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.

Christine, Caryl & Lynne, England, December 2007/January 2008 See the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"We spent too long in a van driving around the awful roads in Sri Lanka, and would suggest that anyone who chooses an itinerary like ours should be made properly aware of the drawbacks. For instance: After a very long flight, we arrived in Sri Lanka tired, and were picked up by Yapa [chauffeur guide] at the airport in a car, we had a quick lunch in a pleasant place, then we seemed to make a fairly long detour to pick up Yapa's van, and then we had a very long drive indeed to Kitulgala. Instead of arriving at Kitulgala late afternoon as expected, we finally arrived at approximately 9pm, having got lost on the way. The location is lovely and restful, but the room itself was right over the kitchens, and was very noisy. I would therefore recommend that the quieter rooms be booked. [Royal River Resort, Kitulgala] Secondly, the arrangements around New Year's Eve were far too much. The itinerary of 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January were both physically and logistically impossible, as a result we had to cancel our trek at Horton Plains, and were exhausted after having got up at 2am to climb Adam's Peak, straight after a late New Year's Eve the previous night, and followed by another long drive to Uda Walawe. You are fully aware of the fiasco at Thambapanni Retreat [Unawatuna], and we are grateful to you for your prompt action in sorting this out. [Complimentary upgrade to a better quality hotel, and Thambapanni Retreat has been removed from our website] I do hope that the feedback we have given is helpful, and constructive, and I would certainly consider booking with Tikalanka the next time we visit Sri Lanka." Davina & Terence, England, December 2007/January 2008

"It was an enjoyable and interesting holiday, and our guide\driver Kapila was very helpful and considerate. Attentive to all our needs, Kapila's knowledge of wildlife was admirable and afforded us many opportunities to see birds and animals whilst travelling to various places. The following is a very honest critique. Starting off with the "highs". The safari in the Uda Walawe National Park was memorable as we saw a large number of elephants in addition to other animal species and a spectacular array of bird life. This also highlighted the inadequacy of the previous safari. We were impressed with the standard of accommodation at the Centauria Tourist Hotel [Uda Walawe] and they put on a memorable gala dinner on New Years Eve, also the stay at Palm Paradise Cabanas [Tangalle] was excellent. The location, accommodation, cleanliness and food. A well-run establishment. There are a few issues that concerned us. The Grand Ella Motel, Ella was the worst hotel we had ever stayed in and another guest, who had to change rooms because of a cockroach infestation, endorsed this, also stating that it was the worst hotel they had stayed in, living in Singapore they were experienced travellers. Greeted by the loud noise of a wedding party occupying the whole garden, we were taken to a room with a dirty mattress outside the door. The room had a dirty bath mat, and bed covers soiled with stains, pillows that were discoloured and a filthy net curtain at the balcony door. The balcony contained one dirty stool. The walls were in a poor state of decoration The porcelain in the bathroom was covered in flies. The Manager was called, he apologised and said he would try put matters right, but the wedding had taken up a lot of their time. An alternative room was of the same poor standard and smelled. Upon entering the dining room, the sole diner said that unless we were desperate to eat, do not touch the food. In fairness we gave it a try and it was of a very poor standard, which our guide also found to be the case. The hotel is situated on a main road with the heavy traffic starting at 4.30 am! [Grand Ella Motel has been removed from our website] Length of journey to Sigiriya. Having already been travelling for 18 hours, a further journey to Sigiriya, which took in excess of four, was quite exhausting, and a stop nearer the airport would have been appreciated. Total travelling time 22 hours. Standard of room at Sigiriya Village. We learned from a couple making a similar tour with another company, that they had a room with a fridge, TV and other extras. A fridge would have been particularly helpful. Change from St. Andrew's Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. Prior to departure we checked out this hotel and found it to be acceptable. On the 26th December [2007] Pathi informed me that our hotel had been changed to The Grand Hotel without prior consultation. People we met at a subsequent hotel described St. Andrew's as being an excellent hotel in lovely grounds. Standard of room at The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. It was noted on the itinerary sheet that this would be a superior room. We saw the room next to the one we occupied and it was far superior in facilities and decoration. Change of car to minibus and air conditioning. Whilst we were at Palm Paradise, Kapila was requested to return the car to Kandy as it was required for another job. The mini-bus replacement did not have effective air conditioning. Kapila explaining this to us on his return. A comfortable saloon car for a long journey to Negombo would have made it infinitely more pleasant. Anuradhapura. We were disappointed not to visit Anuradhapura. We understood from you that it was not possible to visit at the present time but we met other groups who had visited without problem. [British Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice at the time advised against travel to Anuradhapura ancient city as it is north of the A12 road] I trust that you will find the above comments constructive and helpful in planning future tours." Jennie & John, England, December 2007/January 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? The variety of things to see/do, the people, the beauty of the country. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The roads, constant tipping (I kept forgetting to have the right notes!), mosquitoes." Diana & Finn, England, December 2007/January 2008 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? The diversity - one day up in the tea plantations, the next down in the tropics, beautiful beaches and sunsets and of course the friendly people. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The constant hassle from the people selling. Any other comments? Thank you for making this a holiday of a lifetime - everything was excellent. Fantastic organisation - superb!!" Carol & Adrian, England, December 2007

