Gabi Brogan review 27 Aug 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
So many wonderful memories: Hikes, wild water swimming, stunning water Lilly pad strewn lake kayaking.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Totally stunning countryside. You need to be willing to walk, swim and kayak to make the most of it. Definitely for active kids over age 7
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Ben and Emma made sure they sourced local produce, used local people who were mostly their friends.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Amazing ! Totally undiscovered montenegro
David Bell review 3 Jun 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All very memorable. However the kayaking around and to a monastery and convent on Lake Skadar probably has the edge. We were the only ones actually on the Lake which is 27 miles long.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is a third world country and this should be borne in mind. Pretty active week and a very personal service from the owners. They, Ben and Emma speak several languages including the local language very well and have made many friends locally. This enables them to give an enviable insight into local life which we were privileged to share.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
A good number of local people were involved and having become part of the community our hosts were determined to minimise environmental impacts and support conservation
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
5 stars. Our hosts could not do enough for us.
Vivienne Blandford review 14 Aug 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Swimming in refreshing ice cold water, in pools below waterfalls with emerald green and dark turquoise beautiful demoiselles (a type of dragonfly) landing on your head and arms and surrounded by lush green vegetation and grey/white rocks under a blue sky.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Try to avoid the very hot months of late July and August if you enjoy walking, it does get a bit hot, although the above compensates.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Without our hosts it would not have been possible to interact with the local people and we would have never found that drinking copious amounts of their organic wine does not give you a headache.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Sarah Hill review 17 Jul 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hard to single any one thing out. The wild swimming in the lake, rivers and springs was fantastic! Had a bizarre incident when a nun came out in a boat to help one of our party in a kayak. The actual area is stunning, as it is completely untouched by developers, utterly beautiful. The local people are lovely and friendly, though few speak any English. We had a wonderful holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Really enjoy the lunch with the local family as Tania is easily the best cook you will come across in Montenegro. Shower her with tips!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people definitely benefited as we were transacting directly with them for every transaction we had.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Thoroughly enjoyable and memorable for all of us, including a 16 year old and a 10 year old.
Debbie McCarty review 20 Jun 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We liked it all but one of the best days was hiking on the mountain, stopping to swim in the cool streams, eating a wonderful lunch with a local family and going to another local family in the evening to have a meal.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take lots of comfortable clothing for activities, sun hat is essential and easy to carry water bottles.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We helped to boost the local economy, having a greater understanding of environmental issues was of great benefit but i don't think it would reduce the impact. That would come with education for both locals and tourists.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, one of the best holidays we have ever had. Just the right mix of activities, met and made new friends, stayed at a brilliant tranquil location. Perfect.
Jean Almond review 4 Sep 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The team of Emma and Ben offer a personal introduction to an area which is not yet highly developed for activity/tourism. Their lovely villa is beautifully appointed and a perfect base for the guided trips and activities.
We enjoyed a wonderful hike into the local hills, swimming in seclusion in (ice cold but refreshing) rock pools of the type you usually see only in brochures of the tropics (and which are usually crowded with hundreds of others), a fantastic kayaking trip to isolated island monasteries, and an on and off road driving and walking tour across a landscape that varied from high narrow passes to snaking rivers and luscious flood planes. Their enthusiasm and knowledge was really helpful in allowing us to get the most out of the trips.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A car was helpful to us because we travelled from Dubrovnik (bit of a delay in crossing the border) , but not essential. Remember to take foot ware that is suitable for crossing rocky shores and banks of rivers and pools. Our family party included two (physically fit and active) seventeen year olds, who had great time.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Emma and Ben have a large network of local people who enjoy meeting their visitors and introducing them to their culture. They use local businesses (fishing, farming, boating, catering). The villa is very economical in water (delicious spring water for drinking) and electricity use, and waste disposal though is modern and offers a high level of comfort.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were really pleased and felt the holiday we had a good balance of relaxation and stimulation. We feel very fortunate to have seen the advert on the responsible travel newsletter.
Amanda parker review 31 Aug 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
This is hard to say as it was all so good. The scenery was amazing and spectacular but without the crowds to share it with. Canoeing on Lake Skadar with no-one else, swimming in the warm water, watching the wild-life, and visiting uninhabited islands and islands with a monastery and convent, hardly visited by anyone else was probably my highlight.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect to relax, unwind, forget the time and day of the week. Bring good walking shoes and some energy for the activity days.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the local people don't really understand that people like to hike, canoe and cycle etc. Emma and Ben, who run the holiday, are helping the locals to see a potential market, but also in a very responsible way, with a firm lead on the environmental impact. They are using local people where they can to share their heritage, for example having a meal in a local house with delicious home produce and wine.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent holiday, one of the best ever and we've been on some amazing holidays. I would give 5 stars if it asked was it one of the best ever. But sshh, don't tell everyone about it, as we don't want others to find out how beautiful it is and come and fill it up. You can only tell your nice friends about this holiday. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a holiday away from the crowds, who wants spectacular scenery with a mixture of activities and relaxation.
