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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: ALL INCLUSIVE

We’ve addressed each of the most important aspects so far in your family holiday plan, but we need to address a HUGE money saver to you now – especially if you’re taking along children. Almost all resorts will offer you an all-inclusive package which can mean big bucks in the saving department!

These packages may just be while you’re at their hotel, or they could include airfare and transfers as well. You’ll have to do your research and find out what is best for you.

An all-inclusive package holiday at a resort will mean that all your meals, drinks, and gratuities are included in the price of your room. So you’ll have a place to stay, a place to eat, and a place to party if you so choose – all for one price! No need to worry about budgeting for dinner or a night out! It’s all included!

With these types of plans, however, you’ll need to get to your destination (if travel in not included) at your own expense for which we refer you to a previous article titled “Getting There”.

However, there are other all-inclusive plans that include airfare, transportation to and from the airport to the hotel (transfers), and then they throw in the meals, drinks, etc. with the price as well. This, we think, would be the best type of all-inclusive to book because then you don’t have to worry about budgeting for anything except for excursions, admission fees, and souvenirs.

All-inclusive holidays are a great way to save money. With an all-inclusive, you know up front what you’re paying for and there are no surprises. When you go someplace else, everything adds up.

There can be drawbacks, however. One of these is that they may only offer a flight out of Gatwick and you live in five minutes from Heathrow. You’ll have to get to Gatwick to catch your flight, but you will probably still realize some huge savings in the long run.

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: ACCOMMODATION

There are all kinds of questions to ask when looking for suitable accommodation for your holiday. What type of hotel do you want to stay in? Does it need to have a pool? What about hotel transfers? Does it have to be a hotel? What about a family holiday villa? There are many options out there to keep your holiday budget in line and still have the perfect place to lay your head!

Most savvy budget travellers recommend a hotel that offers up a kitchen or kitchenette. Such hotels are usually called “serviced accommodation”. This can save you a huge amount of money on meals. Having a kitchen when you’re holidaying with kids can be invaluable. Often the cost on a per person basis can be well worth the time it takes to cook up some of your own meals.

Families should consider condominium-style or villa accommodations as these are often comparable in price to a fine hotel (and even less than the cost of two rooms), and give you the luxury of a spacious living space with a full-kitchen and amenities like laundry machines – a nice feature when you have young children. Other “non-traditional” lodgings include furnished apartments, house swaps or renting a villa.

If you prefer to mingle with the locals rather than other tourists, look into a home exchange holiday. One couple spent their eight-week honeymoon touring Europe without ever staying in a hotel; instead, they stayed in private homes while their European hosts stayed in their London City apartment.

Sound risky? Maybe—but tens of thousands of people have exchanged homes since the 1950s. For an annual membership fee (usually around £50), home exchange clubs help members arrange exchanges, as well as offering tips to make the exchange go smoothly.

According to ExchangeHomes.com, a home exchange can cut travel costs by as much as half. More importantly, though, a home exchange holiday makes it possible for you to live like the locals, and perhaps make some life-long friends too.

In a slight twist on the home exchange idea, look into joining a hospitality club that will hook you up with people willing to host you on your next holiday. The largest hospitality club has more than 23,000 members in 148 countries.

Membership is usually free, although members are asked to provide hospitality to others (on a voluntary basis) in return sometime in the future. In addition to saving money, staying with others is a great way to meet locals who can give an insider’s perspective on your destination.

Now this next suggestion might seem a little off the wall, but if saving money is your ultimate goal, it might be something you will want to consider. Stay in a monastery or a convent.

Monasteries and convents have a long tradition of providing hospitality to travellers. Aside from being a lot more interesting (and affordable) than the local Holiday Inn, a monastery can be a great place to explore your spiritual landscape.

Many monasteries and convents ask for a donation of £50 to £80 per night; others only ask for a free-will offering. In addition to simple accommodations, monasteries and convents often offer their guests simple meals as well as opportunities to participate in daily prayer and work. Reservations may be required in advance.

You can research this holiday idea by looking up individual monasteries or convents online. Or get a guidebook such as “Europe’s Monastery and Convent Guesthouses: A Pilgrim’s Travel Guide” or “Sanctuaries: The Complete United States: A Guide to Lodgings in Monasteries, Abbeys, and Retreats.”

