Colombo is probably the only very "big" city in Sri Lanka. However, it still has only a population of half a million, which is quite small when compared to the metropolises of India. Its relatively small size does have its advantages : it's reasonably easy to get around the city, and most parts ... Read review
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Colombo is probably the only very "big" city in Sri Lanka. However, it still has only a population of half a million, which is quite small when compared to the metropolises of India. Its relatively small size does have its advantages : it's reasonably easy to get around the city, and most parts are quite clean.
Many of the major hotel chains can be found in the city, with many of the big hotels clustered together in the commercial heart of the city ... ...and ships coming in to Colombo habour.
Some great bargains can be had especially when it comes to clothing. Shops like Odel unlimited and House of Fashion offer great quality original designer clothing (much of it made in Sri Lankan factories) and amzing prices. Other good places to shop are the Majestic City and Crescat Boulevard malls.
Colombo has of late also been fortunate (?) to attract the usual American fast-food chains. You can therefore ...
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Advantages: Total bliss Disadvantages: You have to go home again
...we could have a whole row of seats each to sleep on. Drinks on demand, personal TV screens with Films, TV, Music and even video games were all included.
The only 'down-side' to the flight is that the return leg to Heathrow is via a 6hr stop in Colombo, SriLanka. However, accomodation in SriLanka is seriously cheap, and as I noted above, we built up the holiday over the phone.........so we added a 3 night stay in SriLanka before returning to the UK! Just enough time to visit the elephant orphanage, have a relaxing day on the beach and soak up another new culture.
I am sure that, by now, you are thinking this all sounds expensive. Well, we had 8 days in the Maldives, 3 days in SriLanka, flying boat air taxi transfers to our Maldivian Island, private taxi transfers in SriLanka all for about £100 more than a 7 night package...
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Advantages: Lovely country, beautiful. Disadvantages: Dodgy roads and water.
...their native language, Sinhalese.
-GETTING THERE
Sri Lankan Airlines (see my separate opinion) operate a regular service to Bandranaike International Airport, which is fourteen kilometres drive from central Colombo, SriLanka’s capital. I can’t give specific details, though, because the timetable is completely different for every day, although there are mostly two flights a day. Sri Lankan also operate a route via Dubai in a codeshare with Emirates.
-UPDATE
SriLankan have now changed their schedule because six of their aircraft - half of their fleet - is inoperable after the attack on Bandranaike. They offer fewer flights, but it's all on their new website at www.srilankan.lk.
-ON ARRIVAL
Because of the terrorism in the north, I visited the south. You will notice that there are rigorous security checks in place around...
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Advantages: Cheap no frill airline covering the Middle East, N Africa and Sub-Continent Disadvantages: Taxes often more expensive than the flight
..., such as Bahrain, has 2 flights daily from the UAE.
Destinations: Ahmedarbad (India), Aleppo (Syria), Alexandria (Egypt), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Amman (Jordan), Assuit (Egypt), Astana (Khazakhstan), Bahrain, Beirut (Lebanon), Chennai (India), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Colombo (SriLanka), Damascus (Syria), Damman (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), Jaipur (India), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Karachi (Pakistan), Kathmandu (Nepal), Khartoum (Sudan), Kochi (India), Kuwait, Latakia (Syria), Luxor (Egypt), Mumbai (India), Nagpur (India), Peshawar (Pakistan), Muscat (Oman), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sana'a (Yemen), Tehran (Iran), Thiruvananthapuram (India) & Yerevan (Armenia)
Price: Like many of the no-frill airlines they advertise a flight for as little as 20 pounds, but of course that is a single and frequently the taxes are more then the actual...
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15.04.2004
18.07.2007
