I would like to revive this thread back to life and ask a few questions of the Ceylon Tea Trails and Sri Lanka sages in this crew. In the spirit of inductive reasoning, my main question is if you had 6 nights in Sri Lanka and you wanted to spend 3-4 at Maya in Tangalle would you do 3ish at Ceylon Tea Trails, 2ish at Tri at Lake Koggala, or suggest somewhere else between Tangalle and Colombo?

In November 2016 my wife and I are planning a trip to Sri Lanka from the USA for 7 nights on the ground in Sri Lanka. Right now we are booked on award tickets for American Airlines first class but will optimistically switch them Cathay or JAL first class as the dates get closer. We will be leaving our 18 month old at home with her grandparents and are excited for a week of culture, adventure, relaxation, and luxury.

We arrive around 10:00PM on a Sunday night and plan to stay at a hotel near the airport. Then we have 6 nights in Sri Lanka from Monday until the following Sunday when we are on a flight Sunday at 7:45PM to head home.

I am intrigued by the Maya resort near Tangalle. I like not being directly on the beach although within striking distance of Amanwalle, and the value for money of that resort seems great. And with the new highway it looks like its only about a 3.5 hour drive from Colombo. If we did 3-4 nights here that would leave 2-3 nights for somewhere else.

For that somewhere else I was thinking of the Ceylon Tea Trails, especially if we did 3 nights here and not just 2. The reviews are incredible, as noted here and Tripadvisor. One reservation I have is would it be too similiar to the Maya experience? Another option I am looking at is the Lake Koggala region and especially the Tri resort there part of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If we did 4 nights at Maya we could do 2 nights here on the return and also get a chance to take in Galle. We could then return by car to Colombo in time for our 7:45PM flight.

We thought about the Aman resorts but would rather stay elsewhere but maybe use their restaurant, bar, or pools if convenient and interesting. We don't wish to be right on the beach.