Southern Province Travel Forum

Hi
We are headign to Colombo Friday 1st of May, and planning to stay there for two days then
hit the souhthern beaches. But we can't quite decide where to go, we've heard Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna are among the best beaches. So we can't decide where to go since we have to pick only one.
I read somehwere that Hikkaduwa can get a bit crowded, Is it during this time of year?
Ideally we're looking to stay 2 days for relaxation, somewhere right ont he beach, in a nice Hotel, budget is no issue, maybe learn surfing. Is there such a place? Any advice on somewhere special to stay?
thanks

I am travelling to Bentatota on the 4th June and staying at the Taj Exotica. Please can someone advise what the weather will be like and also any feedback on the hotel would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

We are a group of three going to unawatuna around Xmas time,is it imperative that we book accommodation prior to going or is there plenty available?would anyone know where i can find a detailed map of unawatuna with hotel listings?looked in google,not that helpful.appreciate your replies.
Regards
sid

Hi everyone

My girlfriend and I are off to Sri Lanka on Saturday 29th Nov for two weeks. Had assumed the south-west was going to be clear of the monsoon but looks like it's still raining?

Can anyone give me an update on current weather conditions in Galle/Unawatuna?

I'm looking for a relaxing beach holiday so if anyone can recommend guaranteed sun somewhere else just let me know!

Cheers
Tom

Hi It is our first time in Sri Lanka. We are looking for a relaxing holiday all inclusive for 10 days. We have been recommended Bentota. Is it bettter to go Sept, Oct, or November. weather wise and cost wise. Any recommendations for all inclusive hotels for these months.
Many thanks Suzy

I am travelling to Tangalle in August and wondered if any of the turtles will be around at that time of year.
I am aware of the 'sanctuaries' but would love to see them naturally if we can.

Hi everyone!

I am traveling to Sri Lanka (Taj Exotica) from 2 May.. and just now (nothing was told in the travel agency) I found out that it is a start of the Monsoon.. Please, can someone tell is it bad in the beginning of May??? :( And can I expect to get a tan?? :(

Thank you all in advance!

There are no reviews to read and I'm very skeptical about this place. Can you give me any feedback on Sri Gemunu? Is the air-con working? how is the beach in front? Is there really a reef to snorkel around there? Is the food decent?

Hi

I wonder is anyone can suggest a website that gives a detailed map of Bentota and surrounding areas, preferably showing the hotels etc at a glance. I have tried Google earth but cant see very much at all.

Thanks in advance

Jules

i'm planning to get married in June, in Bentota beach hotel. A friend told me that its not safe there . Also due to the monsoon season the weather isn't very good, and the sea is dangerous.is any of this true? well we be in danger by going in june?

Hello, Im coming to Hikkaduwa in a week and I read a post about a $300 package deal to the maldives. Anyone know where I can find out more? Thanks, Tash x

Hi

Does anyone have any experience of booking a late check-out at the Taj Exotica?

We are going in April for 2 weeks but our return flights goes at 3am which I'm guessing will mean we leave around 9pm for the airport.

The booking agent wants £98 for a late checkout, Orchid Room, which I think is a lot. The hotel themselves, when I ask, say they charge for a full night whether you use it or not.

Will I get this cheaper once we are there?

Thanks, Gay

Hi Guys.......I'm thinking about going to Sri Lanka in January, to the Emerald Bay Hotel, Bentota. Anybody have any info about it, and also the weather at that time of year.......Regards..Daglish

Hi,
I want to travel one way from Colombo to Bentota by taxi. We are four adults & 1 child. Any idea how much does it cost?

Thanks

Hi
Kev and I are due to get married at the Eden Resort and Spa in Sri Lanka next August. I am a little concerned as I have read mixed reviews both about Berewala and the hotel. Can anyone give me some information on thier wedding at the Eden? I really wanted to have the wedding on the beach but most reviews state the wedding takes place in the gardens of the hotel as the beach is full of beach boys pestering tourists, is this really the case?

Evening

Would anyone be able to advise me how much I should pay for a Taxi from Colombo airport to the Taj Exotica in Bentota?

Am I right in thinking that the journey is approximately 1 hour?

And lastly, is this a safe journey for a woman on her own in the afternoon?

Many thanks

Hi,

Me and my boyfriend are heading out to Sri Lanka in December so that he can watch the cricket in Colombo and Galle. How long does it take to get from Bentota to the cricket grounds in Colombo and Galle?
Thanks,

Claire

We are a family of 9, 17yrs to 60, we like more natural area, on the beach but also with shops 7 restuarant available to us, we thought of Hikkaduwa but just read ur reveiw, can you suggest somewhere else for us to look into.
thanks
Kerry

Hi,

Please could anybody tell me of a website where i can get the e-mail adresses of the hotels to contact them directly, or know a website where you can get the best deals for hotels in Sri Lanka?

Thanks

Travelling to Sri Lanka in December, Possibly staying in Hikkaduwa and wondering if there is many places to scuba dive and much to see? If not anywhere else around hikkaduwa area to dive?

Can anyone out there recommend a hotel close to the cricket ground in Galle? Happy to spend up to USD 120/ night. All suggestions much appreciated. Cheers.

