BC flights to Sri Lanka

saveapenny

Sam_Bee wrote: »

That's very sound advice. I wouldn't personally spend too long on the beach in Sri Lanka in the main resorts, get out and about with a driver and head to the tea plantations, Nurewa Eliya, Yala, Sigiriya, all very easy to organise.

I did spend a week on an amazing beach north of Trincomolee at this place http://www.tangerinehotels.com/nilavelibeach/index.htm but I'm not sure the political situation currently would allow it (you'd wake up in the morning to find a tank outside your room, and the UN playing the Red Cross in the Tennis Courts!).

I've PM'd you anyway!

I had been so busy hunting I forgot to look... what is the current security situation?
I know traveling north is a no no

It is mainly a luxury holiday abit of sight seeing but on a daily bases
Is it the wrong sort of place to go for that.
Never realised before but looking in the brochure you just dont see people sitting on the beaches

Incapuppy

Hi Saveapenny

current travel advice from Sri Lanka is here:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/sri-lanka

it makes (for some) slightly uncomfortable reading but I think as long as you use some common sense you will be absolutely fine - the terrorists are not actively seeking to target tourists. People obviously have differing 'comfort zones' as far as percieved risks are concerned. For me personally:

Would it put me off of travelling to Sri Lanka? No, far from it.
Would I avoid using trains and buses? Yes, absolutely.

I would travel using a car and driver (which is cheaply and readily available) and there are clearly defined routes beyond which it is deemed unsafe to travel (and these are outside of the 'normal' tourist destinations)

You have said that you would like sightseeing on a daily basis. The best of Sri Lanka's beaches are to be found between 2 and 5 hours south of Colombo. The roads are not very good and for that reason small distances can take a long time to cover. For this reason people wishing to explore the Kandy area or further North into the 'cultural triangle' often choose to do this as part of a tour or base themselves (as we did) further North so that you have many opportunities to see some of the sights that SL has to offer within a more reasonable travelling time (between 1-2 hours).

Kandy and the elephant orphanage at Pinnawela are feasible as a day trip from the Southern beach resorts but you would be looking at a very early start and a journey time of between 4 and 6 hours each way - quite often to make this less of an expedition many people offer the trip with an overnight stay in Kandy.

There are some other day trips available from the South that are nearer, for example - turtle hatchery, river cruise and (depending on how far south you stay) Yala National Park (although again, due to events of several months ago I understand that British tour agencies in particular are reluctant to recommend travel to Yala.)

As for not seeing many people sitting on the beaches in the brochures there are a few reasons for this:

They are busy exploring the inland delights that SL has to offer

The beaches quite often differ from those pictured in the brochure in that the monsoon seasons can reduce the size of available beach and also make the sea unsuitable for swimming.

Following the effects of tourism and to a lesser extent the Tsunami, the tourist industry in SL is sadly on its knees.

HTH.

saveapenny

Thanks you all so much
With all this information I think it might be a better idea to do a package than go independantly
BC might be out now and have to go with FC prem .
I will put it to hubby see what he thinks and have a look for some reviews on Prem with FC to SL

thanks again

saveapenny

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/_assets/_promotions/buy_one_get_one_free/content_1/?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=homepage_tall_promo&utm_campaign=homepage_promos/

Link to the Mail on Sunday offer
Its is off holidays

Incapuppy

saveapenny wrote: »

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/_assets/_promotions/buy_one_get_one_free/content_1/?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=homepage_tall_promo&utm_campaign=homepage_promos/

Link to the Mail on Sunday offer
Its is off holidays

Spooky! I just refreshed my screen in order to PM you about the exact same thing!!!;) Some pretty good savings to be had there - on some of the hotels even the extra night prices have been halved.

saveapenny

great minds think alike
I am just going through them now and checking against Virgins normal price

saveapenny

Cystal Cove works out ALOT CHEAPER ..
On the dicount ones it doesnt give online discount as well ...tut!!