Planning Srilanka !!

lonelyaztec · Jul 20th, 2005, 21:00

HI Friends,

I am planning SriLanka in 1st week of November, and want to travel budget.

I have located a Srilankan tour operator who give a 7 D / 6 N vacation with

1. Air port pick up and drop
2. Colombo half day tour
3. Stay at Mt Lavinia
4. visit and stay at Anuradhapura
5. Visit and stay at Polonnuruwa ( hopefully spelling is right )
6. visit Dambulla
7. Visit Kandy temple and stay there
8. Visit Nuwara Eliya and stay there
9. Leave Nuwara eliya and drop of at airport or colombo

For $ 230 per head.

Note
1. A/c or van for travel between places and sight seeing
2. Budget acco in bed and breakfast kind of places
3. cost does not include entrance fee at all places i visit ( which might be another $ 100 for all above places )

I have requested them to include Pinnewala Elephant Orphange in the tour..

Do you think this is expensive or can i get it cheaper ?

Can anyone suggest a good tour operator ?

Or do u think, it can get cheaper for me, if i do all the hotel booking and arrange cab myself.

Pls. advice.

lyndy · Jul 21st, 2005, 17:04

Hi Aztec- pls see email reply to our query re 5 night tour similar to yours, below. Your quote sounds pretty good value to us. Pls pm us & let us know your contact. All the best!

Thanks for the mail.
> As you are staying for only a few days in sri lanka, I
> think it's a waste of time to travel by public
> transport.If you don't mind I would like to give you a
> small package i.e. for 5 nights 6 days tour with
> car, guest house with bed & breakfast, including pick
> & transfer to the airport,for only US $ 280/= (2 pax).
> If you are interested please let me know.
>
> Thanks & Best Regards,

lyndy · Jul 21st, 2005, 17:08

pm me and I'll give you our contact! I need to sleep! $230 pp is way toooooo expensive!

lonelyaztec · Jul 21st, 2005, 18:10

Lyndy,

I am contacting other agents also, and i am requesting a quote. Let me see.

lonelyaztec · Jul 28th, 2005, 13:00

Can anyone suggest a good tour operator for Srilanka ?

Mays · Jul 28th, 2005, 13:10

I have done a 5 day trip....its worth spending time doing the bookings urself.

Essential Start tips are that you set a budget....

I got rooms at the hilton @50$ pp inclusive of breakfast..suggest you do advance bookings on jet...mine was ex delhi..tickets were inr 16000/- pp economy return..it wuld be cheaper from south....
when u land in colombo take time out to sink in the sun, the sand, and the rains....also dont miss the elephant orphanage, galle, tea plantations, noritake collections, etc....

had a blast...food is great...partying is fun

lonelyaztec · Jul 28th, 2005, 13:35

Mays,

Thanks for response.

@ 50 per day per person - for just B & B, is that not expensive..what abt transport.
Also, i want to see the world heritage sites in north and central SL.

Not going to Galle...due to lack of time.

Jet flight from Chennai costs Rs. 8000 only, round trip. ;-)

Issue is with the rest of the bookings...hotels, transport in Srilanka...etc

A tour operator in bangalroe has given me rate of 360 $ per person for 5 nights, without Colombo and Anuradhapura...Stay at medium range hotels.

ur thoughts here...???

Mays · Jul 28th, 2005, 13:47

Dude...

the time we spend surfing we can just go on the hotels site and do the booking

believe me when i say that its cheaper rather than go thru with an operator.
the train journey internally is better...a great way to explore....sund, sand & the hills

go to the hilton site.....
Go to the Taj site....
there are other hotels like the Galadari, etc.

Let me know how I can help

lonelyaztec · Jul 28th, 2005, 13:58

Hey Mays,

I understand what you are saying.
Bookings tours within india - making arrangements personally is fine.
Now, Srilanka is still Phoren...so !!

U r right..will do all bookings myself...as there is lot of time...

Danke.

Mays · Jul 28th, 2005, 14:00

Hey Sri Lanka aint phoren..its just like the rest of south India

isabel · Jul 28th, 2005, 22:27

Anyone has an idea of how easy or how difficult is going from Rameswaram to Sri Lanka in the day?

Dr Funkenstein · Jul 28th, 2005, 22:34

Has anyone here been to SL post-tsunami yet?

What's it like? Places getting back on their feet yet?

I'm thinking of going in late September / October.

lyndy · Jul 29th, 2005, 08:04

There are a number of posts on both Lp's & tripadvisor's websites re Sri Lanka and current info also.

We're finalising our plans now and for 18 days our trip will cost approx 5000-6000 slr's per day inc food, accom, three wheelers, train & bus travel with the occasional taxi thrown in. Most accom is around 800-1500 r's per twin per night, train & buses are cheap as chips, local small restaurants are cheap.

The big expenses are Kandy accom during Perahera & the Taj Exotica at Bentota for US65 per night. It all averages out at US50-60 per day for the two of us. We did a budget for our two trips to India and our costs were within a 10% margin of our budget. It's the shopping that blows my budget, all the time!

lonelyaztec · Jul 29th, 2005, 17:44

Isabel,

Rameshwaram to Srilanka is 50 kms by sea.
a local fisherman can take you across on a Catamaran, but its illegal.

