Galle Face Colombo
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2 Galle Rd Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11-254-1010
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Traveler Photos of Galle Face Colombo
Travel Blogs by Travelers Who Stayed at the Galle Face Colombo
My trip to Sri Lanka wasn't quite spur of the moment, but myself and a couple of others had tagged along to what was originally going to be a cricket holiday, as England were playing Sri Lanka at the old sticky bally. I flew from Heathrow 4 days before my friends, as I wanted a full 2 weeks but also wanted to be back for Xmas. Shortly atfer landing I made my first mistake, getting a taxi from the first agent I saw, who tried to arrange my entire 2 weeks for me (I managed to talk him out of it...
Kandy, Sri Lanka alanjaques
A big sleep in til 830 today (a brief wake up to say goodbye to Denise & wish her happy travels down south).. I met Sandra for brekky at 9am and gave her a bag of things to take back to Melbourne for me -- its lightened my load by a couple of kilo's i think... am extremely grateful to her for doing me a huge favour! we said goodbye again and i packed by bag and checked out and hailed a tuk tuk to drive me to the historic Galle Face Hotel... Built in 1864 its a bit of an institution in Col...
Colombo, Sri Lanka chooklotto
Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday... I made my way down for breakfast on the veranda around 9 and had a feast... I had an omelette made for me with ham, tomato and onion with toast followed by a plate of fresh fruit... yummmm I then went to the business centre and sent an email home to friends and family... It was time for more pool side action so i hopped in my bathers and did the same as yesterday... It rained again later in the afternoon so i had a drink and read my book on the v...
Colombo, Sri Lanka chooklotto
It was getting close to Christmas which meant we were due in another town. That town was no ordinary town, that town was a city, and that city was a capital, and that capital was Colombo, with it's capital letter being 'C' (I'm struggling here). 23/12/03 Our last three hours in the back of Lasantha's van would take us back west to the coast. The sea was calling back it's two little water babies from the rocky grip of the mountains (really going for the Whitbread Prize now). And for the last t...
Colombo, Sri Lanka escapetherace
He Said: Nineteen hours after departing Cape Town, our Qatar Airlines (which had an amazing personal A/V system!) flight touched down yesterday in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Buddhism dramatically influenced the history of this teardrop-shaped island off the southern tip of India. Originally, an exiled Indian prince settled the island on a large scale in the fifth or sixth century B.C. Soon after, the Buddha spent a number of years teaching, preaching and setting up monasteries in Sri ...
Colombo, Sri Lanka globedecker
Landing before sunrise, i didn't expect it to be THAT hot. But when I left the plane, it was like walking through a thick curtain of hot and damp air and I had to gasp before I realized that this will pretty much be the weather condition for the rest of my stay in Sri Lanka. Bandaranayke airport was pretty small and we had our passports checked in a barrack next to the field before we were allowed to pick up our luggage. After that, it was on to the arrival hall, where the many touts were alr...
Colombo, Sri Lanka lxlove
After the sportsday headed up to columbo for teh weekend. It was an eventful weekend for so many reasons. We had to drop Ronali and her cousin off at a bungalow in the middle of nowhere so took the long way to columbo along the coast. There was some beautiful views fo the indian ocean along the way. The bungalow was at the end of this dirt track that made donegals roads look like motorways., and brought an unhappy tutting from the driver every time we went over a pothole, presumably fearing h...
Hambantota, Sri Lanka markstothers
Anyone who's ever had the foresight and good sense to involve themselves in one of Tom Dennison's excursions will be familiar with the catchphrase 'your mission, should you choose to accept it...' Such missives tend to be delivered with increased regularity as the event approaches and by a variety of means, including, I sometimes suspect, subliminal messaging. This particular instruction arrived by email to my desk one cold credit crunchy January Tuesday, coinciding with the daily internal mo...
Colombo, Sri Lanka vague-abonding
Historical Traveler Reviews of Galle Face Colombo
Shame about the construction!
We found that even though the rooms in the new wing of the hotel were very nice, it is definitely missing some Sri Lankan charm. Unfortunately, we weren't offered the level of friendly service that we've found in many other Sri Lankan hotels.
All said, the breakfast buffet was nice and the rooms were very nice. I have no doubt that this wing of the hotel will be lovely when it is complete. However, I do not think that it was worth what we paid and would possibly avoid until the construction is complete.
Great Location
First night checked into the Ocean View room which was comfortable, well designed and had a nice bathroom; the only problem was that if you want to see the ocean you almost had to stick your head out of the window.
Next morning we checked out the other rooms in the Regency wind and found that the smaller ones ( quite small ) had great views of the ocean. You could lie in bed and watch the waves come in. The only problem was that there was not much space for moving around.
So we checked out the suite, which was fabulous. An enormous room, with a sitting area as you came in and then the bed. large windows gave a marvellous view of the ocean and the hotel lawns. Th bathroom comes with a jacuzzi.
Also the Regency wing comes with a butler service.
The verandah is wonderful, and that's where you get breakfast and tea. The breakfast is fine, enough to keeping you going all day.
They have a sea food restaurant and a new upmarket fusion place. though we did not get round to eating at either of them.
The staff is wonderful; friendly and helpful. The hotel is planning to renovate all the rooms by next year so the shabbiness that many reviewers refer to should be gone.
It does have the best location for a hotel in Colomba and unles you are the type that prefers the glass and steel structures this is still the place to stay, and it is getting better all the time.
Price: The Ocean View Rooms were for $138 and the Suite for $230 ( discounted ).
Warning: please remember it pays to pay in USD as the hotel exchange rate is 5-7% below the market rate.
Worn out, but great travel desk
Loved it
Wonderful experience
Just a point. Beware of men who hang around outside the hotel who say that they work there and will show you round the city as they are 'on their break' You will be ripped off. We were new in Sri Lanka, tired and vulnerable, and it probably showed.
Great place to stay!
Would recommend it to anyone visiting Colombo.
Comfortable Old-Fashioned Charm
the general atmosphere was of bygone luxury. Not too much had been updated, but it hadn't been allowed to moulder away either. You could easily spend hours happily relaxing in the terrace bar - OK, I admit it, we did. Breakfast was splendid, a huge amount of choice and excellent quality.
It was lovely to be right by the sea while staying in the city.
No question about it - we'll stay here again on our next trip to Sri Lanka.
Great location and ambiance
Great Treasures
Staying at this hotel is all about enjoying the ambience of the place and its fantastic location on the Indian Ocean. It is beautiful to be able eat your dinner at a table on the grass and your breakfast on the wide verandahs, both with uninterrupted views of the turquoise sea. Unfortunately, the service doesn't match the setting and can be very frustrating at times.
The interior of the hotel has had few "uplifts" and while it is well worn still retains the charm, as well as most of the furnishings, from its heyday. Rooms are large and comfortable, but don't be surprised if the cupboard door doesn't stay shut. Bathrooms can be an adventure with both water temperature and pressure rather erratic.
Worth it for the sense of a bygone time, but not if you want everything (including the staff) to work.
Is there anywhere else?
Just get yourself a Panama hat, learn to drink Pims and sit on the Terrace Bar of the Galle Face looking out over the Indian Ocean. There can be few more graceful and peaceful experiences in the world.
Big (old-fashioned) rooms are clean and comfortable. The water pressure for the showers on the top floor is not too good, but who cares! This is about atmosphere. Let the breeze cool/warm your wine on the ocean-front restaurant and then fall asleep with the sounds of the ocean lapping onto the hotel walls below you.
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