Posh Option The Galle Face Hotel - Regency Wing
US$105 - $500
12 years before Bell patented the telephone, Galle Face Hotel was welcoming heads of state and royalty as their guests. This is an amazingly beautiful grand colonial hotel. You will be greeted by an old doorman with a giant moustache who may have been there since my dad ran amok in the foyer as an 11 year old boy. Spend the afternoon sipping G&Ts on the varandah watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean to the tune of pan pipes (played by a guy in a turban sitting in a tree!). If you have no problem perpetuating British colonialism and having doors opened for you by the natives this place is fantastic.
If you are spending a few hours in Colombo, this would be a great place to stop in for afternoon tea.
Average OptionsThe Galle Face Hotel - Classic Wing
US $70 - $150
The Galle Face has a cheaper wing, the rooms are fairly basic and haven't been renovated in a long time but you get to enjoy the varandah, pool and restauants just like the posh guests. Book ahead though so you don't end up in the really crappy rooms.
The Colombo Hilton
Not sure of the price
Well it's got more class than Paris Hilton, but it's still a big chain hotel with all the usual bits. The best part is "The Curry Leaf" the amazing resaurant that has an all you can eat Sri Lankan buffet. We certainly got our money's worth.
Shabby Chic OptionThe Colombo YMCA - Fleabag Wing
US $4 - $7
You get a bed, a sink, a toilet and a shower. If you're lucky you'll also get a window and if you're really lucky the window will have bars on it. It's as basic as it gets and the stairwells smell a bit like wee, but if you're only staying for a night and you're on a tight budget, it's pretty good. We stayed there when we had to get up at 5 in the morning and it seemed hardly worth it to pay for a nice hotel for a 5 hour sleep.
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