5 Things to know before you travel to Sri Lanka – preparing for a tropical paradise

True that Sri Lanka is a small island. It is just 430 kilometres in length and 220 kilometres in width. Seems small enough? Don't let these distances fool you. Truth be told it takes many hours to get from one city to another in Sri Lanka. Highways are rare and apart from the Southern Expressway and the Airport Highway, you will have to deal with the notoriously unpredictable traffic problem in nearly every other city. Average speeds in Sri Lanka are only about 40kmph. But that can reduce even further if you travel during rush hour. Thankfully the island is gorgeous so you will have plenty of scenery to keep you busy while you are stuck in traffic. Make allowances for delays; that way you can enjoy your holiday despite the slow journeys.

Again don't let its small size deceive you for this island really is a treasure-trove of wonders. Whether you are looking for long lazy beaches or mountains carpeted in greens of all shades, the island of Sri Lanka offers nothing short of the best. The beauty alone demands a good deal of one's time. But just when you think you simply cannot have enough of it, you realize there is so much more in store on this island. Sri Lanka has a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that takes one back to the exotic yesteryears of this nation. To top this off, there are wildlife parks with bears, leopards and lots more. This island really is a potpourri of treasures.

Since Sri Lanka is an extremely popular tourist destination, the island boasts a large collection of exquisite hotels and resorts. When choosing a place to stay at try and select a centrally located city where you have access to some of the island's best attractions. There are many boutique hotels in Kandy for instance. There are options such as FOX Resorts Kandy if you are particularly keen on a centrally located hotel from which to explore the hill country.

30 years of war has given Sri Lanka a reputation of being a war-torn zone but this, however, is no more. Today Sri Lanka is a peaceful island where you can tread around safely in any city. Even places like Wilpattu and Pasikudah –cities that were forgotten for many years due to the war, now enjoy a new lease of life.

When planning your travel budget keep in mind that Sri Lanka is a budget friendly destination. Public transport is very reasonably priced and so are the street food and other activities. However, prices are slightly higher than what you would find in other Southeast and South Asian countries.