mcleod inn, kandy

has anyone recent experience of staying in this place? I found a great review dated 2004. has good write up in rough guide, especially rooms with view overlooking lake.

we would be staying early august, how cool does it get then?

how do i thank the person who replied to my last topic - didnt see a ';reply'; option!!

thank you!

mcleod inn, kandy

HI,

I stayed at the Mcleod Inn a few years ago, so unfortunately , not lately.

When I stayed there I was very happy with the room. Spotlesly clean and modern en-suite. As you said, great view from the big picture window of the lake and Temple.

Small balcony from the lounge which is a beautiful spot to sit out with a cold beer late evening.

Couple of shops almost next door which are worth seing. A batik factory, where you can go down to the workshops and have the methods described to you while you watch the work being done. No pressure to buy.

Also a good gift shop where there%26#39;s a small gem workshop attached and you can watch the gemstones being cut and polished.

My wife bought some jewellery there including a couple of saphires which she had valued in the Uk which told us she%26#39;d paid less then half the Uk retail.

Downside, It%26#39;s at the top of a big hill so a trishaw needed to get back from the town. After my stay, I didn%26#39;t go back for a couple of reasons.

One, it wasn%26#39;t a personal hands on sort of place. Efficient but not over friendly, which is a rarity in Lanka.

Reason two, an aquaintance of mine was touring with a Sri Lankan guy as a mate and the management said they were full. They got the impression, he didn%26#39;t want the Sri Lankan as a guest. They found a place just along the road and later found that other guests had arrived un-announced and been given rooms. I know lots of the tourist industry there pander to westerners to the detriment of locals but any hint of rascism and I%26#39;d rather be somewhere else.

Rod.

mcleod inn, kandy

Rod tells the story of a Sri Lankan being told the McLeod Inn was full and believes this is due to racism.

I lived in Sri Lanka for five years - you may call this racism under another name, but in fact the reason the Sri lankan traveller was refused a room may very well be because most places in the country charge foreigners more than locals.

A practice, by the way, that is widespread throughout the ';developing world';.

Shall we call it the ';Robin Hood tendency';?

and for all that, although I have not been to the McLeod Inn, Sri Lanka is still the most wonderful place to visit. It has more small hotels, converted estate houses et al, than anywhere else I know. Sue Marsh West Sussex, England.