15 Gorgeous Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka: Check In, Bliss Out!
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Planning a luxury trip to Sri Lanka – lucky you!
The island nation dishes up an exotic mix of beguiling beaches, tea-covered hills, ancient cities and cultural treasures – along with Kandy’s fascinating Temple of the Tooth and the insanely scenic train ride from Kandy to Ella.
Then there’s the pleasant task of deciding where to stay in Sri Lanka – with so many seriously beautiful hotels to choose from!
We spent a month traveling around the country, staying everywhere from 5-star beach resorts and boutique villa hotels to eco-chic lodges with private pool suites.
Here’s our curated list of the 15 best luxury hotels in Sri Lanka – complete with reviews, the pros and cons, and insider tips on which room to book.
Hotels we’d book again in a heartbeat!
Uh-oh, you want us to pick just three? Almost impossible! But these are the stays we still rave about!
- BEST CULTURAL TRIANGLE ESCAPE → Uga Ulagalla for private-pool villas (and monkeys in the trees!)
- BEST VILLA HIDEAWAY → Why House for tropical gardens, fabulous food and a country-house feel
- BEST BEACH RESORT → The Fortress Resort for a knockout infinity pool and seaside luxury
We’re visiting Sri Lanka again in a few months. Will this list change? Quite possibly. Stay tuned!
Contents: Best Sri Lanka hotels for a deluxe stay
Top hotels in Sigiriya and Anuradhapura
Deluxe hotels in Ella and Central Highlands
5-star hotels in Colombo
International flights arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, where several of the country’s finest hotels await.
Take a day or two to recharge before starting your tour of the rest of the island.
1) Shangri-La Colombo
Heat and traffic chaos may reign outside, but inside the Shangri-La Colombo, all is cool and serene.
When we arrived, a hostess in a sari gracefully led us through the glittering glass-walled lobby, illuminated by an enormous lotus-shaped Swarovski chandelier.
We were also delighted to discover a rooftop pool – ideal for a late afternoon swim after a day of sightseeing.
Rooms and suites
All 541 rooms and suites, decorated in soft hues of teal and ivory, offer the same level of comfort – from silky-soft linens and marble bathrooms with rain showers right down to mother-of-pearl amenity boxes (complete with complimentary manicure scissors!), gold-embossed stationery and a USB hub.
If you’re booked in Club Level, check-in is done in your room.
Room tips
- Swing for a Club Level room – You’ll get access to the Shangri-La’s Horizon Club lounge – one of the best we’ve experienced. The evening spread is a standout, with salads, cheeses, lamb tarts, shrimp satay and more, plus unlimited pours of fine South African wines (a rarity in Sri Lanka).
- Staying longer or with family? – The hotel’s serviced apartments come with kitchens, washers and dryers.
The hotel has three restaurants
Breakfast is a lavish international buffet, with everything from Sri Lankan specialties to classic eggs.
For dinner, we enjoyed Shang Palace, the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant. The Peking duck is a must!
A luxurious place to land
- It’s an easy introduction to Sri Lanka – With all the Western comforts, it was the perfect spot for us to shake off jet lag after a long international flight and gently ease into the exoticism of Sri Lanka.
- It suits almost everyone – Popular with business travelers, it works equally well for couples and families (with well-behaved children) on vacation.
- The location is convenient – It’s close to the colonial Colombo Fort district and the restaurants inside the Old Colombo Dutch Hospital. (Too tired to walk there? The concierge can arrange a complimentary tuk-tuk.)
Good to know
Later in the afternoon, the pool can get busy, and you may not find a free sun lounger.
Booking Shangri-La Colombo
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Excellent” 8.9/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.4/10
2) Galle Face Hotel
If you love grand old hotels with stories to tell, Galle Face Hotel is hard to resist.
Opened in 1864, this Colombo landmark sits right on the Indian Ocean, beside Galle Face Green. The staff are welcoming and helpful – and there’s a small army of them!
Steeped in history
The appeal isn’t shiny contemporary luxury. It’s the history and atmosphere.
Royalty, presidents, writers and Hollywood stars have all passed through the hotel’s doors. And with sweeping staircases, antique furnishings, sunset bagpipe serenades and a huge breezy oceanfront veranda, the hotel still serves up a delicious dose of old Colombo glamour.
Rooms and suites
The 156 rooms and suites are spread across two wings – the historic North Wing (formerly the Classic Wing) and the more modern South (formerly the Regency) Wing.
The North Wing is the hotel’s grand old heart, extensively restored in 2015. Think high ceilings, parquet or wood floors, dark mahogany furniture and plenty of heritage character.
Accommodations range from relatively simple city-view rooms to spacious sea-view rooms, suites and lavish heritage suites. Balcony Sea View Rooms and higher categories come with evening drinks and canapés.
Room tip
Your experience can depend quite a bit on the room you get, so an upgrade can go a long way. Request a sea-facing room in the historic North Wing, preferably with a balcony.
Fabulous saltwater swimming pool
It’s huge and right beside the ocean, with loungers overlooking the rolling waves.
Good to know
- Events can change the mood – The hotel is a popular venue for weddings and parties, which can put a dent in the otherwise genteel colonial atmosphere.
- Some areas feel dated – You may spot tired bathrooms, peeling paint or corners that could use some freshening up. It’s part grand old dame, part work-in-progress.
Booking Galle Face Hotel
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Excellent” 8.6/10
- On Expedia – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.2/10
Luxury hotels in Sigiriya and Anuradhapura
After exploring Colombo, we kicked off our circle tour of Sri Lanka by heading into the Cultural Triangle.
As the name suggests, this region is packed with historic and cultural attractions – many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites.
One treasure is Sigiriya.
Once crowned with a magnificent sky palace, this monumental 650-foot rock fortress is one of Sri Lanka’s most extraordinary sights. Climbing the stairs to the top – past giant sculpted lion’s paws and colorful frescoes – was a highlight of our trip!
Then there’s the sacred city of Anuradhapura, at the northern point of the Cultural Triangle, with its ancient stupas, monasteries and sacred Bodhi tree.
3) Water Garden Sigiriya
This is one of those 5-star hotels in Sri Lanka with a true sense of place.
Checking in at the open-air reception, we were struck by the view of the great rock fortress rising dramatically in the distance, about five miles away. Talk about a first impression!
Then there’s the setting.
Spread across 38 acres, Water Garden Sigiriya was designed with ponds and waterways inspired by the ancient water gardens of nearby Sigiriya.
Villas
There are 30 thatched-roof villas, scattered around the ponds and streams.
The one- and two-bedroom villas have separate living rooms and bedrooms, and many come with private turquoise-tiled plunge pools, screened by tall grasses for privacy.
- Interiors have a slightly Scandinavian-meets-60s-retro feel – Think black-and-white-striped tub chairs, scarlet drop lamps and cool stone floors softened with rugs.
- Bathrooms are huge – They come with egg-shaped tubs, glass rain showers and lovely cinnamon-scented bath products.
For early morning coffee or an afternoon pick-me-up, we loved having an in-room Nespresso machine, fresh milk in the mini-fridge and a jar of coconut cookies (replenished daily).
Room tips
- Ask for a Sigiriya view – Some villas have particularly good views of Sigiriya Rock.
- For more privacy, stay farther out – Villas farthest from the restaurant and main swimming pool feel more secluded.
- Book a Superior Deluxe or Duplex Twin Villa if a private plunge pool is important – Not every villa has its own pool.
Resort dining
Breakfast at the restaurant, overlooking the main pool, ran until 10:30 am when we stayed.
Perfect!
It meant we could beat the heat and climb Sigiriya Rock early one morning, then return for a delicious late breakfast of fresh-squeezed OJ, bakery treats, pancakes, fruit and eggs – all à la carte, with no buffet.
Why Water Garden is special
Peacocks strut across the grounds. And come dusk, egrets, spoonbills and hordes of other birds gather in the lagoon and waterways in front of the main swimming pool – we loved watching them.
It’s quite magical!
