What is shared accommodation ?
The Salty Pelican Surf & Yoga Retreat offers affordable luxury accommodation for yogis travelling on a refined budget. Shared accommodation is in deluxe shared rooms and every shared room has two ensuite bathrooms. Each bed has a personal electronically locked wardrobe including room for your bag and hanging space for your clothes. There is also privacy curtains for each bed, a personal reading light each, personal niche and shelves including personal USB charging points both bedside and within your lockable wardrobe.
Luxury shared accommodation is a great social experience to meet other yogi's whilst you have a good time listening and sharing your travel stories with each other. Usually we attract 95% of our guests being solo travelling women aged between 20 - 55yrs of age, all here for a relaxing week of yoga, meditation and some surfing. Shared accommodation at The Salty Pelican is part of the reason why The Salty Pelican experience is so great. The hardest part about your stay will be having to leave us ;-) If you have any doubts, please read our reviews on TripAdvisor and Im certain they will ease your fears.
What do i need to check-in ?
You must have an ID-card or passport. No other proof of identity will be accepted.
When is check-in / check-out ?
Check-in: You can check in from 14:00pm and if you’re arriving earlier, we will do our best to have a bed ready for you as soon as we can. We have a restaurant and plenty of space to relax, if you arrive early.
Please note: Reception closes at 22:00pm without prior notice. Check-ins after this time are only accepted by appointment via email or phone call before this time has expired.
Check-out: Anytime in the morning up until the latest of 11:00am. You also have the option to relax in our open lounges or by the pool if you have a late departing flight on your check-out day.
When is breakfast served? Is it included ?
Breakfast is served at our poolside restaurant between 7:30am and 10:00am. Breakfast is included in the price for all-inclusive booked packages and you have a diverse choice between a range of healthy smoothie bowls, energising toasts, grilled options including vegatarian, fruit platters, fresh juice, local coffee and herbal detox teas.
Non-package bookings (just accommodation) made via our webiste or www.booking.com or www.hostelworld.com, breakfast is not included in the rate and will be charged at additional rates if requested.
Should i bring my own linen or towel ?
Beds are premade with fresh clean linen before your arrival. Don’t forget to bring a towel for the beach. We have fresh bathroom towels available for rent from the reception at additional charge (€3 per towel) but bathroom towels are provided in the private double rooms free of charge. As we are an eco-friendly retreat, linen in the rooms will only be changed every 3 days. Pool towels (not beach) are available with a deposit from the reception.
Do you have lockers or a safe in the rooms ?
Yes we do... Every bed in the shared rooms has a personal electronic locakable wardrobe with space to store your luggage, unpack your clothes, hang on a coat hanger and charge your electronics safely within your locker. The private double rooms have an XL electronic lockable safe to store all your valuables including mulitple large devices. Upon check-in, you will be given a waterproof wrist band which will give you access to our property, your bedroom locker wardrobe or safe for 24hrs a day.
What can i do with all my bags after check-out ?
You can store your luggage in our day storage for free after checking out. We are only allowed to hold your luggage till the end of that day only.
How do I arrive from Colombo Airport ?
Please find the directions to The Salty pelican below...
Most travelers to Hiriketiya arrive from either Colombo's international Airport or from Colombo centre.... There are several ways to get to Hiriketiya from there...
PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM COLOMBO AIRPORT
We can book you a very comfortable and direct air conditioned car/van transfer from the airport straight to The Salty Pelican. The driver will be waiting at the arrivals gate with your name on a sign. All road tolls and toilet breaks are included in the journey. Please send us an email with your flight details including flight number, so we can confirm your transfer.
Journey time: 3 Hrs *
One Way price: €90 1-4 person sharing
Return price: €180 1-4 person sharing
FROM COLOMBO AIRPORT VIA...TAXI, TRAIN, TUK TUK
PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM COLOMBO AIRPORT
A scenic delight… The journey is mostly along the coast, with open sea views for the majority of the way. There will be a few sellers selling water, fruit and delicious snacks on the way but the Colombo to Matara train will most probably be full. You may find it a very uncomfortable 3.5 hour journey standing on a crowded train after a long flight.
On the Colombo - Galle - Matara train route, virtually all seats are unreserved so pre-booking is neither necessary nor possible, which means you cannot book a seat unfortunately. Tickets are only sold on the day at the ticket office. Tickets cannot sell out though.
- Start your journey from either Colombo Fort Railway Station or from Maradana Railway Station.… It’s where the train from Colombo to Galle starts. You are much more likely to get a seat boarding at Maradona Station (although it’s still not guaranteed).
Airport - Colombo/Maradana Taxi Journey time: 40 minutes
Taxi price: Approximately 2800 rupees ( €13 )
Colombo - Matara Train Journey time: 3.5 Hrs
Ticket price: 130 - 420 rupees ( €2 )
Matara - Salty Pelican Tuk Tuk Journey time: 35 min
Tuk Tuk price: Approximately 1000 rupees ( €5 )
Useful Links:
Train Schedules and fares:
http://slr.malindaprasad.com
Overview of Trains:
www.seat61.com/SriLanka
Do you sell alcohol, food or drinks ?
We have our own poolside restaurant with a fully stocked bar with all your favourites, including a large selection of local beers, local wines, healthy smoothies, alcoholic cocktails and coconut water. Also we have an all day menu providing a diverse breakfast menu, snack menu and a delicious choice of locally sourced food and seafood for dinner. We also have free unilimited drinking water throughout our property.
Is there a curfew or lockout ?
No... we trust you but in return we do ask that you respect the other guests and be quiet when you return to The Salty Pelican. Our front gate remains locked after 22:00, which you can easily enter with your electronic wristband when returning late at night.
Can i be in a room with my friends ?
We try our best to allocate beds in the same room for friends travelling together. However, this is not always possible. Please contact us directly for any special requests, including accommodation in the same room.
Can I bring children ?
We do not recommend that young children stay at our retreat, as the atmosphere tends to be rather peaceful and mature. However, under special request we may be able to accommodate children depending on the season and retreats capacity. Children under 16 may only sleep in the same room as the parent and can only be in private room accommodation.
Can i bring visitors into the surf & yoga retreat ?
Outside visitors are only allowed into the restaurant area but not allowed in the guests rooms or to use the swimming pool and outdoor lounging areas. Please understand that there are no exceptions to this rule.
Do you have wifi or internet access?
We have free wifi everywhere within the retreat.. even in your rooms.
What is your cancellation policy ?
The Salty Pelican is offering FREE UNLIMITED REBOOKING & FREE CANCELLATION for all bookings with travel dates between the 01/03/21 - 31/03/22.
You can rebook to any one of our retreats in either Portugal or Sri Lanka with arrival date within 12 months of the original booking date with zero penalty fees *Seasonal rates difference will be applied where applicable.
1) ALL BOOKINGS will secured with a refundable 100% deposit charged/authorised to the submitted "valid" credit card details.
2) FREE CANCELLATION needs to be requested up until 24 HOURS prior to your arrival date.
3) FREE REBOOKING needs to be done up until 24 HOURS prior to your arrival date and there is zero penalty fees.
5) Remaining balance only paid at reception on your check-in date.
6) In the event of a “No-Show“ your reservation will be cancelled automatically and the deposit will be non-refundable.
7) If you have booked via a 3rd party website (www.bookyogaretreats.com), the buyer will need to adhere to the deposit and cancellation policies via that entity, and the policies written here will be declared null.
8) There are no refunds offered when requesting an earlier check-out date after you have already checked-in.
9) There are no refunds on any unused activities that are included in your package. Injury or sickness are the responsibility of each guest and their own travel insurance.
10) There are no cash refunds for bookings secured with a gift card/s and only the conditions/policies agreed to at the time of the gift card purchase will be applied.
In addition to the sums detailed above, the Seller shall be entitled to retain any charges incurred in relation to any refund.
Do you have laundry facilities ?
Yes we do.. we can arrange to wash your clothes and dry them for you at additional rates. Please ask at reception.
Can i smoke in the yoga retreat ?
Our yoga retreat is a non smoking building. Anyone who breaks this rule will be asked to leave without any refund. We do however, provide the exclusive use of our outside pool, restaurant area, multi-level garden and balcony’s from every room for smoking. Is is not permitted to smoke in the open space lounge room and dining room though.
Do you have a guest kitchen ?
We have a fully functioning poolside restaurant and no guest kitchen facilities.
Do you have female only accommodation ?
Usually 95% of our guests are solo travelling women between the ages of 20 - 55yrs of age... all here for week of relaxing yoga & meditation. We have four deluxe all-female shared rooms with en suite bathrooms to book.
Reception hours ?
The reception is open for check-ins between 7:30am - 22:00pm. We can only accept arrivals later than 22:00 when requested beforehand via email or phone call only. If you have an early flight and need to leave before 7:30am, please arrange check-out and balance payments the day/night before departure.
Where can we park our car or scooter ?
Theres space directly in front of The Salty Pelican to park your scooter for free.
I don’t have a credit card. How can i book ?
Send us an e-mail containing your booking request and your contact details. We will get back to you as soon as possible with the information required to make your booking.
Do you accept group bookings ?
Yes we do, for booking for more then 15 persons only. Please send us an email.
Can i pay in another currency or with a credit card ?
We only accept all booking payments in advance before your arrival with online payments. When checking out and finailising your bill, we can charge the same credit card used to secure the booking, for any extra items or activities you may of purchased during your stay. Please note that all items are added to your invoice in the same currency you booked your stay (euros) and a service charge of 3% will apply for all card payments at checkout.
When to visit ?
Sri Lanka has a surprisingly complex tropical climate, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its equatorial position means that temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year, an average of around 26-30°C (78 -86°F) and is often much higher than this around midday.
In general the best time to visit is from mid November to April, as this is the dry season. April and September are the best to see the whole country, while the inter-monsoonal season in October and November sees fine weather for most of the time interspersed with sudden thunderstorms. So If you’re prepared for sudden bursts of rain, it’s still a good time of year to travel and to enjoy the beaches. Low season is May to August when the Yala Monsoon hits… which doesn’t mean heavy tropical rain all day long on the south coast, just a few showers here and there broken up at times with a bit of sunshine. During these months, the surf is very consistent and also the beaches are less crowded ;-)
I have never surfed in my life. Is this retreat for me ?
No problem ;-) Usually 95% of our guests are either complete beginners or have only surf once or twice before. You re going to fit right in here and our surf instructors will make sure you learn the proper techniques and have loads of fun also.
Can I arrive before check-in time ?
Of course that wouldn't be a problem and you are more than welcome to relax aoround our lounges, pool area or restaurant until your room is ready. We can also store your luggae securely.
GETTING TO SRI LANKA ?
Your destination will be Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo). It is the island’s main international airport. There are non stop direct flights avaiolable to Colombo from many European cities and even more with a change in dubai or Qatar. Cheap flights can be search via www.skyscanner.net
VISAS FOR SRI LANKA ?
A 30 day tourist visa is can be booked online before your arrival in Sri Lanka via the following link.
https://eta.org.lk
We recommend you get this before you arrive to Sri Lanka for an approximate cost of $35USD. Tourists are permitted to stay for 30 days with this visa. If you wish to stay in Sri Lanka longer than 30 days you can apply for an extention for up to 90 days from the date you arrived into the country.
Changing my cash to the local currency ?
To avoid being ripped off, you should only change your cash at any official cash exchange, safest bet is on arrival at the airport. Its right outside the arrivals exit gate.
How can I finalise payment for my booking ?
All bookings are confirmed with a 100% prepayment. This amount is refundable in regards to the terms agreed to at the time of the booking. Please kindly note that it's not possible to pay in cash for your accommodation on arrival at The Salty Pelican. .
Is the bank or ATM nearby to the retreat ?
There are 2 ATMs just a few minutes away from our retreat by tuk tuk or a short 10 min walk where you can withdraw rupees with your credit card or bank card. The maximum amount per transaction is 60,000 rupee (€250 - €300). Mulitple transactions can be done one after another.
What about my valuables are they safe in my room ?
Every bed in the shared rooms, has there own personal electronic locker that can fit your entire travel bags, valuables, clothes hangers and more. There is also a charging point within your locker to top up devices securely whilst you're chilling by the pool.
Do I need a power converter to charge my devices ?
Sri Lanka operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz and every power socket is internationally compatible including for each personal bed, lounge and pool areas.
Do you have surfboards to rent or included ?
We have are large diverse range of soft and hard top FLOWT surfboards, in all kinds of different sizes, shapes and for every level. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or intermediate. Plese note: Unlimited surfboard rental is included in every package booking, but not not for any bed and breakffast rates booked via our website, booking.com, hostelworld or any other providr not ooffering our all inclsuive packages. Boards can be rented at additional charge when not booking a package.
Should I bring my own wetsuit ?
Water temperature is 28 °C and more... so leave your wetsuit at home.
Im a beginner or I've never surfed before... is the retreat for me ?
Hiriketiya is the perfect palce for beginners to learn surfing with its friendly sand bottom and it’s right on our doorstep.
Whats the temperature like ?
The average temperature in Sri Lanka all year is between 27-30 °C.
What food and drinks do you sell at the restaurant ?
Each morning and evening we gather all our guests together to socialise over a good meal and some delicious drinks from our poolside restaurant and bar which is open all day until approximately 21:30 PM. Savour local flavours from our diverse menu including healthy alternatives and fresh juices, to a seasonal menu of fresh seafood and delicious vegetarian options. We offer an array of taco choices, tropical salads, local curries, quesadilas, shakshuka, delicious cocktails, wine, beer, healthy smoothies, iced teas, coffee, local teas and much more.
What clothes should I bring ?
Its warm enough in Sri Lanka most of the year to walk around in a bikini or shorts most days. If you are sensituve to mosquitoes, bring some long trousers or longer skirt, would be a good idea when going to or near the beach at night.
Other than the Covid-19 vaccination, is there any others you recommend ?
Recommend you're up to date with a tetanus boost, hepatitis A (6 weeks before), typhoid (3 weeks before). Sri Lanka is also malaria-free !
Travel Insurance ?
We strongly recommend that everyone coming to Sri Lanka should have travel health insurance.
