Sri Lanka (4-13 March 2024)

We decided to go to SL again as our previous trip back in 2020 was not completed because of Covid. We got quotes for flights and accommodation. The price of flights had almost doubled since 2020😳. The flights back in 2020 was R11 500 pp. It was now R19 000 pp.There were cheaper flights via Qatar but the waiting period was much too long. We decided to go with Emirates and booked our flights with Save Travel. We booked our accommodation with booking.com and Agoda. Our planned itinerary was 3 nights in Bentota then Galle for 2 nights, then Colombo for 4 nights (we were leaving at 3am therefore had to book a fourth night).  Paying for a holiday always fills me with much trepidation, feeling anxious about things happening before the impending holiday (accident, illness, death). I am so paranoid that I will take out travel insurance immediately after I pay for the flights. I am also anxious about booking for holidays via booking.com and Agoda. I will also constantly contact the home stays or hotel to confirm the bookings.

Sri Lanka (9-17 March 2020): travelling in the time of coronavirus

Just when we thought terrorism and natural disasters were the only threats preventing us from travelling abroad, here comes another, in the form of coronavirus. South Africa and Sri Lanka (as of 9th March) are not in the grips of the coronavirus scare, but as we come closer to departing for our trip to Sri Lanka, panic sets in. What if we come into contact with passengers who are infected. How safe can we be on the planes or airports without being infected.  Should we postpone our journey. What if either one of us are infected in Sri Lanka. What if we return to work, and then realise that we are infected. These are the questions that are at the back of our minds. Two days before we leave I am in a deep dilemma. To add to this, the day before we leave, one of the owners in our complex had a break-in, in broad daylight. Is this a bad omen for us? What if our house gets broken into while we are away? We managed to pack our bags, with all these thoughts hanging over our heads. The day finally arrived, We secured our home as best we could, and set on our journey.

We flew with Emirates. We went with Save Travel and the package was R21 500 pp.