Sri Lanka June

[Lifesbloodygood]

Got 3 weeks, I know its not the best time to go but we’re happy with 50/50 on the weather front and we can stay more to central and northern parts for some of the time..

So hovering on the purchase button for now, using Abercrombie as we’d like a driver for some of the time there and some local knowledge from them on where to go and what to do when your mobility is a bit restricted, would be helpful on this one.

But, anyone been and have advice on hotels and areas you’d go to again?

5 star is a no brainer as the hotel hotel costs are ridiculously low vs what we’re used to paying

Fancy snorkelling but not too much walking as it’ll be good exercise for the current broken leg (9 months in to repair)

Any other suggestions welcomed, thought 4 weeks starting in Las Vegas and travelling the western seaboard might be fun to but the flights would be a ball ache and we’ll only travel business which is €16k for flights only, which we dont mind but it does ramp expectations, Sri Lanka is half that and then hotel are crazy cheap, plus we’ve never been to sri lanka, whereas usa….

Edited by Lifesbloodygood on Wednesday 16th April 06:48

[Shnozz]

I went about this time of year (late March) and it was a good climate.

5 star hotels are much cheaper than most areas but also you need to adjust expectations - they are more align to the prices you’ll pay.

I stayed south and had an entire top floor suite for not a huge amount of cash. Will dig out the details.

As I say, less polished than usual 5 star but that was part of Sri Lanka’s charm in many ways. Still feels a country less mature/reliant on tourism and therefore more authentic as a result.

[Lifesbloodygood]

Thanks, i did think that looking at the photos

tbf we’re used to staying in many french ‘5 star’ and some of them can be very questionable, apart from Relais Ch. which we always find hits the spot.

We’ll remain open minded but thank for heads up and would appreciate the details

There is mention of an island hop to the Maldives for a short water hut stay which might be some nice r&r for the leg, also swimming off your own jetty in the water would be handy rehab..

Got 3-4 weeks so might break things up..

[Lifesbloodygood]

Wife has done this so far;

Sri lanka hotels
Abercrombie

Family:
W15 Hanthana Estate - Kandy
Uga Chena Huts - Yala National Park
Wild Coast Tented Lodge - Yala
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort - Tangalle
Ulagalla - Thirripane

Wellness:
Haritha Villas & Spa - Hikkadawa
Anasa Wellness Resort - Bandarawella

Scott and Dunn
Wallawa -
Ceylon Tea Trails - Hatton (1also Abercrombie)
Cape Weligama - relais near Galle (fisherman on stilts)

[Fiddly-Dee]

Jetwing Hotels all the way.

Yala is crap.

At your first hotel, you will find a driver with a Toyota Camry; book them for as long as you need, the good hotels all have accommodation for drivers. Good-natured negotiation is expected.

[DB4DM]

Yala does have a problem in being so popular and it has good mobile phone coverage, meaning all the drivers/guides chat so that if there is a sighting it is promptly surrounded by 40+ jeeps

You may also find that "western friendly" hotels in terms of offering are priced in US$

It was also our experience last year that whale watching off the west and south coasts was hopeless as there is so much acoustic noise from port-building that the whales have migrated way offshore. Trincomalee is probably the best bet because of the seascape and the deep underwater canyon within the bay. June might be a bit early for the migratory species

The North is relatively untouristy but I'd only go with a guide who has Tamil as well as Sinhalese language

[Lifesbloodygood]

We’ve backed off after a conversation with Abercrombie, looking at it as part of a 3 month asia trip next year.

Doing croatia with the car for 4 weeks instead but thanks anyway.