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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Adventure holiday in India, Wildlife & Moghul Cities, independent reviews
 Reviewed 10 Jan 2008 by Jane Bolomey |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The tigers at Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur and Taj Mahal.
The lovely smells versus the stench in certain areas and places, the noise in the streets versus the peacefulness in the wildlife parks, the beauty of the country and cultural sites versus the slums, the friendliness of the people, the rubbish, the colours, the cows, pigs, camels, elephants, monkeys and dogs who share the roads with cars, rickshaws, tuktuks, busses and people, the mixture of wealth and poverty, the hairraising tuktuk rides on streets where no traffic rules seem to apply - it's been a totally awesome holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go for it! Worth every penny.
Make sure you have warm clothing if travelling in winter. The early mornings are icy.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Definitely. Our contribution was minimal compared to their needs, but every little helps.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
| Reviewed 11 May 2008 by Mark Helps | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best was not seeing a tiger in Corbett National Park, which was very disappointing, but this also had its very own high point to the holiday. As we were leaving the park we heard a very loud snort from an elephant hidden in the undergrowth, we immediately pulled over and stopped the vehicle and listened. Then trees moved in the distance and the sound of deafening trumpeting, then the low steady growl from a tiger. This went on for minutes, then silence, but just as we thought it was all over there was one more snort from the elephant. Although we saw nothing, we heard such beautiful sounds that conjured up moving pictures in our minds. These were our own memories to take home from India.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Changing dollars and our pound notes was never a problem anywhere, but try to keep more 100 rupees notes than 500 or 1000, these were often hard to change.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It brought in money and employment to the local communities where we stayed. Then the sites we visited seemed to be well maintained, which leads to money and more employment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of the best places visited so far, so many memories to cherish.
| Reviewed 19 Apr 2009 by Rebecca Deacon | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting a local school was the most memorable part of the holiday - pleased we could do a little to help. Most exciting part was seeing Taj Mahal as it's iconic.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take DEET insect repellent, a BUFF headscarf and moneybelt! Don't forget lithium batteries for your camera as you'll want to take hundreds of photographs. Other travellers told me they wanted my rucksac as it was easier to carry around railway stations than suitcases!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes! Buying large bottles of water and decanting these, using train travel when possible and contributing to the school helped. Is difficult not to be affected by the extreme poverty though, especially when families are living at the hotel boundaries.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely amazing! Sights, sounds and smells will stay with me forever and my photographs just can't capture the experience. Shame we didn't see a tiger but we did see a leopard by paying to go on an extra game drive. Holiday was well organised from when the plane landed at Dubai to the time I left although several mistakes were made during the booking process. Trip was made by our knowledgeable and friendly guide Mr. Singh and a small group number of 10 travellers.
| Reviewed 26 Aug 2009 by Claudia Parma | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The rickshaw drives through the little streets of Delhi. The Taj Mahal and its story. Above all the group with whom I had loads of fun and great harmony!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Remember is hot, wet and very smelly especially when travelling in August. Be prepared to be shocked as what you will see will always stay in you eyes, heart and nose... If you need relax/ holiday do not book. This is an adventure not a holiday as such.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We have tipped everyone constantly, we used local guides for every monument, every park and ate only in local restaurants!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It is difficult to rate the holiday as it was not a holiday. As an adventure it will be memorable, the people, the colours, the sounds, the smells, the history, the power of religion have taken a special place in my heart but I doubt I would go back to India too soon!
| Reviewed 14 Jan 2008 by Gary Mock | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the wildlife
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be aware of the long stopover in Bahrain - it's a killer, especially on the way back! Also, if you are not into temples, 3-4 days doing this is a bit much for a Indian Wildlife holiday
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
To a degree it benefitted local people - as regards the national parks, I thought Ranthambore was way to commercial and drivers/guides lacked respect for wildlife. This was also the case in Bandavgarh where drivers/guides would call to animals to get their attention for a good photo (and hence better tips for them!). I also did not like how much chatter went on between guides/drivers when watching wildlife - we should be quite and respectful - and definitely the drivers/guides should not get out of jeeps to show guests where to look to see tigers etc - disgraceful!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good - our tour leader was excellent! Did not like to long stop-over in Bahrain and lots of travel between sites - feel this could be better organised. Would have liked less temples and more wildlife, including a trip to Panna which was very near the other parks in central India. Also did not like the pre-occupation with seeing tigers -I like seeing all wildlife.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback on your trip to India on the Responsible Travel website.I was pleased that you found the trip good overall and will pass your kind words about your Group Leader to our agent in India. I have also forwarded a copy of your review to our Product Manager who will welcome your comments on your experiences in the National Parks and the itinerary in general. I would assure you that your views are extremely valuable to us and provide the best means we have for improving our holidays.
I hope that despite your unhappiness with a few aspects of the trip that you will travel with us again