Negombo completes the Sri Lankan experience

Negombo completes the Sri Lankan experience (Photos: Anwesha Mittra) The cobalt blue of the sea in the travel magazine I held matched exactly with that of the one below us as our flight edged over the vast Indian Ocean past a meandering coastline stretching like a long white ribbon, towards the tropical paradise of Sri Lanka. After bobbing in and out of large puffs of clouds we finally touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport, eager to begin our 'honeymoon', eager to get an eyeful of the sea. Sri Lanka, it was decided a month prior to our wedding for its idyllic beaches and bias for good food, and my bias for the sun and sand. As we made our way to the exit gate post a swift customs clearance, I made another...

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What's the Deal? The week's best travel bargains around the globe

LAND Ski Salt Lake is offering hotel discounts of up to 30 percent off and free-night deals at Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude resorts in Utah. For example, Snowbird has a Ski Free and Stay 5th Night Free offer through April 2: Pay for four nights and stay the fifth night free, plus get two free lift tickets for each night's stay (normally $74 for each ticket). With the deal, a Feb. 18-23 stay at the Cliff Lodge, with lift tickets for two people, would cost $1,813 (normally $2,809), including all taxes - a 35 percent savings (Snowbird reservations: 800-354-6092). Book by March 15. Info: 801-534-4900. The Caribbean island of Barbados has discounts on hotel stays, attractions, shopping and dining. With the Take Me to Barbados package, get a fifth hotel night free (two nights free on...

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2013's best Oscar-inspired destinations

Can't get enough of Les Mis or Lincoln? Then these are Oscar-inspired travel stops that you must visit Philadelphia, Washington DC and Paris are expected to reap the benefits of playing supporting roles to some of this year’s Oscar-nominated films, as they welcome tourists whose visits are inspired by their favorite movie. In advance of the biggest televised red carpet event of the year on Sunday, Hotels.com picked the trio of cities as the season’s best “destination-centric” movie sites. The online reservations site predicts interest in Philadelphia, the setting for Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln's Washington DC, and Paris for Les Misérables, will experience a spike in interest. The 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables...

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What's the biggest pet peeve among air travellers?

Uncomfortable seats and limited legroom are the top complaints when it comes to air travel Uncomfortable seats and sky-high airline fees are among the top complaints among air travel passengers, according to the results of a consumer survey. In TripAdvisor’s annual air travel poll, in addition to limited legroom and exorbitant ticket prices, 2,000 respondents in the US also named unpredictable flight delays, long security lines and “other passengers” -- notably loud, crying children -- the top five pet peeves about air travel. The survey also found that more US passengers will be flying the global skies this year, with 67 percent of respondents indicating they plan to take an international flight this year, compared to...

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