Why your hotel in Sri Lanka has changed (and why you're still in safe hands)

It’s natural to have questions when the accommodation in your Sri Lanka itinerary differs from the original plan. We completely understand, as where you stay is a big part of the tour experience.

When we change a hotel, we do so to ensure you enjoy the same or a higher standard and a great location.

In this blog post, we take you behind the scenes to explain why changes like this can occur – and why you can still look forward to a great stay.

Why your hotel might change – and what it means for you 

Sri Lanka combines exotic beaches, lush highlands, and vibrant city life, making it hugely popular with travellers. We’re delighted by the growing interest in this Asian gem, but it can also bring challenges, especially when it comes to hotel bookings.

Many travellers follow the same route and visit the same highlights. That means hotels are in high demand and get booked up quickly. In Sri Lanka, you’ll often find that hotels are small and intimate, with some places offering only a few rooms.

As a tour operator, this high demand can be challenging, but our top priority is still to ensure your accommodation meets our standards and your expectations.

If we change your hotel, we’ll always take care of all the practical details, so there’s nothing you need to do regarding your tour.

Will I get a worse hotel? 

It’s perfectly natural that our guests’ first concern is: Will I be getting something worse than what I’ve paid for?

Thankfully, the answer is: No.

If the hotel in the itinerary is fully booked, we’ll use one of our carefully chosen alternatives.

We regularly visit Sri Lanka to explore new tour options for our guests, including finding quality hotels that can serve as alternatives to those listed in the itinerary.

We select hotels with a focus on their:

• Standard
• Location
• Facilities
• Price
• Online reviews

In the vast majority of cases, you’ll find that the alternative at the very least matches the hotel in the itinerary on these criteria.

How can I improve my chances of getting the hotel in the itinerary? 

If you’re considering booking a tour to Sri Lanka and have set your heart on the hotel in the original itinerary, there’s one thing in particular that improves your chances of securing it: Booking well in advance.

In the high season from December to April, when visitor numbers are at their highest, hotels in the most popular areas are often fully booked 4–6 months ahead. To give yourself the best chance of staying at the hotel featured in your itinerary, we recommend booking 8+ months in advance – especially if you plan to travel in the high season.

Outside of this period, availability is usually much less of a challenge, though individual hotels may still be fully booked on certain dates.

Frequently asked questions about hotel changes

We’ve gathered some of the questions we’re most often asked about hotel changes, so you can get a quick overview.  

How often do hotel changes happen in Sri Lanka?

When booking tours outside the high season and well in advance (ideally 8+ months before departure), the risk of hotel changes is lower. If, however, you book during the high season and close to departure, hotel changes occur more frequently.

Will the hotel always be changed to one in the same area?

Your hotel will not necessarily be changed to one in the same area, but it will always be in the same city or district. We choose our alternative hotels for their equally good locations, so any change will not have any practical impact on your tour experience.

What if the alternative hotel is of a lower standard?

If all our alternative hotels of the same or higher standard are fully booked, you may, in exceptional cases, be accommodated at a hotel that is marginally lower in standard than the original hotel. If this happens, we will always ensure you receive an equivalent refund.

Can the alternative be better than the hotel in the itinerary?

Yes. All of our alternative hotels are carefully selected to match, at a minimum, the standard of the original hotel. Where this is not possible, you will most often be upgraded to a higher-standard hotel at our expense.

When will I be informed of a hotel change?

We’ll let you know about any potential hotel change when we send your tour confirmation (typically 2–3 weeks after the tour is booked). There, you’ll be able to see which hotels have been booked for you on your tour.  

Always in safe hands, even if your hotel changes

Sri Lanka is a wonderful country, so you can look forward to unforgettable moments on your tour with TourCompass, wherever you stay.

Although we always do our utmost to give our guests the best possible experience on tour – so you can have peace of mind when you book with us – we fully understand that a change of hotel can be worrying.

If your hotel changes, we’ll handle everything behind the scenes, so you don’t need to worry about rebookings or practical details. We’re with you all the way, before, during, and after your tour, so you’re never left alone with your questions or concerns.

If you have any questions about the change to the hotel in your itinerary, or anything else, you’re always welcome to contact our experienced team, who are ready to help.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller