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? Very friendly people, beautiful island, very varied and interesting. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Tipping culture!! Never enough small notes!! Any other comments? Very enjoyable holiday. Yapa was an excellent driver/guide. We had a fantastic time in Sri Lanka and thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. Hotels and itinerary were excellent, and much enjoyed by our two young girls." Browne family, England, December 2008/January 2009

"Maureen and I just wanted to thank you so much for giving us both one of the best holidays we have ever had. Sri Lanka was all that we had hoped and more. I will not go into too many details as I know you [John] know the country so well. The highlights for us must be the white-water rafting [Kitulgala], which was amazing, and then our first sighting of wild elephants, which is something really quite magical and an experience we will never forget. The whole country is so very diverse and the people are warm and friendly and really did seem to care that we had a good time. Pathi really did contribute immensely to the whole experience and having him with us meant we could ask him anything we wanted as questions arose. He went out of his way to meet all our needs including hunting down a supply of tonic water for our gin! I am sure he thought we were quite mad at times but he was always ready to join in laughing with us. We both dream of returning one day as we agree there is still so much more to see and do. I hope that the year to come is not too hard for you although I am sure the economic climate will obviously have some kind of effect. Best wishes and again many many thanks." Clare & Maureen, England, December 2008/January 2009

"Just a quick note to say we got back from Sri Lanka on Friday night and had a fantastic trip. We loved everything: the country, the climate, the people, the food, the accommodation. A lady from the tourist board did a questionnaire at Colombo airport and was laughing because she had to tick excellent for everything, with no reservations. Thank you for organising everything and choosing great places to stay. One potential pointer for the future may be to give a warning that neither places [Palace Mirissa, Mirissa or Paradise Beach Club, Mirissa] accept card payments. Also, it took us several days to work out that the Paradise was able to arrange/offer the following: trips out, laundry services and aperitifs. And that there was a shop nearby selling essentials and a town within striking distance where travellers cheques could be changed. Perhaps they could have a welcome card in the room on arrival? We hope to go back at some point and take in the hill country. When we do we will be in touch in the hope you can help us again. Thanks again and best wishes." Sophie, Gethin & Bruno, England, December 2008/January 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Climate, scenery, people, wildlife. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Traffic between Colombo and Galle. Any other comments? Really enjoyed staying at 'The Palace' in Mirissa but felt that The Dream House in Unawatuna didn't live up to description." Helen & Olivia, England, December 2008/January 2009

"On the whole we enjoyed our holiday, our guide Anura was a pleasure to be with for the two weeks and all the trips and places visited were spot on. But the accommodation was not so hot, in fact I think you could say we were very disappointed with most aspects of each hotel. I would like to know how long it is since you have inspected or visited these hotels. I suppose our expectations were possibly too high, but when you were stating superior and deluxe rooms, that's what we were expecting. [Room categories are determined by the hotels] Sigiriya Village, Sigiriya (Bungalow 135) - As soon as we opened the door we were hit by the smell of damp. The pillows were well by their sell by date in fact they were awful. The bathroom was dirty, not surface dirt but long term. On the Saturday morning the whole hotel was taken over by at least 200 Sri Lankans. The equivalent to our Rotary Club. We could not get near the facilities in fact it was that bad we went to the hotel next door for lunch and spent the afternoon in their garden to escape the noise. They finally left at 7pm. In hindsight it would have been better for us to have done our trip to Polonnaruwa that day and had Sunday at leisure. This was obviously a pre-arranged event, it's a shame these hotels do not keep you tour operators informed so you can re-arrange your clients. The food and service at this hotel were excellent. Chaaya Citadel, Kandy - We think the best hotel room, but the worst shower we have ever experienced on holiday. We did inform them but for two nights it was hardly worth swapping. This again was supposed to be a superior room, but was at a loss to understand how they categorise these rooms. Again service and food excellent. St. Andrew's Hotel, Nuwara Eliya - This time I actually questioned the room they gave us. View - horrible, at the back overlooking the workers quarters. The bathroom very tired and not at all what I expect of a so-called superior room. We had a TV that did not work, aerial problems which they fixed to a bearable picture. Gala dinner [New Year] - fabulous food. Centauria Tourist Hotel, Uda Walawe - Just what we expected. Glad we were only their one night. Palm Paradise Cabanas, Tangalle - We were so looking forward to this part of the holiday only to be met on arrival by a family vacating (our cabana) telling us it was awful. In fact she had moved out for a night as she could not cope with the set-up. The position of them was fabulous - so close to the beach - but the actual cabana… The main light did not work. The shower again was totally naff - basically tepid water (I would call it cold) showers for duration, fishing twine held the plug on [in the basin], but the water did not stay in the sink anyway. Holes in the mossie net over bed. Food was good but their was not a lot of choice and one evening when I did not want the curd I changed it to ice cream, but was told I could only have one scoop as we were on half board, if I want more I would have to pay for it. Another annoying thing was the owners have 3 dogs that woke us up at 6.30ish every morning we presumed to be fed. We left the cabanas at 7.40am and we never stopped off in Galle except for a bathroom stop. I called in a souvenir shop and we were on our way. We stopped at Palace Mirissa [Mirissa] for about 20 mins as Anura's brother was there and we wanted to have a look around - it was fabulous up there. I wish we had chosen this accommodation. Then we grabbed a sandwich from a shop going through Colombo. Arrived at Negombo at 3.30pm hot and tired, nearly 8 hours of travelling. How we should have had 2 hours looking around the Old Dutch Fort [Galle] we do not know. I was looking forward to a soak in a bath, a bit of telly and room service in what we thought was going to be a nice airport hotel. How wrong we were. Villa Araliya [Airport] was a nightmare. Never in my life have I slept on a concrete bed with matching headboard, a six-inch solid foam mattress with pillows to match. In fact we had had such a long day I sat and cried. We went down to cool off in the pool, again stray dogs wandering around, the manager told us it was rice and curry for dinner, Ian ordered a chicken one to be told it was a vegetarian hotel. That did not go down too well. I ended up with egg, tomato and mozzarella with a few slices of cucumber and slices of dry bread. We had to eat in their hotel opposite in the garden area, needless to say we were live prey for mossies. Thank God we had to leave at 1.45am. We did not sleep at all. I feel you have to know about this as the holiday was not cheap. I do appreciate prices of flights, tour guide and admission to all temples etc are not cheap but we would rather have paid a little bit more and gone up market in the hotels. Apart from all the hotel problems we really enjoyed Sri Lanka and will certainly return one day." Glynis & Ian, England, December 2008/January 2009

