| M Avery |
14 November 2004 |
Stayed at Kandalama Hotel - Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
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Although Sigiriya is the most famous historical site locally, I would very strongly recommend visiting the cave temples at Dambulla as well. You can easily visit both of these sites in a day by arranging a taxi at the hotel (travel booked via the hotel is overpriced by local standards, but it's very convenient and easy).
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| G Sidhu |
01 November 2004 |
Stayed at St. Andrews Hotel - Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.
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Nuwara Eliya is a must visit on your trip to Sri Lanka. Surrounded by greenery and acres of tea plantations, it's a great change of scenery and climate.The drive there is a chore though and the winding roads never seem to end - best to take a motion sickness pill in advance. Stop by at the Plantation Hotel on your way up or down for lunch. They have a great restaurant by the river (where the movie "Bridge on the River Kwai' was filmed) which serves a sumptious lunch buffet. Visit the Hill Club hotel if you can for it's beautiful colonial style ambiance and history - its members are the cream of the Sri Lankan society and in the old days women were required to enter the club via a back door!!
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| G Nordstrom |
04 October 2004 |
Stayed at Hill Club, The - Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.
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Nuwara Eliya was cold, rainy and windy the 2 days we were there. Thereīs really not that much to see or do in the town of Nuwara Eliya, but I can recommend a visit to the Labokellie Tea Estate when travelling to or from Nuwara Eliya - itīs a nice place that offers an insight to how tea is made.
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| S Kealy |
01 October 2004 |
Stayed at Suisse, Hotel - Kandy, Sri Lanka.
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Kandy isn't that nice a place, it serves a purpose - being a base so you can visit the Ancient cities. It is dirty and busy and you constantly get hassled. Some people try to con you - if you get taken by a 'dance teacher' to see the Orphange School in the grounds of the Monastry - please barter with them when they try to sell you Batiks painted by the children! Very expensive otherwise. There are bargains in the shops if you so wish. We took a tour to some of the Acient Cities with Queen's tours (based inside Queen's hotel). It cost R5500 and is well worth it. Put comfy trainers on though!
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| A Richter |
25 September 2004 |
Stayed at Camelot Beach Hotel - Negombo, Sri Lanka.
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Its a good place to start or end your holiday in Sri Lanka , because the place is close to the airport. (about 10km, transport from airport by taxi about 5,50 USD) . The beach is nothing special, high waves, a bit dirty, therefore not very suitable for swimming. There are no hotel beaches, because according to the law the beach belongs to the local fishermen. It's worth to stroll around the old city of Negombo with its Dutch canals, some old Dutch churches and its fishing port. Many small restaurants can be found along St. Lewis Place Rd., about 3 km north of Negombo town, where most hotels are located. But do not expect any vibrant nightlife there. If you are on a backpacking tour, you may use buses directly from Negombo bus station to Kandy or places north of Negombo to avoid the hussle of Colombo city.
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| J Beckett |
17 September 2004 |
Stayed at Taj Exotica - Bentota, Sri Lanka.
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Recommend the visit to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinewallah, worth the 0630 start. Probably best to hire a driver for the day, but ask around as prices vary wildly. We secured a deal for Rps 15 per KM, which is about average, so our trip which included The elephant Orphanage, a spice garden, a Tea Plantation, a pineapple grove plus lots of roadside sights came to Ģ36.00GBP for 2 of us. Be aware though that this is a long day, we left the hotel at 0630 and got back at 2015 hrs.
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| R Rogers |
08 September 2004 |
Stayed at Mount Lavinia Hotel - Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Avoided all organised tours, took bus to Trincomale & then on up to Nilaveli, stayed and Nilaveli Beach Hotel - fantastic value, super friendly & beautiful location. Train Kandy to/from Colombo highly reccomended. Visit Dambulla Cave Temples & Temple of the Tooth in Kandy - so worthwhile.
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| N Cook |
29 August 2004 |
Stayed at Kosgoda Beach Resort - Kosgoda, Sri Lanka.
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Kosgoda is a beautiful village on the South west coast of Sri Lanka but is not for those looking for a party holiday. It is perfect for rest and relaxation with a plethora of spas, ayurvedic and otherwise, in the area as well as day trips to moonstone mines, turtle hatcheries, spice gardens and to towns such as Bentota and Galle. Ideal for honeymoon couples or those just looking to get away from it all for a while.
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| L Truelove |
23 August 2004 |
Stayed at Suisse, Hotel - Kandy, Sri Lanka.
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Kandy is a great base for further travels in the hill country. We also enjoyed Nuwarra Eliya, and some top spots to stay there as well, such as St. Andrews Hotel. Easiest to hire a guide & car/van when you're heading out to visit other locations around Kandy.
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| R Smith |
18 July 2004 |
Stayed at Queens Hotel - Kandy, Sri Lanka.
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Take the train from Colombo to Kandy and back the views and experiences and memorable. Elephant Orphanage and Botanic Garden are also well worth visiting.
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Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see in Sri Lanka
