sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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4 Bambalapitiya, Havelock

Town & Wellawatta

South of the centre, you realise some sav-

ings in both money and, at least on the side

streets, noise.

Mrs Marie

Barbara Settupathy’s HOMESTAY $

(Map p68; %258 7964; [email protected]; 23/2 Shrubbery

gardens, Col 4; r Rs 2000-4000; a) The vol-

uble Mrs Settupathy offers four clean and

tidy rooms (three with private bathroom).

There’s a sitting area with TV, a full guest

kitchen and a minuscule pebble courtyard.

To find the house, look for the Church of

Christ on the left as you come down Shrub-

bery Gardens.

Tropic Inn g UESTHOUSE $$

(Map p68; %250 6838; http://www.tropicinn.com; 19

De Vos Ave, Col 4; s/d from US$30/40; aW) A

new good-value guesthouse from the own-

ers of the well-run hotel of the same name

in Mt Lavinia. The five rooms here are in a

three-storey house that hides behind a gate

off a small lane. Everything is tidy and basic.

Hotel Sunshine HOTEl $$

(Map p68; %451 7676; http://www.hotelsunshine.lk;

5A Shrubbery gardens, Col 4; r fan/air-con from

Rs 2000/5000; aW) This small budget hotel

is tall and narrow and hemmed in by even

taller neighbours. It has 24 clean but plain

rooms at reasonable rates (cheaper ones are

fan-only), just a half-block from the sea. The

staff are professional and the address will

appeal to Monty Python fans everywhere.

oHavelock Place

Bungalow g UESTHOUSE $$$

(Map p68; %258 5191; http://www.havelockbungalow.

com; 6-8 Havelock Pl, Col 5; r US$110-140;

aiWs) This appealing guesthouse has

seven rooms in two sizes spread across two

colonial houses. Modern luxury is matched

with antiques that feel authentic to the peri-

od. It’s on a quiet lane and has lush gardens

and a small lap pool. The outdoor cafe is a

good place to while away the hours.

Casa Colombo BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$

(Map p68; %452 0130; http://www.casacolombo.com;

231 galle Rd, Col 4; r from US$250; aWs) This

vast 200-year-old mansion sits in isolated

splendour behind a row of shabby store-

fronts on Galle Rd. Protected from the noise,

it’s an urban refuge with huge old trees and

a rather infamous pink-hued swimming

pool. Designed by Lalin Jinasena, the 12

large suites are all decorated in colonial col-

ours that mix modern and minimalist with

the odd Moorish touch.

Ozo Colombo HOTEl $$$

(Map p68; %255 5570; http://www.ozohotels.com; 36-38

Clifford Pl, Col 4; r from US$110; aiWs) This

new hotel is a harbinger for the future of Co-

lombo’s waterfront. It has 158 rooms spread

over 14 floors of a boldly blue highrise across

from Wellawatta’s beach (and train sta-

tion). There are comforts and modern tech

gadgets aplenty, while the rooftop has the

perfect cafe/bar for sundowners.

4 Mt Lavinia

If you want a quieter alternative to Colom-

bo but don’t want to go as far as large beach

towns such as Negombo, Mt Lavinia is a

30-minute drive from Fort and has a mod-

est beachy charm. There are simple guest-

houses aimed at local weekend travellers

along the aptly named Hotel Rd as well as

De Saram and College Rds. Inspect a couple

before deciding. The Mt Lavinia train sta-

tion is central to all the hotels listed here.

Blue Seas Guest House g UESTHOUSE $

(Map p70; %271 6298; info@footstepsthrough

srilanka.com; 9/6 De Saram Rd; r Rs 2500-4500;

aW) This well-managed large house down

a quiet lane has 15 clean and spacious

rooms, some with balconies. There’s a large

sitting room and a garden. Budget rooms

are fan-only.

Haus Chandra BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$

(Map p70; %273 2755; http://www.plantationgroup

hotels.com; 37 Beach Rd; r US$50-70; aiWs)

Tucked along a quiet lane, this colonial-era

residence-turned-hotel has 30 rooms spread

across two buildings. Other options in-

clude a charming villa that sleeps six and

a suite with antique furnishings and a fully

equipped kitchen that’s a good choice for

tropical fantasies. The pool has ocean views.

Tropic Inn g UESTHOUSE $$

(Map p70; %273 8653; http://www.tropicinn.com; 30

College Ave; s/d from US$30/40; aiW) This

multistorey hotel features 16 clean rooms.

There’s an internal courtyard and many of

the rooms have a balcony. The engaging staff

are helpful.

Mount Lavinia Hotel HOTEl $$$

(Map p70; %271 5221, 271 5227; http://www.mountlavinia

hotel.com; 100 Hotel Rd; r US$120-150; aWs)