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people, beautiful countryside and beaches, and wonderful food - we loved it!! What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Traffic congestion, piles of rubbish. Any other comments? Pathi looked after us excellently in Sri Lanka and went out of his way to ensure we would have a good time, even driving to Colombo on our last day to collect my passport to travel home. Loved Tea Trails accommodation [Castlereagh Bungalow, Adam's Peak] and all the others [The Kandy Samadhi Centre, Kandy; Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla] except Bentota where the Ganga Garden said there was to be a party of 50 going on till 2-3 am. Pathi kindly got us accommodation elsewhere." Valerie & Michael, England, December 2008

"The holiday was brilliant, we had a fantastic time and the only downside was having to come back. The cookery was great fun. It was really more a Sri Lankan family experience with cookery thrown in than a full-on cookery course. Dihini and Mahesh were on hand to assist Suba and Pathi. We learnt a lot, especially how to make coconut milk - we had no idea. Cooking in the family kitchen was a bit tricky, but we got involved with most of the dishes, and Suba and Pathi were very enthusiastic. Suba is a really good cook and the food was delicious. It was great to see where they lived and meet Pathi's family. Mahesh chatted with us about his school and his hopes for studying abroad in the future. It really helped us to get to know Pathi before travelling around Sri Lanka for the week with him. The Kandy House [Kandy] was beautiful, probably the nicest place we've stayed in. The food there was fantastic as well. Staying [at Ella Adventure Park] in Ella was a bit of an experience. The setting was amazing, on the edge of the river. This does mean that it is quite damp though, and the mattresses were a bit on the damp side as well as the river being incredibly loud. The tree house we thought we were going to didn't seem to exist, although the cabins are lovely. [The main resort was being refurbished, without our knowledge, so only the campsite and cabins were available at the time.] There is a bit of a trek to the toilet and shower, which are a little basic, especially if you're used to The Kandy House. It's also worth noting that it is a bit of a trek with bags to get there. We had to hastily unpack what we needed for the night into smaller packs in the rain. It would have been a nightmare trying to get the bags to the lodge through the rain forest and over the rope bridge. If you're there for activities, it would be great. The Rafters Retreat [Kitulgala] was great. The river is a bit quieter and the rooms are a lot less damp. The old house on the site is amazing, and we had a lovely walk around the area, including a boat across the river. All in all we had a fantastic week, with lots of cups of tea. We possibly went a bit heavy on the travelling when we designed the week, and in hindsight may have stayed an extra day at one of the last two places. The Maldives were amazing and we would recommend Filitheyo [Island Resort] to anyone. Having not been to any other Maldivian resorts, we can't compare, but we would be quite happy to go back to this resort again and again. The setting is absolutely lovely, we had half a week on the beach and the second half in a water bungalow. Both rooms were lovely and it was a good way to do it, as you get to see the island from the beach huts and then get the privacy of the water bungalows. The half-day honeymoon trip to Hamza Island is well worth the money as well. You can't beat being marooned on your own private island. We'd like to say thanks to you [John] personally for sorting everything out for us and answering all of Hazel's tricky questions. You made the whole experience an absolute pleasure. We'd also like to thank Pathi for entertaining us for a whole week." Kevin & Hazel, England, November 2008

"It was a superb trip, great for Sandy who felt she got to know the country of her childhood again and for me a new experience which I'm still absorbing - a bit like India but different in so many ways. Many thanks to Pathi for driving us safely round all those hairpin bends and in and out of the constant traffic. Also for being our Guide and Mentor! Our unsupervised stays in Colombo were also most enjoyable and we had a hectic but fun time. We thought you would be interested in a few suggestions which might assist other travellers. Allow quite a bit for tips, we found that it ate into our budget rather more than planned despite reading your bumph. We are both good travellers but those mountain roads which go on for most of the day must be a bit hard for people inclined to car sickness. If people choose to climb Sigiriya [rock fortress] advise them to wear walking shoes - we were glad we did but other visitors were teetering in sloppy sandals. At Mirissa give people a choice of beach or the beautiful Palace [Mirissa] up the hill, they are totally different experiences. The above are NOT intended as criticisms but suggestions from two experienced travellers. We have left your details with various people in Sri Lanka and back here, so hopefully the word will continue to get around. Finally, thank you John for organising it all and for being so flexible to our Wish List!" Jan & Sandy, South Africa & Switzerland, October/November 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Food and people. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Currency [Sri Lanka Rupee] is tied to the US$ as the GB£ has slipped against US$. Any other comments? Very much enjoyed staying at the boutique type hotels." Alan & Linda, England, October 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Alan - Peace and quiet. Few tourists at Mirissa. Angela - National parks, wildlife, drinking tea, landscape, Jetwing hotels [The Beach, Airport; St. Andrew's Hotel, Nuwara Eliya] (particularly their food!). What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Alan - Kandy hotel [Chaaya Citadel] - cold, souless, unfriendly resort. SriLankan Airlines. Angela - Long journey days, SriLankan Airlines. Any other comments? Alan - Suggest owner of guesthouse in Ella [Ambiente Mount Resort] to 'upgrade' some rooms to a/c, as the location was great but the accommodation basic. Angela - Thought the organisation in UK and Sri Lanka was excellent; accommodation generally of a very high standard as was the half board basis. Would definitely recommend Tikalanka to friends - in fact we already have. We would like to return and visit Yala N.P. - perhaps you could keep us informed of when this area becomes open again for British tourists." Alan & Angela, England, September 2008

