I'm from Sri Lanka

 

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.

New business class, Colombo to BKK, Sri Lankan Airway

CX, Qatar and AA have been introducing this kind of business class (so-called Herringbone seats as claimed by the industry).  This time Sri Lanka is also taking this seat for their A333 aircrafts.  The seat is more secluded for solo travellers but not good for friends who travel together.  The seat is a bit better than CX, but the storage is somehow not that thoughtful.  I'd prefer Qatar's.  On the meal service, it's a nice breakfast with omelette, sausage and muffin.  Nice coffee too.  

Serendib Airport hotel, Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka

Why take this hotel on our own cost (US$80 for 7 hours) is because this one is right in the airport without bothering to pass thru' immigration and the transfer from and to the hotel outside (which takes an extra hour), though it's still near the airport.   So paying US$80 is to have a longer sleeping time and also making sure we don't miss the flight.

The room is somehow too spacious (about 70 sq. m.) and with some interesting iron board (without iron).  Unfortunately the sound proof is very bad.  I got waken up by the people speaking outside of the room (as it's the travel lounge and a spa outside).

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.