We arrived at Colombo Airport from Shanghai at around 7:30PM, and our flight the following morning to Doha was at 10:50AM. So we were faced with a ~15 hour layover, where ideally we would have stayed near the airport. However, based on my research there aren't any decent hotels near the airport, so we instead…
Continue reading: Review: Hilton Colombo
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Do you know what the maximum length of stay that is eligible for a transit visa is?
I can highly recommend "The Gateway Airport Garde" if you are looking for a Hotel near the Airport!
It is a great idea to return to Sri Lanka and spend some time there, as it is a fantastic country with wonderful people and nature. I was there in 2014 for six weeks and got to know a big part of the country. But please don't just visit Colombo or Negombo, the "beach destination" next to Colombo. The city is not nice at all and one day in Colombo sure will be enough according to my experiences while the rest of the country is really worth visiting!
Viele Grüße, Tim
The best Hotel in Colombo is the Galle Face Hotel . It's the " Raffles "of Sri Lanka and the most historic . It's completed its major upgrade.
The club lounge is mostly just re-purposed hallway - its a bit odd, though it does have good views and the food is great. I've also found that arranging a transfer through the hotel is a good option, especially if you are arriving after midnight when Ubers can dry up.
I was there in February and it was being remodeled and the room was dated, but tidy. That being said, the staff was amazing in directing you around the construction zones and I'm pretty sure that some even addressed me by name. I have no idea how that happened. As a Hilton diamond we were upgraded to a suite with great views. The breakfast buffet food was delicious, especially the fish curry. The lounge evening spread was small but enough to make a light dinner. The lounge servers were terrific with prompt refills. I agree the pool is a trek, but it's a large pool with several canopy covered lounge beds. My biggest regret is that we used HHonors points, but could only stay 4 days due to our schedule. So we missed out on the 5th night free. That's like losing a turn in the points game. Anyway, my wife and I really enjoyed our stay and would definitely return.
There are certainly some nice beachfront resorts in Negombo if all one wishes to do is overnight between flights. I generally stay in Negombo on my last night, regardless. It's much closer to the airport, though if it only took you 45 minutes each way, I'd say you made pretty good time.
Two things:
"The Hilton is a bit dated from the outside, as you might expect." - why would you go with that expectation?
"You have to take an overpass to cross the road." - so a bridge, right?
I stayed at the Colombo Swimming Club earlier this year which was outstanding
It's next door to the new Hyatt
The location is great and it overlooks the ocean
I think it cost US $95 a night
It's a private club so you need to belong to one of their reciprocal Clubs,check their website
There is a fixed price for taxis to and from the Airport
Pay the extra 300 rupees to go on the expressway
Tell the driver that you want to go on the expressway ,if you say the freeway you won't go on the expressway ,it's different
Generally speaking an overpass is to get you 'over' an obstacle (road, railroad tracks, etc) while a bridge is typically some that spans a divide (building a bridge from from mainland to an island or across a large canyon).
@omgstfualready Not in the country which invented the language he's (mis)using 😉 Bridges go over roads here. Come & I'll show you.
I stayed at the Hilton at the beginning and end of my trip to Sri Lanka and found it quite nice, the staff in particular. The Galle Face Hotel, where I had drinks on a couple of occasions, is much nicer, but I'm sure it is also much pricier. I have a cousin who spent a month in Colombo for work. He and his wife stayed at the Cinnamon Grand and they both gave it high marks.
I'd highly recommend returning for a longer visit. I absolutely loved the country, food, people and sights. I only had time for Colombo, Kandy and Galle, each worth visiting for multiple days IMO. I hope to go back one day to see the rest of the country, especially the northern areas.
The Wallawwa in Kotugoda is fantastic and very close to the airport. I've stayed there twice. This saves you the long ride to and from Colombo and you will feel like you actually spent the night in Sri Lanka rather than South Bend, Indiana.
Staying at a generic chain hotel in Colombo, and delighting in its generic chain hotel food, is just too funny. Thanks for the entertainment value of your "travel" experiences!
Great review! One thing to note is that the coffee is vile because most coffee in Sri Lanka (locally grown) is, well, terrible. Stick with tea (which is excellent) when there!
I am going in October with a group of friends for 12 nights. A new hotel is on the beach negombo looks very nice HERITANCE only 4 or 5 stories 30 minutes airport. On return will overnight TAJ HOTEL. which based India n usually quite nice. Club floor top looking out to ocean. There are s couple very nice boutique hotels looked amazing Enjoyed your report. Do enjoy your site n have learned much. Cheers kerry Andrew Byrd
@ Lucky: I apologize if this has been covered in a previous post(s). When you are traveling with a friend how do you deal with the King size beds in all/most of the upgraded/premium rooms? I have been booking double beds when traveling with others that aren't my spouse and end up turning down suite upgrades 🙁 ...do you prefer a rollaway with a bigger room or a smaller room with proper beds?
I second staying at the Galle Face Hotel next time you're in Colombo. Not part of a loyalty program, but much more on par with the caliber of hotel you usually review. I stayed there a few years ago and both the room and service were top notch! Also a lot of local (albeit slightly imperial) character.
If you are just overnighting, there are several Negombo beach hotels located 25 minutes from CMB. Right on the sand and surf, certainly more charming, interesting, and more conveniently located than the sterile Hilton Colombo. You were fortunate if the drive from CMB only took 45 minutes, during rush hour I hit 90 minutes from airport to the city.
Not one of the big chains, but we loved Casa Colombo -- very chill vibe and great dining on property. I wouldn't hesitate to go back!
Hi,
I have stayed at this property 2 years ago, over the New Year's. The photos really brings back the great memories of this property - it's old, but the staff are great and friendly, especially there is a particular older gentlemen in the lounge that was really friendly and very proud to work in the hotel and talk about the Sri Lankan culture. I had too had a room with a view towards the Galle Face, great for firework watching.
As for the transfer service, I will only use it if really necessary as it is in my opinion run by a bunch of crooks. It is handled by an external tour company, Aban Tours, which happens to also be the franchisee for Europcar and they tried to cheating me of what was stated in the booking reservation for the chauffered car when booking online - really spoiled the whole atmosphere to fight with them on New Year's eve for the transportation back to the airport the next day on New's Year day.
Looking forward to returning to this property again soon.
Ben: How much did Uber cost you for the ride from the airport to the hotel.
There are a number of 4/5 star beach hotels only 20 mins from the Airport in a place called Negombo, they are very good. The area has bars and restaurants also.
In Colombo I would recommend the Cinnamon Grand as the Hilton is very tired now and urgently needs a make over.
I am curious - you mention taking Uber to/from the hotel. Did you use your US account, tied to your normal US phone? I ask because I have seen several places that mention updating your phone number to a local one if you are abroad for any length of time so that drivers can call you if required.
I believe that a Shangri-La is opening in Colombo next year. However, the opening date will likely be pushed back.
I was in Colombo a few months ago and doing research prior to the trip, it didn't look like any of the hotels in the central area were particularly nice. While others have mentioned Galle Face, I don't really like that traditional style of hotel, so I passed on that. In the end, I went with the Cinnamon Lakeside, which was very okay. The rooms are in need of refreshing and the "bones" of the hotel do seem quite old (elevators, bathrooms, etc.). Passable for the two nights I was there but certainly not luxurious by any means.
It looks tidy, but the decor is outdated. The lounge decor itself must be 15-years-old.
I agree with you, Hilton is a bit outdated and they need A renovation. There are other good hotels in colombo namely Cinnamon Grand, Kingsbury and the Galle Face Hotel (oldest hotel in Sri Lanka). There are few other boutique hotels around Colombo but I'd recommend tintagel.
I stayed at this hotel as a Diamond member. I was assigned a room on the 17th floor as well. I ended up with bug bites and believe me I know what Bed Bugs are. I have traveled extensively around the globe and I encountered one in Italy as well. I had bug bites all over my body, it was so bad, that I could not even open up my eyes, my body was bitten all over. I requested for a doctor or to be taken to a doctor. I was told that I had to pay a hefty fee out of my own pocket. I requested for an on call duty manager to come over and check out my bug bites.
I was suppose to go to Kandy, Sirigiya, Ella on the train ride, then to Galle and Welligama Bay. I had to end my trip short and pay a hefty last minute business class to Hong Kong on CX, paying over $1200 for that one segment and rearrange my First Class flight, which was a nightmare. I even wrote to the the previous GM as well as to Manesh Fernando who signed your letter. Not a single Hilton Honors was deposited to my account. Not a single penny, not a weekened offer, Nothing, Nada... The customer service sucked at this hotel. They could have cared less. They kept saying that i got the bug bites outside. The funny thing was that between leaving my beautiful over the water bungalow at Conrad Rangali resort in Maldives and getting on Emirates on my way to the Hilton in Colombo I had not gone anywhere else. I was at the Hilton the entire time where I was bitten like crazy by the bed bugs. I still like to get compensation for my problem. If a management team member from Hilton Colombo reads this, you can get back to me. Thank you, [email protected]
New Doubletree in Negombo due to open on Jan 19 '19 according to the billboard out the front. Will be a great option for transit or short-stay, on the beach side.