"Sorry we have not written before to thank you for arranging our wonderful honeymoon. We cannot thank you enough for your extremely efficient and friendly service. Our tour of Sri Lanka was wonderful and exceeded our expectations by far. Such an interesting and varied country, we very much hope we will be able to return one day. Everything went like clockwork and we had the most relaxing time being chauffeured by our wonderful tour guide Upul, who was a complete gentlemen and a wonderful source of knowledge of his beloved country. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him and everything was done with a wonderful smile. Upul's knowledge of the flora, fauna, culture and history of Sri Lanka made the trip very interesting. Although we had a great time in the Maldives, Sri Lanka will always hold our favourite memories of our honeymoon. All the accommodation was wonderful; it is difficult to pick a favourite, as they were all special in their own way. Although Heritance [Kandalama, Dambulla] and Hunas Falls [Hotel, Kandy] were fantastic, the personal service and friendliness of the staff at Serendip [Kandy] and Warwick Gardens [Nuwara Eliya] was especially wonderful. Please pass on our thanks to your Sri Lankan office who I know were in touch to make sure everything was running smoothly. Thank you so much, John, for arranging such a wonderful holiday for us. We were very impressed with the service you provided and your efficiency, especially with our honeymoon gift list. We will certainly be recommending Tikalanka Tours to all our friends. Many thanks." Peter & Anna, England, August 2008 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

Claire & Richard, England, August 2008 See the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Wildlife - very accessible at [Heritance] Kandalama [Dambulla]. Friendliness of people - not hassled at tourist sites. Ceylon Tea Trails [Adam's Peak] - Castlereagh - would have liked an extra night here! What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Roads - length of travel time. Serendip [Kandy] - place was lovely, but location poor, and customer service non-existent without owners present. Lack of investment in hotels - they were OK, but suffer from being not quite world-class. Lack of access to Sri Lankan "life" - no local restaurants. Any other comments? We did have a great trip!! However… the idea that the driver was there as "we wanted" wasn't exactly true. In Kandy, Yapa [guide] told us he would be leaving us in Bentota, and someone else would turn up on the last day to take us to the airport. Rather disconcerting, as I had hoped to do some travel - don't have beach-friendly skin! This was not as we understood the original arrangement - we thought we had a driver available the whole time - and we had paid for this. [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.] Potentially, it could have been quite isolating, as we didn't know what to expect. In the end, Yapa stayed the whole time, but only because there was no-one else available to do the airport drive - and by then, we reviewed our plans and didn't go on any trips, rather than any focused desire to give us the original service we had expected. So that was quite weird." Kirstin & Simon, England, August 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? The diversity of things to see on the island. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Amount of time spent travelling! Felt that Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were very similar so did not need to visit both. Any other comments? Think some of your journey timings need checking. Hotel Suisse [Kandy] - food and service terrible, hotel in need of major work! Alternatives? Would not recommend to anyone!!! [Hotel Suisse has been removed from our website]" Wiltshire family, England, August 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? It is a great combination of warm and friendly people, marvellous natural environment and great physical diversity in a relatively small place. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? I was travelling solo and ended up in some accommodation that was too removed from the mainstream flow of life. Any other comments? I enjoyed travelling with Anura [chauffeur guide] - great love of showing off his country, a sincere man with a great sense of humour. All of Tikalanka's arrangements were smooth and efficient. Thanks." Ken, Canada, August 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Geoffrey Bawa hotels, jeep safaris, riding an elephant, beautiful scenery, visiting the tea factory. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Being hassled by the locals for money nearly everywhere we went. Any other comments? We have mixed feelings about Tikalanka. We had many great experiences; we stayed in some amazing hotels, particularly Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla], The Lighthouse [Hotel], Galle and Serendip in Kandy. The staff were friendly and the food was great at these places. In fact, some of our happiest memories are those where we spent time relaxing at these places. Our guide [Pathi] was very friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed having tea with his family. He went out of his way to make our holiday enjoyable, particularly when we wanted to change where we were staying. The range of activities we did were great. We were a bit disappointed with two of the mid-range places we stayed in (or were supposed to have stayed in). Mount Ambiante [Ambiente Mount Resort, Ella] had great views but the room was dark, it was so noisy we didn't sleep all night and the bathroom floor had ants crawling all over it. It was poorly decorated and the restaurant area was dirty. Palace Mirissa [Mirissa] was a real disappointment. We had seen photos of cabanas on the website and were really excited about spending our three days at leisure here. The cabanas were nothing like the photos. You couldn't get to the beach unless you walked 15 mins down the road and went through another hotel. [Palace Mirissa is located on a headland overlooking Mirissa bay and a leisurely 15-minute walk to the beach, as described on our website. There is public access to the beach at various points along the bay.] The bed sheets were dirty, the table linen was dirty and the menu looked terrible. We spoke to someone staying there who wasn't very positive about the place. We couldn't imagine spending four nights and three days there. Our guide changed us to 'The Lighthouse, Galle' which was amazing and the difference we paid in price was nothing compared to the cost of the whole holiday and really improved our holiday. We would like to have been taken to some better places for lunch. They were generally quite run down places that put prices up for tourists and sold bad western food. We would recommend Tikalanka Tours to other people, however we would suggest they pay extra to stay in top-end accommodation until better mid-range accommodation is found." Tara & David, England, August 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? We couldn't fault anything in the Maldives - the diving was amazing. In Sri Lanka the variety of things to do - really loved cookery course. What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? Some of the hotels were a bit basic [in Sri Lanka]. Any other comments? Everything in the Maldives was exceptional [Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru]. All trips and our guide [Kapila] in Sri Lanka were also great. There were a few quite basic hotels, especially Ambiente [Mount Resort, Ella] that were disappointing - we understand there was a budget to work to but our hotel quality differed quite a bit from place to place and we would have liked the opportunity to change before we departed. Also, we didn't do much exploring without our guide. He was really friendly and helpful but we would have liked a little more time by ourselves to explore. A great holiday - we would love to go back." Ben & Gayle, England, June/July 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? We loved so many things about both places, but to pick the top 3 would be the scenery (was stunning in both locations) the accommodation (was amazing, especially in Sri Lanka), and the people (were very friendly). What did you like least about Sri Lanka and the Maldives? We did not particularly like being taken to the 'factory shops' in Kandy. While some people may enjoy the experience, we felt there was an element of hard sell in most of them, which made us feel uncomfortable. Our guide [Pathi] was fairly insistent we go to visit all of these despite our resistance to this. Any other comments? We'd like to thank John and Pathi for making our honeymoon so memorable. Sri Lanka is an amazing place with so many things to see and do. The people are unbelievably friendly and we never felt in any sort of danger (despite some of the things we had read in the press). We particularly enjoyed The Kandy House [Kandy] and the Ceylon Tea Trails [Castlereagh Bungalow, Adam's Peak]. These bespoke guest houses are nothing like anything we have stayed in before and are pure luxury. They looked after our every need and the food was amazing. Our resort in the Maldives [Angsana Maldives Ihuru] was like something off a postcard. Amazing white sand beaches and the whole island was only 500 meters long (you could walk round it in 5 minutes). The huts were well equipped and we even had our own hot tub and small area of beach. We like to stay active, and although it was a great experience we think 5 days is the perfect stay as going to the same restaurant and bar every night I think could get repetitive. All in all a great trip. Any advice to anyone travelling to Sri Lanka would be not to try and do too much. It takes a long time and a lot of crazy driving to get from one place to another, so anyone organizing the trip should bear this in mind." Richard & Georgia, England, June/July 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Diversity, quality of hotels and food. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The only thing was The Tea Factory [Kandapola]. Take it off your list of quality hotels!! Dreadful. [The Tea Factory is currently under renovation] Any other comments? Our driver [guide], Yapa, whilst knowledgeable and accommodating was not proactive in suggesting things that were a little less 'touristy'. We found these by talking to others. Also his language was difficult to understand. Two hotels were outstanding - Vil Uyana [Sigiriya] and The Kandy House [Kandy] - we will return to these." Kennard family, England, June/July 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people, amazing food, so much to do in one place. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Long travel times, male-dominated interactions! Any other comments? Our guide, Kapila, went above and beyond the call of duty. Always helpful and friendly he made the trip a pleasure. We were concerned, however, to be broken into on our fourth night at Apa Villa Thalpe [Unawatuna] - they need to improve their security (Friday 13 June)." Laura & Rob, England, June 2008

