The great thing about keeping a travel blog though is that it is also a great way to make money. Travel blogs may abound on the Internet, but equally plenty are the people who are genuinely interested in finding out about your travel experiences so as to make better choices during their own trip preparations. As more people stumble on your blog and read your posts on various places you’ve stayed, sights you’ve seen, and your food choices, the more money you can make from your blog.

In order to get more travellers to visit your blog though, you need a good way to promote your blog. You can always do this by doing SEO, participating in social media sites, and getting links and reviews. All four strategies to blog promotion take some time and effort to produce results. However, there are ways you can easily get links and get reviewed if only you know where to look.

A good way to get your travel blog reviewed and earn links almost without any effort on your part is by submitting your blog for review in sound directories like Blog Search Engine. Instead of putting so much effort in asking for links, all you need to do is pay the basic $14.99 fee to get reviewed, listed on their index, and be given the option of upgrading to a package that can get you even more links from other blogs.

The good thing about this blog promotion approach is that you can just do it one time and forget about it. Even if your travel blog is not primarily meant for monetization, who knows just how much you can make after promoting your blog. At least if you do make some money from it, you’ll end up with some extra you can use to splurge on your next vacation, which perhaps would even be here in Sri Lanka!

The nation of Sri Lanka is a small island that is often referred to as “the pearl of the Indian Ocean.” The island’s culture dates back over 2,500 years, making Sri Lanka home to eight awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage sites. Sri Lanka’s varied environment, including lush tropics, mountainous wildlife parks, miles of sandy beaches, tea estates, botanicals gardens, waterfalls and more, make it a premier tourist destination, and there is no shortage of accommodations for travelers of all types. Whether you are into yoga, fine vegetarian dining, or relaxing poolside, Sri Lanka has a place for you. Check out these five luxury spas in Sri Lanka:

The Blue Water

This is a luxury beachside spa resort located in Wadduwa, Sri Lanka. Winner of the 2010 Hospitality Award, The Blue Water offers modern, spacious interior spaces, an outdoor backdrop of crystal-clear water and lush gardens, and signature therapeutic holistic spa treatments based on ancient Asian techniques.

Ayurveda Pavilions

Set on the “golden mile” of Negombo, this boutique-style sanctuary offers an ayurvedic experience that treats the entire body through diet, detoxification, and massage. If you are interested in ayurvedic techniques and philosophy, then you must stay at the Ayurveda Pavilions – voted World’s Best Spa by Travel Weekly in 2003.

Ulpotha

For a truly unique and spiritual experience, meet some new, like-minded friends, make some good karma, and enjoy life in a “money-free” community by staying at this intimate retreat sandwiched in between a lake and a mountain in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. Those questing the simple life and a spiritual recharge have made the pilgrimage to this area for thousands of years in order to be close to nature and experience peace and tranquility in a place that still has not been touched by Western society.

Villa de Zoysa

If you have a serious interest in yoga, then you should consider renting a charming room in this historic estate home. The Villa de Zoysa offers its guests intense yoga classes and on-site, on-call yoga instructors who can help you perfect your form and get closer to yogic nirvana. You can even get free massages by offering to sit in as a subject for students in massage training, or take a class in ayurveda while you are there.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort

This is perhaps the most luxurious of the spas on this list, for those who desire the most modern of amenities and all the creature comforts anyone could ask for. Siddhalepa offers guests the best of many worlds, with a beachfront location set against tropical meadows and woodlands. Guests stay in individual chalets that are situated around a swimming pool, and receive custom therapeutic treatments during their stays.

Sri Lanka has so much to offer that you may have to plan more than one vacation in order to get the full experience. Pay off your installment loans from Great Plains Lending, save up some cash, and prepare for the trip of a lifetime. Consider your personal definition of luxury before choosing out of these five, very different luxury spas. You won’t be disappointed.

The Fortress Hotel is perhaps the grandest hotel in Sri Lanka of all. Owned by reputedly the richest family in Sri Lanka, it is part of the Per Aquum group of resorts, who also have a large presence in the Maldives and the Seychelles. The Fortress only opened its doors in 2007 and has certainly started with a bang, often being fully booked (especially for weddings and large functions) despite the negative news coming out of the Sri Lankan tourism industry.

