Galle Road Hotels & Shopping, Colombo

Trip Start Aug 31, 2003
1
66
Trip End Sep 01, 2009


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Flag of Sri Lanka  ,
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Galle Road - this road seems to be the main place in Colombo City.

My first night accomodation was booked into Taj Samudra. This place is great. I got a great deal online for $66 and then the hotel upgraded me to an executive floor.
Nice big swimming pool, with gym and 40 degree Jacuuzi for some extra hot hydrotherapy.
Despite being quite far away from almost everything. It is just a 5-10 minute walk to the embassies and a few more minutes walk to Crescat shopping mall.
If you can afford it, its a great place to stay. King size bed, sofa and arm chair in room. It was a really love place to relax.
Internet in Taj hotel is 5 minutes for Rs65 (lkr), so its way over priced.

Local internet prices are between Rs40-60 an hour.

Galle Face Hotel - this hotel is right next door to High commission of India and I have heard they do fantastic buffets.
The old wing has larger rooms than the newer wing. So is a good deal, for the budget prices available on the net.

Holiday Inn - is just between Taj Samudra and Galle Face (on a side road). Not that great reviews online, seems quite over priced.

The nearest shopping mall to these hotels is Crescat. Its just across the road from India High Commission, 2 minute walk.
Really modern, air conditioned mall, with an excellent Food Court in the basement. Plus a supermarket with a nice deli meat counter.
Its quite hard to recognise, I walked right past it twice..look for Deli France..right next door to Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

Further down this long, long road you come to Renuka Hotel.

Take an auto rickshaw to get to a cheaper part of the road (Rs100-200) and you will find McDonalds.
They even have BIG MAC here in Sri Lanka. a big mac meal is Rs290, the fries were really fresh and welcoming.

Majestic City - Shopping Mall. So far on my trip this is the most affordable local mall here. It has one screen cinema, KFC, Pizza Hut, mobile phone shops. Great hand bag shops. Food Court on lowest floor with Malaysian, Thai etc.
It also has western Lingerie shops, lots of shoe shops.

I am currently staying at the only budget hotel I have found. I am beginning to like it more each day.

Pearl City Hotel - 2 minutes walk from Majestic City Mall.
This budget hotel is Rs3300 a night, with AC, mini fridge, TV. I have not seen or heard any mozzies.

Just around the corner I am sitting in Surf n' Play internet shop, for Rs60 an hour. Fast internet.

average meal cost Rs200
average soft drink cost Rs60
Pepsi bottle 1.5 litre Rs115
auto rickshaw - tuk tuk - everything seems to be about Rs200. airport magazine set price at Rs30 per km, but you must have to haggle alot to get that price.
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