Reviewed 02 Aug 2011 by Elizabeth Carmichael
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was all good - I enjoyed meeting the group, the tour guide and also the different part of the holiday. The killing fields were thought provoking. The temples of Angor amazing in so many different ways.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Comfortable walking shoes, plenty of water and you can fly out of Seim Reap to many destinations.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. We visited home restaurants and ones where the local children were given instruction. We used tuktuk's and local bus companies.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very comfortable, safe and enjoyable. The tour guide was approachable and knowledgeable and gave us detailed descriptions of the temples.
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Halong Bay cruise and the cycle trip in Ho Chi Minh City. The food was also great. Travelling with a really nice, mixed group of people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would recommend that people did the trip south to north rather then north to south as it is very hectic, and the heat was quite oppressive - the Halong Bay cruise was a really nice way to relax at the end of the trip.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I felt it benefitted local people in that we were spending money in local restaurants and shops. We also visited the KOTO restaurant which gives street children training in the catering industry.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The trip gives you a really good introduction to Vietnam. It would have been interesting to spend some time in rural areas as the holiday is primarily based in big cities, but I guess this will be something to do on another trip rather than on a whistle-stop tour. Our group leader was very conscientious and knowledgeable, and was really keen to introduce us to his country.
Reviewed 18 Feb 2010 by Caz Oatway
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
A few things - at Angkor Bayon temple, I loved the faces in the towers. In Phonm Penh the trip to the genocide museum is pretty tough going but has to be seen
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take up the optional activities - the trips to Tonle sap and the village tour were brilliant
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great trip, but action packed so plan a few days at the end to see things at your own pace
Reviewed 27 Mar 2007 by Virginia da Costa
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It is impossible to say in just one or two sentences. The people of Cambodia are incredible; however, the local guides that we had were wonderful as well as Tracey our "facilitator". As sad as it was the Tuol Sleng prison, the Killing Fields and the Land Mine Museum brought to light the terrible suffering the Cambodian people went through under the Khmer Rouge period and also shed light on the people who still suffer today. Now for the good part: the Temples at Angkor Wat - I want to come back to see more! Sunrise at Angkor Wat, the Jungle Temples! Shopping at the Russian Market, the Silk Farm, the children who I met in the streets, watching monkeys running around Wat Phnom, riding tuk tuks, watching one of the members of our group eat a fried tarantula.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for the heat. Take sturdy walking shoes. My Buzz Off clothing from Ex Officio really helped keep off the mosquitoes or else buy the citronella spray available there - it works well too. Also buy the electrolytes available in the pharmacies - tastes like Tang. Take tons of pictures but be polite about it and ask permission. Every time I bought something, I asked if I could take the seller's picture and they always agreed. It made my purchase memorable. Oh, and bring along $100 worth of $1 bills and lots of $5 bills the new ones with no tears!!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Absolutely, we always went to restaurants that were run by Cambodian people who did charitable things like take care of street kids, teaching them English or that benefited orphanages or trained street kids to be chefs or servers. I had wanted to go to these places anyway and Tracey made sure that our optional dinners always included these restaurants. Since this was the "Comfort" Cambodian 6 day trip, our hotel was more luxurious but I had a limited time factor (Spring break at my university), otherwise I would have chosen a more minimized impactful holiday since we had airconditioning and pool.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Super, I learned lots of things and next time, I feel that I can return on my own for a longer period
Reviewed 06 Jun 2006 by Catherine Thomas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Without a doubt, the Temples at Angkor.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a passport photo (for your Angkor pass) and plenty of mosquito repellent!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes & no : more care maybe over the choice of hotels. I'm sure most people choosing this trip would sacrifice some comfort for the sake of benefiting a local enterprise (rather than a large company, even if Cambodian).
