739union

Can anyone recommend a driver or a driving service for an 8 day trip in Sri Lanka in February?

Thank you very much!

Kathie

I highly recommend you use an agency to arrange your driver. That way you have back up if something goes wrong with the car (the agency will trade the car for you) or if your driver isn't a good fit for you, the agency will give you a new driver.

If you opt to engage a private driver you have no recourse if something goes wrong.

Kathie

By the way, we used Boutique Sri Lanka, but there are lots of agencies available.

739union

Kathie,

Thank you so much for your quick response. In fact I reached out to BSL and am waiting to hear back.

Can you tell me more about your experience? Fees/rates, car, availability...

I will look up your itinerary post. Any advice you have would be so helpful!

Kathie

It's been a long time since I was there, 2007 was our trip. We absolutely loved Sri Lanka, and we talk about going back. BSL was very helpful. I planned our itinerary, they then weighed in on issues, possible changes. They also recommended hotels - all of which were very good, indeed.

I don't remember the rates at this point, only that I thought the rates were very reasonable. Once we had our driver, he was available to us any time - and in fact seemed disappointed that we didn't use him while we were at Tea Trails.

Here is a link to our photos: www.marlandc.com/Sri-lanka-2007

Do you have 8 days or 18 days - your title says one, your post says the other. More time is better!

739union

I tried to edit but alas we are only there for 8 days. Thank you for the information, going to keep digging.

Smeagol

We too used BSL - they were very good ( you have to be persistent with emails sometimes)

CaliforniaLady

To Kathie and Smeagol, and others who have used BSL, here's q question: If you have a non-driver day, such as in the tea country, or a national park, do you still pay BSL the full driver price for the day?

Kathie

They figure that into the overall price.. The driver remains available to you, even if you do't use him. But you also have a mileage allowance, so if you aren't using the driver, you also aren't using mileage. So it isn't s simple formula of $X per day.

CaliforniaLady

Thanks, Kathie!

Smeagol

You can also "release". The drivers as well so you don't pay for them. When we had 3 nights at the beach he dropped us off on the Friday and came back on the Monday. We didn't pay for him for those 3 days as we knew we wouldn't use him.

susiesan

I used Camlo Lanka Tours for a driver/ car for 10 of the 15 days we were touring the country last February. We released the driver when we got to Mirrissa, stayed there 2 nights, took a taxi to Unawatuna for 3 nights, then driver picked us up last day and droves us from Una to Columbo for day city tour, then to the airport for an evening flight.

I would use Camlo Lanka again if I were to return to Sri Lanka. Very professional company, very responsive.