Going to Sri Lanka last 2 weeks july, got cheap package to negombo, but wish to escape and tour for most of the time. 2 children aged 9 and 14, have searched posts but can't find any info re whether 4 of us can share 1 room (eg will they put an extra bed in a triple) or whether will need 2 rooms (thinking cost). Also any ideas re hotels - pool pref but not essential for kids, prefer "friendly, family run, quirky" to 5 start luxury! Rough plan is: Negombo day or 2, then Sigyria (?? Sigyria village hotel), + ? Minneriya, to Kandy, then to Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains. 9 year old desparate to see rain forest -so ? day at Sinaraja, then on to either Unawatuna or Mirissa so that kids can go in the sea (not poss I believe in Negombo in July?). We are currently planning on self drive - we did self drive Bali last summer which I believe has similar chaos and husband has lots of experience of Souith East Asia roads from running motorbike trips in Thailand. Does any one have any knowledge Of Negombo motorcycle tours for car hire? I have been to Sri Lanka approx 12 years ago without kids when we travelled by motorbike but seems aeons ago. Any Info much appreciated. I am also going to place this place this post on trip advisor - hope this isn't against etiquette of Thorn Tree.
Welcome to the forum Spidercat.
You have made a multipart question and I will try to answer what I can. Others on here will add their ha'pence worth.
I'm an experienced motorcyclist and have ridden on Sri Lanka roads. However I would strongly advise against it except for short distances off the main road.
The last time I rode a bike in SL was in February this year. I ran over a dog at 30 mph and I still don't know why I didn't fall off and end up spread across the road as an interesting spectacle for the locals..... I imagine an ambulance would have arrived eventually and I would have had a 5 hour trip to the nearest decent hospital - or maybe a longer trip home in a box..
The main roads are a death trap with complete concentration needed just to stay alive.
The distances involved are so great ( remember the poor road quality and the chaos ), that you are going to be exhausted after any trip. Not great for sightseeing.
I would suggest that you stay a day or so in Negombo and have a look round there to acclimatise and see some interesting stuff. ( search here for things to do in Negombo. )
Meanwhile get a decent driver and minibus to take you on a tour ( there are plenty on here and Rod_b can suggest some that have genuine recommendations ) The tour should include accomodation and you can specify the quality needed. Its probably best to stay around Siguriya and use it as a base for trips in the Golden Triangle. Then you can move on to Kandy where you can see major sites like the Temple of the Tooth. You can also take in the nearby Knuckles mountain range to see some rainforest etc.
You can then get the driver to take you to the hill country around say Ella or Nuwara Eliya before taking the 5-6 hour drive to the South or Southwest coast - you can get the driver to drop you off in Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna for example where you can get the beach experience.
Here you can see about sharing accomodation, however you will find that it is so cheap that giving the kids a room next door is unlikely to cost much more. They will be glad of the extra business and may only charge for the 2 breakfasts.. Its up to you to negotiate.
You can then take the train back to Colombo cheaply and onward to Negombo for your last day or so.
Good luck and have a good time.
Ian
Hi,
I've just posted this answer on another site where you'd also posed the questions. So, I copied it over to here. As follows.
I have seen extra beds put in rooms so they could accomodate 4 or 5 people
However they were Sr Lankans and it was probably done by previous arrangement
If you just turned up then they'll be expecting to let two rooms , so even if they could make arrangements for four, the room price would almost certainly go up. Especially if it's on a bed and breakfast deal.
Some ideas for accomodation,
Negombo..... Budget Hotel.
The Oasis Beach Hotel,
31 Poruthota Road,
Negombo
Tel;...........+94-(0)-31-2279022
This is a budget hotel. Rooms are qute big and bright although basic. One big advantage when first arriving, especially in cheaper accomodation is that it has a decen pool.
Backs onto a good stretch of the beach and at the front, plenty of small shops, bars, restaurants, etc.
For keeping all the family together, they do rent out an apartment with perfect views overthe beach and the sea. Where for sure, all the family could be together.
Sigirya...
The Grand Tourist Holiday Resort,
Sigirya Road,
Galakotuwa Pothana,
Kimbissa,
Tel;.....+94-(0)-777049116
This is a lovely guest house, no pool I'm afrain but really comfortable.
Rooms are like new, all modern en-suite set in well tended gardens.
The restaurant is also excellent. Perfect for staying near the rock.
Kandy.
Spoiled for choice in Kandy but one I like is,
The Kandy View Hotel,
40/22 Hillpankandura,
Ampitiya Road,
Kandy.
Tel;.....+94-(0)-81-4481300
Email....lakecorner@yahoo.com
Lovely family run budget hotel convenient for the temple and town but in a nice quiet location near the lake.
All good rooms , well furnished and it has a small splash pool. Not very big but enough to play in and cool down.
Has a great roof top restaurant.
Kandy again,
You said that you'd like places with character,, whatever.
There's a lovely home stay just at the end of the lake and near the temple.
It's a beautiful family home. Theman of the house is a doctor and his wife looks after the house, with a housekeeper of course. Their children are away studying so they let rooms in the house.
Inside the house is beautifully furnished and looked after.
So, if you fancy a night or two staying with a lovely Sri Lankan family, eating home cooked food, and getting to know some wonderful friendly people, this is another option.
Rooms are less than 2000 for a double with breakfasts so it won't break the bank.
