Alice & Simon
England, February/March 2016
What did you like most about Sri Lanka?
The weather, the people and their hospitality.
What did you like least about Sri Lanka?
The long tiring journeys by car.
What is your opinion of your accommodation in Sri Lanka?
Excellent – in all places we stayed.
What is your opinion of your chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka?
Nihal was an accomplished driver. He always pointed out interesting features of the journey. The car was immaculately clean and he was very clever at parking and making our lives easy. His English was very good.
What is your opinion of your flights to and from Sri Lanka?
Good. We paid for extra leg room, but from my point of view this was an extravagance and not worth US$100! [SriLankan Airlines - Economy Class]
Any other comments?
Just a note to say we are now safely home after a delightful and fascinating holiday in Sri Lanka. Our driver [guide] Nihal was first class and all the planning made it stress-less and comfortable. My only regret was that Simon might not have had enough sightings of birds and perhaps we should have sought out more bird reservations, but he did find 90 species! Mr Pathi was in constant contact with Nihal so he also knows of our pleasure and enjoyment during the last 12 days.
Thank you for all the trouble you took and very good wishes.
We had a great time in Sri Lanka thanks to your organisation. Our driver, Nihal, was an excellent companion – the more so because he could speak good English. This meant that we could have meaningful conversations about many subjects. He was also a safe and sure driver – I don’t think I ever slammed my foot on the brake!
In retrospect I wish we had signed on more places like Bundala – a true bird watcher’s paradise. Apa Villa [Thalpe, Unawatuna] by the sea was, in retrospect, a place for the younger generation. I liked the inland Apa [Villa Illuketia, Galle] with its wonderful gardens and ponds. However, we had a good time visiting Galle and elsewhere with Nihal.
Two points which I would mention relate to your “blurb”.
Firstly, when we arrived and waved our ETA approval notice, we were promptly told to go away and fill in an immigration form. Your “Important Travel Information” said “simply produce your passport to the immigration officer along with your ETA approval notice”. I think it would help if the words “and completed immigration form” were inserted after “approval notice”.
Secondly, we found the section on “Tipping” in the hand out “Travelling in Sri Lanka” to be rather ambiguous. For example, would “Hotel staff” in it meant to be “Rs200 per person per room per day” or is it really for them to share? We had the uncomfortable feeling, may be unjustified, that when we made a contribution at the end of our stay, there would be only a remote chance that the staff who had served us would actually benefit. We wondered whether it would be better to say “give Rs200 (per day) separately to each member of staff who had been particularly friendly and helpful”?
I would love to go again and see more birds but as I will be 84 in two weeks’ time I rather doubt it!
Once again many thanks for making it all work so well.
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