You should consider booking a hotel outside the main part of town but still close to the sights you want to see. By staying away from the more popular hotels right in the middle of the action, you’ll have a better chance of not only saving money, but also getting the right accommodation at the time you want them.

Know what you are buying, though. Sometimes you can save money by spending a little more. For example, if lodging includes breakfast or has an indoor pool, or has a better location that will cut down on the time and expense of travelling back and forth to the attractions you’re interested in; the extra expense may be well worth it.

Be aware of amenities that may be extra prices hidden in the price of the room. For example, the hotel may provide a turn-down service for £x.xx and say it’s included in the room rate. If you don’t want turn down service, ask it to be removed from your room rate. Not all hotels do this, but it never hurts to ask!

Many people look for accommodation near the attractions they want to visit most, so that biking or walking can be the mode of transportation. It can be nice to not be dependent on a vehicle to get you from place to place.

Also, ask if there are any discounts available. Some hotels have children stay free policies or will offer 50 percent off a second room for children 17 and under. If you’re a member of an organization, ask if they offer any discounts. Belonging to a motor club like the AA can save you money too. They often work with hotels to give their members value for their dues.

Although we’ll address ways to save on your meals in a later article, you might also want to find a hotel that offers a complimentary continental breakfast.

We recently stayed in a hotel that said free continental breakfast and expected the usual bagels, toast, and cold cereal. Were we surprised to find that their idea of continental breakfast included eggs cooked any way you wanted, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy all in a buffet style setting.

This writer was blown away and left the buffet full – to be sure! We didn’t have to buy lunch because we were still full from breakfast, so that saved us some money! We just thought “Woo Hoo!”

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: ROAD TRIP

When holiday season approaches, many families plan to take to the road in order to escape the stress of the daily grind. A poorly planned family road-trip can be a greater source of frustration than many families realize.

Unfortunately, these families tend to encounter this frustration at the earliest stage of their holiday, at a time when little can be done to remedy it. The level of stress during the trip is in direct proportion to the quality of planning done before pulling out of the driveway.

It can be so disappointing to make travel plans in order to promote family ‘togetherness’ only to get to the destination with parents and children at each others’ throats. But when parents discover how simple planning can make the trip fun and memorable, the difference in the quality of the actual holiday is measurable. Having the right tools on the road can make all the difference between the success and failure of the actual holiday.

First, take time to plot out a trip that includes pre-planned rest stops, a cooler of refreshments (to avoid high-priced rest stop and fast food prices), music and books on tape, and lots of activities for the kids in the back.

Keep everyone occupied with Ghost, 20 Questions, Punch Buggy and License Plate Bingo, then try a scavenger hunt, a tin foil sculpture contest and Penny Ante.

Try leaving for your road-trip to the holiday destination at a time other than in the morning or mid-afternoon. You may even want to leave in the early or late evening. There’s something to be said for the lull of the road to put bickering kids to sleep. Just be sure the driver is able to stay awake!

Borrow an idea from the airlines: show a movie. Rent (or buy) a TV/VCR made to play in your vehicle, hit “play” and go. Portable DVD players are more affordable these days and they can be a lifesaver on a long trip!

Make goodie bags for your kids to keep them occupied on the long trip. For the bag itself, use an old book bag or backpack, lunch box, shopping bag, small suitcase or a small purse. The length of the trip may end up determining the appropriate size of the travel knapsack.

Make sure you have a separate bag for each child to avoid arguments. You might want to consider labelling items with the child’s name for extra certainty. Fill bags with the same items if your children are near in age or have similar interests.

Some suggestions for items to include are: spiral notebook, colour pencils, washable markers, story books, activity books, magnetic games, card games, travel-size board games, kazoo, hand held electronic games, sticker books, non-melting crayons, colouring books, magnifying glass, paper dolls, magic slates, invisible ink books, small cars, finger puppets, small dolls/ action figures, felt books with stick-ons, blunt scissors, sewing cards, puzzles, pipe cleaners, slinky, origami paper, books on tape, and a tape player or CD player and headphones.

Let your child help you pack the bag and encourage him/ her to think about what he/ she wants to take on the trip. Allow your children to choose their favourite toys to place in the knapsack. Do not forget to pack your child’s security items such as a blanket or stuffed animal. That could surely spell disaster.

