JOLLYDEE13

I am going to spend 7 days with my sister in Sri Lanka, she lives in another country so will be meeting there. Then she needs to go home and I will spend 4 days near a beach. Would like to do something special on 6th feb...
I have tried to do some research on Sri Lanka, checking things out myself, investigating through tour operators but my head is bursting to be honest. Leave early Feb...
Has anyone recently used Boutique Sri Lanka?
they have suggested an itinerary such as this: Can anyone tell me if this is a good price?

04th February Arrival transfer from the Airport to Negombo – approx. 30 mins drive
Overnight Jetwing Lagoon, Negombo

05th February After breakfast, transfer to the Cultural Triangle – approx. 4.5hrs drive
On the way, visit Dambulla Cave Temple
Dinner and Overnight Habarana Village, Habarana

06th February After early breakfast, excursion to Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
In the afternoon, visit a typical village, an interesting excursion where you travel in a bullock cart to experience the real traditional
Rural village life through paddyfield. You will enjoy this unique journey on a bullock cart, catamaran, and on a tuk tuk
Dinner and Overnight Habarana Village, Habarana

07th February After breakfast, visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa
Evening safari at Minneriya National Park
Dinner and Overnight Habarana Village, Habarana

08th February After breakfast, transfer to Kandy – approx. 2.5hrs drive
On the way, visit a spice garden in Matale
Overnight Theva Residency, Kandy

09th February After breakfast, sightseeing in Kandy including Temple of the Tooth, Botanical Garden in Peradeniya, local markets
And witness the cultural show
Overnight Theva Residency, Kandy

10th February After breakfast, 1 guest (sister) leaves for the Airport – approx. 3.5hrs drive
The other guest will head to Ella, via Nuwara Eliya
On the way, visit a functional tea plantation and a tea factory and the city of Nuwara Eliya
Overnight Misty Hills, Ella

11th February After breakfast, sightseeing Ella including little Adam’s peak, 9 arch bridge, Ella gap and Dowa Buddhist Temple
Overnight Misty Hills, Ella

12th February After breakfast, transfer to Galle – approx. 5.5hrs drive
On the way, visit Rawana falls
Overnight Amari Galle, Galle
DRIVER RELEASED

13th/14th/15th February Relax on the beach.
Following excursions are possible:
-Visit the Galle Fort and a turtle hatchery
-An excursion to Mirissa for whale watching
-A boat ride in Madu Ganga

16th February After breakfast, leave for the Airport – approx. 3hrs drive
(Your driver will provide transport for the departure from Galle to the Airport)



Accommodation:
The cost for accommodation will be USD 2052.00 including all taxes.

Above rate includes:
04th to 05th February 2018 (1 night) Jetwing Lagoon, Negombo – a small luxury hotel
1 Deluxe Double room on Bed & Breakfast basis

05th to 08th February 2018 (3 nights) Habarana Village, Habarana – a 3 star category hotel
1 Superior Double Room on Half Board basis (dinner & breakfast)

08th to 10th February 2018 (2 nights) Theva Residency, Kandy – a lovely boutique hotel located in Kandy
1 Deluxe Double room on Bed & Breakfast basis

10th to 12th February 2018 (2 nights) Misty Hills, Ella – a standard category hotel. Nice view from Upper Floor suites
1 Upper Floor Single room on Bed & Breakfast basis

12th to 16th February 2018 (4 nights) Amari Galle, Galle – a good quality 4 star category hotel overlooking ocean.
1 Deluxe Ocean View single occupancy on Bed & Breakfast basis



Transport
Cost for transport for an air-conditioned car with an English speaking driver from 04th to 12th February 2018 and again for the departure transfer to the Airport from Galle
on 16th February 2018, a separate transfer on the 10th February from Kandy to the Airport, fuel charges, driver’s subsistence and his meals, driver’s accommodation, where accommodation
is not provided by hotels including all taxes – USD 930.00


Cost does not include the following;
-Porterage and tipping
-Meals not mentioned
-Expenses of personal nature
-Escort guides in the cultural triangle and in Kandy
Sigiriya USD 30.00 per person
Dambulla Cave Temple USD 13.00 per person
Polonnaruwa USD 25.00 per person
Village Tour USD 20.00 per person
Temple of the Tooth USD 15.00 per person
Botanical Garden USD 10.00 per person
Cultural show USD 10.00 per person
Turtle Hatchery USD 5.00 per person
Whale watching USD 90.00 per person