Joanne & Russell, England, May/June 2008 See the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"We had a wonderful trip and have nothing but praise for the island and it's people. Tikalanka provided us with a well-organised, varied itinerary, a wonderful driver [guide] in Kapila and reacted efficiently and professionally when our itinerary had to change due to severe wet weather conditions. The Castlereagh Bungalow [Adam's Peak] was our favourite hotel - scenery, accommodation, food were out of this world. We didn't want to leave and wished we'd had another couple of nights there. We didn't climb Adam's Peak. There were a few contributing factors such as the heavy rain and lack of any sleep before we set off at 1am however the nail in the coffin, was the travel time. We drove for 1.25 hours from Castlereagh Bungalow and still had 20 km to go. We realised that we were not going to start the climb with enough time to get to the top for sunrise and took the decision to turnaround. We thought that Tikalanka had really underestimated the travel time from Castlereagh to Adam's Peak but the next day we were told that you can get to Adam's Peak by turning right at the end of the bungalow drive whereas, we had gone left, all the way around the lake. Perhaps worth checking the travel time or ensuring that each driver knows the quickest route. We were very pleased with the [Heritance] Ahungalla Hotel [Ahungalla] and it was worth every penny to have the best suite in the hotel - we even had our own garden. It's worth noting that it does not have a SPA facility despite us specifically requesting this and you confirming that it did have this facility. (Kapila took us to a traditional Sri Lankan massage house and we had a very interesting massage session, which added to our cultural experience of the island!). Kapila took us to his house for lunch to meet his Mama and family - one of the highlights of our trip, although I appreciate this is a spontaneous activity and not one you can schedule for potential visitors. Our change in itinerary took us to Sigiriya Rock and this was one of our favourite excursions/activities despite the early rise to climb. Would recommend everyone to do it (who needs Adam's Peak!). We were really disappointed not to visit the Elephant Transit Home [Uda Walawe] but this was due to the weather and change of itinerary, which was beyond everyone's control. The man from the turtle hatchery [Bentota] called us one evening to let us know that there were 6 turtles laying eggs on the beach and that we should come and see. He then spent time showing us the turtles laying by torch light. Amazing. SriLankan Airlines was delayed 2 hours on the way out and 2 hours on the way back. Apparently, this is the case everyday. My TV screen did not work on the way out and despite asking three different stewards to change seats or get it fixed, not one of them got back to me. Have been on better airlines but have also been on worse. The thing we liked least about Sri Lanka were the beggars/touts. Much worse than we had imagined. Gavin loved the food, I liked the vegetarian curries but the meat ones were too hot for me. I have recommended Sri Lanka to everyone I know. The only reason we won't return for a long time is because there are so many other places we would like to explore. Thanks to you John for arranging a fabulous honeymoon for us. I hope this has been of some help to you despite its lateness." Briony & Gavin, England, April/May 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Friendly people, fabulous food, stunning scenery. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Animal neglect (stray dogs). Hassle at major tourist sites. Any other comments? We had a fantastic holiday. The accommodation throughout, with exception of hotel in Ella [Ambiente Mount Resort], was very good. We were slightly disappointed that our guide, Anura, has only a very basic understanding of English, making it quite difficult to communicate, though he was a very pleasant man, and always prompt and happy." Fran & David, England, April 2008 Click here for photos of their trip.

"What did you like most about the Maldives? Snorkelling/room. [Angsana Maldives Ihuru] What did you like least about the Maldives? Emirates flights - bad service. Any other comments? Visited Banyan Tree [Maldives Vabbinfaru] and found Angsana to be much nicer island! John - thanks for organising this for us - use definitely. Would still like to visit Sri Lanka one day and will certainly come back to Tikalanka. Thanks for great service." Mark & Louise, England, April 2008

"As you have asked for our feedback we make the following comments. However, the intention is to be helpful in letting you know of our experience, rather than as complaints. We enjoyed our holiday and will be happy to recommend Tikalanka Tours to others. Driver/guide - in the advice to travellers we also thought it might be a good idea to spell out a little more about the relationship with the driver/guide, e.g. whether he was assigned to be available by agreement to us throughout our holiday or just for transfers agreed in the itinerary. Although our experience was generally positive with our particular guide [Kapila] we were surprised that on our one evening in Kandy, having said he would like to take us to some of the sights in the evening he then presented us with a problem that no accommodation had been provided for him so he couldn't do so. [Accommodation and food are ALWAYS provided for our chauffeur guides] In the event this wasn't a particular problem for us as it was raining heavily and the envisaged visit probably wouldn't have been practical anyway but I didn't feel qualified to advise him on where he should stay having little or no local knowledge. [Your own dedicated Sri Lanka Tourist Board-licensed chauffeur guide is available for all excursions included in the itinerary] Journey times - the journey times given in the itinerary did not match the actual time for journeys. As a result, we were unprepared for the sheer length of time necessary to travel between agreed fixed points in the itinerary. The journey from Colombo [airport] to the Tientsin Bungalow [Adam's Peak] took 7 hours. Even allowing for a stop for a drink and a stop for lunch (totalling 1 hour) this was rather longer than the 4 hours anticipated. On the first day there seemed to be a complication involving the driver's brother and he needed to swap vehicles - I suspect this resulted in a detour - but the driver was rather vague when I asked him to show us on a map where we were and the route we were taking. All the other journeys also took a lot longer than the times in the itinerary even allowing for stops, etc. Part of it was the unfamiliarity of the guide with the location of both The Kandy House [Kandy] and the Tientsin Bungalow although we fully accept that these locations are difficult to find and are not signposted at all in he case of The Kandy House. It might be helpful too to add something about what can be arranged by way of meal breaks/toilet stops on these journeys. Accommodation - the first day rest house in Negombo [Villa Araliya, Airport] - this worked well and we think this is an excellent way of acclimatising after a long flight and before a long journey. Tea Trails - this was a truly wonderful experience with attentive service. Tientsin Bungalow was the ultimate in luxury. We have already had conversations with a number of friends about contacting you about a visit there. The Kandy House - a lovely place and excellent value for money. Heritance Kandalama [Dambulla] - we were not altogether happy with this experience. There seemed to be some confusion about our booking when we arrived - not entirely sure what happened, but ended up waiting ages while it was sorted out and before being shown to a room. The first room we were shown to was very dark, no view of any kind, and unwelcoming. The person who showed us the room immediately suggested, before we said anything, that we would want to upgrade to a better room. (Is this, (room 211) the worst room in the hotel - do they show everyone to get them to upgrade, I wondered?) This we felt we had to do and agreed with the hotel to pay [for an upgrade] for two nights. The servicing of the room was also rather poor. A particularly good experience here was the wildlife walk. As I said above, these points are not in the nature of a complaint, but intended to give feedback on one or two points. Overall we had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed our visit despite the uncharacteristic amount of rain in April." Clare & John, England, April 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Seeing elephants, turtles, scenery in Hill Country, ocean views, gardens at 'exotic' tea bungalow [Castlereagh Bungalow, Adam's Peak] (needed longer stay than we had!), Eva Lanka Hotel [Tangalle] ambience. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The tipping made us feel v. uncomfortable - we needed more guidelines (e.g. hotel restaurant meals - tip or not?). [Tipping advice is provided in our 'Tikalanka Tips' prior to departure] Any other comments? We would recommend minimum of 2 nights in any location to avoid the feeling of time pressure on arrivals (we were late for lunch at tea bungalow and arrived at Ella almost at dusk, with onward travel to get to elephants for 12 noon...). New Year (14 April) created a lot of unexpected changes to our itinerary. Unfortunately Galle was virtually closed the day we were supposedly to explore the area. We agreed to do elephant transit camp the same day as safari trip, for the convenience of the chauffeur guide [Pathi], but it made for a rushed day for us. Similarly, the 'bird life' en route to Tangalle was a non-event mentioned by guide but didn't amount to more than a layby on the road. We don't want you to think we didn't enjoy the holiday! - it's just that on reflection, knowledge about New Year and tipping would have made us more at ease and better able to plan our trips to accommodate closed days when guides don't want to be there!" Simon & Janice, England, April 2008

"We would like to give you a big thank you for enabling us to have such a memorable and enjoyable holiday in such a rich, varied and beautiful place. Despite our 'wobble' over the security situation in January we felt safe and relaxed throughout, not least because we were so well looked after by Kapila, our chauffeur guide. He was very knowledgeable, fun to be with and shared our interest in nature and wildlife. He very quickly tuned in to what we would enjoy doing and his suggestions for extra activities were excellent. We were particularly grateful for Kapila's flexibility (and the larger vehicle) which meant that our son Olof and his girlfriend Norny were able to join us in Kandy and the Hill Country. Kapila couldn't have been more helpful and coped admirably with all four of us and with the additional uncertainties of linking up with unpredictable train and bus timetables. He also helped and joined in with our visits to Navajeevana in Tangalle (Norny's work) and the Ruhunu Rural Women's Organisation in Wirikatiya (Olof's work) including lunch with the director where his interpreting skills were very helpful. Our final day could have been a bit of an anticlimax with the long drive back to the airport but was also full of interest, taking in the Dutch Fort in Galle, a 'boat safari' and a visit to a turtle hatchery. All in all we couldn't have asked for more! Our only disappointment was that we were not able to visit Yala [West] National Park - we will keep our eyes open for when it is deemed safe to visit and that might just tempt us into another trip to Sri Lanka sooner rather than later. Your information sheets were excellent, particularly Tikalanka Tips." Hugh & Lisa, England, March 2008 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"Just a few lines to thank you for the wonderful holiday we have just had in Sri Lanka. We fell in love with the island and its people during the few days we were there and hope to return one day. Even the unseasonal weather during the first few days of the holiday did not spoil our enjoyment! We will certainly recommend Tikalanka to any friends and colleagues who are considering visiting Sri Lanka because the holiday: offered such a diverse range of activities - cultural visits, wild life safaris (mainly birds), glimpses into aspects of the economy (e.g. tea plantation, gem mining), insights into Sri Lankan religious and social mores through our many conversations with Pathi [chauffeur guide], and times to relax either by a hotel pool or the Indian Ocean; provided such a wide and varied range of climate zones and scenery; was so wonderfully flexible - we liked the way we could re-arrange days to suit ourselves and that we could even alter the itinerary to take in another hotel; was really well organized and all arrangements were trouble free. Pathi discovered that we were interested in bird-watching and we were grateful to him for arranging guides / driver with expertise in local bird life for our visits to Horton Plains and Uda Walawe - their contributions added greatly to our experience. The air-conditioned car and Pathi's safe driving were additional bonuses! Sigiriya Village, Sigiriya (three nights)- We enjoyed our stay here - room was very clean and comfortable, the staff were very friendly and the food was OK. Chaaya Citadel, Kandy (two nights) - Perhaps, the most anonymous and impersonal of all the places we stayed. Having said that, the room was fine and the swimming pool great - we were able to rearrange our itinerary to enable us to spend an afternoon relaxing in the sun by the pool. St Andrew's Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (one night) - Probably our favourite hotel of the holiday - quaint colonial charm, comfortable room, friendly staff and good food. We especially liked the hot water bottles! Our one regret of the holiday on hindsight was that we did not spend two nights here before continuing to Uda Walawe, missing out the night in Ella. The great advantage of this would have been that we could have had a relaxing return from our trek round Horton Plains instead of the rush to get back to our room, shower and move on. We would then have had the afternoon and evening to enjoy the ambience of the hotel. Ambiente Mount Resort, Ella (one night) - Though basic, the room was clean and the staff friendly - but we did not see much point in spending a night here - the view alone, albeit fairly spectacular, did not in itself merit the stay. Centauria Tourist Hotel, Uda Walawe (one night) - On the other hand, we rather liked this hotel - the room was large, clean and comfortable, the staff friendly and the food good. We would have happily spent another night here. Palm Paradise Cabanas, Tangalle (two nights)- Quite different - but very enjoyable. Cabana was clean and comfortable, the location superb, the staff very friendly, and the food OK but limited. However, not being very 'beachy people', two nights was long enough - especially as there were very few other guests staying. A swimming pool is planned apparently - and this would be a definite bonus. Lighthouse Hotel, Galle (two nights) - We loved the flexibility of this holiday which allowed us to change arrangements and have two nights here. A wonderful way of spending the last two days of our holiday - in a stunning hotel set in a beautiful location with super room, friendly staff, great swimming pool and good food. With the reduction in room rates announced for later in the year this would be a real bargain! Villa Araliya, Airport (one afternoon, evening) - An excellent idea to provide such a facility prior to departure - even though we did not spend one night here! It was very welcome after the long drive from Galle - good room and friendly staff. The final meal with Pathi at the Swiss restaurant in Negombo was excellent - and a lovely send off. Money: Having recently been to Nepal, Botswana and Zambia without having any problems drawing money from ATMs we merely checked on our bank's website ATM availability without confirming our visit. This caused problems because our first attempts to withdraw cash were blocked and we had to make a phone call to England before we could activate the cards for use in Sri Lanka. We learned from Pathi that this had happened to other people. This situation could clearly have been avoided had we not been so complacent in the first place. Your trip notes you did advise that we check with our bank that our cards would be valid in Sri Lanka before departure. However, this point, perhaps, could be emphasised even more in your trip notes so that others avoid our difficulties. We liked your advice re 'fair' tipping. However, one problem we did encounter was not having enough smaller denomination notes to tip appropriately. ATMs only issued larger denomination notes and hotels were not always willing to exchange them for smaller denominations. It might be worth advising customers to ensure they have a ready supply of smaller denomination notes by exchanging larger denomination notes in banks. (Quite a lot of tips during a two week stay!). Reading - Our holiday was enhanced by reading the profoundly moving 'When Memory Dies' by A Sivanandan (pub Arcadia) whilst we were in Sri Lanka. Not only were we able to relate to the novel because much of its action was set in places we visited but it also provided us with a sensitive insight into the historical, social and political background of the last eighty years or so. Highly recommended!! Sorry for the length of our notes - got carried away! Once again, many thanks for a holiday to remember. We hope to return." Brian & Lyndsay, England, March 2008 Also, see the ResponsibleTravel.com holiday review.

"I am so sorry it has now turned into months before I've been able to give full feedback on the trip. It seems like just yesterday Rob and I were having the trip of a lifetime with Pathi! From the minute I found Tikalanka Tours on the Internet, our honeymoon turned into the 'perfect experience'. I have never had such ease with planning a trip before. Tikalanka was fabulous from the second I enquired, to our departure back to England. The itineraries were perfectly laid out and planned so that we did not have to think about a thing the entire holiday. We were able to see and experience all of Sri Lanka's highlights including, culture, relaxation, landscape and of course food, in the best way! Pathi was the most incredible guide. We felt so at ease with him and enjoyed his company throughout the trip. All of the hotels we stayed at were more than perfect and 2-3 days at each one gave us the chance to have some varied experiences in different parts of Sri Lanka. With Pathi picking us up and dropping us off, there was absolutely no stress and therefore it didn't feel like we were constantly on the move (which can be worrying if you are travelling from place to place). All the hotels were absolutely stunning and I cannot recommend them highly enough. The [Heritance] Kandalama hotel [Dambulla] was my favourite with a stunning infinity pool overlooking the lakes and a view from our room of Sigiriya! My husband loved the peace, tranquillity and exceptional service at the Norwood Bungalow [Adam's Peak] where we had our own butler who tended our every need from fresh "wake-up tea" brought to our bed in the morning, to the most romantic candle-lit dinner in the evening prepared by the most fabulous chef. Sri Lanka is the most beautiful country that I have ever travelled to and I can't wait to return. It's the only place that I have ever been to where I experienced everything - jungle, lakes, beach, mountains and countryside. I cannot recommend Sri Lanka enough to those who have not been. I really don't think we would have experienced Sri Lanka in the same way, had it not been for Pathi and Tikalanka Tours who planned everything to perfection. As if 9 days in Sri Lanka wasn't paradise enough, Pathi dropped us off at Colombo Airport where we awaited our flight to Malé, where again we experienced absolute perfection in both holiday planning and experience. As soon as we stepped off the plane and collected our luggage in Malé, we were met by our Banyan Tree hotel reps and treated as royalty. We couldn't believe our eyes when we stepped off the boat onto the Banyan Tree [Maldives Vabbinfaru] resort. The island was absolutely stunning with endless white sand beaches and crystal clear water. Our private beach villa exceeded any expectation we might have had with our own private beach, Jacuzzi and outdoor deck area to relax. After a wonderful 9 days in Sri Lanka travelling around it was perfect to be able to do absolutely nothing but lie on the beach and eat gorgeous food. I even treated myself to a few spa treatments, which were exceptional. As honeymooners we received a free 'massage lesson' at the spa as well as a private dining experience on our back deck where we had our own waiter and chef who barbecued everything right in front of us. The snorkelling was by far the best I have ever done. The reef was exceptional and not too far out at all. Needless to say, our departure from the Maldives and Sri Lanka was very sad because we did NOT WANT TO LEAVE! I cannot recommend Tikalanka Tours and Sri Lanka and the Maldives highly enough. My husband and I will no doubt save every penny so that we can go back... of course with Tikalanka! Thank you John and Pathi for an unforgettable holiday that we will cherish in our memories forever." Lindsay & Rob, England, February/March 2008

