Tamarind tree hotel, Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka

Certain scheduled flight from Male via Colombo to HK might take more than a half day.  This time I decided to take the complimentary offer from Sri Lankan airline for a longer transit stay near the airport area.  Except for some hygiene issues (cockroaches found in the room), the place is quite cozy for you to spend a half day before your connecting flight back to HK.  

Serendiva transit hotel, Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka

Witnessed the changes of this airport transit hotel over the past 3 years.  The rooms were quite run down with a very thin bed sheet as a quilt, worn blanket and poor air-conditioning.  Gradually this hotel has been expanding to take over the next door spa and having more newer rooms.  The hotel reception has also become more professional and efficient.  The advantage of staying at this transit hotel is that you don't bother with going in and out of the airport.  That would have cost you 1 to 1.5 hours extra.  So if you pay US$80 for a 7 hour stay.  It's a good alternate choice, and that you can fly in Maldives in early morning around 8-9am.  If you fly in Maldive in night time, you still have to find an overnight hotel stay near Male Airport.  This way you just switch this overnight stay to Colombo airport.

Transit stay at Colombo Airport

Some airlines still go in the classic way of offering more services to their customers.  I recall in the very old days, if I can't get the same day connection, the airline would offer a free hotel.  This is one of the features.  Sri Lankan Airway offers its business class passengers some distinctive services including this one.  Photo 1/3: is the Hotel gateway near Colombo Airport.  Photo 5: Silk Route (exclusive check-in for business class passengers) in Colombo Airport.  Photo 6/7: Serendib lounge of Sri Lankan Airway - offering quite a wide range food choices.