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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Rajasthan holiday, explorer, independent reviews
 Reviewed 18 Nov 2006 by Malcolm Earnshaw |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many memorable moments. The Taj Mahal of course, the rickshaw race we had coming back from our meal out in Jaipur, the many beautiful palaces and forts, seeing the rural life as we journeyed between towns. We were also touched by the warm welcome from children (who were fascinated by us taking their photo and instantly showing them) and Indian families who were keen to talk to us when we met at tourist venues.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you haven't been outside Europe, India will be a major culture shock - be prepared. Listen to the tour leader - he gives very useful advice. Be prepared for power cuts and lukewarm showers at the hotels. Take plenty of film/memory cards for your camera. If you take a video camera, it typically costs 200 rupees to use it at major sites (GB £3). The hotels on this trip were simple but clean and the staff were always friendly and helpful. If you want luxury, not for you. Some journeys were long, but it was fascinating seeing the countryside and the way of life. Trips always had stops every couple of hours for drinks/food so they were fine. I would recommend a few days at the end to relax. After 2 weeks travelling you do need this before you come home. We went to Ranthambore and were lucky enough to see a tiger.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I do feel the holiday benefited the local economy. Karanveer (Karen) explained how you tried to do this and I could appreciate how it would help.
4. Any other comments?
We had a fabulous time. The group was a mix of Canadians, Australians, British and a New Zealander - and everyone got on fine. The tour leader, Karanveer Singh, was absolutely fantastic. He was enthusiastic and organised us all well. He gave us many useful tips on how to deal with some of the situations which are inevitable in India. He was part of the group and good to talk to. Look after him as a tour leader, he is a gem.
I would rate the holiday at 10/10. I have recommended the trip to a colleague who is planning a trip early next year.
| Reviewed 21 Jan 2006 by Elaine Ross | |
I am so glad that we discovered the Responsible Travel Website and signed up for the first organised trip we have ever made. In the past we have always preferred to 'go it alone', believing that we were giving more back directly to people in the communities we visited and that we would have more opportunity to engage with people at a personal level.
Fearing that lone travel to northern India might present us with a bit more challenge than we could cope with, we booked with this operator on this tour. We have never made a better holiday decision!
If people dread being shepherded around in large group, then go for a small group like the one we enjoyed. We only numbered eleven and were drawn from across the world: 4 Brits, 4 Australians, 2 Polish (Polish Canadian) and one American/S.African. Getting to know them was a plus in itself.
The tour aimed to visit the great forts and temples of Rajasthan and we saw many memorable and breathtaking sights. However, the tour leader, born and brought up in Rajasthan, was everything you could want or need as far as information, support and simply leading and animating the group. He was able to arrange for us to meet and talk to people in their homes and at work in the villages where we stayed and these were the true highlights of the tour. Without his understanding of the culture and where it was and was not appropriate for us to visit, we would not have dared, as independent travellers, to approach people so closely. In every case something was given back to the local people whose lives we had touched. At all times we were made aware of responsible travel ethics which had guided the trip's format. We appreciated this as it had been one of the strong factors in choosing this company.
I can hardly comment on the amazing and life enhancing experience we have had. It has been truly breathtaking! It has persuaded us that a trip organised well can be as good as independent travel and that we might look out for a similarly organised trip in the future. Definitely a 5 ***** experience.
Fearing that lone travel to northern India might present us with a bit more challenge than we could cope with, we booked with this operator on this tour. We have never made a better holiday decision!
If people dread being shepherded around in large group, then go for a small group like the one we enjoyed. We only numbered eleven and were drawn from across the world: 4 Brits, 4 Australians, 2 Polish (Polish Canadian) and one American/S.African. Getting to know them was a plus in itself.
The tour aimed to visit the great forts and temples of Rajasthan and we saw many memorable and breathtaking sights. However, the tour leader, born and brought up in Rajasthan, was everything you could want or need as far as information, support and simply leading and animating the group. He was able to arrange for us to meet and talk to people in their homes and at work in the villages where we stayed and these were the true highlights of the tour. Without his understanding of the culture and where it was and was not appropriate for us to visit, we would not have dared, as independent travellers, to approach people so closely. In every case something was given back to the local people whose lives we had touched. At all times we were made aware of responsible travel ethics which had guided the trip's format. We appreciated this as it had been one of the strong factors in choosing this company.
I can hardly comment on the amazing and life enhancing experience we have had. It has been truly breathtaking! It has persuaded us that a trip organised well can be as good as independent travel and that we might look out for a similarly organised trip in the future. Definitely a 5 ***** experience.
| Reviewed 10 Apr 2009 by Jamie Challoner | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Travelling through India, seeing the sights and sounds and how another country lives.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be aware of long days travelling which can be hard mentally and physically. Not to underestimate the effect on your body of the food & climate!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
When we visited small villages the local people were very excited to see us. They were interested in where we had come from and the stories we told them. Equally we gave back to them in terms of knowledge and interest and the purchase of local goods. We also visited a local festival which rarely sees overseas visitors. Everyone was excited and wanted to know if their festival was known outside India. The fact that our guide had organised us to go made it all the more special.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A fantastically diverse holiday full of history, interest and welcoming people.
| Reviewed 7 Nov 2007 by Vicky Hau | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
So many to choose from:
the sunset boat trip on Pichola Lake in Udaipur,
the camel safari (or rather getting off the camel)
the Taj Mahal at day break
the Bollywood movie in Jaipur
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take mosquito repellent! also be prepared for the dirt and pollution of India, your feet will never be clean for longer than 5 minutes and you should bring cough mixture for the inevitable "desert lung" caused by the desert and the pollution.
Also be prepared for a wide variation in the standards of accommodation. Particularly good places were: the haveli in Udaipur, the forts in Chanderlao and Kherjala. Sadly disappointing (i.e. pigeons in the air conditions units, unfinished building works and bug infestations were: Ahmedabad, Jaisalmer and Pushkar. Finally some of the accommodation, particularly in the big cities felt remote from the centre of town necessitating tuk tuk and cab rides (which was a negative re: environmental impact) e.g. Mumbai and Delhi.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
To a certain extent yes, but it feels like a drop in the ocean
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Mostly really good although see comments re: accommodation above. Also felt that Ahmedabad had little to offer relative to the amount of time it took travelling to and from it. I would have preferred to have spent a little more time in Jodhpur or Mumbai