"Of the hotels: Negombo [Villa Araliya, Airport] - was great - lovely rooms, great breakfast (all we experienced) and it would have been good to stay longer. Pelwehera [Village Resort, Dambulla] was OK but seemed to have 'had its day' - the rooms were big and spacious, but possibly just clean where the eye can see and the bathroom was in need of a paint - lots of damp. The food was OK - not as great as the guidebook mentioned or by comparison to lunches we had out or the other hotels. The gardens and pool were lovely though and a useful location. McLeod [Inn, Kandy] was great - friendly, clean, great view and food. Lighthouse [Hotel, Galle] and Saman Villas [Bentota] were of course very different and we would by far go back to Saman Villas - beautiful, friendly and very luxurious. Lighthouse was great - some of the reception staff seemed a little aloof and forgetful - an outdoor dinner reservation and room cleaning were forgotten and dining was slow. It would be unfair on all staff to complain though and these were small things that didn't really matter! Kapila, our driver [guide], was excellent, very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Our itinerary was also perfect for us and we really appreciate the tailor made aspect of your company. The day we drove from Kandy to Galle was a long drive but it meant we fitted everything in we wanted to do and had some relaxing time. Thank you for all your help in organising this fantastic trip and all the detailed info we received before hand - it couldn't have been better. Some of the hotels we visited were quite empty and while this was good for us - clearly not for them and the staff which we presume was due to tourists fear of the unrest - I am almost ashamed that I too queried this as we are so glad we went and fortunate that all we saw of this were the roadblocks - we hope the situation gets better. Thank you again." Sophie & Stewart, England, February/March 2008

"First of all I must say we both thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and probably one of the best we have ever had. The Cultural Triangle was a total wonder to us. Sigiriya and the Dambulla temples were outstanding. On to Kandy and the joy of a busy city, the [Peradeniya] botanical gardens, the market and the Temple of the Tooth. The train journey to Nuwara Eliya was utterly superb and should not be missed by anyone doing this route. The relaxation at Ceylon Tea Trails and then the final few days on the beach at Apa Villa made a truly wonderful mix for a delightful holiday in the February sunshine. Pathi was a delightful guide and driver and looked after us with extreme care and caution – we always felt we were in good hands. It all ended far too soon to be flung back to February weather in the UK! The following comments I hope are of a constructive nature to you and in no way meant to be destructive as nothing deflected from the total enjoyment of our holiday. The standard of all the accommodation and service was superb. Norwood Bungalow [Ceylon Tea Trails, Adam's Peak] was probably my favourite – so relaxing in the middle of our holiday. We walked everyday and enjoyed the magnificent views of the Tea Country whilst being spoilt and looked after as though in a smart private home. Villa Araliya [Airport] – was a complete disappointment. The room was clean and tidy, but very basic. The bed was hard and uncomfortable with a 6” mattress on concrete. The bottom sheet was rough thick linen material and scratched all night. There were no “extras” in room – tea making facilities/service, water or even a hairdryer. On requesting a hair dryer they had never heard of one! (The next morning the owner said he did have one!) The breakfast was diabolical. On request for fruit, they could get some pineapple and we could only have eggs for cooked. In hindsight we would have preferred to get up early and have a long journey to the airport than stay at Villa Araliya. Or to have stayed half way up the coast. Apa Villa [Thalpe, Unawatuna] was noisy but we did get used to it and was a wonderful place to stay, although they lost some of my laundry which they very quickly reimbursed me for. [The] Kandy House [Kandy] – it is not at present being run by a person who knows or understands the hotel trade/management. This did not affect our stay and I doubt whether she will be there much longer. Safari – [Eco Park] Minneriya - This we felt should not be repeated by your clients. We picked up our transport – which turned out to be an extremely clapped out jeep, with a driver who couldn’t drive it and a guide who was a deaf/mute – so when he showed us anything had to find it in the book first. He was delightful and very knowledgeable but... a waste of time as we only saw 5 elephants. Again in hindsight – after a long day at Polonnaruwa and still quite tired from our English lifestyle, we would have given this 4-hour trip a miss and returned to enjoy the delights and swimming pool of the hotel [Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla]. It is a pity to stay in these spectacular places and not get a moment just to relax in them! [During the northeast monsoon season Minneriya National Park can be inaccessible due to flooding so alternative arrangements are made. In this case, the nearby Eco Park was used instead] Train Journey from Kandy - Pathi was reluctant to let us go on the train and after we insisted we realized he had not bought our tickets. We did eventually get on in the first class compartment but not the seats with the view. This did not detract from our enjoyment of the journey. World's End - Again Pathi was reluctant for us to do this. Having spoken to you [John] I now realize he had to organize a jeep to get us into the entrance of the [Horton Plains National] Park. He arranged a wonderful and very knowledgeable guide with excellent English and I would have liked to have spent more time in his company. It was an easily manageable walk and the views magnificent. Although Pathi forgot to tell us this was World's End when we got there! I shall certainly be recommending Tikalanka Tours to anyone wishing to go Sri Lanka on holiday and hope you get some business through us." Wendy & Ian, England, February 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? Variety of climate zones and scenery within a small area; wildlife; highlands and tea plantations; Dambulla; [Peradeniya] Botanic Gardens [in] Kandy; Ella Gap; local foods; the charm of the people, particularly our guide Yapa. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? Beach hawkers (at first hotel only) [Heritance Ahungalla, Ahungalla]. Some buffet meals tended to be too bland for our taste. Sea mostly too rough for swimming. Any other comments? A good introduction to the country, left us waiting to see more." Christopher & Marie-Louise, England, February 2008

