds a couple of times a day - really interesting (i'm not a trainspotter i promise!). I was very sceptical of Fly Dubai as it was my first flight with them but it was really, really good and I would definitely use them again. Staff are decent, selection of movies etc pretty good (pay per view) and the leg room and comfort no real difference from Emirates economy. Definitely not worth paying Emirates prices for.

if you take the fly dubai budget flight you arrive very early morning when the roads are quiet and can get down to galle in about 3.5-4 hrs arrive later (ek) and you can add 2 hrs to the journey. I believe that since dec you can also fly down to koggala which is 15 min south of galle - def the quickest option http://www.srilankan.aero/destination-and-offers/airtaxi.html

Babapapa, you can get a chopper to Galle for about $1500, or have you considered staying in a nice hotel around Colombo - Tintagel or Galle Face?

Thanks ladies. Chocs01 - I have two young kids to take care of when we get back so don't want to arrive home completely shattered!! Fair enough, but don't dismiss the wonderful coastal towns as SJAussie says, unless the festival is on, then I'd leave Kandi. The train and bus is really an experience, beware if you're trying to go on it heading up to the weekend, you're likely no to be able to sit down and there are guys hanging on 8 deep outside - quite nerve wracking to see. If you're pushed for time, then investing in a driver would be your best bet.

We went to SL a couple of years ago and had a great time but one of my most striking memories was how long it took to get around. The roads are not like here in UAE, they are one lane wide, people cross over and they are in appalling condition so you would be lucky to hit 60km/hr. They may have upgraded them but I doubt it. I would recommend Galle and down along the coast as it is really scenic beach line. Kandy is great to go to if the elephant festival is on, or you want to see the tea plantations on the way but otherwise with time restrictions would skip Kandy and go with the coast. HTH.

Oh come on, I did 3 nights in Sri Lanka and managed to do Colombo, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Unaventuna (sp), Kandi and back to Colombo again! We did train, bus, tuk tuk and private driver! Galle there's not much there, better off going up the road and staying in one of the lovely beachy places. <em>edited by Chocs01 on 06/03/2011</em>

The railway down to Galle hugs the coastline and the small part that we travelled on was just amazing. Lovely way to see the country.

We took the train to Kandy...I dont think it was the quickest way, but it was definitly the most scenic :) If I remember correctly it took about 6 hours. <em>edited by Sabrina H on 06/03/2011</em>