Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Guesthouse explorer, independent reviews
 Reviewed 27 Mar 2006 by Simon May |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The wonderful diverse countryside of Sri Lanka and the people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light get out what you think you need and then half it!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes it benefited the local people but driving round the island in a car is not very eco friendly! Although it's great you can equalise your carbon footprint via your site.
4. Any other comments?
We had a really good time. We loved your easy to use site and I will be recommending you to everybody I speak to! ***** woo hoo
| Reviewed 14 Apr 2006 by Ros Morgan | |
Great holiday with this operator. A combination of customised travel, interesting guest houses and independent travel. Great food, gorgeous beaches and scenery in general, culture everywhere and lovely old colonial hotels and all the other things...
We loved Yala National park and the elephants and the other creatures great and small. My highlight was stroking a baby elephant at Pinnaela (?)who shyly peeped out from under its mother and allowed me to touch its stubbly head!
My Husband loved Ella with its fabulous views and wonderful walks. However there was so much to see that there was never a dull moment. This operator knows where the best guesthouses are. Our driver was very keen to look after us but we had to persuade him at times that we needed to do our own thing at times. I would recommend this operator as a travel company.
My advice to travellers would be to read the Lonely Planet or similar and to sometimes resist going to places where you are put under pressure to buy. Everybody expects a tip including drivers so have plenty of 100 rupee notes handy. It is important to negotiate a price with your driver for any extra travel (outside itinerary) before you go.
Our travel money has definitely gone to local people and it was a pleasure meeting them and hearing about their lives. Hopefully we had minimal impact and we resisted taking pictures with animals when they were tied up (there were a lot of porcupines by the side of the road with babies and men asking for money for photos).
Definitely 4 STARS! Thanks for having a terrrific website!
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We loved Yala National park and the elephants and the other creatures great and small. My highlight was stroking a baby elephant at Pinnaela (?)who shyly peeped out from under its mother and allowed me to touch its stubbly head!
My Husband loved Ella with its fabulous views and wonderful walks. However there was so much to see that there was never a dull moment. This operator knows where the best guesthouses are. Our driver was very keen to look after us but we had to persuade him at times that we needed to do our own thing at times. I would recommend this operator as a travel company.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
My advice to travellers would be to read the Lonely Planet or similar and to sometimes resist going to places where you are put under pressure to buy. Everybody expects a tip including drivers so have plenty of 100 rupee notes handy. It is important to negotiate a price with your driver for any extra travel (outside itinerary) before you go.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Our travel money has definitely gone to local people and it was a pleasure meeting them and hearing about their lives. Hopefully we had minimal impact and we resisted taking pictures with animals when they were tied up (there were a lot of porcupines by the side of the road with babies and men asking for money for photos).
4. Any other comments?
Definitely 4 STARS! Thanks for having a terrrific website!
| Reviewed 31 Mar 2006 by Tony Ellingham | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The variety. By saying that I can point to three things which stood out. The amazing train journey from Kandy to Ella. It's a slow (about 15kmh) rickety train, which is all the better for seeing the wonderful scenery unfurl as you go up into the hill country. Staying at Kandalama hotel, wonderful innovative design which certainly has the WOW factor and is in tune with the environment. Look out for the abundance of monkeys in the morning, if you stay here and make sure you have a free day to savour this place. Seeing a leopard at Yala.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Plan carefully and ask questions before you go about how well your itinerary fits together and how much spare time you will have. I was amazed how long it took to get everywhere and for certain parts of the trip did not have a much free time as I would have liked.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Generally. I was a bit concerned by the practices at some of the hotels and restaurants where they charged you for service as part of the bill, I guessed it didn't find its way into the pockets of staff so gave them some money personally.
4. Any other comments?
Very happy with the tour company and driver.