Planning a honeymoon should be fun, but choosing a hotel can take a bit of work. Sri Lanka has beach hotels, hill-country hideaways and peaceful stays surrounded by forest. Each one offers a different type of trip.
What are the best honeymoon hotels in Sri Lanka? You’ve got plenty, but start by thinking about the experience you both want. Some couples want to spend most of the day relaxing. Others want to head out early, see new places and return to a comfortable room in the evening. The right hotel should suit your pace and give you enough time to enjoy being together.
Think About the Location
The setting has a big effect on how your honeymoon feels.
A beach hotel is ideal if you want sunny days and evening walks. On the other hand, the hills suit those who are planning to escape hot weather. For privacy, a forest setting works well.
Before choosing, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you want to relax or go sightseeing?
- Would you prefer the beach, hills or forest?
- How long are you happy to spend travelling?
- Are there places nearby that you both want to visit?
If you’re both culture buffs, Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle is a pretty good place to start. It’s the part of the country where you’ll find famous historical sites such as Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the Dambulla Cave Temples, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Heritance Kandalama is in Dambulla, so it makes a good base for getting out and seeing the area. The hotel sits within 211 acres of protected forest and looks over Kandalama Lake. You can spend the day exploring, then head back somewhere peaceful, put your feet up and take it easy. You can even see Sigiriya in the distance from parts of the hotel.
Check the Room Before You Book
A honeymoon room should feel a little more special than the room you might book for a quick weekend away. Do not rely on the main hotel photos alone. Check the exact room category, view and facilities included in your booking.
Look for details such as:
- A king-size bed
- A private balcony
- Lake, mountain or forest views
- A separate sitting area
- A bathtub or Jacuzzi
- Enough room to relax comfortably
Heritance Kandalama is one of the hotels offering several room and suite categories, so couples can choose according to their plans and budget. The Luxury Suite comes with a four-poster king-size bed and 270-degree views across Kandalama. The Royal Suite offers views of the lake, jungle and Sigiriya Rock, along with a bathroom featuring a 12-jet Jacuzzi. Other room categories include private balconies or lake views.
Ask the hotel what your chosen room includes. It’s much easier to sort this out before you arrive than to request a different room during a busy period.
Look at the Dining Options
Food becomes a big part of a honeymoon, especially if you plan to spend plenty of time at the hotel. Check how many restaurants are available, which meals are included and whether you need to make reservations.
It also helps to have a mix of options. You may want a long dinner one evening and something quick and casual the next. Room service can come in handy after a full day out.
For something a little different, Heritance Kandalama offers a private dinner inside a natural cave. The experience comes with candles, torchlight, a six-course meal and live flute or violin music while you eat. It’s a pretty special setup, but you’ll need to book it at least a day in advance.
Choose Activities You Will Both Enjoy
You do not need to fill every hour of your honeymoon. Still, having a few good things to do nearby keeps the trip interesting.
If you stay somewhere like Heritance Kandalama, you’ll have plenty to explore around Dambulla and the wider Cultural Triangle, including:
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- The Dambulla Cave Temples
- Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks
- Anuradhapura
- Polonnaruwa
If you’d rather stay closer to the property, the hotel also offers birdwatching, boat rides, mountain biking and jungle walks. Choose one or two activities you’ll both enjoy, but leave some free time too. A honeymoon can quickly start to feel like a school trip when every day has a strict timetable.
Check What the Honeymoon Package Includes
A honeymoon offer can be useful, but always read the details. Some packages apply only to certain room types, travel dates or meal plans. Others may require proof of marriage or have rules about how soon after the wedding you must travel.
Check the following before paying:
- Booking and travel dates
- Room category
- Meal plan
- Minimum number of nights
- Airport transfers
- Special dinners
- Room decorations
- Spa discounts or treatments
- Cancellation rules
- Proof-of-marriage requirements
Honeymoon packages include a lot of extras, but always check the details before booking. Depending on the hotel and package, you may receive room decorations, breakfast in bed, a private dinner, spa discounts or a bottle of wine.
Check who the offer is available to, as some deals are limited to local residents or couples travelling within a certain period after getting married. Booking dates, room categories, meal plans and minimum-stay rules can also apply. A quick look at the terms now can save you from an awkward surprise later.
Make Time to Slow Down
It can be tempting to plan too much, especially if this is your first big trip together. Try not to. Choose a hotel where spending an afternoon doing very little still feels enjoyable.
A slow day at the right hotel could mean relaxing by the pool, booking a spa treatment or simply enjoying the lake and forest views.
The best honeymoon hotel is one that fits both of you. Check the location, room, food, activities and package details carefully. Once those are sorted, you can stop planning every little thing and enjoy the trip.