2 weeks in Sri Lanka - backpacking / hostelling
Discussion
As above, off to Sri Lanka in November for two weeks of "not staying in hotels" and "not booking in advance".
Whichleads to a couple of questions: travelling light, without a suitcase means do I get a proper rucksack thing (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/osprey-atmos-ag-65-m-p447667)
or travel bag (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/farpoint-70-p178573).
Tried both, cant make my mind up so looking for advice.
Then money: is it best to take cash from the UK or just a card and get cash in-country as required?
Whichleads to a couple of questions: travelling light, without a suitcase means do I get a proper rucksack thing (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/osprey-atmos-ag-65-m-p447667)
or travel bag (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/farpoint-70-p178573).
Tried both, cant make my mind up so looking for advice.
Then money: is it best to take cash from the UK or just a card and get cash in-country as required?
Not sure how the Atmos opens - but I've always used bags that can open like a suitcase, such as the Farpoint you have linked to. Makes life SO much easier than top opening when not wanting to unpack your full bag.
Depending on how much you are taking with you, the Farpoint is more a 55+15 than a 70, as the daypack (15l) counts towards the total space. Useful to have the daypack with it though, gives a lot of options depending on your plans.
The bag I use is a 55+15, which has been fine for longer trips when I'm in places long enough to do laundry, but for the shorter quicker trips I'm actually considering investing in the Farpoint 80 so I don't have to worry about getting the washing done!
Depending on how much you are taking with you, the Farpoint is more a 55+15 than a 70, as the daypack (15l) counts towards the total space. Useful to have the daypack with it though, gives a lot of options depending on your plans.
The bag I use is a 55+15, which has been fine for longer trips when I'm in places long enough to do laundry, but for the shorter quicker trips I'm actually considering investing in the Farpoint 80 so I don't have to worry about getting the washing done!
How are you getting around?
Its usual to hire a car and driver which puts people off (myself included) However there is one company in colombo who will rent you self-drive if you have an international licence (cheap and easy from the post office).
Whilst this seema anathema to the backpacking philosophy this is what i did a few years back with an ex. We went literally everywhere and made up our itinerary as we went along based on recommendations from people we met and by our hosts. We did 2 nights in a 5 star hotel (blagged by the journo ex) but the rest was in guesthouses.
Stunning country btw, very varied in both flora and fauna, lovely people.
Its usual to hire a car and driver which puts people off (myself included) However there is one company in colombo who will rent you self-drive if you have an international licence (cheap and easy from the post office).
Whilst this seema anathema to the backpacking philosophy this is what i did a few years back with an ex. We went literally everywhere and made up our itinerary as we went along based on recommendations from people we met and by our hosts. We did 2 nights in a 5 star hotel (blagged by the journo ex) but the rest was in guesthouses.
Stunning country btw, very varied in both flora and fauna, lovely people.
mondeoman said:
As above, off to Sri Lanka in November for two weeks of "not staying in hotels" and "not booking in advance".
Whichleads to a couple of questions: travelling light, without a suitcase means do I get a proper rucksack thing (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/osprey-atmos-ag-65-m-p447667)
or travel bag (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/farpoint-70-p178573).
Tried both, cant make my mind up so looking for advice.
Then money: is it best to take cash from the UK or just a card and get cash in-country as required?
Backpack, but a small and light one.Whichleads to a couple of questions: travelling light, without a suitcase means do I get a proper rucksack thing (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/osprey-atmos-ag-65-m-p447667)
or travel bag (https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/farpoint-70-p178573).
Tried both, cant make my mind up so looking for advice.
Then money: is it best to take cash from the UK or just a card and get cash in-country as required?
Sri lanka is a hot country, so you don't need to carry heavy clothing. Take a few t-shirts etc.
Travel as light as possible. You can buy more clothes and stuff there, probably a lot cheaper than here too.
Wolff said:
Not sure how the Atmos opens - but I've always used bags that can open like a suitcase, such as the Farpoint you have linked to. Makes life SO much easier than top opening when not wanting to unpack your full bag.
Depending on how much you are taking with you, the Farpoint is more a 55+15 than a 70, as the daypack (15l) counts towards the total space. Useful to have the daypack with it though, gives a lot of options depending on your plans.
The bag I use is a 55+15, which has been fine for longer trips when I'm in places long enough to do laundry, but for the shorter quicker trips I'm actually considering investing in the Farpoint 80 so I don't have to worry about getting the washing done!
Atmos is top opening.Depending on how much you are taking with you, the Farpoint is more a 55+15 than a 70, as the daypack (15l) counts towards the total space. Useful to have the daypack with it though, gives a lot of options depending on your plans.
The bag I use is a 55+15, which has been fine for longer trips when I'm in places long enough to do laundry, but for the shorter quicker trips I'm actually considering investing in the Farpoint 80 so I don't have to worry about getting the washing done!
Should be travelling light: shorts, t-shirts, swimmers and toiletries is about it. Maybe 1 pair of chins and a shirt if we do anything "posh" in Columbo.
Travelling by bus and train and tuk-tuk is the plan, kind of following the cricket tour so a week by the beaches then a week in-land. Should be fun.
mondeoman said:
Atmos is top opening.
Should be travelling light: shorts, t-shirts, swimmers and toiletries is about it. Maybe 1 pair of chins and a shirt if we do anything "posh" in Columbo.
Travelling by bus and train and tuk-tuk is the plan, kind of following the cricket tour so a week by the beaches then a week in-land. Should be fun.
If travelling light think about going with cabin bag only - it honestly makes a world of difference not having to lug a big backpack about. Take a few days worth of clothing and get it washed (I imagine it's pretty cheap for laundry there!). I did 10 days in Belize with hand luggage only - that was shorts, t-shirts, swimmers, one pair of jeans and one shirt, flip flops and a pair of trainers. I use CabinMax backpacks for those trips - relatively cheap, although don't always last more than a few trips. If worried about toiletries, they will sell them there too! Should be travelling light: shorts, t-shirts, swimmers and toiletries is about it. Maybe 1 pair of chins and a shirt if we do anything "posh" in Columbo.
Travelling by bus and train and tuk-tuk is the plan, kind of following the cricket tour so a week by the beaches then a week in-land. Should be fun.
Top opening bag would be right off my list for this type of trip - as I mentioned, having to constantly unpack/repack it would do my nut in!
If you are going hand luggage only then buy a bottle kit from Boots, and then just top up from big bottles at home. The small packs of shower gel, hair wax, etc are silly money for what you get. Toothpaste in supermarkets is usually 100ml so is fine to fly with.
https://www.boots.com/boots-travel-set-10212506
When booking hostels, while the overall score is important, find somewhere with a good social or atmosphere rating. Otherwise you might end up with somewhere with an ideal location, and a good price, but if there is nobody else there or no social side you'll never get the tips and tricks which are what make hostels what they are. There seem to be far too many average hostels getting good reviews on some sites at the moment.
https://www.boots.com/boots-travel-set-10212506
When booking hostels, while the overall score is important, find somewhere with a good social or atmosphere rating. Otherwise you might end up with somewhere with an ideal location, and a good price, but if there is nobody else there or no social side you'll never get the tips and tricks which are what make hostels what they are. There seem to be far too many average hostels getting good reviews on some sites at the moment.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff