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“A good experience visiting Sri Lanka, although it is...”

written by smcwatt on 23/07/2007

Good Points
Taj Exotica is in a beautiful location overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Reception area is also most welcoming.
Food in the hotel was excellent and a good choice.
All staff were very friendly and attentive.

Bad Points
Hotel has not recovered well from the Tsunami.
Very tired decor and it needs a good lick of paint.
Not all facilities were open, such as restaurants and lounges.
Local beach and town are the pits due to the preponderance of hawkers and beggars. These people can be very intimidating and don't take no for an answer very easily.
Travelling anywhere in Sri Lanka by road is a death defying experience.
The journey from the airport at Colombo to Bentota is the worst 3 hours ever spent in a minibus.

General Comments
A good experience visiting Sri Lanka, although it is unlikely I will ever return.

Taj Exotica came highly recommended by various friends who had visited prior to Tsunami. Unfortunately Taj did not come up to expectation and basically requires some investment on the infrastructure to re-establish it's former eminent position. On returning home, we noted that our tour operator Kuoni have downgraded the Taj Exotica two grades from deluxe to first class and I believe this reflects our experience of this hotel.

I am not sure if anything can lessen the impact on travel, although I understand a new motorway is under construction?

Regarding the hawkers and beggars, this is the price you have to pay when visiting third world countries, although there was a consensus that our experience in Sri Lanka was the worst for many years.