You may wish to include snacks to tide your children over between meals. Choose snacks carefully to avoid messes and stomach aches. Avoid sticky fruits and drinks that you cannot re-close and pack snacks in zipper bags for easy clean-up. Some travel-safe snacks are: fruit rolls, animal crackers, raisins, bottled water, sliced apples, carrot sticks, bananas, and small bags of cereal.

Once you’ve figured out how to get to your destination, you’ll need a place to stay.

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: GETTING TO YOUR DESTINATION

There are many ways to arrive at your holiday destination. Once upon a time, the only way a family could afford a holiday was to load up the car and head out on the road. How many of you remember these long trips? I certainly do! But you don’t necessarily have to drive to your holiday destination anymore! There are all kinds of options today that are affordable and much more enjoyable!

Driving

If you intend on driving, petrol prices will be a huge consideration. At the time of this being written, patrol prices are just over £1.00 per litre. If you’re going to be driving more than 300 miles, depending on the gas mileage of your vehicle, it will probably be cheaper to fly. We suggest that you drive only if you are going to a location that isn’t too far from home.

There can be huge advantages, however, in driving to your destination. You won’t have to worry as much about dates and times. You can just pack up and go. There’s something to be said for seeing the country out the windows of a car.

It can be a learning experience for your children as they get to see the beautiful countryside. This is a good time to foster conversation with your family as well. When there’s not much else to do along the way, tell each other stories, share your thoughts and memories with them. You’ll all learn so much if you do!

Later we can explore specific ways to make car travel on holiday not only bearable, but enjoyable!

Flying

With airlines competing for business today, air travel is becoming a lot more affordable than it once was. Booking your airfares well in advance will save you a lot of money. Booking ahead is important to getting a fair rate.

Family travel usually centers around school holidays, making space at a premium. The farther out you book, the better your chances that you will get the price you want. It’s a question of supply and demand. When demand is high, prices are high. It is suggested you try to plan trips ten months to a year in advance, so you get what you want and don’t feel like you have to settle for what you can get.

You’ll probably find the best deals online at one of the sites we mentioned earlier in this series of articles. They’re easily navigable and you can get instant availability reports along with alternative suggested routes.

When booking airfare online, don’t overlook discount and international airlines—some are not listed on the big travel portal websites, even though they might have a lower fare to your destination. Also be sure to compare rates for alternate airports within a reasonable travelling distance.

You might live half an hour from a major airport, but the smaller airport a couple hours away might have substantially lower fares. Check for alternate airports near your destination, too.

Be flexible about your arrival and departure dates if possible; the major travel portals all have options to search for the cheapest flights within a range of dates. Any one of these alternatives could potentially save you hundreds of pounds.

Many credit card companies offer frequent flier miles when you use their cards for purchases. This is a great way to save on air travel by taking advantage of this service. Use your credit card for almost every purchase you make then cash in at holiday time. It could sometimes mean free airfare for you and your family!

Of course, it could also mean large credit card bills and unpaid balances, so spend wisely. Only use the card for things you would purchase normally – not on extravagant items just to get the mileage.

Don’t throw away your junk mail! Sometimes inside those coupon packages, there will be discounts for air travel. One person almost threw away her Expedia envelope, but decided to go through it just in case there was anything in there she could use. Lo and behold, there was a certificate for £100 off travel with a discount airline. The coupon was good for up to 4 tickets, so each member of her family flew to Florida for just £54 each round trip!

Finally, you can go to a travel agent to book your flight. They are very knowledgeable about the airline business and can often save you tons of cash if you let them know that is your biggest priority. They’ll give you free rate quotes as well, so when you call, you can see if a flight will fit into your budgeted plan.

Here are some valuable tips to help you save on airfare when booking yourself:

Airlines usually reload their computers at midnight, so as soon after that as possible is a good time to shop online for low cost seats that folks might have reserved but not paid for.
When one airline announces a sale to a particular destination, chances are the others will soon follow suit, so be on the lookout and call or click around.
Use the internet to search out last minute bargain weekend fares. Most airlines’ websites have a place where drastically reduced weekend fares are available. Start checking on Wednesday for the weekend ahead.

Trains

Many, many songs have been written about the country’s love for trains and the rail system. Most of them, however, are about hopping a freight train bound for Georgia or some other unseemly way to travel. Train travel isn’t like that anymore.

