I going by Kandy and Sigiriya and need recommendations for places to stay. Any favorites? (Do they have websites?)

Don't know what your budget is LTZ but Kandalama is close enough to Sigiriya that I would stay there. Kandy House is an excellent choice for Kandy if you don't mind staying 20 minutes outside of town. Both have websites that you can google.

I don't know your price range, so I'm not sure whetehr my info will be of help to you. We stayed at the Kandalama near Dambulla, and it was about a 30 minute drive to Sigiriya. It was a wonderful place to stay and I highly recommend it. I'm sure they do have a website - google it.

Near Kandy, we stayed at the Kandy House which we loved. I'm not sure they have a website, but again, google and no doubt you'll find places that can book it.

Have you read my trip report? We were in Sri Lanka in November. If you search on Sri Lanka and my name, the report will come up.

Sigiriya:

Hotel Sigiriya - best view of the rock about 3 stars, newly renovated too.

Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana good 4 star about $150++

Kandalama Hotel great place but more pricey US$ 200++

There is also Sigiriya Village which is next to Hotel Sigiriya, the fabulous "Deer Park" in Giritale, Culture Club - under Connaisance group, and boutique class hotels Elephant Corridor and Vil Uyana.

Kandy:
Earls Regency - same owners as Kandalama under Aitken Spence Hotels

Le Kandyan - same owners under Connaisance

Tree of Life - great Ayurveda pplace

Victoria Golf Club has some nice rooms

Kandy House is a small upmarket place - Kathie knows best.

Thanks all so far. Sorry for not posting budget, as I had not decided on one yet Was more looking for places that people really liked.

Hi again....

If your looking for something close to your "namesake" I stayed in a rustic little bungalow near Sigiriya/Habarana some weeks ago, small bungalow with three non a/c rooms, clean beds/linens, "eco styled" clean bathrooms, 2 caretakers - a cook and helper who will cook you anything western/sri lanka/eastern for a few Rs marketing, which was very very good food. A river stream in backyard with elephants visiting sometimes at night - price was Rs 6000... (about US$50) Place was called Ethmansala

Very safe too... I was there with kids/family.

Ethmansala looks awesome! I'd like to take my family there. As it is, I am traveling alone this time so I am torn.

I staid in hotel Sigiriya, which was fine. At $45, I don't expect the world - and I didn't get it. But it was clean, the food was good, the AC functional and the massage simply wonderful. (My one minor negative would be that they do not serve alcohol during the full moon. The only night I was there...)

Queens hotel in Kandy is a must. At the price it is a steal, but even at significantly higher prices, I would appreciate the air of the British Empire that still hangs around that place.

Lessthanzero, please report on your trip for us!

You cannot buy alcohol anywhere (hotels, bars, clubs, liquor shops all closed) in Sri Lanka on a full moon day also know as the "Poya" day. The law is very very strict and no one will sell you on this day. However it is not illegal to consume your own.

Mohammed - that is not quite correct - we were in SL on a Poya Day and could not get a beer at a restaurant at lunchtime but at our hotel that evening, there was no problem.

Yes, there is at least some amount of wink-wink, nudge-nudge to this, as my mini-bar still contained beer.

While I like to have a beer at the bar when I get back from travels, Sri Lanka still has a leg up on Kuwait, where I quickly tired of fruit juice.

Trip report coming once I wade through my pictures.

Craig, If anyone sold you a beer in Sri Lanka on a Poya day it is illegal and they are taking a very big risk. Hotel room minibars are a bit of a grey area. If you are on a all inclusive package, some small boutique type hotels may serve you as they feel they are not writing an invoice on the day but it is risky. The law is not clear about this.

Personally I think it is a riduculous and draconian law which we are fighting to change or ease up on. Meantime my friends and I, we make it a point to have a private party every poya day!

Looking forward to you trip report,seems you budgeted well!

(next time your thirsty just gimme a call!)