Good to know
- The resort is spread out – Golf buggies are available to ferry you around if you don’t feel like walking.
- The resort is secluded – A half-board plan (with breakfast and dinner included) is therefore a smart choice. The set dinner menu offers Sri Lankan and international dishes. Don’t miss the crab bisque if offered – it’s especially tasty!
- Wine is shockingly expensive – This was one of our bugbears at most of Sri Lanka’s top hotels. Imported wine is heavily taxed, which sends prices soaring. You might want to develop a taste for beer instead! (The local Lion Lager is good.)
Booking Water Garden Sigiriya
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.5/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
4) Uga Ulagalla Resort
There are few (if any) 5-star hotels in Anuradhapura itself. For a truly luxurious stay, Uga Ulagalla is the standout choice – a secluded eco-resort in the countryside outside the ancient city.
The resort is centered around a graceful 150-year-old mansion, which houses the restaurant and reception. It overlooks a large swimming pool – long enough to energetically swim laps.
Ulagalla is also eco-friendly, with a solar farm supplying half of its energy.
The property feels like a private nature reserve!
The 58-acre estate teems with peacocks, tortoises, troops of cheeky monkeys and monitor lizards. How can we forget the monkeys jumping on the roof of our chalet and swinging in the trees by the windows!
Kayaking on the neighboring lake reservoir at sunset, we spotted kingfishers, egrets and storks among the water lilies.
Chalets and villas
There are 25 thatch-roof villas at Ulagalla, built from biodegradable materials, spread far apart for maximum privacy.
All have their own private plunge pools. We love villa resorts with private pool suites – who doesn’t! And after a hot day of exploring temples and ancient sites, slipping into our pool was bliss.
The 19 standard Ulagalla Pool Villas have more than 850 sq. ft. of interior space (1,380 sq. ft. including the outdoor living areas). For more room, there are five 2,100 sq. ft. Deluxe Pool Villas and the enormous 3,343 sq. ft. two-bedroom Nikawewa Pool Villa.
Ours had a four-poster king bed, colonial-style furnishings (like beaten brass bedside lamps), a Nespresso maker and a bathroom with a glass shower overlooking the lush vegetation.
Each villa also comes with two free bikes for exploring the property.
Or you can call for a battery-powered golf buggy to whisk you to the restaurant or reception.
Room tip
For extra seclusion, ask for a pool villa hidden away in the jungle (farthest away from the main mansion) or overlooking the rice paddy fields.
Romantic dinners
Dinner is served in the open-air restaurant on the second floor of the main house mansion. It overlooks the surrounding greenery, and with the fans whirring overhead and candles glowing at night, the setting is decidedly romantic!
You choose from several 3-course set menus (all the same price).
Do try the local Sri Lankan curry. Ours arrived as a feast of more than a dozen little bowls, filled with beef, prawn, chicken, dahl and vegetable curries.
Good to know
As there no outside restaurants nearby, it makes sense to book on a half-board basis so breakfast and dinner are taken care of.
Booking Uga Ulagalla
Check rates and availability
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
Best hotels in Kandy
Sri Lanka’s second-largest city and the last capital of the ancient kingdom, Kandy is the southern gateway to the Cultural Triangle.
There’s lots to see and do, from visiting the famous Temple of the Tooth to strolling through botanical gardens, browsing colorful markets and walking in the forested hills.
We’ve rounded up our favorite luxury hotels in Kandy in a separate guide (hop on over there for details). Here’s a peek at two boutique gems in the leafy hills overlooking Kandy – peaceful enough to escape Kandy’s buzz, but close enough to zip into town by tuk-tuk.
5) The Elephant Stables
The Elephant Stables is an old colonial mansion, once home to an aristocratic family who kept elephants on the plantation.
Today, it’s a luxury boutique inn with a handful of renovated rooms and suites, a stand-alone cottage and even a luxury tent.
Then there’s the infinity pool. Set amid lush gardens with sweeping views over Kandy’s forested hills, it’s made for a post-sightseeing flop.
