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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Sri Lanka and Maldives holidays, independent reviews
 Reviewed 28 Nov 2005 by Bart Thoelen |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The campsite in YALA was a great experience, sleeping with the crocs!!! I recommend to put something in your ears, it's very noisy during the night!!(insects) Travelling through Sri Lanka is an experience itself!! 5 days on the Maldives is the minimum, after 10 days SRI LANKA, its PARADISE, especially the BANYAN TREE.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't give money to children or beggars, give them some food, or a pen or candy. They see us as walking money. Try local food, it's very good. The guesthouse in BENTOTA is a wonderful place, it's a shame we couldn't stay longer, nice clean and very friendly, great food (shrimps). Try to inform yourself (book) a little about all the religions in Sri Lanka , it's too much to learn in 10 days. Take a massage!!! Beverage (drinks) in the BANYAN TREE is quite expensive, it's recommended to take full board!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It depends a lot on the tour guide , I have a restaurant and I specially mentioned that I wanted to try local food an see the country , but not as a tourist, he understood that very well!! The hotels where very good.
4. Any other comments?
First of all I would like to thank you for the great organisation of our holiday, we had an unforgettable time. I specially want to thank Ceylon, our tourguide who took such good care of us and showed us a magnificent country, the way I wanted to see it. A Man with his hart in the right place. Nothing was to much for him , and he was always in a good mood. Every day a nice and clean car. Some small point what could improve!! The overnight in the NP in Yalla was wet, so I would like to recommend to improve the tents. And make sure they are waterproof, also an air matress would have been very nice. The massage that we had on the end of our tour was good but if people stay in the DEERPARC Hotel I recommend the massage in The ANGSANA SPA, it's much more professional and cleaner. Not to compare with the local massage!!! Once again, the holiday was perfect!!
| Reviewed 8 May 2007 by Alla Lapidus | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Very hard to say - we absolutely loved Sri Lanka. I think the best part for me was seeing all sorts of animals and birds everywhere.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend longer in Sri Lanka than we did, 10 days is really not enough. And take lots of sunscreen and an umbrella!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Hard to say. I can only assume that in Sri Lanka the two small hotels we stayed in benefited the local people, but I don't know that for sure. The larger hotel definitely set out to be eco-friendly. The hotel in The Maldives (One & Only Kanuhura) did not strike me as in the least eco-friendly, though they purported to be. They seem to import most of their food from Australia, and their water from France! However, it would seem that they treat their employees very well, and employ mostly from Asian countries.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic.