We are looking at September and on an all inclusive basis. There are several resorts to choose from and we're unsure of which to choose.
ccasion1Has Anyone Been To Sri Lanka?
16 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
by digs123 on Fri Apr 07, 2006 17:08 pm
Thinking of travelling to Sri Lanka next year. Any advice about weather and where to go would be appreciated.
We are looking at September and on an all inclusive basis. There are several resorts to choose from and we're unsure of which to choose.
ccasion1
We are looking at September and on an all inclusive basis. There are several resorts to choose from and we're unsure of which to choose.
ccasion1-
digs123 - Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 17:08 pm
by BillyTP on Thu Jun 14, 2007 14:11 pm
We have been to Sri Lanka for the past two years and it has taken a lot to make me go elsewhere this year for a change. I can not speak highly enough of the Sri Lankans and what a bargain holiday you can pick up. We booked through Mercury Direct, 1st time we stayed at Browns Beach, Negombo and the 2nd The Mermaid in Kalutara. Both these hotel are A.I. and good value, it is difficult to deceide which is the better. The only factor to take into account is the distance from the airport to resort as the roads leave a lot to be desired and only a short journey can take two or three time the length it would here. I can't help with the weather forcast as we went in June/July.
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BillyTP - Posts: 0
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 13:52 pm
by liz taylor on Thu Aug 30, 2007 20:02 pm
We stayed at the Club Palm Bay Marawila in September last year. It did rain some days for about 30 mins and then was fine again. The hotel provides you with an umbrella. The hotel was very quiet and peaceful some days we were the only ones by the pool. The sea gets very rough and its not recomended. The food was excellent.and the staff brilliant if you want something ask and they will do their best.This place was about an hour from the airport the roads are poor. We did a 3 day 2 night trip to Kandy the sigiria rock and the elephant orphanage. Go and enjoy
- liz taylor
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- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 22:38 pm
by yoaviv on Sat Nov 03, 2007 05:44 am
Hi.
My name is Yoav and I want to share with you my worst traveling experience in Srilanka � what will save you money and great deal of suffering.
So, after I got married on the 25.9.2007, my wife and I wanted a nice honeymoon. Since we have never been in Srilanka, we decided to give it a try, but without investigate deeply about this place, what turned out to be a big mistake, very big mistake.
I will start with a general description of the people in Srilanka, most of them. We are talking about zero reliability, zero to poor English level which you can hardly understand, zero hospitality, who will do zero to make your stay pleasant.
We stayed at the Eden Hotel in Beruwala area 25.Oct.2007 � 1.Nov.2007. Our first encounter with Srilanka's people started immediately when we got into the room and found that the TV remote control does not work. It seems like a minor problem, but when you try to get a service there, you start to understand with whom you are dealing. When talking with the reception, they first told me "someone will come". We waited. No one comes. After 2 hours I went to the lobby and insisted that someone will go to the room with me (room 332). When I showed him the TV remote control problem, he took it, stood near the TV, played with the batteries and tried to make it work. Finally it did, but only when he stood next to the TV. I insisted it must work from bed. If it works only near the TV I really do not need it! Then he argued with me that it is OK. It took me VERY long time to explain that it is useless if the remote control works only hand-long distance from the TV. Finally, after 3 hours, both TV and remote control were replaced.
Just imagine what happens with this kind of people and a greater problems or service requests as demonstrated ahead!
Our next encounter with these people of Srilanka, started few hours after the TV event. We woke up at 1:00 AM 26.10.2007 in our room 332, because of ants bites! We turned on the light and watched few ants traveling on our bed sheet. We moved them away turned off the light and back to sleep, but not for long. Again the same story. Few ants. We got up again but looked also under my pillow, where we found a circle with HUNDREDS of ants, small, red and waiting to prevent you from sleeping in your first night. Now things start to be really annoying. I called the reception again, but this time I learned my lesson from the TV event detailed above. I waited 5 minutes and when no one came I went down to the reception. They first offered me to shake the bed sheet. I explained that this will not work because this will not eliminate the source of the ants which is not in the bed. Then they offered to spray insect killer spray in the bed !!! . I explained that this solution is not acceptable. Then I asked for the only solution � move to another room. They said it is not possible and that I will have to wait for the morning for that. �But we can not sleep....�, I said again. This argue ended on 3:00 AM after 2 hours, when they called some manager (called Charith, I think) and suddenly another room was found (328). We were very tired and quickly went to sleep.
In the morning we found out another surprise � TV remote control not working in our new room just like in the first one. Same TV story all over again.
There is no room to talk about compensation for that night. They do not offer anything and when I tried to ask for compensation their English suddenly became mach worst. They do no this word. I found there someone who can tell them in their language what I am asking for. Assuming he explained it right, their answer was �NO�. From my visits in USA and Germany, I know very well what is the compensation in such case � you get the night for free or some other worthy compensation.
Our next story is at the hotel fitness room. The instructor is not there. You need call him if you need something. But guess what, there is no phone there. I asked what do I need to do in case I need something. The answer was � go to your room and call him! The room are far away from the fitness room.
Well, when the single use drinking caps ran out, I wanted to notify the instructor about it. I was lucky because he just got in � no long distance travel to my room. I asked him for more caps. He said OK, left, and did not return. I decided not to give up and went out to look for him. One minute travel to the nearby billiard game room was enough � he was there playing billiard instead of bringing the caps I asked for. My question where are the single use caps I asked for was answered with the stupid smile and no words. These people just don't care about you.
You pay the hotel good money and get the worst service possible.
Next, we found ants again also in room 328. I was lucky this time - they were just entering the room threw the balcony. I also located the nest � it was in a big planter next to our balcony. There is no way for worst design. Why they did not thought about this option of ants in the planter when they placed the planter there?
My answer � This is Srilanka. They do not think or plan.
The next point is the food. I have to say that in general it is good but if you do not eat spicy food, your selection is decreased dramatically! In addition, if you like green, not ripe tomatoes, you are in the right place. We had such tomatoes in every breakfast and dinner everyday.
The food story continues when my wife missed one of our pre-paid dinners. We new about this in advance and notified the reception that we will want it in a later time. The next day we wanted it as launch for her. The hotel employees refused and said it is the hotel policy. "But we paid for it" I said. Same stupid smile without answer is what I got. This is Srilanka. Never go there!
Finally, regarding the hotel, our staying there was full of encounters with these people, which are either stupid or do their best to make you suffer, or both.
The unbelievable behavior of the People of Srilanka does not stop at the hotel fences. They try to cheat you in any way they can, including lying and deceiving you in any possible way.
For example, if you agreed on a price with a taxi on the street he will ask you for more when you get out and pay him, claiming this it what you agreed on. He will also take you to shops and stores you never ask for, making your way longer. Then the taxi driver will also attempt to ask you for more money due to the longer trip! Note that he knows the way and you don't, so when he takes you to somewhere you do not want to go, you do not know this until you are there. The reason he is doing this is because if you buy something in those places he get some money.
In addition, the roads in Srilanka are really bad. There are no highways, during daytime traffic load is extremely high everywhere. The 90 km drive from Colombo airport to Eden hotel took 3 hours and air pollution due to the heavy traffic is beyond what a western tourist can tolerate. Beside road-railway intersections, there are almost no traffic lights, and they drive there in an extremely dangerous manner.
Did I mention that cows walk along the roads everywhere? They do and there is cow s-h-i-t everywhere. Its strong smell is mixed with the unbelievable traffic air pollution, making you want to puke and ask yourself why did you paid for all this�
By the way � Srilanka prices are expensive like Europe. So if you expected Thailand prices forget about it.
This is Srilanka, these are the people. Stay away from this place. It will bite you just like the ants in Eden hotel rooms do at night.
Yoav
My name is Yoav and I want to share with you my worst traveling experience in Srilanka � what will save you money and great deal of suffering.
So, after I got married on the 25.9.2007, my wife and I wanted a nice honeymoon. Since we have never been in Srilanka, we decided to give it a try, but without investigate deeply about this place, what turned out to be a big mistake, very big mistake.
I will start with a general description of the people in Srilanka, most of them. We are talking about zero reliability, zero to poor English level which you can hardly understand, zero hospitality, who will do zero to make your stay pleasant.
We stayed at the Eden Hotel in Beruwala area 25.Oct.2007 � 1.Nov.2007. Our first encounter with Srilanka's people started immediately when we got into the room and found that the TV remote control does not work. It seems like a minor problem, but when you try to get a service there, you start to understand with whom you are dealing. When talking with the reception, they first told me "someone will come". We waited. No one comes. After 2 hours I went to the lobby and insisted that someone will go to the room with me (room 332). When I showed him the TV remote control problem, he took it, stood near the TV, played with the batteries and tried to make it work. Finally it did, but only when he stood next to the TV. I insisted it must work from bed. If it works only near the TV I really do not need it! Then he argued with me that it is OK. It took me VERY long time to explain that it is useless if the remote control works only hand-long distance from the TV. Finally, after 3 hours, both TV and remote control were replaced.
Just imagine what happens with this kind of people and a greater problems or service requests as demonstrated ahead!
Our next encounter with these people of Srilanka, started few hours after the TV event. We woke up at 1:00 AM 26.10.2007 in our room 332, because of ants bites! We turned on the light and watched few ants traveling on our bed sheet. We moved them away turned off the light and back to sleep, but not for long. Again the same story. Few ants. We got up again but looked also under my pillow, where we found a circle with HUNDREDS of ants, small, red and waiting to prevent you from sleeping in your first night. Now things start to be really annoying. I called the reception again, but this time I learned my lesson from the TV event detailed above. I waited 5 minutes and when no one came I went down to the reception. They first offered me to shake the bed sheet. I explained that this will not work because this will not eliminate the source of the ants which is not in the bed. Then they offered to spray insect killer spray in the bed !!! . I explained that this solution is not acceptable. Then I asked for the only solution � move to another room. They said it is not possible and that I will have to wait for the morning for that. �But we can not sleep....�, I said again. This argue ended on 3:00 AM after 2 hours, when they called some manager (called Charith, I think) and suddenly another room was found (328). We were very tired and quickly went to sleep.
