Cost of tours

Hoping to visit Sri lanka in September 09. Does anyone have an idea as to the cost of a 3 or 4 day tour booked locally as opposed to booking before we travel through the travel agent. Just trying to weigh up the options before booking.

Hoping to go to Club Dolphin. Anyone got views on this hotel. Should we upgrade to deluxe room or opt for cottage?

Thanks

Sue

Cost of tours

Hi Sue,

It depends a bit on the accomodation chosen. I%26#39;d say that for 4 days (3 nights) locally with guesthouses no need to pay more than Rs 30,000 which is around 300 dollar for a DOUBLE (2 persons sharing room and car). Consisting of 4 times 6,000 for a day travelling and 3 times 2,000 guesthouse BB basis. But for star-class hotels you pay more, and don%26#39;t forget the other meals and entrance fees too. So if an agent includes those things, dare to compare closely...

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Cost of tours

Hi,

I reckon Erik has just about hit the nail right on the head.

Don%26#39;t be put off by the title '; guest house'; when you were probably thinking, '; hotel ';.

I%26#39;ve stayed in many of these guest houses and they are generally of a high standard. Very comfortable , cosy and friendly.

The main thing they don%26#39;t have that the hotels do, is a swimming pool.

When you are paying for a hotel, you%26#39;re paying for the facilities that you or someone else needs.

When you%26#39;re paying for a guest house, you%26#39;re paying for a clean comfortable room for the night and breakfast . Then you%26#39;re off on the road again.

All the guest houses I%26#39;ve stayed in have a small restaurant for their guests and I%26#39;ve taken my evening meals in them, extra cost of course but cheap and I%26#39;ve never had a meal in one that I didn%26#39;t enjoy.Menu is limited compared to a big place but because of that everything is fresh from the market and prepared just for you.

AS Erik said, on top of that you have to pay for site entry fees, lunch out on the road somewhere and drinks.

The fee for the car/taxi van should cover, the driver%26#39;s labour/time. The fuel and the vehicle costs.

IUf you decide to go that way, several people on here can recommend drivers that they%26#39;ve known and trusted for years. Get a few quotes, make sure the driver is a Ceylon Tourist Board approved driver/guide and speaks good english, etc.

It%26#39;s a matter of personal opinion as to whether it%26#39;s best to use a big company or a self employed, tourist board approved driver/guide. I prefer the latter.

Rod.

Rod/Erik, just a quick question...

How do you know they are Tourist Board approved?? Do you just take their word for it??

Cheers.

Hi again,

Well you could but just like with anything in a 3rd world country sometimes it%26#39;s better to see the proof. So you could ask them to (e-)mail a copy of their current SL Tourist Board license...

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Hi Sue, I went to Sri Lanka and stayed at Club Hotel Dolphin for the first time last year and it was brilliant. We did our trips through harold tours. Anywhere you want to go and see they will take you for a very good price. Me and my partner were going to book our trips before we went with first choice but after looking on the forums we decided to book with harold tours when we got to the hotel. It was a bit cheaper than first choice and as they are locals they know where all the best places are. John who was our tour guide took us to a brilliant juice bar on the way back from our two day trip to Kandy that grew it%26#39;s own fruit on site in it%26#39;s gardens. John even bought us all drinks which was really nice of him. He didn%26#39;t hurry you up either. If you wanted more time to see certain things or go somewhere he would do this for you.

Regarding rooms, we were quite luckily that we got chance to stay in the deluxe room for our first week and then in a cottage the second week right on the beach front. I prefered the cottage as it was only a 30 second walk to the dining area as opposed to to staying in the deluxe room which was at the very end of the building. Be aware that if you stay in one of the cottages nearer the dining area you will be able to hear the entertainment that goes off at night. It didn%26#39;t bother me, but if you like an early night it might other you a little. I will upload some photos of the cottage and deluxe room for you to have a look at.

Katherine