Booking The Elephant Stables
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.2/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
6) Kings Pavilion Luxury Hotel
Kings Pavilion Luxury Hotel has just nine rooms and suites. And they’re anything but cookie-cutter. Choose from spacious deluxe digs with private balconies or gardens to whopping 1,000+ sq. ft. suites, mixing contemporary comforts with plenty of Sri Lankan flair.
Our favorite part?
The infinity pool overlooking the valley. After a hot morning of temple-hopping, we can’t think of a better place to chill – except perhaps the spa, followed by dinner with a hilltop view.
Booking Kings Pavilion Luxury Hotel
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.7/10
- On Expedia – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.2/10
Deluxe hotels in Ella and the Central Highlands
Sri Lanka’s UNESCO-listed Central Highlands are a gorgeous swirl of emerald hills, misty rainforest, waterfalls and tea estates.
One of the highlights is laid-back Ella, which we reached aboard the scenic Kandy-to-Ella train – highly recommended! At 3,415 feet above sea level, Ella’s cooler climate is ideal for hiking and tea plantation tours.
Despite being beach lovers, we fell hard for Ella – it became one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka!
Other hill-country gems include Hatton, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya, nicknamed “Little England.”
7) 98 Acres Resort and Spa
Ella now has a handful of rather swish luxury hotels, including two brand-new stays – the uber-luxe Uga Ghiri and Newburgh Ella, cleverly converted from an old tea factory. Hop over to our guide for the full scoop.
But the most iconic? 98 Acres Resort & Spa.
Set on a working tea estate in the hills above Ella, it pairs knockout mountain views with eco-chic thatch-roof chalets. Some have private heated plunge pools, while Royal Deluxe Rooms have beds that roll onto the deck – breakfast in bed with a view, anyone?
The trail to famous Little Adam’s Peak starts here (we hiked it twice). There’s also a quiet resort pool, plus lively Ravana Pool Club for cocktails, DJs and infinity-pool fun.
With romance and a bit of a buzz, 98 Acres is a fun pick for younger couples – and anyone young at heart.
Booking 98 Acres Resort & Spa
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.1/10
- On Expedia – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.2/10
8) Thotalagalla
We’ve booked our second trip to Sri Lanka (can’t wait) and this is where we’ll be holing up for a few days in tea country next!
Perched high in the misty hills near Haputale, Thotalagala is an intimate heritage bungalow surrounded by emerald tea plantations, with sweeping mountain views.
The former 19th-century planter’s residence has been beautifully restored, with polished wood, period antiques and plenty of old-world colonial charm.
There’s also an infinity pool overlooking the hills. And the all-inclusive experience covers meals, drinks and afternoon tea, along with attentive butler-style service.
With all that pampering, we’re already picturing the end of the day – hiking boots off, gin-and-tonic in hand and a cozy fire crackling nearby.
Rooms and suites
There are just seven individually designed suites, each named after a notable figure from Sri Lanka’s tea-planting past.
They’re kitted out with four-poster beds, antique furnishings and spacious bathrooms, with plenty of character – no cookie-cutter hotel style here!
Booking Thotalagalla
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.5/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.8/10
9) Camellia Hills
We seriously debated staying at Camellia Hills on our next trip, but ultimately chose Thotalagala (#8 above) for logistical reasons – it’s a shorter drive to Galle, our next stop.
Still, Camellia Hills looks lovely. A bit of a hidden gem, it’s an intimate five-room boutique bungalow in the tea-fringed Castlereagh Valley, high in the hills near Hatton.
The country views are mesmerizing — mist-shrouded mountains and the blue waters of Castlereagh Lake.
Hike emerald hills and swim lengths in the garden pool. Relax by a crackling fire. And dine on excellent Asian-British fusion cuisine.
Booking Camellia Hills
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 10/10
Beautiful boutique hotels in Galle
Steeped in history, the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Galle is one of the country’s most enticing places to linger – with stylish shops, buzzy cafés and scads of new boutique hotels built within the Old Town as well as along the coast.
We’ve rounded up our favorites in our guide to the best hotels in Galle. Here’s a peek at three we especially like.
10) Why House
It’s 6:30 pm and cocktail hour at Why House!
We join the other guests for gin-and-tonics, hosted by the charming British proprietor, before a family-style dinner of fragrant Sri Lankan curries.
We loved feeling like we’d joined a country-house party in the tropics. No wonder Why House is one of our favorite luxury boutique hotels in Sri Lanka!
And what a setting! Bougainvillea, breadfruit and cinnamon trees fill the gardens. And a pool beckons for lazy afternoons.
The 10-room villa hotel isn’t on the beach. But Dalawella Beach and its turtle-friendly lagoon are close by – and Why House offers complimentary tuk-tuk rides there.
Booking Why House
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.7/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 10/10
11) Amangalla
For full-on luxury, Amangalla is a colonial treasure within the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort.
Once the Dutch headquarters in the 17th-century, the property has been meticulously restored by Aman Resorts.
The 28-room hotel oozes timeless charm with four-poster beds, teak floors and a refreshing lack of TVs. Outside, there’s a serene garden with a jade-tiled pool, surrounded by towering palm trees.
Add Amangalla’s indulgent spa and famously polished Aman service, and you’ve got the most luxurious place to stay within Galle Fort.
Booking Amangalla
Check rates and availability on its website.
12) The Fortress Resort and Spa
The 5-star Fortress Resort & Spa had us at its knockout oceanfront infinity pool – a vast sweep of blue seemingly melting into the Indian Ocean.
After weeks of touring, we were more than happy to flop by the pool, curl up in the hanging bubble chairs and walk the golden-sand beach.
And with Galle just nine miles away, it’s one of the best luxury beach resorts in Sri Lanka for travelers who want a little more than just sand and sea.
Booking The Fortress Resort
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated a “Wonderful” 9.2/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.4/10
A grand luxury Sri Lanka beach resort
13) Shangri-La Hambantota
If you like your resorts big and brimming with things to do, Shangri-La Hambantota delivers.
Sprawling across 143 tropical acres along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, it features an 18-hole golf course, three pools (including an adults-only one), a kids’ water park and loads of activities.
There’s even an artisan village, where you can try your hand at pottery, batik and wood carving, plus the Chi Ayurveda Spa for Ayurvedic treatments, aromatherapy and traditional massages.
Highlights
- There’s plenty of space to relax – You can always find somewhere great to flop. By the pool, attentive pool butlers bring drinks and fluff your cushions. Relaxing in the hanging birdcage chairs is equally blissful.
- The bicycle rides are fun – We enjoyed the hotel’s complimentary guided bike ride through a quiet Sri Lankan village, past a Buddhist temple, to a dramatic cliff overlooking the sea.
Rooms and suites
The 274 luxury rooms and suites are housed in three low-rise buildings, thoughtfully sectioned off into family and adults-only areas.
Entry-level Deluxe Rooms are a generous 516 sq. ft., with polished wood floors, spacious marble bathrooms and private terraces overlooking the gardens or golf course. Premier Ocean Rooms are the same size but come with furnished balconies and sea views.
Room tips
- Ground-floor rooms are convenient – Their terraces open directly onto the well-maintained lawns, making it easy to nip back and forth between your room and the pool.
- Upper-floor rooms are more private – For the best views, go for a Premier Ocean Room with a balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Lots of dining choices
There are four restaurants to choose from at the Shangri-La Hambantota.
Try Sera for hawker-style stalls, with Southeast Asian dishes inspired by the hawker stalls of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
For a special occasion, we booked a private Chef’s Table dinner. Our table for two was set up by the beach, surrounded by flickering tea lights and lamps – very romantic!
Good to know
- It’s very much a destination resort – You’re fairly isolated here, so unless you’re heading out on a day trip or safari, expect to eat, drink and play at the resort.
- Don’t count on swimming in the ocean – The wild beach, streaked with burgundy and gold, is beautiful for long walks, but sea conditions can be rough. We’d stick to the pools for swimming.
Booking the Shangri-La Hambantota
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Excellent” 8.8/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Excellent” 8.6/10
Deluxe Sri Lanka safari hotels
Sri Lanka’s 26 national parks are wildlife havens, home to elephants, sloth bears, barking deer, crocodiles, exotic birds, monkeys and elusive leopards. The luxury safari lodges are pretty wild too – in a very different way!
14) Taru Villas Villu, Wilpattu
For a beautiful new base near Sri Lanka’s uncrowded Wilpattu National Park, say hello to Taru Villas Villu!
Opened in 2024, this intimate eco-luxe retreat is set on 11 wilderness acres and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
It feels more like a secluded boutique hideaway than a traditional safari lodge – with contemporary architecture, lots of greenery and a lovely outdoor swimming pool.
Rooms and chalets
The seven handcrafted chalets have a stylish jungle-chic look, with thatched roofs, soaring ceilings, earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows.
- The five spacious Premier Chalets are the best digs – At 1,022 sq. ft., they come with king beds, huge bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and rain showers, plus private decks with plunge pools overlooking the jungle.
- The two smaller Superior Rooms don’t have plunge pools – At 452 sq. ft., they have king beds, garden views and a private terrace or balcony.
Safari time!
The big draw is Wilpattu National Park.
It’s Sri Lanka’s largest national park and one of the country’s best places for spotting leopards, along with sloth bears. Its distinctive villus (natural rain-fed lakes) also attract crocodiles, buffalo and birdlife.
The lodge arranges guided jeep safaris into Wilpattu.
You can also sign up for bush walks, cycling through local villages, kayaking and boat trips around mangrove-lined waterways to look for crocodiles, waterbirds and large colonies of flying foxes.
Delicious all-inclusive dining
Rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Sri Lankan and international dishes tailored to your tastes. You might dine outside beneath a canopy of stars, or tuck into a BBQ dinner of lagoon crab on a boardwalk over the river.
Good to know
May to July can be a particularly good time for spotting sloth bears, when the park’s palu trees are in fruit and the bears come out to feast on the ripe berries.
Booking Taru Villas Villu
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.5/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 10/10
15) Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Fancy glamping on your Sri Lanka safari?
A member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group, Wild Coast Tented Lodge is a luxurious tented camp, located next to Yala National Park on a wild Indian Ocean beach.
After venturing out on safari (keep your eyes peeled for leopards and elephants!), take a dip in the huge freeform pool.
Deluxe safari tents
At night, retreat to your tent, one of 28 striking cocoon-shaped tented suites. They’re arranged in the shape of a leopard’s paw – a clever nod to Yala’s most famous resident.
And they’re anything but rustic, with teak floors, four-poster beds and freestanding copper bathtubs. To up the wow factor, book a Cocoon Pool Suite, which comes with its own private plunge pool.
Booking Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Check rates and availability:
- On Booking.com – Rated an “Exceptional” 9.6/10
- On Expedia – Rated an “Exceptional” 10/10
So, where will you stay?
From historic tea-planter bungalows in the misty hills to stylish beach resorts and safari lodges surrounded by wildlife, the best places to stay in Sri Lanka are every bit as diverse as the island itself.
Many of these hotels are destinations in their own right – places where you’ll want to linger by the pool, soak up the views and simply enjoy being there.
Several helped make our first Sri Lanka trip unforgettable. And we’re excited to check into a few more on our next visit!
Discover more of Sri Lanka
- Temples, Tea and Tuk-Tuks in Kandy
- 7 Wonders of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
- Ride the Famous Train From Kandy to Ella!
- 5 Gorgeous Galle Hotels: Inside the Fort and by the Sea
- Itinerary For 2 Deluxe Weeks in Sri Lanka
- High on Ella: 5 Luxe Stays in the Hills
- A Magnificent Temple for a Tiny Tooth
- 5 Kandy Hotels We’d Happily Check Into
Love this guide on Sri Lanka’s most luxurious hotels? Then pin it!
Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 2, 5, 7, 13, 15, 17 to 20, 22, 25, 26, 37, 45, 48, 50, 53, 54 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 1 Fortress Resort, Sri Lanka | Remaining photos courtesy of the respective hotels
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