kiranlal · Jul 29th, 2005, 18:21

it will be fun
you have 4 times chances to be dead or be in jail other than any normal situation
just a question which one you prefer ,

indian navy
tamil tigers
srilankan navy
drug trafickers

have a safe journey

Jul 20th, 2005, 21:00	#1
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Planning Srilanka !! HI Friends, I am planning SriLanka in 1st week of November, and want to travel budget. I have located a Srilankan tour operator who give a 7 D / 6 N vacation with 1. Air port pick up and drop 2. Colombo half day tour 3. Stay at Mt Lavinia 4. visit and stay at Anuradhapura 5. Visit and stay at Polonnuruwa ( hopefully spelling is right ) 6. visit Dambulla 7. Visit Kandy temple and stay there 8. Visit Nuwara Eliya and stay there 9. Leave Nuwara eliya and drop of at airport or colombo For $ 230 per head. Note 1. A/c or van for travel between places and sight seeing 2. Budget acco in bed and breakfast kind of places 3. cost does not include entrance fee at all places i visit ( which might be another $ 100 for all above places ) I have requested them to include Pinnewala Elephant Orphange in the tour.. Do you think this is expensive or can i get it cheaper ? Can anyone suggest a good tour operator ? Or do u think, it can get cheaper for me, if i do all the hotel booking and arrange cab myself. Pls. advice. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

Jul 21st, 2005, 17:04	#2
lyndy Gypsy at heart Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 294	Sounds OK to us! Hi Aztec- pls see email reply to our query re 5 night tour similar to yours, below. Your quote sounds pretty good value to us. Pls pm us & let us know your contact. All the best! Thanks for the mail. > As you are staying for only a few days in sri lanka, I > think it's a waste of time to travel by public > transport.If you don't mind I would like to give you a > small package i.e. for 5 nights 6 days tour with > car, guest house with bed & breakfast, including pick > & transfer to the airport,for only US $ 280/= (2 pax). > If you are interested please let me know. > > Thanks & Best Regards,

Jul 21st, 2005, 17:08	#3
lyndy Gypsy at heart Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 294	Sorry aztec-I misread....$230 pp (Too expensive)!!! pm me and I'll give you our contact! I need to sleep! $230 pp is way toooooo expensive!

Jul 28th, 2005, 13:10	#6
Mays Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, Kolkata Posts: 58	Its better to do it on your own I have done a 5 day trip....its worth spending time doing the bookings urself. Essential Start tips are that you set a budget.... I got rooms at the hilton @50$ pp inclusive of breakfast..suggest you do advance bookings on jet...mine was ex delhi..tickets were inr 16000/- pp economy return..it wuld be cheaper from south.... when u land in colombo take time out to sink in the sun, the sand, and the rains....also dont miss the elephant orphanage, galle, tea plantations, noritake collections, etc.... had a blast...food is great...partying is fun

Jul 28th, 2005, 13:47	#8
Mays Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, Kolkata Posts: 58	U can do it on your own Dude... the time we spend surfing we can just go on the hotels site and do the booking believe me when i say that its cheaper rather than go thru with an operator. the train journey internally is better...a great way to explore....sund, sand & the hills go to the hilton site..... Go to the Taj site.... there are other hotels like the Galadari, etc. Let me know how I can help

Jul 21st, 2005, 18:10	#4
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Lyndy, I am contacting other agents also, and i am requesting a quote. Let me see.

Jul 28th, 2005, 13:00	#5
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Can anyone suggest a good tour operator for Srilanka ?

Jul 28th, 2005, 13:35	#7
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Mays, Thanks for response. @ 50 per day per person - for just B & B, is that not expensive..what abt transport. Also, i want to see the world heritage sites in north and central SL. Not going to Galle...due to lack of time. Jet flight from Chennai costs Rs. 8000 only, round trip. ;-) Issue is with the rest of the bookings...hotels, transport in Srilanka...etc A tour operator in bangalroe has given me rate of 360 $ per person for 5 nights, without Colombo and Anuradhapura...Stay at medium range hotels. ur thoughts here...???

Jul 28th, 2005, 13:58	#9
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Hey Mays, I understand what you are saying. Bookings tours within india - making arrangements personally is fine. Now, Srilanka is still Phoren...so !! U r right..will do all bookings myself...as there is lot of time... Danke.

Jul 28th, 2005, 14:00	#10
Mays Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, Kolkata Posts: 58	its not phoren Hey Sri Lanka aint phoren..its just like the rest of south India

Jul 28th, 2005, 22:27	#11
isabel Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SPAIN Posts: 54	Anyone has an idea of how easy or how difficult is going from Rameswaram to Sri Lanka in the day? __________________ VIVE Y DEJA VIVIR

Jul 28th, 2005, 22:34	#12
Dr Funkenstein Joolay !!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh Posts: 854	Has anyone here been to SL post-tsunami yet? What's it like? Places getting back on their feet yet? I'm thinking of going in late September / October. __________________ Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Jul 29th, 2005, 08:04	#13
lyndy Gypsy at heart Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 294	Check out LP's TT & trip advisor websites for current info There are a number of posts on both Lp's & tripadvisor's websites re Sri Lanka and current info also. We're finalising our plans now and for 18 days our trip will cost approx 5000-6000 slr's per day inc food, accom, three wheelers, train & bus travel with the occasional taxi thrown in. Most accom is around 800-1500 r's per twin per night, train & buses are cheap as chips, local small restaurants are cheap. The big expenses are Kandy accom during Perahera & the Taj Exotica at Bentota for US65 per night. It all averages out at US50-60 per day for the two of us. We did a budget for our two trips to India and our costs were within a 10% margin of our budget. It's the shopping that blows my budget, all the time! Last edited by lyndy : Jul 29th, 2005 at 08:08. Reason: additional info.

Jul 29th, 2005, 17:44	#14
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Isabel, Rameshwaram to Srilanka is 50 kms by sea. a local fisherman can take you across on a Catamaran, but its illegal.

Jul 29th, 2005, 18:21	#15
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 522	rameshwaram to srilanka it will be fun you have 4 times chances to be dead or be in jail other than any normal situation just a question which one you prefer , indian navy tamil tigers srilankan navy drug trafickers have a safe journey

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