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Where to relax in Southern Province

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Slbazza
Brighton and Hove...
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6 posts
13 reviews
25 helpful votes
Where to relax in Southern Province
21 Jan 2022, 7:01 pm
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Hi - we are looking for the best place to spend 9 nights on the coastal stretch between Unawatuna and Colombo. We want to relax in a good hotel with a pool. We don't partially like swimming in the sea, unless it is a protected reef. We don't have kids and typically like to spend the day relaxing at the hotel ( we like a quiet hotel/area) and then walk into a town late in the afternoon, hit a couple of bars and have dinner and get a tuk tuk / cab back later on. Any suggestions on where to stay would be great thanks.

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laviniam
Toronto, Canada
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11,452 posts
39 reviews
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1. Re: Where to relax in Southern Province
21 Jan 2022, 7:09 pm
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Bentota, Hikkaduwa, or Unawatuna will fit your requirements perfectly. If you are at Hiikaduwa or Unawatuna, an evening visit to Galle Fort where there is really good dining.

Blue Waters in Waddua is lovely but has no restaurant scene around it to walk to.

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Slbazza
Brighton and Hove...
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6 posts
13 reviews
25 helpful votes
2. Re: Where to relax in Southern Province
21 Jan 2022, 7:29 pm
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Hey, thanks so much for your quick reply and advice! Is Bentota massive, as in as big as Galle? I read about the Ganga boat trips at Bentota which sound good. And Galle, how long do you think we need to spend there please?

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Sandya-and-Erik
Colombo, Sri Lanka
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for Sri Lanka
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338 reviews
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3. Re: Where to relax in Southern Province
21 Jan 2022, 7:37 pm
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Galle Fort is nice for a few hours. Bentota area is not small but compact enough for eating out, see map and other info here...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sMlet-7Qz7ncYWd5PbGEjKogwFzErA06Cl_DRSx406U/edit?usp=sharing

< Erik> & [Sandya]

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laviniam
Toronto, Canada
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11,452 posts
39 reviews
162 helpful votes
4. Re: Where to relax in Southern Province
21 Jan 2022, 9:25 pm
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Bentota is a very small town that was developed as a tourist center. Galle is the capital of the Southern province and is a very large town with govt offices, schools, hospitals, like any small town anywhere in the world. Its main tourist attraction is the massive Dutch-built Fort, which is the UNESCO World Heritage site. The tourist center of Unawatuna is just south of the town.

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