As a first timer in Sri Lanka, we didn’t have much expectation. We went there with an open mind and came back with lots of memories and stories to tell. Every country we have visited has its fair share of pros and cons. Sri Lanka is no different.

Here is our list of 5 Things you will Love about family travel in Sri Lanka

  1. Not crowded

Sri Lanka is an island of just over 21 million people. Towns outside the capital city of Colombo are generally very laid back with plenty of wide open space for little ones to explore. We visited in January during peak season and it was still much less crowded than Bali in off season. In general locals are friendly with not too many aggressive vendors getting in your face.

  1. Generally kids friendly

Sri Lanka turns out to be a popular destination for families. We saw countless other travelling families from all over the world. There are plenty of activities to keep your little ones busy; from playgrounds at the park, to cultural shows and the pool and beaches.

It almost cost nothing extra to bring your kids here. Children under 12 do not have to pay visa on arrival, and can enter tourist sites free of charge. All restaurants will have a few curry-free options for little ones too so eating out is never a drama. However, change rooms and high chairs are very hard to find.


Booking.com

  1. Every region offers something unique

Not to mention the weather is very different from tropical climate in the Southern beach towns to pleasant and cool weather in the highlands. In Sri Lanka you get a combination of culture, relaxation and adventure all in one! It makes you feel you’ve been transported to a different country. It is never boring as the country offers such diversity from ancient ruins to mountain hiking to beaches and safari rides at the national park.

  1. Dining in fancy hotel is generally affordable

Afternoon tea at 5 stars Galle Face Hotel in Colombo is value for money at only $16AUD! In Nuwara Eliya, we ate dinner (mains around $10) and breakfast (bread start at 80cents!) at the 5 stars Grand Hotel. The meal prices are much cheaper compared to what we pay in Australia’s food court. Do not eat at western chain food shop like pizza hut as it is a considered “a cool place” and considered a luxury.

  1. English is spoken everywhere

No need to worry about communication and language barriers. From tuk tuk drivers, waitresses, hotel staff and people you meet along the way all will speak good English.

On the other hand here is our 5 Things to Hate about family travel in Sri Lanka

  1. Service is slow

Painfully slow. Long wait times (over 45 minutes) for meals in restaurants outside of Colombo are common. This is especially frustrating when travelling with little ones who can easily get bored. Some local businesses are well run like AK Ristoro Italian restaurant in Ella, but this can be a rarity. If possible research restaurants beforehand through Tripadvisor.

  1. Choosing Accommodation is confusing

There will be many choices from budget to luxury. Many will have photo shopped “hotel views” which can be very misleading. As always we prioritise on spacious rooms with additional bed for our son. Cross check booking sites to ensure room descriptions are correct. Booking.com, Tripadvisor and hotels own website will be a good source. We saw one hotel listing their room as having 5 queen beds at 19sqm?!!

Many newly established “boutique” hotels will have nice modern facilities but unfortunately not well maintained and service is not yet up to standard. Some hotel reception was left unattended and we had to wait for almost an hour for towels to be delivered to our room (no excuse when they only have 15 rooms). Stick to established hotels to get better service.

Booking.com

  1. Stray dogs

Commonly found animals in Sri Lanka include monkeys, squirrels, lizards, variety of birds and… stray dogs! They seem to be everywhere; in smaller towns, hiking trails, train stations, even in some resorts. Even though they are not bothering tourists we are uncomfortable knowing the fact they may carry a disease. We always had to monitor our son whenever he’s approached by a stray dog as his instinct is to pat and cuddle it.

  1. Taxi.. where are you?

Taxis are not as common as you would expect. In most places you will have to rely on tuk tuks. Tuk tuks are a hit with the little ones and can be quite fun – they are much smoother ride compared to Bajaj we grew up with in Indonesia. But at times you just wish to have an air conditioned vehicle free from pollution. Before going on a tuk tuk, sharpen your bargaining skills as many will try to overcharge foreigners. When outside Colombo we opt to hire a private driver. We used the services of Genuine Srilankans tour for 12 days. Our driver Sujith “Mr Lucky” was friendly, knowledgeable, reliable and very attentive to our then 3 years old son. We chose to hire a Toyota Hiace van, which was very comfortable and spacious. Rates charged was reasonable and we were not required upfront payment. If you’re planning to explore Sri Lanka we recommend the services of Genuine Srilankans.

  1. Not stroller friendly

Similar to most developing countries, not all roads in are in great condition. Ramp access is also nonexistent so you will need to do a fair bit of stroller lifting to go over steps. During our 2 weeks stay we hardly saw any strollers as all locals hand carry their babies and toddlers.

2 comments

Comments are closed.