"We are back from our trip, which was very successful. Kapila was an excellent driver, very patient and accommodating with our photographic demands, and his mother a good cook! We were obliged to change our itinerary because of terrorist activity, and went to the Centauria Ayurveda Lake Resort [Centauria Tourist Hotel, Uda Walawe] instead of Elephant Reach [Tissamaharama]. We liked this hotel a lot. We did not particularly like the Grand Ella Motel [Ella] where we did not feel very welcome. Kapila then facilitated a complete change of itinerary, missing out Nuwara Eliya altogether, largely because of the weather, which was chilly and wet in Ella and likely to be worse higher up. We decided that we would really like to visit the Veddha, and we set out to do this as a day trip from Ella on the advice of Kapila's local manager. But when we arrived at Dambana it was clear that we should not attempt the return journey, so Kapila was persuaded to cancel the booking he had made at the Ambiente [Mount Resort] at Ella and we set out to find somewhere to stay in the Mahiyangana area. We were not impressed by the New Rest House, which is recommended in the Rough Guide, but then chanced upon the Sorabora Gedera where the three of us were the only guests. This was rather a surreal experience as it is situated in the middle of nowhere down an awful potholed track, and I cannot imagine who ever stays there or how it can pay. The manager is a charming man, who gave us a reduced rate as we only ate rice and curry, so I can't tell you anything about the standard of the tourist type food. The rooms were great, although there was no hot water, which would displease some people I suppose. The manager said it was because it was solar heated - and we certainly didn't see any sun! It appears that this area is little visited by tourists and I would think there is good potential there, especially for nature photographers. I haven't had a chance to look at the photos yet, but if you want any I'm sure I will have some which might be useful to you. Talking of photos, we did do the jeep safari in the Uda Walawe NP in the end, and my feeling that this, and the dancing in Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth would be no good photographically was confirmed. They were all good experiences, though. Thanks for arranging all this for us, and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year." Hilary & Peter, England, December 2007 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Elephants and Sigiriya. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Ella Gap Hotel [Grand Ella Motel, Ella] night stay. Any other comments? Our driver, Upul, was so knowledgeable, kind, friendly and generally willing to go that step further to make our trip incredible. We thank you for choosing him for us and recommend him for others in the future." Doug & Andrea, England, December 2007

Rod, Norma, Penny & David, England, December 2007 See the Travelrod website for the 'Trip Report: Sri Lanka, December 2007' and photos.

Clare, England, November 2007 See the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"We have both felt really bad because we haven't had the chance to officially thank you yet for such a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka back in Nov last year. When we got back work was chaos, then Christmas came and now we're busy planning for our wedding after Ian popped the question at the Heritance Ahungalla! (The big day is on the 27th September 2008 - and if there's anyway you can be in England on that day we'd love to see you there Pathi!) But despite being mad busy, everyday since we have been back we have spoken about our holiday in Sri Lanka. It was such a special holiday and we truly loved every minute of it. We wish we were back there every single day! Much of our wonderful experience was down to Tikalanka. The partnership you have created is just fantastic and we have recommended Sri Lanka & Tikalanka to all of our friends and family. The service you provided us with was outstanding and we both felt like we had a true taste of the country and its culture. We were very impressed by Pathi's professionalism and organisational skills, and apart from the driving (!) we felt very safe and very very well looked after at all times. Pathi - you became a true friend on our holiday, it was a pleasure to be in your company for those very special days we had in Sri Lanka - thank you, we hope to see you again soon, and your pictures are on the way in the post! (Electronic copies attached - I know we've said it before but your children really are a credit to you). It's difficult to choose a best bit of the holiday - it was all very special from meeting Pathi at the airport for the first time, to climbing the Sigiriya rock to having a couple of Lion beers over lunch everyday to the safaris to the amazing accommodation we stayed in, etc, etc. We both just want to thank you because the whole holiday was beyond our expectations and we know that it wouldn't have been as great as it was if we hadn't have booked with Tikalanka. Thank you again (we really can't thank you enough)." Vikki & Ian, England, October/November 2007