The hotel is in a glorious location, set right on the Indian Ocean seaside and close to Koggala Lake, about a 20 minute drive from Galle. What sets apart the hotel from many of its competitors is not just its location, though, but its magnificent architecture and ambience, both outside and inside. We don’t often like to quote off a hotel’s own website, but in this case they have it spot on:

A hotel fashioned in the style of a powerful fortress. Rising next to the beach, the resort’s walls enclose verdant gardens and water features, a spa featuring Ayurvedic treatments, a freeflow swimming pool, wine cellar, restaurants, boutiques and exquisitely appointed rooms, lofts and residences. The resort’s architecture forges historic Dutch and Portuguese styles with the motifs of Sri Lanka.

There are 47 guest rooms, all stylishly decorated with a Colonial effect and Modern finish. There are five choices, each with its own different views and appeal: the fortress room, the beach room, the ocean room, the ocean loft and the residence. There is also a glorious spa: the Lime Spa, which specializes in traditional Ayurvedic treatments. And let’s not forget the culinary and gourmet aspects, be that the main restaurant lounge by the pool: Pepper; the modern cave for a fine glass of wine; Heat: where delicious tapas are served by the sea; a dedicated Tea section to enjoy Sri Lanka’s most famous export and the Sea Lounge where you are allowed to enjoy just one fruity cocktail too many!

Oh! and the main attraction itself: the most decadent and luxurious infinity swimming pool that one could hope for. Of course, all of this doesn’t come cheap. You’re not going to get a room for much less that $500 per night, although if you contact the hotel directly, they may give you 20% off if it’s during a quiet period.

We couldn’t recommend the Fortress Hotel more highly for those that want a luxury holiday in Sri Lanka!

After a long day shopping and soaking in the fascinating sights of Colombo, Havelock Place Bungalow is the perfect place to come back to. Its existence has always been a cherished secret to those ‘in the know’. Described by many guests as an oasis in a busy city, this elegant retreat tucked away down a quiet leafy cul-de-sac in the heart of the capital was in fact Colombo’s first boutique hotel and prides itself on its high standard of personalized service in a homely and comfortable setting. Built in the 1940s, the hotel consists of two bungalows, which have been cleverly combined and entwined within a landscaped tropical garden, that provide all modern conveniences within a charming colonial setting.

Having initially opened as an art gallery, fascinating paintings and prints still envelope the walls of the villa especially in the comfortable living room which, with its little library is the main social focal point to the property. Housing three suites and four standard rooms, each with their own courtyard or garden access, Havelock Place Bungalow has a surprisingly large garden full of flowering plants, shady trees, lush foliage and little ponds. A swimming pool and Jacuzzi is located beside an outdoor terrace with a little spot for sunbathing.

Being centrally located in the capital, Havelock Place Bungalow is the ideal place to rest at the start or end of your holiday, or as a base for exploring the exciting museums, historical sights, temples, parks and beaches that Colombo offers. There are many renowned restaurants close by while the villa is a perfect base for some last minute shopping at the end of your holiday.

The charming little hotel comprises seven comfortable and homely rooms – three suites and four standard rooms – each decorated and furnished in a different style with access to a private terrace or to the garden. Rooms come in different shapes and sizes but they are all stylishly decorated with genuine antiques including canopied four poster beds, interesting writing bureaus and wardrobes. Wi-Fi is available and all rooms have telephones. Each is air-conditioned and has en-suite bathrooms with hot water available throughout the day.

Havelock also offers excellent home cooked cuisine which has been consistently highly praised by past guests. Cooked by expert local chefs – under the supervision of Havelock’s owner Sharmala – who combine the freshest local ingredients with western cooking styles the result is a fusion of flavours that include Italian and Mediterranean specialities. The daily menu is written on a blackboard every day with choices of specials based on whichever ingredients were the freshest and best that morning when the chefs went to do the shopping. The fabulous selection of home-made ice creams and sorbets made by Sharmala should not be missed – we recommend you try the passion fruit sorbet. Delicious!

Meals may be served to you in the bistro-like restaurant or even out in the tropical garden. If you prefer to dine in your room or suite this can also be arranged – emphasis on personalized service is very important here. Breakfast consists of either western, Sri Lankan or Continental variations and along with the main meal dishes are all very reasonably priced. They also offer a good selection of imported wines.

The rates for accommodation range from $80 for a standard room and $130 for a suite. As usual, we recommend that you contact the hotel directly to make your booking.

