Customer feedback - Sri Lanka and the Maldives

As we are always striving to improve the quality of our service and delivery of our holidays we appreciate any comments received from our customers. Immediate and appropriate action is taken when holidays drop below our very high standards. Please read what previous customers have to say about us - warts and all! Please be aware that the comments included in Customer Feedback are the personal views and opinions of individual customers and not those of Tikalanka Tours. Explanatory notes and our responses to customer comments are contained in square parentheses.

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Variety, friendly helpful people, cleaner and more hygienic than expected, no malaria concerns where we went. The boutique hotels were very good. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The roads! System where guides/drivers get food/accommodation although good can lead to 'venue bias'. Any other comments? Overall the holiday was excellent and exceeded our expectations. We were very impressed by our driver [guide] Sena. He was very organised and always on time. Had good standards. Very knowledgeable and interesting. Had a good sense of humour and coped well with us! He resolved the train ticket problem, too. We found him very genuine and spiritual and fun to be with every day. Thank you. " Shirley, Tessa, John & Peter, England, January/February 2010

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Sri Lanka - everything - scenery, wildlife and people especially. Maldives - snorkelling. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Sri Lanka - nothing - loved everything. Maldives - Did not meet our expectations, however did provide a good place to relax after Sri Lanka and the snorkelling was good. We saw a turtle and reef shark as our highlights. The Maldives was probably let down by the resort [Filitheyo Island Resort] atmosphere and the less friendly staff - some of whom just seemed miserable. In Sri Lanka we were made to feel very special everywhere we went. In the Maldives we just felt like a number. Obviously Sri Lanka and the Maldives are two very different places and we learned that the Maldives is not the kind of holiday for us. Whilst we did enjoy it and it was definitely needed after Sri Lanka (i.e. time to relax) it is not somewhere we'd return to. Next time we would stay some place on Sri Lanka's coast and forfeit the snorkelling. Any other comments? In total we spent 12 days in Sri Lanka. Our journey began at Kitulgala where we spent 2 nights in the Royal River Resort. We then moved on to Nuwara Eliya, and the Warwick Gardens for a further 2 nights. Our third resort was the Serendip near Kandy. After this we travelled to the Heritance Kandalama in the Dambulla region - this hotel is where we got married. Finally, on out last night we stayed at The Wallawwa, which was close to the airport. The choice of hotels was fantastic and we could tell that a lot of time and thought had gone into finding these unique locations. Each time we arrived at a new hotel we were suitably impressed and awed! The resorts managed to combine a sense of adventure with a definite feeling of indulgence and luxury. The scenery and wildlife was always fantastic and we felt like we had discovered the real Sri Lanka. The staff in all of the hotels were simply excellent. Without exception they were warm, friendly and eager to assist. We were especially impressed with the staff at Kandalama who treated us like royalty throughout our stay. Nothing was too much trouble for these lovely people and everything was always done with enthusiasm and a smile. We especially enjoyed our dinner at the hotel's organic farm, talking to the staff we met here. We sincerely hope that we can return to the Kandalama one day and see how our tree is growing. Finally, we would like to praise the man who ultimately made this trip what it was. On arrival at the airport in Colombo, feeling tired and uncertain of what was ahead, we were warmly greeted by Pathi - our guide and chauffeur for the holiday. We were instantly pleased to meet Pathi, who's smiling face was a shining beacon in the otherwise rather sombre looking crowd. The flowers he welcomed me with were a lovely touch too. Pathi ultimately proved to be the perfect host throughout. He ensured everything went smoothly and that we got the very best out of our trip. Pathi was friendly and considerate; whilst also being assertive enough to make suggestions and coax the best deals out of the attractions and resorts we visited. He was equally extremely knowledgeable and proud and was able to transfer this enthusiasm to us. Pathi was always able to answer all our questions and we learned a huge amount about Sri Lanka on our journey. We also had fun trying to learn a few words and put them to use on the unwitting locals! To summarise, it was truly a pleasure to have Pathi accompany us and we are so glad that we were lucky enough to have him as our guide. We feel that we have made a lifelong friend - something that we really were not expecting when we booked our trip with Tikalanka! To conclude, the Tikalanka experience was everything and more than we expected from our holiday. Sri Lanka has so much to offer and we loved the culture and history, the wildlife, the scenery, the sites and the people. Each activity or visit surpassed our expectations and provided a feeling of constant wonderment. This was definitely a holiday of a lifetime and has to be the only way to see Sri Lanka. We will be recommending you to all our friends. We are just incredibly pleased that we chose Sri Lanka and Tikalanka for our wedding holiday. THANK YOU TIKALANKA - keep doing what you do - it is superb." Gemma & Stephen, England, January/February 2010

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people, clean, good food, wildlife. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? 12 hours on SriLankan Airlines. Any other comments? Excellent itinerary which included a good variety of hotels. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla], The Kandy House [Kandy], Heritance Tea Factory [Nuwara Eliya], Apa Villa Thalpe [Unawatuna] were excellent. Hotel at Negombo [Villa Araliya, Airport] was average. The Grand Hotel at Nuwara Eliya was disappointingly run." Norman & Christine, England, January 2010

"All the arrangements went smoothly: Anura [chauffeur guide] was there to meet us; the hotels were all as described, and offered us twin rooms (just a slight hiccough with Apa Villa [Thalpe, Unawatuna] - but they were able to switch us before we had even finished our lunch); SriLankan Airlines were on time; and the itinerary worked perfectly. The very high spots were: the Ceylon Tea Trails hotel [Castlereagh Bungalow, Adam's Peak] - I think the best place we have ever stayed; the wonderful beach below the villa [Claughton House] near Tangalle - nearly empty just as we had hoped - and with the bonus of kingfishers; and the boat safari on the Mahamodara River [Galle], where we were the only tourists in sight. But The Kandy House [Kandy], Claughton House and The Wallawwa [Airport] were all superb, and if we are marginally less warm about Apa Villa, it is because it was good as opposed to excellent! When we first met Anura, we wondered about communication; but he made up for any lack of fluency in English 10 times over in his efforts to make sure we had a good time. So if we did not get the finer points of Buddhism (he had a good try at answering our many questions), he took us to extra temples not on the itinerary, showed us drongos and bee-eaters, and so much more, and thrashed Jean at carom! Never once when finalising details did he put his interests before ours; and he was always ready well before the time we agreed for departure, was brilliant at avoiding tuk-tuks and wayward cows on the road, infinitely patient about stopping for photos and anything of interest we passed, and just really good company. The only item that didn't work - and this is not a complaint, only feedback for you to bear in mind for others - was the walk in the rainforest at Kottawa [Galle], where we were attacked by an army of leeches which even the best efforts of Anura acting as leech policeman, and some salt spray we had brought with us could not keep at bay. I confess we cut the walk very short - so only for your more intrepid clients! Very very many thanks. We could not possibly have constructed such a delightful trip without your expertise, and your thoughtful tailoring of the itinerary to meet what we said we were looking for. Back at Colombo airport listening to other reports, we realised how privileged we had been in avoiding anything that smacked of mass tourism - and how you managed so often to get us the best rooms in the best hotels and the best seats in the plane we shall never know! Moreover, we are still surprised that after this very special holiday, where everything was of such top quality, we still have some money left in our pockets! Next year is our 40th wedding anniversary, and we're already thinking that another different trip to Sri Lanka might be the way to celebrate it. But, we are asking, could you possibly pull it off twice? We will be sorting out all our photos and happy memories over the next few weeks - and will be in touch with you again to see what you think! In the meantime, we are really grateful for all of your help for his fantastic holiday, and we shall certainly be recommending Tikalanka Tours to anyone who wants to know!" Ruth & Jean, England, January 2010

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Variety of experiences in accessible country. Stunning wildlife and scenery, friendly people. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Mosquitoes and no-show whales! Any other comments? Best family holiday for many years. Tour organization was excellent - just what we had asked for. Necessary compromise between covering the ground - long drives - and having time to look around e.g. Galle and Nuwara Eliya. But this has left us wanting to come back and see more - and the whales. Yala West N.P. is AMAZING and Ceylon Tea Trails [Tientsin Bungalow, Adam's Peak] another highlight." Edwards family, England, December 2009/January 2010

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Despite being surrounded by the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean and skirted by palm-fringed beaches with sand that glitters like gold-dust; it is really the culturally rich, intensely spiritual and environmentally diverse aspect of the island which is the hidden gem, the traveller's dream. Also, the people are heart-felt, warm, generous of spirit - a pleasure to get to know. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Nothing Any other comments? It was early one morning that we were picked up by Sena [chauffeur guide] in his trusty 'white air-conditioned steed', and four days later we returned from a surreal voyage of discovery. During that time we saw the authentic, heart-warming, Sri Lanka through the tender and loving eyes of this honourable man. Our trip was only minutes old when he stopped on a bridge to make an offering to his beloved Buddha, in hopes of giving our journey rich merit. This simple act was an indication of the poignant journey that was to follow. We saw many temples, relics and ruins - the symbolism and spirituality of which were brought home to us on each occasion by the reverence of Sena's words and demeanour. But the most sacred temple we visited was the one he has initiated, to honour his Buddha, and to provide the local village with an opportunity to create to their own place of worship. Instead of leading us at an arms length, Sena guided as a friend. When other tour guides were safely ensconced in their hotels, he was braving the dark back alleys in the rain so we could meet with an Ayurvedic Doctor of great repute, Dr Gunawardana, in search of making our own, personal dreams come true. He also welcomed us into his home to meet his family before taking us to his own temple to meet and be blessed by his great monk. An encounter that transcended religions and touched our souls. Sena provided us with a unique experience of a lifetime: an experience which has shaped us and helped us to grow, an experience that we will never forget." Ruth & Mark, England, December 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Amazing sights, history, culture, food and people! What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Food at Ranweli [Holiday Village, Airport] - disappointing! Any other comments? Some suggestions: Food at Ranweli was disappointing - not enough Sri Lankan cuisine and the European / International food was average. Club Villa [Bentota] should employ a female masseuse (for female guests) as the male masseur could make women tourists nervous. Our journey from Club Villa to airport (departure) could have been done by a local driver - our guide (Yapa) travelled for 8 hours overnight in order to pick us up and drive us back to Colombo. Could have been easier for him! However... these are minor points... we loved Sri Lanka! The food in Kandy The roadside King Coconuts Cricket everywhere The sun and rain Kitulgala hotel [Royal River Resort] - amazing Club Villa - amazing I could go on... So good, we got engaged while we were there! Wonderful holiday, thank you so much!" Alex & Florence, England, December 2009

"Thank you John, we enjoyed our holiday very much. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla], The Kandy House [Kandy] and Castlereagh Bungalow [Adam's Peak] were exceptional and we simply loved Angsana [Maldives Ihuru] on the Maldives. Three suggestions: Without doubt Kapila [chauffeur guide] is a kind and considerate person and he is professional. He would be an even better guide if he improved his language skills and in particular his pronunciation. It is a shame that in The Kandy House in particular European food is served rather than Sri Lankan. At least there should be the option. I don't go half way round the world to be served with a pork chop. Vegetarian food on Angsana could have been better. It wasn't at all imaginative or refined e.g. macaroni cheese as a main course! Steve Newman, the marine biologist [at Angsana Maldives Ihuru], gave a fascinating talk and I finally swam with a turtle, just the two of us for 20 minutes in 1 m of water - magical. We will happily travel with you again and will suggest to our friends that they consider you (actually we already have)." Dinah & Sharon, England, December 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Beautiful country, friendly people, small island which is easy to travel around, varied. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? [Nothing] Any other comments? We had an amazing trip, thanks for organising a great trip. Our guide, Sena, was fantastic and very helpful. Most memorable honeymoon!" Jay & Mike, England, December 2009 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people. Variety of climate. Interesting places. Superb beaches. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Congestion on roads. Tedious multi checks at airport (Colombo International). Any other comments? Pathi [chauffeur guide] was exceptionally helpful and friendly. We enjoyed his humour. He invited us to dine with his family at his home in Kandy. He is a great asset to you. This would be further enhanced if he were able to operate a vehicle [van] that offered a little more comfort for long, tough journeys. I realise that vehicles are expensive and beyond the scope of his budget. Probably I covered too much ground in the time available. You [John] were quite right about 'Hibiscus' [Beach Hotel, Kalutara] - an awful place. [We have never offered this hotel, but it was specially requested by this customer] BUT I wanted to visit Katukurunda airfield near Kalutara where I last flew a Hellcat in WWII!" Vernon, Peter & Jo, England, December 2009

"Thanks for arranging a great trip for us - the main complaint was that we didn't have enough time to fully explore Sri Lanka, but you certainly fitted in as much as was possible. A definite highlight for Eóin and myself was the safari in Yala West National Park - the driver [Chula of Ajith Jeep Safaris, our specialist provider in the area] was excellent and to see not just one, but two leopards was amazing! We also thoroughly enjoyed the cooking course. Eóin was a little sceptical when I booked that day, but was willing to go along with it because I was so keen. Once we got to Pathi's house, and he realised it would be a relaxed and fun day rather than a strict classroom environment, he really enjoyed it. I've not had a chance to recreate any of the curries yet, but I have bought the spices I need in preparation. My friends are all looking forward to a demonstration of what I learnt as well! We would like to say a special thank you to Suba [Pathi's wife], and your family Pathi, for making us so welcome in your home. It gave an added dimension to the holiday, and let us see an aspect of the country we wouldn't have had a chance to see otherwise. There are only two things which I would feed back to you for future reference. The first concerns the massage parlour in Ella. I mentioned to Pathi at the time that I found it a slightly unnerving experience, and not very relaxing. I think the hotel in Kandy looked like a much nicer place to have a massage - even if it was a little bit more expensive. Secondly, we were disappointed by many of the restaurants we went for lunch. We were hoping to eat in local cafes, but were mainly taken to very touristy places. The biggest disappointment in this respect was the restaurant in Kandy, where we had specifically asked Pathi to go to a nice local place - we hoped that as he lived in the town he could take us to somewhere nice - but we went to what was very clearly a new tourist restaurant next to a wood craft warehouse. I understand that some care has to be taken over where you take your guests to eat, but I thought we would experience more of the local food culture. Apart from these, relatively minor points, we had a great holiday, and I have already recommended Sri Lanka, and yourselves to a couple of my friends. Many thanks again and we hope the business continues to go well." Liz & Eóin, Ireland, October 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly welcoming people. Fantastic scenery and variety. Perahera. Sinharaja. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? People who didn't accept the amount you gave them as a tip, or those who wouldn't take no for an answer when offering unwanted services. Any other comments? We had a fabulous holiday, thanks to the great organisation from Tikalanka, and then having the luck to have Pathi as our guide. He is absolutely wonderful, so knowledgeable, helpful and friendly, but more than that, he was fun to be with and ever so thoughtful to our needs all the time. We have had a few thoughts to add to the feedback form; just by way of perhaps useful to you, they are in no way criticisms. Hotel Sigiriya [Sigiriya] - great hotel, loved the ethos. The bathrooms however did smell of drains! Amaya Hills [Kandy] - had fun with the monkeys on the balconies, came in rooms to steal food. Were a little aggressive however as we shoo-ed them out, could be worrying with young children. The least eco but the most luxurious! Hotel Mirissa [Palace Mirissa, Mirissa] - absolutely fabulous setting, great hard-working staff, we loved it BUT the bed linen was poor quality, quite rough on the skin and also rather grey. When our bath towels were taken for washing (we had to use them as swimming towels as none were provided) they were replaced with hand towels. No tea-making facilities (and toiletries consisted of small bar soap only) and the room fridges were switched off with door closed so they smelt rather musty. No laundry bag provided, each time we had to check all our dirty washing at the reception piece by piece with the reception manager as he ticked them off, a process I found distinctly embarrassing. These are all such simple things to amend (as they have got at their beach hotel [Paradise Beach Club]) and the place would really be great, we loved it there and felt extremely relaxed apart fro these niggles! And 2 great dogs…!! Closenberg Hotel [Galle] - (toiletries a small bar soap only) we know that this is probably a cost thing and isn't important for us but if we are comparing all the hotels we stayed in, we have recorded it for comparison purposes; many had refillable tubs of shower gel, shampoo and hand lotion. Araliya Lodge [Villa Araliya, Airport] - we are a real 'doggy' family (ask Pathi!!) but the dogs here were not very welcoming and even growled at us. Outside night lighting was very poor, so rather hazardous as uneven edges etc. The bed linen was strange, seemed to have only a very small square covering sheet which did not (cover one's body that is!). (toiletries a small bar soap only). General points: Take enough photo memory!! Laundry facilities in hotels are good, quick and cheap. Keep plenty of small notes for tips (we were forced to over-tip several times as ATMs only dispense larger notes). Take lots of biros, they are good useful items to give out, we were asked for them several times. Horton Plains - needs decent walking shoes, not flip-flops! Yala [West National Park] - very dusty, don't wear white or good clothes, and if possible, take handkerchief/scarf to go over nose/mouth (as driver and Pathi had). Perahera [Kandy Esala Perahera - July/August annually] - long wait (4 hours) (well worth it though!!) so take book or mp3 player etc for youngsters, plenty of water and really useful, a fan! Rainforest (Sinharaja) - fabulous trip, excellent guide (Pali), real highlight! Wear clothes you can swim in, and best with long trousers and socks to keep leeches out!" Rix family, England, August 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Variety of things to see and do. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Nothing to dislike. Any other comments? We often had difficulty understanding what the guide [Anura] said as, although his knowledge of English was good, his pronunciation was poor. Otherwise his services were excellent." Bradshaw family, England, August 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Wildlife. Ceylon Tea Trails [Norwood Bungalow, Adam's Peak]. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla]. Beautiful surroundings, service and people. Luxury hotels. Coral reef at Banyan Tree [Maldives Vabbinfaru]. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Not sure we would do elephant ride again - felt a bit wrong. [Tikalanka Tours does not organise elephant rides; this was organised themselves] Sometimes felt that there was not enough choice given by guide - quite fixed. One of the hotels did not provide the 'honeymoon extras' as described. Any other comments? Wonderful places and experiences - Pathi (our guide) was excellent, very informative and friendly - he even took us for lunch with his family, which was a lovely surprise. The accommodation was beyond expectations, the service and food were wonderful at all our destinations. The combination of Sri Lanka and the Maldives gives you the best of both worlds - perfect for our honeymoon. Despite this being quite an expensive holiday for us - it was worth every penny and we would (and have) recommend it. We will definately return to both destinations in the future - thank you." Ruth & Graham, England, August 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? People/food/new experiences and culture/accommodation. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Nothing really! Any other comments? Kapila [chauffeur guide] was fantastic - lovely guy and very good company. Manager of The Kandy House [Kandy] was only 'weak' point: was perfectly polite but tended to be very chatty! Other than that everything was amazing. Almost wish we'd had more time to enjoy the hotels/villas but that's only because we wanted to pack a lot into the week! Mirihi [Island Resort, Maldives] was just superb too. Staff so fantastic, as they were everywhere in Sri Lanka. Saving to come back already! Thank you again for everything John - it was amazing. Hope all well with Tikalanka." Ed & Anna, England, July/August 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? The diversity of wildlife / vegetation, Sri Lanka was an ever changing landscape and Maldives was just paradise [Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi]. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Sri Lanka - Roads, poverty. Maldives - Airport in Male / long transfer (although service very good). Any other comments? There was too much travelling in Sri Lanka, every single journey took much longer than stated in the itinerary. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla] lacked the service as did The Beach, Negombo [Airport]. Sometimes it felt like we were trying to make our chauffeur's [Pathi] life easier regarding things and food etc. Although he was a fantastic guide, at times it felt like there were 3 of us on holiday!!! In future I would allow more time at each location and would have to use a chauffeur guide with a 4x4 as the roads are terrible. In general the standard of accommodation / food / service was exceptional and I can't wait to return to Sri Lanka and the Maldives." Amber & James, England, April 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Sri Lanka - Tientsin Bungalow [Adam's Peak] and tea plantation; Minneriya [National Park]. Maldives - Stunning location and fantastic resort [Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru]. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Sri Lanka - Being taken to touristy restaurants; The Beach, Negombo [Airport]. Maldives - Nothing! Any other comments? We were disappointed that communications had gone awry so our driver [guide] did not meet us at Colombo airport - but this was swiftly dealt with by both John and Pathi - thank you. The Beach hotel at Negombo [Airport] is NOT a five star hotel - we would have much preferred to go back to Villa Araliya [Airport] which was friendly with good service and with NO pretensions of grandeur - unlike The Beach. The Kandy House [Kandy] and Ceylon Tea Trails [Tientsin Bungalow, Adam's Peak] were marvellous! I would definitely recommend these hotels and I think the accommodation here added so much to the trip." Adam & Emma, England, April 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? People. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Roads. Any other comments? Excellent trip. Guide [Pathi] - good, friendly. Hotels generally very good, although Stone House Lodge [Kandy] rather neglected and needs modernising. Main criticism: Flights not correct - no late flight London Heathrow to Manchester on Sundays - after 2 hours in Heathrow - had to arrange overnight accommodation. Should have checked this!! [SriLankan Airlines issued tickets with a connecting flight between London Heathrow and Manchester for Sunday evening.]" Roger, Janet, Michael & Patricia, England, March 2009

"Maldives. Anantara is a typical Maldivian resort. Excellent accommodation, good service and good food. Wines and drinks expensive. Would like to return here. Sri Lanka. Airport custom clearance was fairly quick. Although our flight was delayed there was still no one to meet us. Not too happy about this. Driver [guide; Upul] arrived 15-20 minutes later. Drive to Dambulla was good. Stopped for lunch at fairly good restaurant. Resort [Heritance] Kandalama [Dambulla] was good. Inside of the hotel much better than the outside. Location good with great views. Rooms and service OK at the hotel. Restaurant served delicious food and service very good. On the day we checked out of the hotel driver was late for pickup (30 minutes). Visit to caves [Dambulla Cave Temples] OK. Upul is a good driver [guide] but could have done better with a local guide at the caves. Think there is an audio guide available?? Drive to Kandy was enjoyable. Took forever to get to The Kandy House [Kandy]. Driver not too happy about The Kandy House??? At first we were not too impressed ourselves but once inside began to like the place. It is a hotel that is appreciated by westerners. However, there were a little too many mosquitoes for our liking. And bed linen a little shabby for a boutique hotel. Did suggest that they should install wire-mesh shutters. Would have loved to sleep with windows open. Food and service were excellent. All attendant staff worked very hard to please all. It was good to meet Tania [Manager of The Kandy House]. Did not get much time to walk the streets of Kandy. Would have liked to look around shops and move with the locals. Sadly did not get a chance to form an impression of Kandy. We were taken to touristy places and shops. Did not like the wood works factory etc. at all. Gem factory was good and they did not pressure sell. Cultural dance etc. [Kandyan Dancers and Drummers] good. Visit to Tooth Relic Temple [Temple of the Tooth] excellent. Once again, is there an audio guide available?? Of course drive to Nuwara Eliya was as good as expected. Tea factory [Labookellie] visit good. Have seen better in South India. The Grand Hotel [Nuwara Eliya] was a good choice. The hotel has good location and was alive with guests, which is a good sign. Hotel and restaurant service very good. Food was excellent. Walked to St. Andrew's Hotel. Glad we did not choose this one as it appeared deserted. On the day of departure from Nuwara Eliya again driver was very late (about 1 hour). Ella was our next stop. We reached our hotel fairly late in the evening. Just before arriving the driver informed us that we were staying at Hotel Country Comfort and not the Grand Ella Motel as discussed with Mr Pathi [Tikalanka's local manager]. Why?? [Grand Ella Motel has been removed from our website due to complaints from previous customers.] Not too happy about this devious approach but we checked in. Guest house not up to standard but the one and only staff was so obliging that we decided to stay on. Visited Grand Ella Motel the following afternoon. Sadly there were no guests there. On the whole our stay in Ella very enjoyable. Met some interesting people, both locals and tourists. Would love to return. On the journey south, visited Hakgala Gardens [Nuwara Eliya]. Excellent gardens. Well worth the visit. Lunched at a little restaurant (Humbug) near the gardens. Would definitely recommend this. Enjoyed drive south to Koggala. Loved our stay at The Fortress. Would definitely go there again. Good rooms, lovely restaurant and main meals average. Galle was worth a visit but appears like a foreigner's town. Not many locals live [in the Old Dutch Fort] anymore. Hotel charges for visit to Galle were far too high. Tuk-tuks best way to travel. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum was across the road from The Fortress. Definitely worth a visit. For the first time the driver arrived on time for our departure to Bentota. En route to Bentota we stopped at mask museum and shop [Ambalangoda]. Glad to have done so otherwise we would have returned home without any Sri Lankan mementoes. We were not too pleased with our greet and meet at the Taj [Exotica, Bentota]. Just one man sat at the desk! We were taken to an unkempt room in the hotel. We refused to stay in it. However they managed to find an alternative room in a better part of the hotel. Our stay from then on was most enjoyable. The senior management looked after us very well. The beach is excellent and Taj [Exotica] has an excellent location. The food was excellent. We had an early morning departure at 5am to catch our flight for 11.30am. I think this was done to suit the driver's journey. Guess what? The driver was late again! We arrived at the airport at 7.30am. Checking in did not commence until 8.45am… long wait! Our holiday was most enjoyable on the whole. Just a few issues to iron out. As you may have guessed we were constantly kept waiting by the driver. Upul told us he had bereavement in the family at the time so this may be why he was not on time. Also there were quite a few calls on his mobile. I was not happy for him to talk whilst driving and told him so. From then on he did pull over to use the phone. He is a cautious driver and drove safely. He has god knowledge of most of the areas but we would have preferred local guides for visits to some of the places. We were happy to have met Mr Pathi. Such a gentleman! However, we would have liked him to come straight about our hotel in Ella. Also we felt that the driver was very careful about mileage covered. Is this an issue? [A/c transport with dedicated Sri Lanka Tourist Board-licensed chauffeur guide is provided for all pre-arranged transfers, excursions and activities, but not on leisure days without prior arrangement and extra cost.] I would have liked to retrace some of the routes. Such a pity Sri Lanka is not a self-drive place!! We would not dream of self-drive there. This is such a shame. Finally John, thank you for creating such an impression on us of Sri Lanka at the Destinations [Holiday and Travel] Show [Earls Court, London]. From then we wanted to go to Sri Lanka and are glad to have done so. We hope to return. Once again thank you." Jayant & Shobha, England, March 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? The people. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Begging / expensive wine. Any other comments? Sena [chauffeur guide] was great. He is a lovely human being, good driver and guide. Food a bit iffy at Kandy [Amaya Hills] otherwise a great holiday. Thanks for your help." Roger & Carole, England, March 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Variety of scenery, culture, people. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Driving habits. Any other comments? Excellent advice on itinerary day to day from Mr Pathi [chauffeur guide] to avoid the heat of the day and build in relaxation. Perfect structure of tour for us (culture/scenery etc). Driver/guide arrangement best suited to local conditions and it allowed us flexibility when required. Palace Mirissa a great disappointment - resolved by Mr Pathi arranging for us to stay at Paradise Beach [Club, Mirissa] in a new block - this made our beach stay very good indeed. Very surprised to be told we had to pay for chocolate cake (all of 75p!) at Mackwoods [Labookellie Tea Factory, Nuwara Eliya] but not until we had eaten it. Overall - an excellent holiday; well organised; expertly guided and with a wonderful variety of sights and activities but with plenty of relaxation opportunities built in. Many thanks." John & Lesley, England, March 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people and the vast amount of produce it grows - so many fruits I'd never heard of let alone tasted! What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Poverty - but that was part of the culture and where the country is currently at. Any other comments? Our honeymoon was amazing, looking back through the photos - you forget how much we saw and experienced each day we were there. Truly breathtaking country that we will definately visit again. Hopefully the conflict is sorted soon. But even when we were there we hardly saw anything other than the extra security and policed road blocks etc. Just thinking about the experience makes me want to go back!" Emma & Pete, England, February/March 2009

"We REALLY enjoyed our trip and you had obviously gone to a lot of trouble to give us what we wanted. You listened to what we asked for and gave us what we wanted and asked to see. A very well balanced and considerate choice of hotels and places to visit and stay at. Thank you John and all at Tikalanka. I would not hesitate to recommend you and your company, in fact, I already have! Kapila [chauffeur guide] was a treasure! He took such good care of us and went to a lot of trouble on our behalf I hope he enjoyed our company as much as we appreciated him! I really enjoyed Kapila and his sense of humour. He was very caring, looking after us and always making sure that everything was more than OK. His knowledge of local flora and fauna was very impressive. He knows so much about the bird life and was always pointing things out to us. Kapila was very concerned when Valerie was so ill. He offered to take us to stay with his mother to help Valerie get better. Kapila always made sure that we were safe and advised us in a very subtle way what to do. He was an excellent driver, and the car was always spotless each morning! I would recommend him very highly! In hindsight, we would have preferred not to drive to Kandalama immediately on arrival. It would have been better for us to stay the night in Colombo - we had such a long day coming up from Dorset - and drive to Kandalama the following day. We were so delighted to go there it was wonderful!!! We did not go to Sigiriya because we were tired and just wanted to enjoy the hotel! Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla]. What can one say about this? It is a fantastic place to stay and a really good introduction to Sri Lanka. It is relaxing and comfortable, full of interesting spaces and stunning views. It would have been nice to stay there, enjoyed it and acclimatised ourselves! The monkeys were such great entertainment. I loved to watch them wherever they were. We went on an early morning nature walk which was amazing and so informative. Kapila had arranged for me to have a tour of the hotel and meet the kitchen staff. I have to say I was very impressed with what I saw. St. Andrew's Hotel [Nuwara Eliya]. A disappointing experience, although the herbal tea with jaggery on arrival was wonderful. The building was interesting in a faded glory sort of way and our room had a lovely balcony overlooking the front garden which I did like. At the time that we were there, there was a meeting of a Swedish company and the staff were only interested in them. I was woken at 12.30am and again at 2.30am by these people screaming and running down the corridor like schoolchildren, outside our room. The food was poor and the staff were indifferent. ALSO, prices were quoted without tax (15%) and "service charge" (10%) on. NOT recommended. Ambiente Mount Resort [Ella]. This was wonderful - the view was stunning and although the rooms were basic it did not affect our enjoyment of the place. (Although it might if we were there for any more than one night.) The chef was helpful and cooked us a great dinner. Good. Centauria Tourist Hotel [Uda Walawe]. We really enjoyed this! It was so pleasant - despite the funny furniture - staying in such luxury: we enjoyed having a 'fridge, TV with movies, and a wonderful bath. We only had breakfast there - the potato curry was the best! Claughton House [Tangalle]. This was a wonderful opportunity to experience such a small [Geoffrey] Bawa house. It was a comfortable and exciting place to be. Again, the chef was helpful and the food was excellent. The manager was very friendly too. From here we visited The Last House [Tangalle] also by Bawa which was fantastic. The Dream House [Unawatuna]. A lovely small house in a plant filled garden. The accommodation was pleasant, adequate and clean. The food was expensive and Italian (!) and not very good. For me, there was an intimidating atmosphere and I felt that we were imposing on the owner who was a Queen Bee entertaining her friends every evening. [The Dream House has been removed from our website] Bentota Beach Hotel [Bentota]. Unrecognisable from when I saw this place - 30 years ago! It's just a package place. Ranweli Holiday Village [Airport]. I loved this as a "wind down" and getting over being so ill. It was relaxing, unobtrusive and pleasant. I would like to go here again for longer - along with Claughton House, Ambiente Mount Resort and Heritance Kandalama. Dambulla cave temples could have been fantastic. I just don't understand why the Sri Lankans don't take a bit more pride in their heritage. Polonnaruwa. It was hot!! We were constantly being hassled by the touts, a great pity. The restoration work was done extremely well and again the monkeys were great fun. We went for a foot massage [at Habarana] which was amazing from the grubby interior to the delightful girls who did this…they were the best ever! Everything seems to be US$30 which I found very amusing! A memorable experience to say the least. The Hill Country. Tea and chocolate cake [at Labookellie Tea Factory, Nuwara Eliya] yummie. The surrounding countryside was breathtaking. Uda Walawe National Park. We saw so many elephants and birds… Hot and dusty which I didn't mind. Our guide and driver were alright. I think we were out for about a couple of hours, with or hats on!!! or trying to keep them on in the open topped jeep. Elephant Transit Home. What a sight. Who couldn't fall in love with these beautiful creatures? There were so many Sri Lankans visiting too. Thank you again for all of your efforts and please send our gratitude and thanks to Kapila and Pathi for making us so comfortable and letting us see so much." Valerie & Carolyn, England, February 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Warmth, variety, people... What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Travelling... especially by car without air conditioning! Any other comments? We were impressed with the friendliness and efficiency of Tikalanka's service, when booking our holiday. Pathi, our guide, clearly put us first and was at his best when, although tired, he found us another hotel when the one we booked was unsatisfactory. He was on his way home to his family, but returned to help us. There cannot be anyone better. Thank you for a memorable and happy holiday. I hope business picks up for you in these days of peace." Mike & Debbie, England, February 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? The people, the Hill Country and Warwick Gardens [Nuwara Eliya] plantation house hotel. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Stray dogs and litter everywhere. Any other comments? Driver [Yapa] and quality of car disappointing. A/c hardly worked; driver's English language poor, knowledge as guide poor, and interest in us poor. The Kandy House [Kandy] was the best of the places we stayed. Might be better to stay in Galle (lots of good small hotels) and go to the beach at Unawatuna rather than stay at Apa Villa Thalpe [Unawatuna] whose beach is poor with very limited swimming. With many thanks for arranging our trip so efficiently and your recommendation for destinations and accommodation all of which were very pleasant." Zoe & John, Belgium, January/February 2009

For more customer comments from previous years, please click on the links below:

• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005