TikaWeeks #44/2024: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 1st November 2024
As the nights draw in, our minds turn to brighter, sunnier and warmer climes – holidays in Sri Lanka! This is the peak season for us, with December to March being the busiest period of the year as our customers escape the short days and cold weather typical of a winter in the UK. With lots of our customers travelling to Sri Lanka soon, I thought a few travel tips would come in handy before you set off on a holiday of a lifetime.
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, you do. The new Sri Lanka Government reintroduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system at the end of September for tourist visas to Sri Lanka. For more details and to apply online, please go to Sri Lanka Tourist Visa
When should I apply for the Tourist ETA?
The ETA is valid for up to 6 months from the approval date. However, I usually apply for my ETA around a month before travel. After applying online, an acknowledgement normally comes though immediately by email and approval within 24 hours. Please print out the approval notice and take it with you along with your passport, which needs at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.
Should we apply for an Individual or Group ETA if we are a couple or family?
I always recommend applying separately for an Individual ETA regardless of the number of people travelling together as the Group ETA application has failed many times in the past for previous customers.
Which address in Sri Lanka should I include on the ETA application since we are staying at many different hotels on our holiday?
When applying online, please include our office address as the ‘Address in Sri Lanka’, as follows:
108 Thapodarama Road
Hanthana
Kandy 20000
How much is the ETA?
Currently US$50 per person, although children below 12 years of age are free.
Do I still need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Sri Lanka?
There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Sri Lanka. Please go to FCDO Sri Lanka for more details. However, we recommend a current COVID-19 vaccination along with Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus and Typhoid.
Are there any other documents or online forms I need to complete before travelling to Sri Lanka?
Yes, an arrival card. All arriving passengers to Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo (except Sri Lankan passport holders) must complete an e-form from 3 days prior to the flight to Colombo. Please complete the relevant form at Arrival Card
Should I get Sri Lankan Rupees in cash before I go?
If you are able to source Sri Lankan Rupees in the UK, then the exchange will be very poor, and it is NOT recommended. It is best to take Sterling pounds in cash (NOT Scotland nor Northern Ireland notes, however, as they are not recognised) and use ATMs locally (please check with your bank before travelling about access to ATMs in Sri Lanka).
There are plenty of bureaux de change at the airport on arrival which offer reasonable rates for Sterling cash or ask your chauffeur guide to take you to a local bank with foreign exchange facilities.
When can I choose my seat on the flights to Sri Lanka?
Most, if not all, airlines now charge a fee for prebooking seats before online check-in is available. If you have booked flights though us, then you will be able to prebook seats as soon as your flights are ticketed, which is usually 4-6 weeks before departure, for the extra fee. Free online check-in is available 48 hours before departure with Emirates and Qatar Airways and 30 hours before departure with Etihad Airways.
I am unsure what to pack for my holiday to Sri Lanka. Do you have any suggestions?
We offer a clothes’ packing list for Sri Lanka, on request, which is not exhaustive but will give you an idea of the essentials to pack.
Do you have a recommended book list for Sri Lanka as I am interested in reading more about the country?
Yes, we do, again on request.
Is the tap water safe to drink in Sri Lanka?
We do not advise drinking the tap water in Sri Lanka. We recommend taking a reusable water bottle with you to refill at the places where you stay which have water filtration units onsite.
Please think twice about buying bottled water in Sri Lanka as there is a serious issue with the amount of plastic waste on the island, like around the rest of the world, and we need to stop buying single-use plastic NOW.
Do I need a plug adaptor for Sri Lanka?
Many of the electrical sockets in Sri Lanka accept the same 3-square-pin plugs that are used in the UK. You also find smaller 3-round-pin sockets and the correct adaptor for UK plugs is widely available in Sri Lanka for about £1.
When I arrive in Sri Lanka, where will I meet the dedicated Tikalanka chauffeur guide?
All passengers exit through the Arrivals Terminal and your dedicated Tikalanka chauffeur guide will be there to meet you with a nameboard.
I know that Sri Lanka has a tipping culture, and I don’t want to cause offence, so how much should I be tipping guides, jeep drivers, waiters, housekeeping etc. when I am there?
How much and when to tip is the most frequently asked question we receive. It is a contentious subject, and everyone has their own opinion, but we send tipping advice with your booking confirmation and, as a reminder, with your departure information. Please be aware that it is not comprehensive by any means, but it will hopefully guide you through the gratuities maze.
Categories: Flights, Health, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Travel tips
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