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Colombo, Negombo and Around

International flights arrive at a place called Katunayake, between 30 minutes and an hour north of Colombo in day time traffic. Therefore Colombo itself is not an obvious choice for a first or last night if you are heading north to the Cultural Triangle or inland towards Kandy.

Negombo, a busy town and beach resort, or surrounding smaller towns are a much closer bet. Negombo has a first class hotel in the The Beach, a recent five star development and a lovely, tasteful, luxury hotel. For simple overnight stays or 'journey breakers' there are a range of more modest properties we can suggest in Negombo too. The Ranweli Village is located to the north is located just north of Negombo and is great for families and those looking for a more relaxed and playful environment.

Perhaps a more interesting alternative is the unique and wonderful, Horathapola Coconut Estate, a three bed-roomed mansion and a peaceful oasis to bring you as far away from the cares of the city as you could wish to be. The stunning Hideaway is in a similar vein and wonderfully private. The outdoor bathrooms with jaccuzis are particularly sumptuous. At under 30 minutes drive, The Wallawwa has rightly taken it's place as the only truly boutique property within easy reach of the airport. This 12 suite hotel offers real luxury in a beautiful garden setting.

If you do wish to stay in Colombo itself and the shopping is excellent – we recommend the Galle Face Hotel and its sister hotel, Galle Face - The Regency, for a slice of history and an atmospheric place to base oneself while exploring the city. The Park Street Hotel offers a more exclusive environment for those who prefer smaller properties.

There are a range of larger '5 star' style properties in Colombo that we can suggest depending on the nature of your booking.

For the adventurous traveller who is happy to continue the journey a bit further afield on arrival, The Mudhouse is under two and a half hours drive from the airport and a sure fire way to totally immerse yourself in the real Sri Lanka from your first day.