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Thursday 18 October 2018

Why Sri Lanka Should Be Your Next Family Holiday Destination!

**This post contains sponsored content.**

Have you ever considered Sri Lanka as a family friendly holiday destination? If not then why? …

(Photo by Recal Media on Unsplash)

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean, it has so much to offer for families who are looking for a holiday packed with culture, beauty and exciting experiences. Sri Lanka has become such a popular destination for families recently and there are many options in airline when it comes to getting there, you could even fly via private jet rental Jettly if you wanted to arrive in ultimate comfort.

With that in mind, I wanted to share with you some reasons why you should consider Sri Lanka for your next family holiday!

The Beaches

Sri Lanka has many of miles of beautiful, clean and pristine beaches for you to enjoy. Being an island means that Sri Lanka has an abundance of beaches with a type of beach to suit everyone. From long golden beaches to small hidden gems with soft white sand. You can also find some untouched beaches with crashing waves a rugged coastline perfect for exploring and taking in the untouched beauty of Sri Lanka.

(Photo credit to Daisy from Inspire Create Do)

But if its family beaches you are looking for there really are so many beautiful ones to choose from. With stunning warm blue water and sand perfect for making sand castles, I think my two would happily spend all day enjoying the beaches of Sri Lanka!

Wildlife

If like me, you are an animal lover then you will really enjoy the wildlife that Sri Lanka has to offer. There are so many animals that are endemic to Sri Lanka you are sure to find new and interesting species during your trip.

(Photo Credit to Emma from Ready Freddie Go

On the island you will find several Elephant sanctuaries and Elephant orphanages which offer the chance to get up close to these absolutely beautiful animals and learn more about them. There are also chances to book onto Safari trips, where you can see these amazing animals and so many more such as water buffalo and perhaps even a leopard where they belong, in the wild! You are sure to take away some beautiful pictures and memories you will remember forever.

Wildlife is everywhere you go in Sri Lanka from tiny geckos scaling the walls of buildings to monkeys sitting high up in the trees. If you are planning on a safari you may even be lucky enough to spot some of the now threated species such as the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear. You can even do your bit to help by helping to release sea turtles back in to the sea with the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation project where turtle hatchling releases take place at 6.15pm each evening.

Accommodation

Using Villa Finder to help you find accommodation is a great way to take away the stress of searching and you can have peace of mind knowing the accommodation will be perfect for you. That's because Villa Finder inspect all villa's before they advertise them and have a dedicated website for villa's in Sri Lanka! When you book through Villa Finder a travel consultant will personally give you a call to discuss what you are looking for and if you have children etc so they can find a villa perfect for you and your family.

I think this is such a lovely touch especially if you are heading somewhere abroad and worried about things being suitable and safe for the kids. They even have a concierge team who can help you plan things during your stay such as airport pickup, a special dinner, a day tour, an in-villa massage so you have even more time to enjoy your holiday. It's these personal touches I find really make a difference.

I have been browsing through at all the amazing family villas in Sri Lanka and have fallen in love with this beautiful Villa Bamboo! It has 3 bedrooms each with its own en-suite  bathroom and private balcony, beautiful views of the gardens and mountains and crisp clean mountain air. You also have access to a kitchen and swimming pool, it looks like the perfect place to relax and lay your head after a busy day exploring Sri Lanka! 





It really has that traditional Sri Lankan feel with rustic elegance throughout. The high ceilings and spacious rooms make it perfect for families to enjoy. The villa is situated within a golf and country club and has a manager and staff on call to help you with anything you need They are also happy to help make arrangements for you to relieve any stress from your stay. 

Not only that but when you make a booking through Villa Finder for a villa in Sri Lanka, Villa Finder will plant a tree in Sumatra, Indonesia. So not only will you be enjoying luxurious accommodation tailored to your family but you will be helping to fight deforestation too! 

History and Culture

Sri Lankan culture has a fantastic mix of modern elements with traditional aspects, it is heavily influenced by Buddhism especially in the Southern and Central regions.

If you are planning on visiting Sri Lanka you will probably need to get around at some point and that will most likely mean jumping in a Tuk Tuk which you will find everywhere. It is a super cheap way to get around the island and a must do experience. Trains are another great way to get around, they are frequent, cheap and you can watch the beautiful scenery go by from the window as you go past.

(Photo Credit to Daisy from Inspire Create Do)

There is a rich artistic culture in Sri Lanka with many cave and temple paintings as well as religious paintings inside temples which are truly stunning. There are many Hindu and Buddhist temples across Sri Lanka as well as ancient ruins and Buddhist statues. If you really want to explore these then there are plenty of tour options to ensure you really do see the best architecture and art that Sri Lanka has to offer.

Here are some more top tips from bloggers who have visited and spent time on the beautiful island of Sri Lanka to make your trip even more amazing!

Daisy from Inspire Create Do - Mtop tip would be to research your are depending on the weather at different parts of the islands have different seasons so you can avoid the rains with good planning. Don't be afraid to be strict with drivers and tell them not to use mobiles when driving etc, the driving is crazy. We took our own water purifier so we cut down plastic waste and it was really easy.

Mary from Over 40 and Mum To One -  Sigirya is a must it’s stunning but kids will need to be brave to climb it. The elephant orphanage is special. Watching elephants bathing and being able to
Feed a baby one will stay with me
forever. The hawkers are generally a nightmare. We found that every man and his Dad wanted to drag us off to some jewellery store or other which did annoy us when we were trying to just go for a walk and take everything in. This was 25 odd years ago so might be better now. Mosquito repellent is a must. It’s a wonderfully beautiful country. Explore away from the beach. The tea plantations are well worth touring and the nature reserve in the south of the island is fab.


Emma from Ready Freddie Go The curry’s are to die for and I had them for breakfast, Lunch and tea everyday lol. We went to the Pinnewala Elephant sanctury and also did a tour from Kalutara-Colombo- temple of the tooth-mountain tea plantations and Grand hotel At Nuwara Eliya - Udewalawe National Park (this was fantastic as we had a safari there) - down to Galle then back to Kalutara. My biggest tip would be to ignore the Hawkers on the beach as they will be a nightmare. One of them learnt my husband’s name and he literally shouted him every time he saw him.



If you are planning a holiday in Sri Lanka I think planning is key. There is so much to see and do its good to have a rough itinerary with the things you really want to do during your visit to ensure you don't miss anything. Its also worth checking the weather and planning around this too! The island may be a small tear drop shaped island but the weather across the island can vary completely. It can be heavy rain one side and glorious sunshine the other so do keep this in mind.

I have to admit Sri Lanka isn't a destination I had ever considered for a family vacation but after researching this beautiful country and discovering all it has to offer its definitely going to the top of our list now!

Is Sri Lanka a destination you would consider as a family vacation?

xXx



**This is a collaborative post with Villa Finder. However all words and opinions are my own and I retain full control of this post.**

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