Accreditation: Sri Lanka In Style

Ambalama offers plenty of luxe for the traveller. Its four equitable bedrooms are highlighted by comfortable four-poster beds adorned with the highest thread count linen to be found in Sri Lanka. With multiple sets of doors opening onto the front sea view verandah, louvers provide the rooms with enough of a breeze for you to hardly ever need to use the air conditioning or fan, although both are available. With two of the modern bathrooms featuring an enclosed open air shower surrounded by a soothing tropical garden, this is barefoot luxury at its best.

The main living area of Ambalama is an airy space with cool floors, high roof and a scattering of antique furniture and local art. To one end is a cosy lounge area whilst at the other is a circular dining table for eight, overlooking the pool, garden and sea. The villa is perfectly convivial and suits many group arrangements; it can easily be transformed from relaxed and intimate into something more formal depending upon the occasion. The villa has a full complement of staff, so all you have to do is ask.

The Balinese tiled swimming pool is one of the villa’s best assets. Located just footsteps from the bedrooms and living areas, the pool has an especially inviting ledge to one side from where you can sit in the sunshine and admire the view. Surrounded by a wide sun drenched terrace dotted with loungers, it is ideal for alfresco wining and dining at any time of the day. Ambalama is totally private and to the front is a large grassy lawn with access to the pristine stretch of beach just below.

One particular highlight of Ambalama is its cuisine. A lot of effort has gone into finding a great chef to create cuisine worth staying in for. Indeed, the new chef at Ambalama has worked in two of the island’s five star hotels and designed a menu that amply reflects this. From succulent seafood to sensational salads and wicked desserts, there is plenty to satisfy even the most demanding guest. And, whilst you might be enjoying five star cuisine, remember you’re not paying for it; guests only pay for the cost of the ingredients. Perfect! Three courses it is then.

The quoted rates for Ambalama Villa range from $600 per night in the value season to $900 per night in the peak season. We suggest that you contact the very efficient and friendly Tai via the website contact form.

Image via Sri Lanka in Style

Once again we divert from the central theme of this blog to cover another topic of interest for you, our dear readers, when thinking of luxury travel in Sri Lanka: real estate.

When visiting Sri Lanka, it may well be the case that you fall in love with the country- its people, culture and beauty. And you might be tempted to set up a holiday home there, or who knows- even want to retire there! Furthermore, we wouldn’t argue against the theory that Sri Lanka ironically represents a lucrative investment in these troubled financial times, given that the economy is emerging from a twenty year civil war and has been pretty well down and out for so long.

If this is the case, listen up- as we have been through this process ourselves and learned a few things we’d like to share with you that you’re unlikely to find on a real estate agent’s website…

The first thing you need to bear in mind when considering making any investment in a property in Sri Lanka is the words of the canny investor, Warren Buffett:

“Euphoria is an investor’s worst enemy; pessimism is his best friend.”

In other words, no matter how good a deal seems- think twice and think again after that. Why? Because Sri Lanka is still the Wild West and if you think that you will have any legal recourse should things go awry, forget it. It’s all about finding people you can trust and establishing transparency and clarity in a business culture that is inherently corrupt and is going to stay that way for some time to come. Your leverage is your cash and soon as you have given that over, you are very much on your own. So ask yourself what your motives are before jumping in the deep end, as if you’re looking for a solid investment that is liquid and safe, this is not the place for you.

However, if you’re able to afford a bit of fun and want to add some color to your life without going bankrupt in the process…then why not? If you’re not putting all your eggs in this particular basket and can afford it, you might even make some capital gain in the long-term. Having said this, please do believe us when we give you some tips, as we ourselves have been down this road for better or worse!

Here are three facts on the ground that may help you:

* If a foreigner buys land in Sri Lanka, there is a 100% land tax. Obviously, this is completely prohibitive- but it can be gotten around by setting up a local company that owns the property, whereby you will own all the shares of this company. Bear in mind that this company will need to be “active” and so you’ll be bearing approx. $1,000 in legal and accounting fees every year

* The real estate agents in Sri Lanka are not licensed or regulated. So any Tom, Dick or Harry can say that they’re an agent while having no qualifications or ability for you to hold to account. In addition, they take an extortionate 10% commission of the sale- 5% from the buyer and 5% from the seller. Unbelievable, we hear you say and we agree!

* There is a weird metric system in Sri Lanka when it comes to measuring land: perches. Prices will nearly always be quoted in terms of Sri Lankan Rupees per perch. One perch is 25 square meters, so 160 perches is one acre. Become familiar with this as quickly as possible.

