Sri Lanka Well Worth A Visit
Discussion
Sorry folks I have meant to come back and update, but kept getting side tracked.
The trip is an Intrepid tour itinerary was https://www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/sri-lanka/sri-la...
Negombo
Anuradhapura
Jaffna
Trincomalee
Dambulla
Kandy
Colombo
Staying in reasonable tourist class hotels, so clean, comfortable, safe but not “luxury” by any stretch.
There are no food shortages. We went to the wholesale veg market in Dambulla and it was overwhelming the quantity and quality of fresh veg and fruits, local mainly but with some imported items.
Because of a lack of tourists instead of buffet breakfasts most hotels were cooking a limited offering to order. Not because food is in short supply, just no point cooking a vat of scrambled eggs if non of your 6 guests wants it!
I asked in one place if they had mango juice for breakfast, they did not only papaya or melon… the next day they had mango juice as well!
There are clearly fuel issues, driving past filling stations there are people waiting to fill up. Apparently bikes/ scooters are entitled to 4L per week!
This won’t affect you as a tourist, as official tourist transport is exempt from (or given extra for the tourist transit!) the ration.
There has been nightly power cuts this is related to fuel shortages, but they are usually in the evening and last about an hour. It’s really no big deal, most hotels have alternate short term backup for communal areas, so on a few nights we were eating and the power flicked out for a minute before coming back on. It’s no big deal at all.
I would suggest bringing a decent torch just Incase.
Also local sim… Get one at the airport, I think I paid about £6.50 for 15GB wat better than the £6 per day Vodafone charge!
Great food, great people, please think about visiting.
Anyway enough of my ramblings.
The trip is an Intrepid tour itinerary was https://www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/sri-lanka/sri-la...
Negombo
Anuradhapura
Jaffna
Trincomalee
Dambulla
Kandy
Colombo
Staying in reasonable tourist class hotels, so clean, comfortable, safe but not “luxury” by any stretch.
There are no food shortages. We went to the wholesale veg market in Dambulla and it was overwhelming the quantity and quality of fresh veg and fruits, local mainly but with some imported items.
Because of a lack of tourists instead of buffet breakfasts most hotels were cooking a limited offering to order. Not because food is in short supply, just no point cooking a vat of scrambled eggs if non of your 6 guests wants it!
I asked in one place if they had mango juice for breakfast, they did not only papaya or melon… the next day they had mango juice as well!
There are clearly fuel issues, driving past filling stations there are people waiting to fill up. Apparently bikes/ scooters are entitled to 4L per week!
This won’t affect you as a tourist, as official tourist transport is exempt from (or given extra for the tourist transit!) the ration.
There has been nightly power cuts this is related to fuel shortages, but they are usually in the evening and last about an hour. It’s really no big deal, most hotels have alternate short term backup for communal areas, so on a few nights we were eating and the power flicked out for a minute before coming back on. It’s no big deal at all.
I would suggest bringing a decent torch just Incase.
Also local sim… Get one at the airport, I think I paid about £6.50 for 15GB wat better than the £6 per day Vodafone charge!
Great food, great people, please think about visiting.
Anyway enough of my ramblings.
wax lyrical said:
What is private transportation around the Country like?
When I was there a few years ago I and my wife hired a driver and car who stayed with us 24/7 for 2 weeks. Would something like that be possible given the fuel shortages?
Yeah I did something similar in 2017 or 18. When I was there a few years ago I and my wife hired a driver and car who stayed with us 24/7 for 2 weeks. Would something like that be possible given the fuel shortages?
As far as I am aware official licensed tourist transport is prioritised. I would perhaps be wary of picking up a car as opposed to using a local tour company, the off chance the lone driver did not have the required extra ration might be a worry!
We had no issues at all, in a 8 seat mini van thing.
Sri Lanka is well worth a visit. We went there pre Covid so I can't comment on the present political stuff.
It's always best to travel around the island. Don't consider driving yourself as the roads are not for the faint hearted. We were based at the Royal Palms Hotel Kalutara ( highly recommended ) and booked a personal driver tour through https://www.aitkenspencetravels.com/experience-sri... Always make sure you hire an official fully insured driver and car. Plenty of guys will offer to drive you in their car.
Try to avoid the spice gardens and tea places, most are a con` and you will be met with hard sell guys with packs of spices and teas.
Lots of itineraries, Royal Botanic Gardens, Temple of Tooth, Elephant Orphanages, Safaris. or just chill on a beach.
We found all the locals lovely polite and trustworthy.
Do plenty of research and you will have a great time.
It's always best to travel around the island. Don't consider driving yourself as the roads are not for the faint hearted. We were based at the Royal Palms Hotel Kalutara ( highly recommended ) and booked a personal driver tour through https://www.aitkenspencetravels.com/experience-sri... Always make sure you hire an official fully insured driver and car. Plenty of guys will offer to drive you in their car.
Try to avoid the spice gardens and tea places, most are a con` and you will be met with hard sell guys with packs of spices and teas.
Lots of itineraries, Royal Botanic Gardens, Temple of Tooth, Elephant Orphanages, Safaris. or just chill on a beach.
We found all the locals lovely polite and trustworthy.
Do plenty of research and you will have a great time.
Edited by Old Merc on Saturday 19th November 11:57
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