"Thank you for arranging our holiday, we had a wonderful time and Sena [chauffeur guide] was great - he showed us round Colombo on the Sunday before we caught the train to Kandy. With hindsight we would have spent a few more days in Kandy/Sigiriya, as there was so much to do/see but one week spent at Apa Villa [Thalpe, Unawatuna] was fantastic and a brilliant place to chill and rest after all the travelling. We hope to return. Overall a very good and interesting experience. Sena our guide was punctual, courteous, a good driver and knowledgeable about wildlife and Buddhism. A bit flakey on restaurants and distances. A pity about the trains - hadn't appreciated we couldn't reserve specific seats and our 2nd Class Colombo to Kandy journey was backward facing by a closed window and half closed shutter. [Reserved seats are available through Tikalanka Tours] The first night (morning) was not spent in the designated hotel as it was booked - Negombo? [Villa Araliya, Airport] We stayed there on the 2nd night and last night. We would hesitate to recommend it - a pack of dogs in the compound and the staff were very 'sticky' about sorting the bill and giving change. All other hotels were fine. Apa Villa was incredible and brilliant. St. Andrew's [Hotel, Nuwara Eliya] amazing (hot water bottles). Hotel Suisse [Kandy] - good balcony views, poor restaurant. Clearly security is an issue in Colombo and north of Kandy. But fortunately we didn't have any problems. I think it must be difficult for any potential tourist to balance the risks. My view is that it is similar to N. Ireland and Belfast in the 70s and 80s. You would be very unlucky to be hit." Mike & Lesley, England, January/February 2008

"Apart from the diversions necessitated by insurgent activity, it all went very smoothly, with Pathi [chauffeur guide] pandering to our wishes. Both my wife and I are fairly experienced travellers, and, over the years, have stayed in many good hotels and I, when on business, have stayed in some world class luxury hotels, which I would not otherwise patronise. In quality of service, none surpassed those we stayed at in Sri Lanka. It was in the Mahaweli Reach in Kandy that I decided to seek medical advice and they got the doctor to me within twenty minutes. He examined me, drove me to his hospital in his car, did the tests and, an ambulance not being available, drove me back to the hotel. Altogether, it must have taken between an hour and a quarter and an hour and a half of his time, the services of three nurses and a receptionist and it cost us £40! The hotel charged nothing for the phone calls (including one to our insurers) or the extra service. Although the service was good, we did find the accommodation in both Ella [Ambiente Mount Resort] and Tangalle [Palm Paradise Cabanas] somewhat basic, but both were compensated by the setting. Don’t think there was an alternative at Ella, but, at Tangalle, or one of the other beaches on the South coast we would have been prepared to pay extra. Not really a niggle but a suggestion that you could offer (at greater cost) one of the beach alternatives. Our chosen mixture of culture, beautiful scenery and relaxing beaches was, for us, just the right balance." Mike & Trudy, England, January/February 2008

"Malcom (my husband!) and I had the most fantastic honeymoon in Sri Lanka and it was undoubtedly thanks to the service we received from Tikalanka. From the very beginning of planning the trip, having already contacted a few travel agents, John from Tikalanka made me feel as though I was in safe hands and that I could relax in the knowledge that he would plan a great trip for us. John asked exactly the kind of things we would like from the trip and then succeeded to tailor a trip around our specific requirements. He was so warm and friendly during each phone call, even though I was probably pre-wedding stressed out and driving him mad!! We set up a honeymoon gift list to which our friends made contributions towards our trip. This was handled so efficiently, and many of my friends said how lovely and helpful John was when they spoke to him to make a payment. We had a driver guide [Anura] with us for the entire trip, who was so lovely, we ended up meeting up with his family! He worked directly for Tikalanka and also had very good things to say about the company as an employer. Overall the organisation of our trip was superb, the hotels were unbelievable, we couldn't believe how boutique they all were - all with infinity pools!! Club Villa [Bentota] - stunning, very personal, beautiful huge room with enormous Jacuzzi, great food - a perfect place to start and wind down after the wedding! The Sun House [Galle] - Amazing setting, gorgeous room, delicious food, and fabulous service. The Tea Trails [Castlereagh Bungalow, Adam's Peak] - we still talk about it all the time - luxury like we'd never imagined - a definite honeymoon once in a lifetime must!! The Kandy House [Kandy] - beautiful setting, fabulous food. The Beach [Airport] - a great stop for one night before we flew out. We did a great cooking course from a local woman in Unawatuna, which I'd highly recommend. We also went white-water rafting [at Kitulgala] which was great fun, and the elephant sanctuary was great. [This was organised themselves. Please go to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage to see why we do not promote or visit Pinnewala any longer.] All in all I wouldn't change a thing and neither of us had a negative thing to say. I know this sounds over the top but we really were so impressed - so much so I called John the day of our return to thank him!!" Jane & Malcolm, England, January/February 2008

"Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks so much for organising us a fantastic honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. Thanks also for refunding the money due back to us so promptly. [Wedding Gift List donations] We enjoyed every day of our trip. You did a great job of tailoring the itinerary to our requests. The honeymoon voucher system was great - just what we hoped for. Many of our friends have commented on the good service they received when organising vouchers for us. Anura, our driver [guide], was friendly, polite and most attentive. The highlights for us were our time in the [Sinharaja] rainforest and at Sinharaja Rest with Pali, who is a great host, our time in Kandy (and the Serendip in particular), Galle and Taru Villas [Taprobana] in Bentota. Thanks again. We would not hesitate to recommend Sri Lanka and Tikalanka to our friends and hope to return ourselves someday to see some more!" Catherine & Jon, England, January 2008

"What did you like most about Sri Lanka? We love the lush, green and diverse sceneries. The smiling faces of the gentle people. The culture, food and most luxurious hotels. What did you like least about Sri Lanka? The long journeys in the car. People trying to sell goods which you don't want. Any other comments? I must say that our guide and driver Mr Pathi was most helpful, courteous and amusing to be with. The best driver I know. He has made our holiday even more enjoyable. All the hotels you have chosen for us were absolutely first class, we could not fault anything from anyone of them. Thank you." John & Lena, England, January 2008

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

• 2007
• 2006
• 2005