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EWmums

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ewmoda

Anyone been to Sri lanka?

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374

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 11:35

to be honest jwal, it's not the right time of year for sri lanka if you want good sea swimming...November/dcemeber is supposed to be perfect. We were there april ish last year and the sea is really rough, unswimable. (but really good fun trying, lol!) Def not able to just let kids in though. You want to look at the coast on the other side of island from colombo. Stunning beaches. Sorry, I can't help with the accomadation...looking online got us no where for booking anyway, but there are nice places. A rec. off here or from someone you know would be the way to go. Just off to check our lonely planet and see what it says for you.... Erm, the West cost just got battered by storms, not worth going there at all! as I said, not the right time of year at all. Unawatuna might be worth checking out jwal...theres no branded or name hotels that I know of, but there are some very nice boutique style hotel guesthouses. The beach is in a bay and has a reef so theres no real surf to speak of. The whole area is lively. colorful and good fun. Doubt you'll get your kids club though! though the kids do have a wonderful time there, and there is at least one hotel with a pool, and theres auravedic spa's. See if you can find anything online about Dream House, Villa Hotel or Secret Garden. If you do go, the planes normally land about 4 in the morning, highly reccomend having a driver meet you at airport to travel at that time of day as the roads and travelling is horrendous. at least that early you'll miss out on a great deal of traffic. I was there in January. It was dry, just freak storms that ripped all the East caost apart. Anyhow, Flights do not land at 4am, ours landed at 8.30am and there were hundreds of taxis at the airport although would also advise booking a driver and haglling a price, they demand a lot of money because it takes a long time to get anywhere

870

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:29

i wouldnt go there again -but there is a 5 star in colombo called cinnamon grand and its really lovely but wouldnt want to stay in colombo. apart from that hotel the hotels are pretty much tatty and run down. we have the same problem with april and dry weather holidays and we are looking at kenya game park and cyprus.

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:28

to be honest jwal, it's not the right time of year for sri lanka if you want good sea swimming...November/dcemeber is supposed to be perfect. We were there april ish last year and the sea is really rough, unswimable. (but really good fun trying, lol!) Def not able to just let kids in though. You want to look at the coast on the other side of island from colombo. Stunning beaches. Sorry, I can't help with the accomadation...looking online got us no where for booking anyway, but there are nice places. A rec. off here or from someone you know would be the way to go. Just off to check our lonely planet and see what it says for you.... Erm, the West cost just got battered by storms, not worth going there at all! as I said, not the right time of year at all. Unawatuna might be worth checking out jwal...theres no branded or name hotels that I know of, but there are some very nice boutique style hotel guesthouses. The beach is in a bay and has a reef so theres no real surf to speak of. The whole area is lively. colorful and good fun. Doubt you'll get your kids club though! though the kids do have a wonderful time there, and there is at least one hotel with a pool, and theres auravedic spa's. See if you can find anything online about Dream House, Villa Hotel or Secret Garden. If you do go, the planes normally land about 4 in the morning, highly reccomend having a driver meet you at airport to travel at that time of day as the roads and travelling is horrendous. at least that early you'll miss out on a great deal of traffic.

374

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:19

Oh no! Maybe I'll give it a miss then! Ifyou want to go, try going inland on some nice treks, to waterfalls, see the elephants etc?

374

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:18

to be honest jwal, it's not the right time of year for sri lanka if you want good sea swimming...November/dcemeber is supposed to be perfect. We were there april ish last year and the sea is really rough, unswimable. (but really good fun trying, lol!) Def not able to just let kids in though. You want to look at the coast on the other side of island from colombo. Stunning beaches. Sorry, I can't help with the accomadation...looking online got us no where for booking anyway, but there are nice places. A rec. off here or from someone you know would be the way to go. Just off to check our lonely planet and see what it says for you.... Erm, the West cost just got battered by storms, not worth going there at all!

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:14

to be honest jwal, it's not the right time of year for sri lanka if you want good sea swimming...November/dcemeber is supposed to be perfect. We were there april ish last year and the sea is really rough, unswimable. (but really good fun trying, lol!) Def not able to just let kids in though. You want to look at the coast on the other side of island from colombo. Stunning beaches. Sorry, I can't help with the accomadation...looking online got us no where for booking anyway, but there are nice places. A rec. off here or from someone you know would be the way to go. Just off to check our lonely planet and see what it says for you....

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:09

Oh no! Maybe I'll give it a miss then!

374

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 10:04

We were there a few weeks ago and only for a short time so did not go inland, just South of Colombo for 5 nights. Stayed in a 5* - PAH, what a joke. Was rubbish, over prices (drinks more expensive than here and $5 for a naan bread. SHOCKING) Beach was rubbish, seas were rough and generally not the greatest place. I hear inland is lush and interesting though

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:59

Is there such a thing as a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka, just looking on booking.com and there is only one 5 star hotel, I am not looking to tour the country, just need a relaxing break and spa treatments and a kids club. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:52

yup, we've been but unless you have a fondness for mouldy old guesthouses and backpacking, I can't help with your questions. ;) Have you tried doing a search? Sri Lanka has come up quite a lot in the last little while. Oh dear, not a fan then?! I thought it was supposed to be nice, will do a search on here now, thanks! No no no! ;I LOVED sri lanka....just have a cheap husband! ha ha ha!!!

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:47

yup, we've been but unless you have a fondness for mouldy old guesthouses and backpacking, I can't help with your questions. ;) Have you tried doing a search? Sri Lanka has come up quite a lot in the last little while. Oh dear, not a fan then?! I thought it was supposed to be nice, will do a search on here now, thanks! No no no! ;I LOVED sri lanka....just have a cheap husband!

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:46

yup, we've been but unless you have a fondness for mouldy old guesthouses and backpacking, I can't help with your questions. ;) Have you tried doing a search? Sri Lanka has come up quite a lot in the last little while. Oh dear, not a fan then?! I thought it was supposed to be nice, will do a search on here now, thanks!

1046

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:35

Have been recently and used a friend who specialises in Sri Lanka who will tailor make an itinereay according to what you want to do / spend. I will pass on her details if you put up your email add. Actually, if you do a search, there is a thread on 7/2 about sharing views on SL and I put up the website there. I'm wary of doing this too often as I don't want to be accused of advertising! <em>edited by Sue R on 09/02/2011</em>

870

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:27

been to the coast went to taj exotica horrible tatty hotel. beach is lovely but sea is so very very dangerous and rough. if it rains its so boring as there is absolutely nothing to do. all guests we chatted from around the world complained about this hotel its just so not to the standard that its made out to be. very poor.

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:26

yup, we've been but unless you have a fondness for mouldy old guesthouses and backpacking, I can't help with your questions. ;) Have you tried doing a search? Sri Lanka has come up quite a lot in the last little while.

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 09:04

We are looking to go beginning of april with 3 young kids, would love to hear recommendations of area/hotel great beach and kids club? Thanks!

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