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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Bangkok to Singapore holiday, independent reviews
 Reviewed 11 Feb 2009 by Mohamed Masood |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Most memorable was the trip to Phi Phi Island.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light. Fried rice, Chinese or Thai is a good staple food.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good, specially our guide Hannah who did an excellent job in a very efficient manner.
| Reviewed 6 Jul 2006 by Maria-Louisa Koppen | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable part of the trip was being stung by a jellyfish! But because the beaches in Thailand were so beautiful I forgot all about it. Poda island is the most amazing beach I have ever been to.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack lightly, take lots of sunscreen in a higher factor than normal. Buy tiger balm and lots of mozzie repellent. If you are veggie also take vitamins as you can't get much decent food. Save lots of spending money as the shopping is so cheap and amazing.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not sure how the holiday benefited any local people to be honest. Maybe it did, we just weren't told about it and I don't consider simply spending money in a country benefiting locals. Likewise with the environment... maybe I am thinking too much about it as a zoologist or maybe I am just being stupid!
4. Any other comments?
Overall I really enjoyed the trip. On the downside the second week was so hectic and everyone was exhausted but then we never could have seen so much and I certainly got to see more than if I was by myself. The group I travelled with was nearly all female, it would have been great to have a bit more of a balance of the 2 sexes, however everyone got on well. The accommodation in Melaka is shocking, most people got bitten by fleas or bedbugs so not the nicest experience. The owner of the guesthouse Sama Sama was completely off her face when we arrived but to be honest it was fairly amusing. And the good accommodation everywhere else more than made up for it. I am so glad that I booked onto the trip, it was so worthwhile oh and great for losing weight if you are a vegetarian as I couldn't find hardly any food!
Read the operator's response here:
Thanks for your feedback Maria. We’re glad that you had a great trip with us and would like to respond to your comments about the impact of the trip on the local people and environment. We only use local transport and locally owned businesses and accommodation on this trip so your money remains in the country benefiting locals financially. Hopefully you were able to interact with local people on the trip and learned something of their cultures – that interaction goes both ways and we believe that by travelling in small groups this positive interchange between cultures is maximised.| Reviewed 21 Jul 2007 by Ron Rosenow | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Getting the chance to be in a real rain forest for the first time and seeing some cool insects. I also enjoyed staying at the resort in Khao Sok national park, that place was amazing (especially the food!)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The long driving days aren't that bad, just bring a good book to read or your mp3 player. Don’t feel like you have to do what the majority of your group is doing, it is ok to do your own things as well.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I think the trip definitely benefited the local people. For example staying at the local resorts in Krabi and Khao Sok - these businesses are definitely benefited financially from our staying there.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I enjoyed my time and the people that I was with, but I was like 7-10 years older than everyone else on the trip, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Many of the other tour members were acting like this was their spring break which got quite tiresome. also the tour guide wasn't as helpful as I thought he/she would be, many times he would not give our group the necessary directions in a timely manner - for example not telling all the group members when to be ready the next morning.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback Ron and I'm pleased you had a great trip. I just wanted to reply to a couple of your comments. You travelled on one of our Basix trips - that style does have a lot of free time and flexibility built in which I'm glad you enjoyed. Basix trips do generally attract younger people due to the price point, and that particularly true of Bangkok to Singapore as it is on the post-university Gap Year route.| Reviewed 21 May 2007 by Rupert Speyer | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was all wonderful but perhaps the best of it was The Cameron Highlands and the visit there to the tea estate. The road down afterwards was one of the most beautiful drives that I have ever done in my 63 years.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Disregard the operators' warning of discomfort. At 63, I am used to luxury and the standard was far higher than you led me to expect. I think you put off a lot of older travellers by overstressing the discomfort. I expected to sit up on the train, for example, but you gave me an extremely comfortable bed. All the hotels were of fine standard with plenty of hot water (except Malaka).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
In a word "Yes".
4. Any other comments?
I thought that Vic was the most super leader. She did far more than was necessary to make us all happy and to make sure we saw the best of everything. She is a very dedicated young lady and you are extremely lucky to have her.
| Reviewed 13 May 2008 by Barry Smith | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Getting sun burnt in Koh Samui, take the warning!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Please be aware that this company or the Viengtai Hotel in Bangkok are in the habit of rooming you with someone that you have not met and is not traveling in your group. Hotel rooms generally were a bit of a lottery throughout. The trip sees lots of places and is at its best for those who like to move around a lot.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The only benefits were at the homestays where otherwise they would not have so much custom. Travelling on public transport appeared to work well for all ends.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Active, safe, with some nice folk!