Hi
We are planning our first trip to sri Lanka next Jan with our 2 children who will be 4 and just under 2 and are planning to stay in Hikkaduwa for the main part of it. Can anyone tell me what the mosquitos are REALLY like? I've read all the official travel advice and it all sounds a bit worrying - especially as the repellants with DEET in are not recommended for use on under 2s.
Also, we'd love to break our journey back up to Colombo and the airport somewhere - to see a bit of inland Sri lanka. i'm particularly interested in a place called Ella and a guesthouse called Ambiente Guesthouse. Firstly, can anyone give me a rough idea of how long it would take to drive from Hikkaduwa to Ella and then from ella back to negombo / Colombo? Secondly, has anyone got any better / more suitable alternatives?
ANY advice about a holiday to Sri lanka with two little ones would be really appreciated too!
Thanks ever so much
Ros

Hi, I'm going to Hikkaduwa in March and have been recommended the Golden Sands Hotel. Has anyone stayed there and how much did you pay? Oh and how much is the taxi from Colombo?

Thanks
Adam

I am getting married at the Mt Lavinia Hotel on the 2nd of March. On the 27th of Feb, myself and several of the guests would like to go on a surf trip down to Hikkaduwa.

We are looking for a relaxed, no frills hotel/guest house that is close to a good surfing spot. We only intend to stay for one night and leave midday on the 28th. Can you think of any places that would match our criteria? Should we book in advance or just head down the coast and look for a place to stay when we get there or will this open us up to disappointment?

Secondly, we wish to leave Mt Lavinia early on the 27th to make our way down to Hikkaduwa. What would be our best option for transport?

Any suggestions will be most appreciated

Hi,
I am planning a trip to Sri Lanka from 30 Dec. to 4 Jan. For the second half of the trip - Jan 1 to Jan 4 - we have a choice of going either to Bentota or to Galle. I haven't a clue about Bentota and Galle, except that Bentota has a great beach and Galle is a quaint town with great beaches close by.
My preference is to go to a place that has a good luxury accommodation (doesn't have to be a large hotel) and is on or close to a good swimming beach but that also offers easy access to a lively local environment where tourism is not the only activity.
I have heard that Bentota is pretty much a resort destination with all activities and dining centred in and around the hotel with just a few independent restaurants on the beach. Is my information correct? Would Galle be the better option?
I would be obliged for suggestions on whether to go to Bentota or to Galle and also on recommendations on where to stay in Bentota and in Galle.
Thanks

Hello, after staying a night or tow in Kandy (Is this enough?) we are looking for somewhere to stay in the hill country for the rest of the week. Can you suggest one or two places? We are do not mind if it is a bit isolated, as long as there is somewhere to sleep and eat and there is good access to the rest of the hill country. We hope to cover the area between Kandy and Ella but are open to suggestions. Thanks for your help!

Hello, we are looking for somewhere to stay on the south coast of Sri Lanka for about a week at the end of the month. Can you suggest one or two places? We are looking for somewhere with some amenities (guest houses, restaurant, perhaps a bar or surf shop). The main thing we are looking for is somewhere with good transport to other places along the coast - major towns like Galle but also 'desert island' type spots. We hope to cover the area between Galle and Kirinda but are open to suggestions. Thanks for your help!

Hi,

I'm due to be coming to Galle as part of a 2 week Tsunami Rebuilding volunteer trip in the second half of October. I've been told that most people take the middle weekend of the trip off to do some sightseeing and after doing some research the obvious trips appear to be Columbo and Kandy.

I guess my first question is ... as they appear to be a reasonable distance away from Galle then are they worth the time/effort to get there ??

If they are then can anyone recommend any must-see sights and/or also recommend the best ways to get there ?? How long does it take by train and by car/bus ??

Based on the fact that my flight is in and out of Columbo, should I try to give the middle weekend sightseeing a miss and instead head back up to Columbo from the middle of the second week and then see Columbo/Kandy from there then go straight to the airport to fly out ??

If these places are worth seeing can anyone recommend any decent, middle-of-the-road accommodation that is nice and not too expensive (although it doesn't necessarily have to be dirt cheap either) ??

My final question is whether you think it is worth going to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage as opposed to the Udawalawe elephant transit home ?? Or are they both worth seeing ?? Again, its just a travel thing and as I understand it the latter is much nearer to Galle ...

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers !!

Cheers,
Darren

We are due to go to Club Bentota on 1st December 2006 with some friends for 2 weeks holiday. We are quite concerned about various issues, we believe that renovation is going on at the moment, we have been advised by Hayes and Jarvis that this will be completed by the end of October 2006. They have informed us that they are still sending people to Club Bentota and no complaints have come back.

Does anyone know how these renovations are going, if so will they be completed by the end of October? It is a long way to travel not knowing what you will be met with once you arrive. We also hear about a Bentota Beach hotel which is also undergoing refurbishment, and we are wondering if it is the same hotel.

Any information would be much appreciated

We're thinking of getting married at Club Bentota in Nov 2007 & would appreciate any information from anyone who knows of this hotel or who has stayed there recently. How does it compare to Bentota Beach & Eden Resort & Spa? Is it possible to swim & snorkel off the beach there? Has anyone got married there through Hayes & Jarvis? What was the wedding like? How's the service & location of the hotel? etc etc etc!!!!

Any info would be much appreciated as we're getting a headache trying to decide where to go & some of the other hotels would work out too expensive for our guests!

Thanks very much

Andi & Jude :o)