Today’s trains are luxury vehicles that rival many airplanes. They provide for roomy seats, dining cars, club cars, and even sleeping berths for really long trips. The best part is, these conveniences don’t always come at a premium price.

National Rail, the country’s major train service offers up many, many discount plans for budget savvy travellers. Since it’s a family holiday, we assume you will probably have children along. If these passengers are age 15 or under, they get to travel at half price.

You can also find money saving coupons in mailings and online. All you have to do is look around. And don’t forget to ask for discounts! If you don’t ask, they probably won’t be offered up to you even though they might be available, so take a moment when booking and say, “Can you get that rate any lower?”

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: BEGINNING YOUR PLAN

The first thing you must do is plan early. Spontaneity works well for day trips, but is not as effective for longer family holidays. By planning early, you will find cheaper fares and more available accommodations.

You can also have the opportunity to save any additional funds you might need, perhaps include extended invitations to other family members, and get together all the paperwork you might need if travelling abroad.

While planning, it’s a good idea to stay flexible in your desires. Flexibility equals maximum pleasure for everyone. This is especially true if you have special needs due to a disability or are taking along teens and children who will want to do different things.

Get your children involved too. This will not only make them much more enthusiastic about the trip, but they can provide their input into what types of activities they want to do and what types of activities they’d like to do as a family. They’ll be much more excited when they are fully involved in deciding where the family will be holidaying, so be sure to get their opinions too.

You probably already have some kind of idea as to what you’ll be able to afford when taking a holiday. If you do have a specific number in mind, this makes it much easier to pick out a destination. You can research what’s available in your price range and choose the trip that will best fit your family.

If you don’t have a specific number in mind, make a list of your dream holiday destinations. Include those places you’ve always wanted to visit as well as places you think would fit the personalities of your family. See what these types of holidays will cost, and then pick the one you think you can save for or afford to take right away.

The Internet is an indispensable tool to do this. There are many travel websites that offer holiday packages for specific destinations. Here are some highly suggested by the experts:

www.expedia.com
www.orbitz.com
www.travelocity.com

You can search all of these sites in one go by using the booking widget below. When you use these sites, they can give you best prices for various destinations, but they can also provide valuable suggestions for where you can go as well as activities that are available and ratings from other travellers who have taken the same holiday.

Do you detect a theme here in the planning phase? Flexibility is the key!

You’ll need to decide if you will be flying to your destination or driving. There are many airlines that have cut-rate prices when you fly during certain times. Again, you’ll need to be flexible on departure dates and times.

You’ll also need to decide on a time frame for your holiday. Again, if you are flexible on departure dates, you’re more likely to get a better deal. We realize, however, that work constraints might not allow you to change your holiday dates, but if possible, it’s best to just have a general idea instead of a rock solid date.

Try to travel on days other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday which are the busiest travel days of the week. You can firm up plans later if needed.

Once you’ve got your destination in mind, you’ll need to consider a couple of other things before booking your trip.

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: SAVING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

There are many effective ways to save for your family holiday. When you spend 40 hours a week slaving at your job, you deserve to have some time to get away from the rat race, relax, and enjoy your family.

Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’ll need a plan for saving up the money you need. While this may seem like a simple proposition, some people find it difficult to lay aside some money each pay period. The key here is discipline.

Open up a separate savings account specifically meant for your holiday money. If your employer offers direct deposit, you can usually specify a certain amount of money be put into this account directly. Some banks will schedule an automatic direct transfer to your savings account if you don’t have direct deposits or if you are not able to deposit money into two separate accounts.

Examine the amount of money your family spends weekly or monthly on family entertainment and fast food restaurants. Then reduce that amount, storing the remainder away for your holiday. So that a pending holiday doesn’t become a joy-buster, shop around for freebies and reduced-cost entertainment options to enjoy during the months before you depart.

Another good way to save up money is to save your change. When you use cash, resolve to only use paper money. Then take the change you receive and put it aside at the end of every day. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it can build up.

One family reported that they kept a “holiday jar” in a convenient place and each family member would deposit change and the occasional £5 bill into it. When they emptied the jar and had it counted, they had managed to save £5,000 – enough for them to enjoy a tropical getaway to the Cayman Islands!

While you may not have that much in your change jar, emptying it at holiday time can mean extra spending money or that extra little boost you need to make your dream holiday materialise.