In the morning we found out another surprise � TV remote control not working in our new room just like in the first one. Same TV story all over again.
There is no room to talk about compensation for that night. They do not offer anything and when I tried to ask for compensation their English suddenly became mach worst. They do no this word. I found there someone who can tell them in their language what I am asking for. Assuming he explained it right, their answer was �NO�. From my visits in USA and Germany, I know very well what is the compensation in such case � you get the night for free or some other worthy compensation.
Our next story is at the hotel fitness room. The instructor is not there. You need call him if you need something. But guess what, there is no phone there. I asked what do I need to do in case I need something. The answer was � go to your room and call him! The room are far away from the fitness room.
Well, when the single use drinking caps ran out, I wanted to notify the instructor about it. I was lucky because he just got in � no long distance travel to my room. I asked him for more caps. He said OK, left, and did not return. I decided not to give up and went out to look for him. One minute travel to the nearby billiard game room was enough � he was there playing billiard instead of bringing the caps I asked for. My question where are the single use caps I asked for was answered with the stupid smile and no words. These people just don't care about you.
You pay the hotel good money and get the worst service possible.
Next, we found ants again also in room 328. I was lucky this time - they were just entering the room threw the balcony. I also located the nest � it was in a big planter next to our balcony. There is no way for worst design. Why they did not thought about this option of ants in the planter when they placed the planter there?
My answer � This is Srilanka. They do not think or plan.
The next point is the food. I have to say that in general it is good but if you do not eat spicy food, your selection is decreased dramatically! In addition, if you like green, not ripe tomatoes, you are in the right place. We had such tomatoes in every breakfast and dinner everyday.
The food story continues when my wife missed one of our pre-paid dinners. We new about this in advance and notified the reception that we will want it in a later time. The next day we wanted it as launch for her. The hotel employees refused and said it is the hotel policy. "But we paid for it" I said. Same stupid smile without answer is what I got. This is Srilanka. Never go there!
Finally, regarding the hotel, our staying there was full of encounters with these people, which are either stupid or do their best to make you suffer, or both.
The unbelievable behavior of the People of Srilanka does not stop at the hotel fences. They try to cheat you in any way they can, including lying and deceiving you in any possible way.
For example, if you agreed on a price with a taxi on the street he will ask you for more when you get out and pay him, claiming this it what you agreed on. He will also take you to shops and stores you never ask for, making your way longer. Then the taxi driver will also attempt to ask you for more money due to the longer trip! Note that he knows the way and you don't, so when he takes you to somewhere you do not want to go, you do not know this until you are there. The reason he is doing this is because if you buy something in those places he get some money.
In addition, the roads in Srilanka are really bad. There are no highways, during daytime traffic load is extremely high everywhere. The 90 km drive from Colombo airport to Eden hotel took 3 hours and air pollution due to the heavy traffic is beyond what a western tourist can tolerate. Beside road-railway intersections, there are almost no traffic lights, and they drive there in an extremely dangerous manner.
Did I mention that cows walk along the roads everywhere? They do and there is cow s-h-i-t everywhere. Its strong smell is mixed with the unbelievable traffic air pollution, making you want to puke and ask yourself why did you paid for all this�
By the way � Srilanka prices are expensive like Europe. So if you expected Thailand prices forget about it.
This is Srilanka, these are the people. Stay away from this place. It will bite you just like the ants in Eden hotel rooms do at night.
Yoav
- yoaviv
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 05:44 am
by digs123 on Sun Nov 04, 2007 10:07 am
MMM it seems you had rather a negative experience. I won't let it put me off though as I prefer to travel with an open mind. I see this post has been put on other sites too.
As I am not concerned with watching tv I won't worry about a remote control not working.
I accept to get my meals I need to be there at the correct time and place. I also eat food that is traditional to the country I'm in. Should I want English food I'd stay in England or go to Spain.
I've been to Kenya and as its a third world country I have experienced poor roads and unpleasant smells on occassion but it was the best holiday I've ever had.
Finally I do know from my Sri Lankan friend that prices are not as in Europe.
I think if you try hard enough you can find something wrong with any holiday. I prefer to make each holiday I go on as good as I can. Thank you for your comments and I hope your next visit will be to somewhere more suitable for your needs.
As I am not concerned with watching tv I won't worry about a remote control not working.
I accept to get my meals I need to be there at the correct time and place. I also eat food that is traditional to the country I'm in. Should I want English food I'd stay in England or go to Spain.
I've been to Kenya and as its a third world country I have experienced poor roads and unpleasant smells on occassion but it was the best holiday I've ever had.
Finally I do know from my Sri Lankan friend that prices are not as in Europe.
I think if you try hard enough you can find something wrong with any holiday. I prefer to make each holiday I go on as good as I can. Thank you for your comments and I hope your next visit will be to somewhere more suitable for your needs.
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digs123 - Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 17:08 pm
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