Taj Exotica - Help

Hello,

My husband to be and myself have just booked our honeymoon and we booked the Taj Exotica in October for 10 nights before going onto the Maldives. I am a little concerned as reading over posts on her it sounds as though it is not a very nice hotel to stay at.

If anyone has been there recently can they please let me know what we are likely to expect.

Also can you please recommend any trips that are worth going on, and or sights to see.

We are staying on a full board basis, are the drinks very expensive? Is the food any good? Is there much variation?

Is the weather good or bad in October?

Many thanks,

Karen x

Taj Exotica - Help

Hi Karen,

Recent reviews are good, but the hotel is in need of refurbishment.

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g297895-d3…

Short trips from Bentota

Boat trip on Bentota river

Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple

- Sri Lanka%26#39;s tallest Buddha Statue. The Buddha Statue which is 160½ ft tall is constructed in Bhoomi Sparsha Mudra (Calling the Earth to Witness His Enlightenment).

Brief-Gardens (about 7 kms from Bentota)

- Brief Gardens is the house and garden of landscape architect Bevis Bawa, developed since 1929. It is a hillside garden with excellent views and many sculptures - both by Bevis himself and other artists. The estate was formerly a rubber plantation

Weekly Fair in Aluthgama

- Mondays there is a fair in Aluthgama (Mathugama Road). Large vegetable market and lots of street vendors. Beware of ';commission boys';.

Day trips could be:

Down the coast to Galle with possibility to visit

- Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project

- Boat Trip on Madu Ganga, Balapitiya

- Ariyapala Mask Museum, Ambalangoda

- Batic Factory,Ambalangoda

- Moonstone Mine, Meetiyagoda. This is one of the very few places in the world where blue gleaming moonstones are found. A number of stores and stalls sell jewellery made with these semi-precious stones.

- Hikkaduwa. Glassbottom Boat ride on the coral reef and maybe a swim inside the reef. Good place for lunch break (several good restaurants - Refresh is recommended)

- Galle. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings. Good possibilities for shopping in Galle.

Sinharaja Forest

- Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri lanka. This forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west .The length of the forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km.It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978,as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it%26#39;s International Network of Biosphere reserves. It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989.

2-5 day trips could include:

Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawela

Kandy. Tooth Temple, Kandy Dance

Dambulla. Rock Caves Temple

Sigiriya

Hill Country (N%26#39;Eliya, Haputale, Ella).

October is in the 2nd inter monsoon season so some hefty showers can be expected in afternoons and evenings. Mornings are usually bright and sunny.

Hans

Taj Exotica - Help

Hi Karen

Yep would agree with Hans that the Taj Exotica is now well past it%26#39;s best, and in need of refurbishment, no need to doubt thier service in any way, but really not the class of the Taj family in India for instance.

Same goes for other 2 Taj hotels in Sri Lanka too, although Taj Airport Garden is in process of refurbishment and extension.

Drinks are quite expensive for Lankan hotels generally, but no more than you would pay in UK, except for wine which is more expensive in any hotel there.

Regards

Dave

Hi

Just interested that the Taj at the Airport is having extension/upgrading work. We are due to stay there on our last night of our holiday in Aug. Just wondered if we are likely to get any disruption. Anyone know?

Many thanks

Thank you so much for your advice and the list of trips that you recommend.

Karen x