Be sure and involve your kids in the saving venture. This is a great time to teach the valuable lessons of saving and budgeting money.

Look for other unique ways to add extra cash to the holiday coffer. One family we know would save aluminium cans and take them into the recycling plant periodically for cash. Throughout the course of a year, they managed to accumulate an extra £1,000 for their holiday.

You could have a garage sale to earn extra holiday cash as well. There are plenty of opportunities out there to add to your holiday savings. You just need to think outside of the box and resolve that any extra cash you get will go toward your family holiday plans.

You need to budget realistically. Holidays need not be expensive. Budget an amount and stick to it. If you’re driving, set a fixed spending amount (£150 per day, for example). Include all of your expenses, gas, meals, admissions, special activities, etc. Involve your children in the process. Share with them that conserving money on one day allows them to go to a water park on another day. Be creative.

To save money, you can eat only one meal in a restaurant per day. For the other two, prepare your own food and either eat in the hotel room or have a picnic. Take turns letting the kids choose the type of food—and, if you are really adventurous, the restaurant—each day. This way, the children feel important, it minimizes arguments and helps with family bonding.

A good point to also keep in mind when determining how much you can afford to spend on a holiday is to be sure that you consider other periodic expenses that may be waiting for you when you return, such as back-to-school costs, school term expenses and next year’s taxes.

That’s why we highly recommend a separate account for your holiday savings. That way you have your holiday money separate from your everyday money and won’t have to stress about “robbing Peter to pay Paul” when you get home from your trip!

The next key to a successful getaway on a budget is to plan.

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PART 3: BEGINNING YOUR PLAN

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THE FAMILY HOLIDAY PLAN: INTRO

The family holiday has been portrayed in many ways. From National Lampoon’s “Vacation” showing the trials and tribulations of the Griswold family trying to get to “Wally World” to “The Great Outdoors” with John Candy and his family renting out a cabin in the woods only to encounter a meddling bear. Family holidays in the media seem to be one thing going wrong after another.

But in real life, the family holiday is a time for bonding as a family unit and to enjoy newfound times of closeness while exploring new adventures and places. The memories you take home from your holidays will stay with you for years and give your children special moments they’ll treasure forever.

You can choose to drive cross country and see the roadside attractions, visit historical sites, head for the coast or even explore the national parks, but some don’t look at this as a true holiday. After all, being stuck in a car for the majority of the trip can breed some real family strife!

You could also book a family cruise or fly to far-away destinations to spend time at a resort, but this can get pricey, and with all the activities they have for children, some parents fear the bonding they were looking forward to won’t happen.

For the family on a budget, the notion of a memorable and fun-filled holiday may seem out of reach. That’s simply not true, anymore. There are many, many ways you can have a terrific family holiday while on a budget. You don’t have to sacrifice fun because of a lack of money. There are all kinds of holidays on offer that can be had within almost every budget.

While travelling is good for the economy and for your soul, it can be hard on your wallet. In fact, experts estimate that a family of four should budget at least £250 per day for meals, lodging and automobile travel costs. And that figure doesn’t include the staple of family holidays—entertainment. As usual, the best way to keep the costs down is to plan ahead and make informed decisions.

But how do you start? You start with family input, a survey of your resources, and a well-thought out plan. This website will not only show you how to do that easily, but we’ll also give you all kinds of ideas for family holidays and ways that you can make them affordable and fun!

Always dreamed of going to Disney World? You can! Think the Caribbean is out of reach? It’s not! We’ve compiled the advice and suggestions from many holiday experts and added some of our own experiences as well to give you this comprehensive guide to taking a family holiday on a budget!

We’ll show you different ways to save money on airfare, hotels, transportation, and eating. We’ll also give you some great specific ideas for family holidays that won’t break the bank along with some suggestions to help you save money and time in general while on your family getaway.

Whether it’s a summer trip, spring break jaunt, or wintering in the tropics, you’ll be able to plan your dream holiday without breaking the bank. You’ll get maximum fun without sacrificing every penny of your hard earned money – and you may even come back with a little extra to save for that next great holiday!

What are you waiting for?

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PART 2: SAVING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

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SAVING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

Sri Lanka

Taj Hotels unveil Sri Lanka tour packages

To capture the rich tapestry of culture, the abundance of nature and all the unique aspects that make Sri Lanka such a heady holiday destination, the Taj group of hotels has come out with a `Best of Sri Lanka Holiday package’.

