Sri Lanka Travel Forum

hey people am planning for my honeymoon in February next year....please advice me on which is a better destination. I wil be comming from India....We are looking at beaches, and wonder if there is any good nightlife at srilanka....also what other than beaches do we have to explore at srilanka. Please guys need your advice.....

I DON'T NO ABOUT SRI LANKA,,,BUT IF U WANT THAILAND,,BANGKOK DON'T HAVE A BEACH,,WHY NOT U GO TO PHUKET OR SAMUI OR PHI-PHI ISLAND,,,,u can view the guide in may blog http://markbanktravel.blogspot.com

I have been to both and I would pick Sri Lanka anyday, such a beautiful country! Although if you pick Thailand, bangkok is not the kind of place i'd pick for a honeymoon. I have been to Phuket (patong beach) and its nice there, but FULL of tourists.

Hi there,

Thailand has better nightlife, both in Bangkok and near beaches like Phuket. Can however be very crowded.

Lanka has a MUCH better variety of things to do in a reasonable distance - e.g. in one day you can travel from a tropical beach to a cool mountain with tea and waterfalls. In Thailand this would take 2-3 days travel. Same for historic attractions etc. So would choose Lanka unless nightlife is quite essential for you; in Lanka it solely exists near some beach resorts (e.g. Hikkaduwa and Unuwatuna) and even then until maybe 10-11 PM only.

All the best,

<Erik> & [Sandya]

Hiya,

First of all congratulations and best wishes for your forthcoming wedding, here’s to a long and happy life together. With regards to your question ‘which is the better destination’ if the choice is between spending your honeymoon in the city of Bangkok or in a Sri Lankan beach resort then the answer is simple, Bangkok is no place for a honeymoon. However, if the choice is between Thailand and Sri Lanka that is a more difficult question to answer without a little more information about exactly what you want from your visit.

Few VT regulars would deliberately attempt to mislead you but in this forum you should maybe expect advice to be a little biased towards Sri Lanka while in the VT Thailand forum you can maybe expect most posters to come down in favour of Thailand.

So let’s look at the info we have, for a start you are travelling in February, which is a good time to visit either place as far as the weather is concerned and secondly you are coming from India and that could have a bearing on where is best for you.

Both societies are predominantly Buddhist and there are cultural similarities which makes it more difficult to decide between Sri Lanka and Thailand. India is so diverse it’s difficult to compare it with anywhere but knowing all three countries I would guess that Thailand will maybe feel more foreign and ‘exotic’ to travellers from India. This is sometimes a factor in determining where people choose to spend a once in a lifetime holiday such as a honeymoon and if you want ‘different’ you should maybe opt for Thailand.

A flight to Sri Lanka is obviously quicker and probably cheaper than a flight to Thailand however if cost is an issue a lot would depend on whether you are planning to arrange your own accommodation and travel arrangements or if you intend to buy a package deal and, if it’s a package deal it will depend on whether you intend to go all inclusive or room-only. For example, if I was on honeymoon and intending to eat in local restaurants I would prefer to be in Thailand. I speak as a European carnivore but ‘generally’ while nowhere does rice and curry quite like Sri Lanka, the choice of food, the quality of food and the range of places to eat is generally is better in Thailand.

And so to beaches, which you say are important to your choice of destination. Sri Lanka does have some good beaches but unfortunately the very best are on the east coast and are currently ‘off limits’ to most tourists as a result of the conflict between government troops and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Incidentally, the conflict is unlikely to affect you during your stay but you would need to bear it in mind, particularly if you intend to travel independently.

Sri Lanka’s good beaches are probably better than those in places like Pattaya but Thailand’s islands have some of the best beaches in the world and generally Thailand has better beaches than Sri Lanka.

What constitutes ‘good nightlife’ is a matter of personal opinion. I’m getting old and I like the atmosphere of a quite beach bar (the ones I frequent tend to stay open as long as people are spending money rather than closing at 11 o’clock) but if you want a jumping but laid back club scene without ‘attitude’ you are much more likely to find it in a Thai resort than anywhere in Sri Lanka, including Colombo. As far as nightlife goes, few would disagree that Thailand almost certainly beats Sri Lanka

Both places have tourist attractions other than beaches, many of which are based on or around the Buddhist culture but Thailand has never been colonised so Thai artefacts and antiquities tend to be in their original condition and while Buddhist culture is integral to both societies the influence of the Monarchy in Thailand is a very strong and stabilising factor.

The Thai economy is at least as developed as the economy of Sri Lanka but the influence of the Monarchy appears to be a barrier against the unrestrained greed that can come with capitalism. This makes a visit to Thai culture ‘attractions’ slightly less of an ordeal that it can be in Sri Lanka where foreigners are unceremoniously are fleeced at even the most sacred site. I can appreciate that poor people will regard tourists as a resource rather than a guest but in Sri Lanka milking overseas visitors is official government policy and economic arguments aside, this is simply racism. When it comes to things to see off the beach Thailand probaly wins.

My opinion is only that of a white westerner and no doubt many will disagree with what I have to say, I don’t claim to be an expert on Sri Lanka but I’ve been there 13 times and I probably know Sri Lanka at least as well as the average European. Sri Lanka has a certain magic but it is increasingly difficult to find. I’ve only been to Thailand twice so my knowledge is limited but I know enough about both places to give you an opinion and that is go to Thailand.

Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage.

Sri Lanka or Bangkok! These places are at opposite ends of the scale! Sri Lanka has no nightlife at all - but hey you are on honeymoon - make your own entertainment!!! There are some awesome beaches and a distinct lack of tourists. Each hotel caters for honeymoon couples and will provide a secluded, candlelit table on the beach with your own personal waiter. A great place for cultural sights, peace and relaxation. The cultural triangle has some great places of historical interest, beautiful countryside and some fantastic secluded hotels. ( I stayed at the Giritale hotel which overlooked Lake Giritale where water buffalo and wild elephant came to drink. It was spectacular)

Bangkok - not for the faint hearted. A vibrant, fun loving, anything goes city. if you want to club it into the early hours then this is the place for you. Watch the ladyboys, be approached by girls in every bar ( you and your wife - there is no discrimination!) shop till you drop AND see the fantastic sights around every corner, then Bangkok is your place. Not at all romantic but a place you will never forget.

There are no beaches in Bangkok you must travel south to Phuket, Krabi ect. These are stunning beaches and have plenty of nightlife but they are being overrun by tourists, especially in February.

Have a great honeymoon.