A few years ago (before COVID) I spent a month in Sri Lanka, and always booked my next (budget) hotel the night before on an app. I could then decide from day to day where I wanted to go next. I am going back in September, when rains shift around the island, so I would like to take this relaxed approach again, which -- since September is not the high season -- I would hope that I can do. But I am aware that things change, tourist numbers increase, hotels close, etc. So, I would appreciate any input by others who have been there recently on whether I have to book longer before, like I would do for a trip to, say, Europe.
Posted by
8809 posts
We did a cruise in 2015 from Singapore to Dubai and stopped in four ports in SW India. It was in early April.
Temps were near 100 degrees F with heavy humidity. I suspect that it would be very hot in Sir Lanka in September.
We are from the southeast USA and managed the heat, but we had friends on the cruise from Wisconsin, NY and Canada and they got exhausted and stopped leaving the ship.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks, geovagriffith, But the heat is not a problem for me, having lived and traveled most of my life in various warm, hot, tropical and even desert countries. The high humidity will be a bit of a bother, but nothing that will change my travel plans. So, my question about booking still remains, but since you haven't been there for a decade, I understand that you would not be able to answer that.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1640 posts
The key question is whether the SW monsoon that hits India will be over by the time you are in SL. The monsoon tends to tail off by the early part of Sept in India - not sure if this extends to SL also.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Hi, Arnold. Correct. The variability of the monsoon in September is precisely the reason I would prefer not to book hotels in advance, because I would like to follow the weather and travel accordingly (as I did last time).. But, as I say, I don't know whether the place has been overrun by, say, Russian tourists who snap up all the hotels.