The Indian Hotels Company has unveiled the package with the opening of the skies between India and the island nation. Now private carriers like Jet Airways and Sahara have commenced operations in this sector, over and above the flights of Indian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines.

The Taj Best of Sri Lanka holiday offer will remain valid till September 30. “Cherish the experience of a lifetime in the beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments, national parks and a thousand delight to please all tastes,” a press release issued by the hotel group said.

The holiday package offers the guests a host of sightseeing options that include the turtle hatchery in Kosgoda, visit to a charming seaside town in the south-western coast called Ambalangoda, the home of the colourful mask carvers. Also on the itinerary are visits to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens which are spread over 147 acres of land with an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers, as well as to Kitulgala, the famous location where the film, The Bridge Over the River Kwai, was filmed.

The island nation also offers other exotic destinations like the Sigiriya rock fortress, a world heritage site built by King Kashyapa during A.D. 477-495. Other quaint destinations are the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala, bird watching facilities around Kandalama, elephant trails and jungle resorts.

The Taj Best of Sri Lanka offer includes airport transfers, accommodation in a standard room, set menu buffet breakfast and dinner, transportation by air-conditioned vehicle and sight seeing with an English-speaking guide.

The holiday also offers guests a choice of Taj hotels including the Taj Exotica at Bentota, and Taj Samudra at Colombo. Exquisite resorts like Earl’s Regency in Kandy, Tea Factory hotel at Nuwara Eliya and Kadalama hotel are the other pickings on offer.

Thanks: Taj Hotels, Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka

Emerald isle sparkles again

Tourism rediscovers beautiful Sri Lanka..

(Anjali Prayag) — Visiting Sri Lanka recently, one found that a country that had lived in the shadow of terrorism for over 30 years surprisingly showed very little bitterness. Except for a few check-posts, there were few reminders of the recent violent past of this island-nation. “There was never a day when we didn’t either read or hear of an attack. But we have put it behind us and look forward to a phase of economic growth,” says an employee at Taj Samudra in Colombo. This property of the Taj Group of Hotels is bustling with tourists, seeking both business and leisure.

We were a group of journalists visiting Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Taj Group of Hotels and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Clearly, this naturally endowed country is all out to woo international tourists. Voted the top holiday destination by The New York Times (The Place to be in 2010), the country is eager to figure on the itinerary of the globetrotter.

“Yes, we are gung-ho about tourism, especially Indian tourists,” says Senaka Fernando, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Sri Lankan Airlines. The airline is optimistic about increasing its tourist traffic from inland India — places such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi — through its ‘sea and beach offering’, although “Indians like to shop here more than beach-surf”, says an official from the Taj Group of Hotels in Sri Lanka. In fact, the airline has increased its capacity out of Tiruchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Chennai.

Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka have increased by over 30 per cent over the past year, with over 80 per cent coming from India. In the last six months, 49,000 Indians have visited the island and they included leisure, pilgrim and corporate travellers.

Blessed with natural beauty, the country hopes to make tourism its top revenue earner after textiles and tea exports.

It is trying to create the right mix of infrastructure and conveniences for tourists. Visitors will be struck, for instance, by the ease with which one can obtain a local SIM card for a mobile phone. Various service operators have set up booths right outside the airport and offer SIM cards on the spot. The smooth road traffic is a welcome change from the chaos back home.

Hotel tariffs are comparatively low. With tourism picking up, business has been good in the last six months, says V.K. Prasad, General Manager of Taj Exotica, another sea-facing property of the Taj Group at Bentota. He expects the improving situation to favour the hospitality sector. “Tariffs which were at $70-80 a day are expected to shoot up to $120 soon,” agrees a tourist operator.

From sunrise over a clear blue sea and shopping for global brands to the glitzy casinos and clubs under a night sky, Colombo packs enough to keep visitors engaged the whole day through. Adventure enthusiasts can look forward to water sports at Bentota, while those seeking a religious sojourn can visit Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth Relic, which is believed to house Lord Buddha’s tooth brought secretly from India.

Highlights

Shopaholics can find global apparel brands at unbelievable prices at stores like Odel and Fashion House. Incidentally, the island country has over 900 textile export units supplying to leading global garment brands.