Because it's a private house I don't want to put the address on here but I'll send it in a PM.
For Newara Eliya, I only stayed there once . The place I stayed at, The Grovenor Hotel, was OK but extremely cold. Food was Ok but average and overall, I wouldn't really recommend. There is plenty of choice for places to say in Newara Eliya but I wouldn't advise anyone to stay there. When ever I go it's usually cold, wet and windy.
Further south down the railway track is Haputale. Roughly , about the same distance from Hortons Plains as Newara Eliya but with a much better climate.
Great place to stay in Haputale is,
The Sri Lak View Holiday Inn,
48 Sherwood Road,
Haputale.
Tel;.....+94-(0)-57-2268125
Lovely guest house with fantastic views from just about everywhere. From the rooms , restaurant and gardens you're looking down from a mountain ridge at lesser peaks and valleys.
OK down to the seaside.
The main beach at Mirissa is fully wide open to the sea, so can be rough for swimming. But, at the eastern end of the beach there's an island called Parrot Rock. This is almost joined to the mainland by a small strip of rock. Step over this small strip and there's a small beach which is partially reef shelterd and I've been in there swimming at most times of the year.
Place to stay,,
The Mirissa Beach Inn,
Galle Road,
Mirissa.
Tel;....+94-(0)-57-2268125
A completely new building with 6 rooms. All wery big and well furnished. Each with it's own big balcony looking through the garden to the beach and the sea.
Step out of the garden and you're on the beach.
They work on a half board basis and last time I stayed there I payed 2600 for a double room, ( two people ) and that included romm breakfasts and evening meals for those two people.
Unawatuna...
A place I stayed at which I really enjoyed, a bit more than I usually pay ( 3000 room and breakfast, double room )but it was worth it. Probably a little more by now.
The Flower garden Hotel,
Wella Dewalawa Road,
Unawatuna.
Tel;....+94-(0)-91-2225286
www.hotelflowergarden.com
Accomodation is in individual bungalows , each set in it's own small garden. Excellent pool and restaurant.
I do have a problem with Unawatuna and that is that the beach gets very narrow and as it's been built up most of the way along , with buildings hanging out over the beach, at some states of the tide it's dificult to walk along it in places.
I prefer Hikkaduwa.. A much wider reef protected beach and the town is more like a Sri Lankan town.
In the town centre are the local Sri Lankan shops , and running south from the centre is the Galle Road which has plenty of small bars, restaurants, gift shops for batik,s wood carvings, etc.
Car hire,
There's plenty of places to hire a car from .
Take a look at the following site. Near the bottom of the list on the left of the pageare the main hire companies.
www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/travel.html
There are some in Negombo but I only have info on motor bike and scooter hire there.
Hope thats helped.
Rod.
I'll send that PM with info on the private home stay in Kandy.
Hi. I guess that you are travelling with First Choice on a package. We did that a couple of years ago ( along with Rod_b as it happens ) .
I notice that First Choice don't appear to offer holidays in SL any more.
Are you flying with First Choise or another airline?
( just for interest as First choice were one of the few package holiday providers from Europe. )
Ian
Thanks for the helpful info. Yes we are travelling with First Choice - we were looking at going independantly but at the time Sri Lankan airlines were quoting approx £900 per person and First Choice £578 for direct flight, transfers and 2 weeks Negombo jetwing seashells - so it was a bit of a no-brainer, we were one of the few families that was really happy when they transferred us to Sri Lankan airlines! as Heathrow is more convenient for us than Gatwick!
We already have accommodation in Negombo, do we need to prebook in July for other places or can you generally just turn up? Hoping to hire car in Negombo, as will use package transfer from airport and spend first couple of days in Negombo acclimatising.
Previously travelled in Sri Lanka in 1996 by motorcycle - see husband's write up of trip here:
Useful info for anyone planning on motorbike trip in Sri Lanka.
HI,
As a general rule, in July, you don't need to prebook.
But, just to be on the safe side,,When you're in Negombo, phone ahead to the next planned stop ( Sigirya ) and book there. While in Sigirya, phone ahead to Kandy and book there and so on around the island.
That way, if you decide to change your schedule by staying somewhere an extra night, or just going off at a tangent, then it's no problem.
I would , probably, make an exception in the home stay that I sent you in Kandy. As it's a private home they may like to know a bit further in advance.
Rod
Hi,
If you go to Unawatuna, I can recommend 'Nor Lanka' as a great small family run hotel.
It's run by a Norweigian/Sri Lankan couple and their family also stay there. They're absolutely lovely, can help you out with any organisation, do a great rice and curry and are just very nice to chat to.
I don't use Trip Advisor, but I think you'll find good reviews there. They have a website (google Nor Lanka) with contact details and you can email Helge (owner) and I'm sure they would be accommodating regarding putting extra beds in the room.
Enjoy your trip.
Beth
Hi there,
My friend and I rented motor bikes from Negombo motor cycles tours and found him to be the nicest guy and fairest guy in Negombo.
His name is Suranga. I would recommend him to rent a car from.
Regards
Michael
With regards to going to the rainforest, you can take a rainforest tour day-trip from Galle, Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa with Rainforest Rescue International, if you would rather head straight to the south coast and avoid spending time travelling to SInharaja and staying overnight in Deniyaya or around that way. It might save you some time...
You can see their tours at http://www.rainforestrescueinternational.org/ecotours/
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