Our advice would be that you resist all the amazing deals of the century you find on your holiday and if you really are considering buying a property- come back and rent first. Learn the lay of the land before you commit your hard-earned shekels to a fantasy. The only possible downside to this is that you miss the gold rush and Sri Lankan real estate suddenly is competing with Manhattan overnight. Talk to the other expats who have bought properties, learn from their mistakes and find contacts of people you can really, really trust via multiple and solid recommendations. Don’t forget- these will likely be your neighbors also, so be smart and don’t go showing off! Otherwise, everyone will want a piece of you- Sri Lanka can become a small place very quickly!!

So what do we suggest if you are interested in buying a property in Sri Lanka?

** Don’t rush- rent a house for a year in the area that you are interested in buying a property in and take your time learning what is what & who is who.

** Find one single estate agent that you like/trust and negotiate a lower commission than 5% from your end. For buying or renting, we recommend Ivan at Sri Lanka Real Estate. With Ivan (don’t tell him we told you about negotiating on the commission!), what you see is what you get and he is an authentic professional in this industry. And unlike many other agents, he won’t abandon you after the purchase and will continue to help & look after you. There are a disproportionate amount of agents for such a small real estate market as Sri Lanka and many of them are foreigners who have been around for years supplementing their passive income. If you can pick one single agent, your life on the social front will be much smoother!

** Find a trustworthy lawyer who will represent your best interests and not the seller’s. We recommend Bindu Wickramasekara (bindu@slt.lk) for the Galle area. A lawyer like Bindu will charge 2% of the purchase price, but he will do so much more for you than just legal searches, paperwork and the usual that one might expect in the West- he will be your eyes and ears on the ground and be able to help you see the wood from the trees…

** For setting up your company in Sri Lanka, there is only one law firm that can be recommended: Simon and Associates in Colombo. With Simon you are in the safest hands possible and sleep at night knowing that you are protected by the best. This is going to set you back approx. $3,000.

** For banking, by far the easiest to use is HSBC in Colombo. At the minimum you will need to set up what is known as a SIERA account (share investment external rupee account).

** If you are buying a plot of land or an old property, get quotes from a builder who you have decided to use before you buy, and not after. As a rule of thumb, the cost of building in Sri Lanka with a high end finish is approx. $400 – $500 per square meter. So for a large house of 500 sqm (say 4 bedrooms, large living space, etc)- that’s $250,000. Allow another $50,000 for your landscaping, pool and other external costs and you’re talking about $300,000 for building a beautiful house that is done to your specifications. Of course you will get cheaper quotes than this, but you already know where that will lead you…disaster. And add to this the cost of the land you bought. Also, bear in mind that while one might assume otherwise, renovation can cost as much- if not more- than building from scratch with demolition, etc. Plus in many places (especially within Galle Fort), you will need building permits for any building or renovation work. We recommend Neilan William, owner of Siem Construction. Neilan is a rare breed: an honest builder and as the owner of an established company with a good reputation, he can be trusted to stay in budget and on schedule.

** The Sri Lankan currency is traditionally weak against the major world currencies, so factor in some depreciation of the SL Rupee. You will find that the sellers will choose whatever currency suits them best at the time, but our advice is to stick to an offer in USD so that you know exactly where you stand- whatever the volatility of the currency markets.

** Sri Lankan sellers are always going to assume that you, as a foreigner, are very wealthy and will therefore try and achieve a selling price well above market value. You must be prepared to bargain hard.

** Now here is an idea for you…

Maybe you can see from the above that buying property in Sri Lanka is no picnic. So instead of going through all the inevitable emotional and psychological turmoil of this torturous process, why not buy someone else’s hard work and effort for a song? By buying a property from an expat who is wanting to sell up for whatever reason (leaving, fed up, cashing in on a gain, divorce, etc…) you are going to avoid a lot of hassle and be able to buy the property as a company without all the aggro. Yes you might be spending an extra few dollars from what you’d pay a local for the property (and even that is debatable!), but trust us when we say that this is money well spent!

Anyway, we hope that this post has been of some help to those of you seriously considering buying a property in Sri Lanka. If you would like some additional advice or help, do drop us a line- we have no axe to grind and will be happy to let you know the real deal!

Photo via Tisara Villas

The majority of “luxury” hotels in Colombo are those big, grandiose “chain hotels”, part of much larger hotel groups. Examples of these would be the Hilton, the Cinnamond Grand and the Taj Samudra. While they may be quite comfortable and convenient, they certainly lack the charm, individuality and exclusivity of a “boutique hotel” that the discerning traveler is looking for.