Boasting nearly 30-35 tea variants, tea shopping becomes an art in Sri Lanka. Tea accounts for about 15 per cent of the country’s GDP and is a major export product.

Those looking for indigenous products can stop at Paradise Road, Barefoot and Dankotuwa Porcelain. Though the prices seem steep at first, the conversion rate (Rs 100 fetches almost 220 Sri Lankan rupees) takes the sting off the pricing.

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Sri Lanka

Sea View Resort at Unawatuna Beach

(Sanath Weerasuriya) — Listed as one of the seven most beautiful beaches in the world, Unawatuna is an ideal holiday destination for both the budget minded as well as the more up market travellers.

Sri Lanka holiday makers have identified Unawatuna as the best beach in the West and South West part of the country.

New York Times, in its travel section of the 10th Sunday issue has nominated Sri Lanka as the ‘Best Destination’ to visit in the year 2010. A special mention has been made about Unwatuna Beach in the article giving the edge over the rest of the sandy areas in the country.

Sea View Resort is one of the popular places for travellers to the area. This family friendly ‘Guest-House’ with a range of rooms includes two bungalows, ideally located for a holiday of unlimited sun and sea overlooking the Ocean. The Resort was developed from some old rooms in the garden to a new wing with a marvelous view over the bay.

Sea View has thirty rooms to its credit in three different units.

‘This is my ‘maha gedara’ and from a couple of small rooms in early eighties, I have managed to come up to this luxury level of hospitality. 2004 tsunami was a temporary set back but we managed to over come the difficulties’ said Deepal Yatawara, the proprietor of the Sea View

A truly relaxing environment situated in the midst of a lush tropical garden, Sea View offers an atmosphere of comfort, safety, and friendly ambience. In the Sea View Garden you’ll experience a wide variety of bird life, tropical fruit trees and you might see the giant land monitor lizard or his cousin, the iguana, taking a leisurely stroll or sunning them on a nearby rock. Monkeys are frequent visitors to the garden.

The Restaurant which is situated directly on the beach offers traditional Sri Lankan dishes and also Western cuisine. Both can be selected from a rich menu card for the lunch or dinner.

Relaxing with a drink at the beach restaurant that is overlooking the Indian Ocean, while the waves gently lap against the shore when the tropical day is reaching its end is the best way to begin your evening. Sea View’s Restaurant boasts wholesome breakfasts, delicious lunches and relaxed, informal dinners directly on the beach.

‘The fish you order will most likely have been caught that afternoon just outside your door and prepared in a truly memorable traditional Southern Sri Lankan curry. Besides authentic Sri Lankan preparations, a variety of Western meals is also available’ said Yatawara

Visitors can either like to explore the placid Indian Ocean with its wealth of underwater miracles, or can watch the over 60 species of endemic birds in the surrounding jungle – Unawatuna has a lot of choices to offer.

The end of the day finds guests taking a five minute climb up the Rocks (on steps) to Rock Hill. A spot on the beach that offers a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean and a breath taking sunset and unique in the way the village is positioned, Unawatuna is one of the few places on earth where you can watch the sunrise and the sunset, both over water.

This is not for foreigners only, but most of the Sri Lankan travellers like to indulge the magic of Unawatuna’ said Deepal Yatawara.

‘Your patronage also helps us to employ young people in the Village which in turn helps them to get back on their feet. Give us the opportunity to serve you and to make your holiday the best ever’ he added.

Unawatuna sits in a sheltering cove on the inside of a protective coral reef, the home to many tropical fish. Complete snorkeling equipment is available and a glass bottom boat tour can be arranged.

Because the shallow end of the bay is protected by the reef, it makes it a very safe spot for the children to enjoy a swim in the crystal clear water. And breaking across the reef you’ll find enough surf for the novice surfer.

Apart from this, there are other excursions too are available.

Canoe ride in Koggala Wewa, travel to Bird Island at dusk, watching stilt fisherman in the evening at Weligama Beach , a trip to the Sinharajah Rainforest or the old Dutch Fort in Galle are some of the popular excursions for both Sri Lankan and oversea travellers..

‘The tours to lower country Tea Plantation, the turtle hatchery or up the coast to Ambalangoda to see traditional Lankan craft work can be arranged for you with AC or non AC vans’ he added.

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