There are deluxe, international properties in Colombo, Kandy, Dambulla, Galle, Nuwara Eliya and in the resort towns along the southwest coast. There are many well-run local hotels, beach resorts, guesthouses (private homes that frequently take in travelers), villas for rent and government rest houses throughout the country. Accommodations at all levels are relatively inexpensive. Colonial holdovers such as the Galle Face Hotel (Colombo), and the Hill Club (Nuwara Eliya) compensate for their decaying facilities with antique character—nostalgics will love them. The Queen's Hotel, with several balconies overlooking the main parade route of the perahera in Kandy, should be booked at least one year in advance of that event. Most hotels have reopened after the December 2004 tsunami, but some amenities may still be closed for repairs.