"All was good except Palm Paradise [Cabanas, Tangalle] and Ella Gap accommodation [Ambiente Mount Resort, Ella]. Driver Yapa was really great and very helpful. Accommodation at Ella Gap was dirty and very basic. Bed sheets were mouldy - not up to standard with other accommodation. Also dogs at Palm Paradise bit Pathi, barked all night and were unpredictable - we did not feel safe after Pathi was bitten so moved hotels that day at extra expense. Cabins [cabanas] at Palm Paradise were disappointingly dark and basic considering we were due to stay here longer than any other accommodation. We did have to change our tour due to Tamil Tiger [LTTE] attacks at Yala [West] NP [National Park] and while this was handled OK in the end during the first few days we felt we were not being told the whole truth - which in fact turned out to be the case. However as a whole we had a really fantastic time and would recommend Tikalanka to others." Karen & Richard, England, October/November 2007

"We just wanted to drop you a quick email to say that we had a fantastic time in Sri Lanka with Pathi [chauffeur guide]. He was a great host and it was good to spend time with him and learn more about Sri Lanka through him. We also had our little daily language lesson and he took us to sample some fantastic curries and a little Arrack! He said that it might be helpful to you to drop down a few comments on our trip to help fellow travellers. We had a really great holiday and so none of the comments below are intended to be complaints at all, simply observations. Of the accommodation, most of it was truly fantastic. The two that were not quite so good were the Stone House Lodge [Kandy] and the TASKS Safari Camp [Tanamalwila]. Stone House Lodge had very welcoming staff (the owner was away) who made us fantastic food each night so in that respect it was great but we were the only guests there and it was early in the season which meant that it felt quite isolated and also in need of a clean! The accommodation that we were least happy with was the TASKS Safari Camp which is desperately in need of a lot of TLC. Pathi said that it was of a similar price to Yala [Village, Yala] in terms of accommodation and the two simply aren't comparable - Yala would win by miles! It looks as if it hasn't had any work done on it since it opened 12 years ago which meant that most of the tents had holes in them and were very dark. The bridges and footways were so rickerty you felt that you were going to fall through them and other than one tour group, which meant that a lady from head office had come down to check that we were all ok, the place was empty and Pathi was concerned that if the big group hadn't been there, the service levels would have been very different. They said they are closing for a refurb later this month, so it might be a good idea to see what that does to the place, otherwise although we've camped and stayed in tents before on other trips, we just felt that how it pitched itself as a top end place and the reality simply didn't match up. We were much happier with the cheaper non-pretentious accommodation in Ella [Ambiente Mount Resort] - and that didn't have pet frogs in the bathroom!! The only other tiny point we wanted to raise is in a nice way, you might like to suggest to Pathi that his vehicle needs servicing again soon. With the mad driving out there (not Pathi's) we were a little alarmed that his brakes and tyres seemed in need of attention as we screeched and swerved to a halt on a few occasions. Also one of the passenger seatbelts is broken too so wasn't an option for the two weeks. We just felt that we ought to raise this as we would feel awful if there was an accident and we hadn't mentioned it. We hope that is helpful to you and are always happy to discuss it further. We'd have no hesitation in recommending Tikalanka to our friends and families as we had a really good break." Jessica & Richard, England, September/October 2007 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"Just to let you know I have responded to a request from Responsible Travel for a review of the holiday. I will feed back to you in detail when I have had a chance to turn round twice!" Rosemary & Joanna, England, September 2007 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"Jila and I had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka especially due to Tikalanka's programme. We thought Kapila was a marvelous driver and guide and an extremely entertaining and kind individual. I thought I'd put pen to paper to outline a few areas of the honeymoon. Vil Uyana [Sigiriya]: A wonderful place. Jila and I could not believe the paddy villa's set-up. Frogs and Crocodiles. We did feel that it was a bit pricey on the food front - the portions were quite small. Stone House Lodge - Kandy: A beautiful place. We should have taken more time to explore Kandy on foot but that will happen next time! Asoka (the lodge's owner) was a strange fish but we managed! The Botanical Gardens were beautiful and all those fruit bats. We found the Temple of the Tooth a really special place to visit. I always feel a little self-conscious being a gawping tourist around other people's religious buildings - but then again the same thing happens here. Nuwara Eliya: The Hill Country was lovely. Jila and I enjoyed the tea factory, such a simple but successful process. We were rather disappointed with The Heritage hotel and were bitten by bed-bugs. They were also out of alcohol. We also shouldn't have eaten in as the meat was very tough. The room was not deluxe and the beds were two singles pushed together! Ella: This was amazing. The Ambiente [Mount Resort] was a lovely place to stay with fantastic views. We had an Ayurveda Spa treatment which Kapila sourced for us. Just what we needed. Galapita [Eco Lodge, Kataragama]: Romantic and tranquil. They were, unfortunately, terrible at controlling the flies around the dining area. This can easily be sorted out. Talalla Retreat, Tangalle: 1st world standard here and we had the place to ourselves. The owners were also staying. Apparently it's owned by a group of seven Australians. I would have preferred Sri Lankan ownership, but they seemed to be providing enough work for the locals. Though I don't think they were looking after Kapila well enough, as he seemed to have the same food every meal! Final night at Ranweli [Holiday Village, Airport] threw us in with a load of Germans and Brits on an enclosed holiday. We appreciate that it was only for one night for proximity to the airport - but scary! Overall Jila and I had a wonderful time and we would recommend you to any friends or family who wished to go to Sri Lanka. I hope you find our comments helpful and thank you once again." Ashton & Jila, England, August/September 2007

