Transport Around Sri Lanka - The Good And The Bad!
Tuk Tuks
Tuks tuks (or taxis as they sometimes call them here) are definitely a really convenient and easy way to get around. As a foreigner even just walking down the street 99% of tuk tuk drivers will toot at you as they pass by, or pull up beside you and ask if you need them to drive you somewhere, so as far as being able to hail one down, its incredibly easy.
The downside to tuk tuks is the price, well not so much the ACTUAL price, but the fact that as soon as a driver sees a foreigner, they see dollar signs straight away! Thats not to say you should avoid tuk tuks at all cost, because they can be very handy for short tips, or if you need to get around while carrying something heavy, but there are a few things to make sure you do when getting a tuk tuk to avoid paying a hugely inflated price.
- ALWAYS negotiate a price BEFORE getting in the tuk tuk!
This can be hard at times to do if you dont know the exact address of where you are heading, or have never been there before to point out landmarks around it etc. My advice would be to check out the distance on google maps from your current location and base the distance on that. If you just jump in the tuk tuk and get taken where you want to go, chances are you will be in for a big surprise when you get there and get asked for 1200 rupees for a trip that should be only 300 (I say this from experience...)
- Get Metered tuk tuks
This one speaks for itself, if you get a metered tuk tuk then you can watch the meter as you travel and see exactly what you are going to be paying during the trip. The problem is these don't seem anywhere near as common in the smaller towns as they do around Colombo and the more built up areas, but if you can get one instead of a non metered one, id highly advise it. Make sure to keep an eye on the meter though as you are going, as I have heard stories of some quick hands from drivers suddenly adding a few extra rupees on when passengers aren't looking, so definitely something to keep in mind!
- Use Uber/Pick Me
Uber is available in Sri Lanka, you can use your normal uber account just like you would at home. You do not pay through paypal or your bank account here though, just cash like any other taxi ride, however this is a good way to know exactly what you are paying from the get go. Problem is currently these types of apps are really only being used in Colombo, so smaller towns its highly unlikely there will be no drivers around you unfortunately.
- Don't be afraid to haggle!
If you are asked to pay an amount that you know is too much, don't be afraid to speak up! This is part of the culture here, it is not rude, it is normal. As stated before it is best to negotiate the price before the trip, however if failing to do so, make sure you haggle if you feel you are being ripped off! This will take a bit of getting used to, but after a few trips and getting used to the average price per distance you will know roughly how much you should be paying.
Trains
Trains are a great and inexpensive way to get around the country, and they are actually a lot more reliable that I first expected to I must admit,. So far I havn't really experienced many delays or cancelled trains whilst living here (touch wood!).
Most trains will have both second and third class carriages available, with the occasional first class carriage on certain trains to certain destinations. A second class ticket from Colombo to Galle will generally cost you roughly around 250 rupees I have found, and a third class costing around half of that. Either one is fine really, second class also has toilets and fans on the roofs, while third class doesn't, so thats really the only difference between the two I've found (both can still get extremely packed so a second class ticket isn't going to save you there im afraid!) For either carriage you just buy your ticket at the gate and get on the train, tickets don't sell out.
On the trips that have first class carriages, generally these will be only for very long trips, from say Colombo to Galle or Colombo to Ella, and these will be tickets that you will need to book in advance. They are assigned seats and will sell out depending on the destination, so definitely something to keep in mind! To book these online you can either go to https://www.rajadhani.lk/ or http://www.exporail.lk/index.php to book your tickets. You can book and pay online, which you will then get a print out of you booking, which you must then take to the counter at the train station to convert into your actual ticket (very simple procedure) These trips range from around 1,000-3,000 rupees each way, depending on the destination.
Oh and just one more thing to point out about trains, you will often have someone walking up and down the train selling drinks and food. As far as the drinks, go nuts and get as many as you want, the food however, personally id be a bit wary of, you don't know how long this guy has been walking around the trains for, that's all I'm saying, so definitely approach with caution..!
Bus
Buses are a cheap and convenient way of going either short or long distances around the country. They do get extremely crowded at peak times and during various holidays and festivals, so those of you who are claustrophobic, plan your timetable accordingly.
Other than this though its a great way to get around. From my house in Unawatuna it will cost me roughly 20 rupees to get to Galle, and take around 10 minutes. You do have to be paying attention though because the bus driver won't stop unless you tell them to, so if you're not watching you may fly right past your stop without realizing it! To alert the driver to stop at the stop coming up, simple press one of the switches on the roof, or pull the string to ring the bell. Alternatively just head up to the front of the bus and tell the driver (if you can get there) and he will stop for you.
One way to see if your stop is coming up is to use google maps and GPS on your phone, very handy little invention there!
One tip, make sure you don't muck around getting on or off the bus, be prepared and be quick, a lot of times the buses wont actually 'stop,' but just slow down for people to jump on and off, so be aware! (Generally for tourists they will come to a complete stop as they know we aren't used to that, but just something to keep in mind!)
You can get privately run buses at times for longer journeys, say Colombo to Galle, Galle to Matara etc. These will guarantee you a seat and are air conditioned, and to give an example of price, when I got one from Galle to Colombo I paid around 250 rupees, so its also a good alternative to the train if you want to mix it up!
Scooter
This is probably the most common mode of transport around the country, for both locals and tourists alike. Scooter can be very handy for getting around, aren't overly expensive to run, and give you the freedom to go where you want when you want. Personally I have never hired or bought one, but I know plenty of people who do. To purchase a brand new scooter you are looking at anywhere from around 140,000 rupees up, depending on obviously which model you get, what kind of warranty, insurance, registration and such. Alternatively you can hire scooters starting from roughly $6 USD per day (I'm mention this price because its the cheapest I have come across). So if your just wanting to scoot around for the day to see different areas, hiring a scooter may be a way to go!
It is important to note, if you are riding a scooter or driving any kind of vehicle, you must have an international drivers license AND a recognition permit. An international drivers license can be purchased from your own country before your trip, but the recognition permit must be purchased here. Its a very simple process, you just go to the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Colombo and get one. They will have you fill out some forms and pay around 3,500 rupees from memory, and this will last you 1 year.
Bicycle
This is the mode of transport I personally prefer, the good old fashioned push bike! Very cheap to purchase, very cheap to run, plenty of fresh air and exercise, and can take you wherever you need to go!
To purchase a bicycle here you are looking at roughly around 12,000 rupees and up for a brand new one, or you may be able to pick one up second hand for half that if you look around enough.
You can also hire bicycles from a lot of scooter hire places, for maybe around 300-400 rupees per day (Don't quote me but from memory it's around that.)
There are plenty of bike repair places around if you have any issues, so for me this is the way to go!