By far the best of such luxury boutique hotels in Colombo is the Park Street Hotel. Situated right in the heart of the city near to all the major restaurants and shopping centers, Park Street is an oasis of tranquility and elegance, set within two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. Formerly the home of a colorful and eccentric couple who were members of Colombo’s “elite”, this 250 year old building was stylishly converted into a hotel by the Taru Villas Group, who own a collection of such boutique hotels around Sri Lanka, yet it retains all the original charm and authenticity of its previous look as a home, so that it really doesn’t feel like a hotel at all!

There are twelve rooms at Park Street, but calling them rooms is an understatement. Each room is larger and more luxurious than any suite one would find at one of the large, commercial hotels. Huge double-size king beds, a private dining area, an enormous jacuzzi- all decorated with top of the line furnishing in the “Modern meets Colonial” style of the Taru Group. The food is excellent, the swimming pool a delight, the massages heavenly and one has all the usual mod-cons in case one has to do some of the more serious stuff: a business center, WiFi everywhere in the hotel, an excellent gym and a very impressive library.

If you are looking for something a bit different and away from the usual commercial accommodation (and if you’re not, you shouldn’t be reading this blog!), then this is the ideal place for you to stay in Colombo. Rates are approx. $250 per room including breakfast and taxes, although if there’s availability you can bargain down to $200 by dropping Taru’s name (the owner). The booking form is here.

Image via Sri Lanka in Style

Welcome to Ceylon Luxury! Sri Lanka (or Ceylon as it was once known) is considered by many to be the most beautiful country in the world. Stunning beaches, breathtaking mountain views, lush tea plantations, tranquil lakes, tropical forests and the list goes on….

The country lies next to the Maldives, which arguably has the best beaches of any country, and Kerala, the Southern state of India, which is also becoming an increasingly popular travel destination. Sri Lanka has a colorful past and is full of many natural resources, most notably its tea, coffee and spices. It is a predominantly Buddhist country (Theravada- early Buddhism) with an ancient culture that can still be seen today in many of the wonderful temples, monuments and sites. Sri Lanka was colonized by the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British before achieving independence in 1948. This rich and diverse history lends itself to a very unique culture which one can see in the architecture, arts and crafts. Sri Lanka is also a home to ayurvedic medicine, which makes it especially appealing for those Westerners who believe in holistic health techniques.

Couple these facts with the most charming, kind and hospitable people you are ever likely to encounter on your travels and you have a paradise just waiting to be visited.

However, owing to the continuing problems with the civil war in the North of the country, where government troops battle Tamil Tiger rebels, tourism is at an all time low in the country. Despite the reality of it being perfectly safe to travel to Sri Lanka in the central and southern regions, the constant bad news coming out in the media is keeping the mainstream tourists away. The situation wasn’t helped in December, 2004 when the Tsunami hit the West Coast of Sri Lanka very severley and the country has yet to properly recover from this terrible disaster.

Ironically, this situation of negative publicity has opened up a different area of travel in Sri Lanka- one of luxury. This niche is filled by the discerning traveler who can afford to spend that little bit extra and doesn’t pay attention to the worries of the mass tourism industry. Furthermore, this type of luxury traveler is rather attracted by the exclusivity and personal touch that one gets by being one of the special few. It’s like a “private club” growing in the middle of Asia and the “who’s who” are being catered for by those who know how to provide service in style.

Out of this rapidly growing luxury travel market in Sri Lanka are being born the most luxurious and exclusive boutique hotels, villas, private islands, spas, restaurants, shops, specialty tours and many other aspects of luxe travel.

It is this area of luxury travel in Sri Lanka that this blog is about. We want to share first-hand with readers our knowledge of traveling the country in style and hope that we can convert a few to visit this unique island paradise. We will be reviewing and featuring every aspect of luxe travel in Sri Lanka, whether that be the hotels, private villas, restaurants or tour companies. And we won’t be just regurgitating what you can find elsewhere on the web, as we actually know Sri Lanka intimately and regularly visit the place ourselves!

Finally, we’re not out to make our millions from this blog and so won’t be filling it up with spammy affiliate links and ads. Having said this, we are probably able help you if you are serious about visiting the country as we know many of the hotel owners, etc- so can likely get you a good deal. Therefore, do contact us if you would like our help or advice.

Image via Iho-Ohi