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Everything. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? If we had to say something - time spent in the car, but driver was excellent. Any other comments? Really well organised, lovely country and Yapa was an excellent driver and guide to Sri Lanka. He was also very good with the children and we would really recommend him." Cripps family, England, August 2007

"I wanted to let you know that Linda and I had a great two weeks in beautiful Sri Lanka and very much due to your planning and flawless attention to detail in arranging our itinerary to our satisfaction. Pathi [chauffeur guide] is a credit to Tikalanka and he couldn't have done more to make the holiday the success it was. Please pass our thanks and best regards to him. We would certainly use your company again and whatismore will circulate your name to family and friends. Let us know if you handle any other venues aside from Sri Lanka. Just some thoughts on aspects of the holiday which should not be seen as criticisms but rather our personal thoughts: Although the train ride from Kandy to the Hill Country [Nuwara Eliya] was our own choice it would be worth advising future guests that the chances of getting a seat are virtually nil and that the train is likely to be extremely crowded. We thought that The Tea Factory [Kandapola] was not of a quality that matched other venues and it seemed rather tired and in need of an upgrade and the acoustics were poor. The Kandy House [Kandy] was stunning but a suggestion is that the bedrooms need air conditioning. This was a view made by other guests that we met. Finally while the Yala [West National Park] safari was brilliant and the location of the beach cottage [Yala Village, Yala] lovely, we thought that the accommodation was very basic. Fine for just one night but any longer and the inadequate AC would have tried our patience as the room was uninhabitable during the day." Bernard & Linda, England, August 2007

"We wanted to say that we had an excellent holiday in Sri Lanka - one of the best ever. The arrangements worked out very well and Sena, our chauffeur guide, was a mine of information and took great care of us at all times. All the arrangements worked out extremely well and John from Tikalanka couldn't have been more accommodating in planning the tour. Here's some more detailed feedback. As we arrived in the early morning we really needed a night to relax near the airport before driving up into the Cultural Triangle rather than just freshening up after a long flight and then be on the road for another 4 hours or so to Polonnaruwa. However, the Deer Park [Hotel, Polonnaruwa] was a good place to stay - quiet and comfortable and we wished we had arrived a bit earlier to enjoy the place. The ancient city at Polonnaruwa was very interesting and the game drive at Minneriya [National Park] better than we had expected with lots of bird life and we saw a herd of about 30 elephants. We were at the top of Sigiriya in the early morning at 7.30 and had it to ourselves. The views were spectacular and it was one of the highlights of the trip. Sigiriya Village was fine although the manager seemed to be a little officious and overly worried about his bananas being taken away for snacks! In Kandy, the [Peradeniya] Botanic Gardens were wonderful, beautifully kept and very peaceful. The [Chaaya] Citadel hotel had nice rooms and a good swimming pool but was too far away from the city centre (30 minutes) for us. The restaurant area felt utilitarian and the buffet food was only OK. We also visited the Temple of the Tooth and the cultural show [Kandyan Dancers & Drummers] - both interesting. Good market for spices etc. Our time in Nuwara Eliya was too short, as we could have wandered around 'little England' for a lot longer - it was a very atmospheric and interesting town. St. Andrew's Hotel was very colonial, like going back 50 years or more and we really enjoyed it. Despite the very early start we didn't see anything at World's End, at Horton Plains [National Park], due to the cloud although we still decided to do the walk (5 miles), which was quite strenuous and would be difficult for older people as the track is very uneven and the round trip took a while - the walk was good though and worth the effort. We could have stayed longer at Ella, too! Ambiente [Mount Resort] has a great location and friendly staff. Ella itself is relaxed and peaceful and the train station an interesting side trip when the trains are coming through. Next time we would take a train ride - it looks great! Rawana falls was full of hassling 'gem' sellers. The game drive at Yala [West National Park] was very disappointing, especially compared with safaris in Africa, as we saw hardly anything, one elephant, some mongooses, wild boar - I wouldn't recommend it but others may be luckier. Yala Village was good, however. Palm Paradise [Cabanas, Tangalle] was too basic for us although the food was very good. Nice beach and we got to see a turtle coming ashore at Rekawa [Turtle Conservation Project] - about 30 minutes tuk tuk ride away. Sanda Kirana villa [Unawatuna] was idyllic - right on the beach with our own pool. The five staff looked after us very well and the cook made the best curries on the island. Definitely needed more time here. Visited Galle a few times during our stay and enjoyed the old town with its historic buildings a lot. The drive up from the south to Ranweli [Holiday Village, Airport] was long and tiring, although we stopped off at a turtle sanctuary and got to hold some babies, while we got caught in the traffic chaos around Colombo. Ranweli itself wasn't to our taste as a lot of larger tour companies use it. The food (although overall in Sri Lanka it was good) was the worst we had on our holiday and the theme nights offered didn't appeal. Wouldn't recommend it but it was only for a night. All in all, despite being hassled a few times by vendors, the variety, friendly people, food, culture and beaches made our visit to Sri Lanka really special. Highlights for us were the Hill Country, Sigiriya rock, the turtles and the villa near Galle. Happy to recommend Sri Lanka as a holiday destination and Tikalanka Tours as a guide! PS the four kids (18, 15, 15 & 12 years) had a really good time too!" Johnston & Duffield families, England & Singapore, July/August 2007

"Sri Lanka is a beautiful and interesting country and overall we had a good time on holiday. Just thought you might like some feedback on the good and bad bits. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla] was an amazing hotel and we enjoyed the local massage Pathi took us to. The ancient city at Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temples were all good trips. We stayed at the Stone House Lodge in Kandy, which is run by an eccentric Sri Lankan from his family home. We had a good time there although his chatter and smoking may not be to everyone's taste! The city 'tour' [in Kandy] the following day turned out to be just a visit to a batik 'factory' - a glorified shop where two or three ladies sat making batik in the 'factory' downstairs while the upper two floors were full of stuff to buy. Not sure why we weren't given the proper city tour outlined in our itinerary. In the evening, we visited the Temple of the Tooth and the cultural show [Kandyan Dancers & Drummers], which we enjoyed. Drove up to Nuwara Eliya passed a couple of OK waterfalls and missed out on a visit to a tea factory due to a little misunderstanding between us. Had to point out the walk around Nuwara Eliya to Pathi, which we decided to forego as we were annoyed by this stage and just wanted to have some time alone. The Tea Factory hotel [Kandapola] was all right - not one of the best places we stayed at. Horton Plains was a total wash out. We decided to drive there in any case but the weather was appalling (low cloud and loads of rain) so we continued on to Ella. As we missed the 4-hour walk we had time to go back to the tea factory for our tour, with a cup of tea and cake. It was worth the trip. On to Ella, which was great. Really needed at least two nights here and we liked Ambiente [Mount Resort] guesthouse - great views and friendly people. We had time for a small hike in the afternoon, and would have liked a day to hike around. Left the Hill Country to go down south and were supposed to see the evening 'puja' at Kataragama but Pathi said there was another ceremony taking place and we wouldn't be going there - still don't know why - and he decided that we should do the jeep safari in the late afternoon instead of the following morning as he said it was better for animals. Saw elephants and lots of birds so it worked out well in the end. Stayed at Yala Village [Yala] - good place. Thambapanni [Retreat] at Unawatuna was quiet and friendly and served very good food. We had a damp room on arrival so they changed our room and upgraded us, although the second room was still a little damp. Very nice place even so. Our last day turned out to be disappointing. Again we had to point out to Pathi that we had a walking tour of Galle included in the itinerary. He wasn't enthusiastic about taking us and just pointed us in the direction of the Arab quarter. We had to insist that we stayed longer than simply having a quick glance at the area. In Colombo Pathi said he had some business to do and left us at an unscheduled and uncalled for stop at a shopping centre in central Colombo - not what we wanted at all. This didn't leave us in the best of spirits, I can assure you! However, finishing up at Villa Araliya [Airport] in Negombo did raise our spirits again. Thanks for arranging the holiday and we will stay in touch." Adrian & Rebecca, England, July 2007

"I just wanted to say I had a truly fantastic holiday in Sri Lanka - loved the country, the people, the curries, the sunsets, the wildlife, the history - an amazing place. Pathi was also a wonderful guide and a very good driver (and you need to be!). I think he was a bit perplexed by a single girl going travelling and assumed a fatherly role whilst I was there - was rather endearing! I was sad to say goodbye to him maybe one day he'll get to London or I will return to Sri Lanka - I hope so. Thanks for organising the trip for me - I will recommend you and the country to all - I think both my parents and my brother/wife to be would love it.... They might be in touch! All the very best, and thanks again." Tori, England, July 2007 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"We would just like to thank you for an amazing holiday. It was so much better than we could ever have imagined. The Maldives was spectacular and was just the relaxation we needed after our busy yet fabulous week in Sri Lanka. The only complaint we have about the holiday is that we had to come home to cold, wet Ireland! Yes, it was raining when we landed in Dublin. Just the welcome home we were expecting... Thank you [Pathi] again for your kindness and hospitality during our stay and I will contact you again soon." Sarah & Eoghan, Ireland, June/July 2007

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? We loved the lush greenery, the beautiful scenery, the wildlife, and the lovely people and their smiles in Sri Lanka. In The Maldives the sea was wonderful and the service outstanding. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? In Sri Lanka very little, other than having to take anti-Malaria tablets, and the (very) long drives. In The Maldives the fact that there was nothing to distinguish our very pretty little island from any other, albeit luxurious beach resort, from anywhere else in the world. We were very disappointed with the cavalier attitude towards the environment. No solar panels - with all that sun! Evian water at exorbitant prices, no option to change towels less frequently etc. Any other comments? We would love to go back to Sri Lanka, but probably not to The Maldives. It was odd to be asked to declare upon entry to The Maldives that we were not in possession of any pork products only to be offered pork products at the resort. It was odd paying for everything in US$ and never having the opportunity to use the local currency." Alla & Tim, England, April/May 2007 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"Firstly I would like to apologise for the delay in writing to you to thank you for a truly wonderful holiday. I am enclosing our customer feedback form as requested and a few notes that I hope you will find useful. Villa Araliya [Airport] - very nice, extremely kind owners, good food. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla] - top quality hotel, great views, helpful staff, food okay. The Kandy House [Kandy] - superb hotel, wonderful decor, fantastic food, great staff and very friendly owners. The Tea Factory [Kandapola] - a bit out of the way, dangerous and bumpy roads, friendly staff, good accommodation, top class dinner in the railway carriage! Grand Ella Motel [Ella] - views to die for, staff okay but not the best, rooms smelt like old rags and is in need of a good update. Yala Village [Yala] - amazing situation, great staff, very comfortable rooms, a la carte meal was very good. Aditya [Galle] - what can I say - probably the most special hotel I have stayed in, staff were great, management were always interested in you, room was spacious and comfortable, food was excellent. Trips: Every trip we went on was good, varied and educational. (possibly too many temples/religious events in the first few days). The safaris were extremely exciting but maybe a different vehicle could be used to enable better viewing. The jeep has limited head-room and sight angles are restricted. Personnel: Our safari driver at Yala [West National Park] (Tula) was extremely knowledgeable and made sure we had enough time for photos etc. He gave 110% on both the morning and afternoon trips out. Our dedicated guide/driver (Sena) was again extremely knowledgeable and caring. We felt safe the entire time, he was always on time (if not early) and gave us a true insight into his country. The only negative point would be that he spoke about his religion a little too much. I hope that all the above will help you in future tourist bookings. A very special thank you for making our trip to Sri Lanka unforgettable." Sandra & Graham, England, April 2007

"Just to let you know we have returned safe and sound having had a fantastic holiday - many thanks to you [John] and Pathi [chauffeur guide] for making it so memorable. Pathi was brilliant and we all learnt so much about Sri Lanka and the people. The children thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a truly life experience for them. We had a truly memorable time - doing 8 hotels in 14 nights was pretty hectic but I would definitely do it again in the same format especially travelling with the children as up to 4-5 hours travelling in one day was enough. Although the hotels varied in standard and at times were 'interesting' - Palm Paradise Cabanas [Tangalle] being one - I would stay again. Saying that the beach here seemed the safest for the children and they had a number of hours in the waves. The children thought the Lighthouse [Hotel, Galle] was the best - as there was so much for them to do. My husband and I enjoyed Saman Villas [Bentota] - the food here was the best we had all holiday - although obviously it was more westernised then the more local hotels we stayed in such as Palm Paradise and Grand Ella [Motel, Ella]. This was a truly relaxing hotel and really finished the holiday off especially after such a hectic schedule. Would definitely recommend this hotel especially if people want pure indulgence and top class service and bedrooms. Must be one of the most romantic places I have stayed in! The diversity of the hotels and landscape added to which Pathi's knowledge made it a truly memorable experience and education. The roads and traffic was something we will never forget! The buses were unreal and caused us high amusement at times and scared us to death at others! Will definitely be recommending Tikalanka - do you think you could open a branch somewhere else Malaysia for instance - if you do let me know!!!!" Parry family, England, March/April 2007

"The itinerary was very thoughtfully planned for us by John at Tikalanka and gave us the right mix of [Geoffrey] 'Bawa' and birds, ruins and current life in the gloriously diverse and rich country of Sri Lanka that we had requested. The real bonus was Pathi, our driver guide, who carefully and discreetly made sure we got the most from our trip and added the local 'knowledge', smiles and laughter. It was a pleasure to meet his family. Four days of R&R at the wonderfully relaxed Club Villa by the sea in Bentota, set us up for our trip into the hills and tea country. The climb up Adam's Peak turned our legs to jelly, but if the grannies and toddlers can do it...!! And there were an awful lot of pilgrims that Saturday night, perhaps a week day would be better! But an experience not to be missed and at the top we realised why the thermal hat man was doing such a roaring trade in the market at the bottom. The complete luxury of [Ceylon] Tea Trails bungalow [Adam's Peak], not to mention their generous G&T's soon restored us, and we drove higher up to Nuwara Eliya where rows of leeks grow in abundance and the thick mist came down in the afternoon giving a curiously English touch. Our trek on Horton Plains was cut short but the scenery looked stunning. We shall need to go back to that. Back down to Kandy and its Mediterranean climate for 3 days recuperation at the wonderful [The] Kandy House hotel, and the start of the cultural bit. The traffic in Kandy was horrendous, Temple of the Tooth alluring, 3 old temples in the countryside fascinating and we gazed at the bustling market street from the car as we crawled by and wished we could have a few more days poking about the place. The highlight of the trip was our 5 days at [Heritance] Kandalama Hotel [Dambulla], architect G. Bawa's finest building design, according to some, and what a view. You hardly needed to stir from the bath to see amazing birdlife, and monkeys. Take binoculars and go on the boat trip to get up close and personal with the herons, kites and eagles. Inspiring architectural and archaeological remains, wild elephants in the park, temples and ceremonies, a 2 metre water monitor, bee eaters, amazing plants and much, much more were all to come. It is such a pity that the tourists have been put off by alarmist reporting - we had no fears at all while we were there. Do not under estimate the poor roads and the time it takes to travel anywhere, and fit in sufficient time to enjoy the hotels that have been well researched by Tikalanka, and the local trips they recommend. We cannot recommend Sri Lanka or Tikalanka highly enough and we shall certainly return to both at the earliest opportunity." Mary & Pete, England, January 2007

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

• 2006
• 2005