Enjoy an exciting, relaxing scenic train ride down south and free shuttle service to Citrus Hotels

Citrus Leisure’s properties, Citrus Waskaduwa and Citrus Hikkaduwa, recently launched a special free shuttle service for guests, to and from the closest train stations, to provide a novel and exciting, hassle-free travel experience, which makes it easier to access the properties. 

While the initiative was launched on 4 July, in response to the difficulties guests are facing in travelling to Citrus properties, as a result of the ongoing fuel shortage, guests have been delighted with the whole train ride experience and the convenience of not having to drive themselves from Colombo or having to find hired transport. Thus, there is no reason for guests to hold back on their travel plans due to the fuel shortage. This is an ideal opportunity and arrangement for families looking for midweek and weekend getaways, and staff of companies looking for outing opportunities.

Thanks to the new shuttle service, guests are now able to take a relaxing scenic train ride from Colombo, along Sri Lanka’s idyllic and breezy coastal line. This is a unique train journey, globally, and is noted for its incredible vistas of the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s beautiful western and southern coasts. In fact, many foreign train lovers and “wanderlusters” flock to Sri Lanka for its iconic train journeys, including this one along the coast. Guests can use this opportunity to unwind, enjoy a unique travel experience and arrive at Citrus Waskaduwa and Citrus Hikkaduwa in a relaxed state of mind, ready for the beach adventures ahead of them. 

Guests travelling to Citrus Waskaduwa can hop off at Train Halt 01 in Waskaduwa and guests travelling to Citrus Hikkaduwa can disembark at the Hikkaduwa train station. From there, they can enjoy the convenience and comfort of being transported to their respective hotels in a special transport arranged for them by the hotel. Upon the completion of their stay at Citrus Waskaduwa or Citrus Hikkaduwa, guests will once again be provided with a free shuttle service to catch their train back to Colombo and enjoy one more run along the coast before arriving in Colombo, rested and relaxed. 

Commenting on the initiative, Citrus Leisure PLC CEO Chandana Talwatte said, “In the true Citrus spirit of going as many extra miles as necessary for the satisfaction of our guests, we decided to launch this free service to not only help our guests amidst the fuel crisis, but also to deliver a novel experience. Our free shuttle service, and the whole train journey experience has been a resounding success, and guests are thrilled. Many have even said that they will opt for a train ride even once things are back to normal as it is so enjoyable and relaxing. So, we have even published the train schedules for the convenience of guests, and they only need to give us 24 hours prior notice to enjoy the free shuttle service. 

“The response has been amazing, and we have even seen an uptick in arrivals as a result. But more importantly, it has given us the absolute joy of seeing our guests happy and not having to be hassled. Thus, we intend to continue the service until the situation normalises, and may be even beyond, given its popularity.”

Taking the present circumstances into consideration, Citrus Leisure is also considering launching a special coach shuttle service for groups of minimum 10 to maximum of 15, for a nominal fee, from Colombo to Citrus Waskaduwa. This service too seeks to help guests enjoy a hassle-free journey to and from the hotel, as they enjoy a relaxing holiday. 

During their stay, guests will enjoy a live band to keep them entertained on Friday and Saturday evenings, with plenty of fun and exciting games for kids and adults, while also treating themselves to a scrumptious BBQ dinner buffet and one hour of free Citrus Signature beverages, along with free unlimited chasers. Citrus Hotels also offers a range of weekday packages to make a booking or an inquiry, please call 011 5 800 900.