Kathie

That is a reasonable itinerary for such a short trip, but be aware that you have very little time in each place, certainly not enough time to do all of the activities listed. You will have to make choices about your priorities.

crellston

It is around five years since we were in Sri Lanka but that seems outrageously expensive to me. Maybe those are very luxurious hotels or maybe there has been massive price inflation in Sri Lanka, either way, I would get an alternative quotation from another operator.

annhig

Do you know how much each of the hotels is costing, Jollydee? I note that one of the hotels you will be staying in - the one in Kandy - is the Theva residency, which we stayed in as well, and was really lovely, with terrific food, so it looks as if your trip will be at a similar price point to ours.

Crellston - we used BSL and set them a limit of approx £100 a night, for our 12 night trip, and including the driver [which I think was about £250] our bill would not have come to much less than this, and that was 5 years or so ago. So I don't think that this is way off. Do I remember that you used a different agency that you weren't so happy with, or have I misremembered? However, now I read it again, I see that the driver is on top and seems to be a lot more expensive than ours was, but of course fuel costs may well have gone up in the last 5 years.

Katie - we had a not dissimilar amount of time in each place, and it worked pretty well for us. We managed to do all of the things listed, so far as I remember.

JOLLYDEE - SL was one of the loveliest and most interesting places we ever went to, and we often talked about going back but never got there. I hope you love it as much as well did.

JOLLYDEE13

Thanks for your responses so far, can anyone else recommend a tour operator that I can get a quote from? I am still waiting for travel agent in UK to get back to me.

crellston

Hi Annhig.

Firstly, so sorry to learn of your recent loss. My heartfelt condolences.

You don’t misremember, we did have a less than satisfactory experience on our trip to SL with Reddot. Jollydee, click my screen make for a trip report back in 2011 or 12 I think. Maybe we were unlucky, but we were not impressed with them. Others we met were of the same opinion, some were very pleased. I think a lot is down to the luck of the draw with the driver/guide. Reddot are UK based as well as SL.

If I remember correctly, we too were working on a price of around £100 per day. This trip seems to be coming in at around £190 per day which is why I suggested it seemed expensive. We did stay in probably lower end accomodation, so maybe that is where the difference arises.

annhig

crellston, thank you so much. You, and so many others, have been very kind.

<<If I remember correctly, we too were working on a price of around £100 per day. This trip seems to be coming in at around £190 per day which is why I suggested it seemed expensive. >>

Are you including the driver and car in this? the cost of the accommodation is $2050 for 11 nights, [$186 per night or £140] with a further $930 for the driver and car i.e. approx $3000/ £2256 total which I make £225/night.

When we both went, £100 a night went a long way! I suspect that to get the same standard of accommodation, you need a pay quite a bit more now.

crellston

Annhig - I was taking a simpler route $2050 +$930= $2980/1.3 / 12 =£191

A different number of days and a variance in the exchange rate perhaps. I think you are probably correct, prices do seem to be on the increase there. As I recall, I did get BSL to quote but found them to be more expensive than Reddot.

JOLLYDEE13

Thankyou, I will checkout reddot.

Kathie

But a number of people here had serious problems with Reddot.

crellston

Check out reddot by all means Jollydee, but as I alluded to in my previous comments, I did have significant problems with the during our trip. TR is here http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-curry.cfm Communication and organisation was terrible, the guide and car were not good and both ended up being repalced. Things may have improved but I would do some serious checking on them before committing. TA may have some more up to date info or experiences

I would check our Sartoric’s TR here http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-sri-lanka.cfm I think she went the route of booking accomodation and transport separately. If I were to ever return to SL, I think tha is probably the way I would go. In fact the last two weeks of our trip we relied on hiring taxis on the spot and public transport.

annhig

JOLLYDEE - we booked through BSL due to the recommendations that I found here and we were very pleased. The driver was informative and reliable, the accommodation was always available when we arrived, and was as booked, we were treated very well everywhere we went and the driver was available to iron out any slight problems. BSL checked up on the first day whether we were happy, and were available by phone if we ever had a problem.

This may be a case where paying probably only slightly more brings big dividends.