David & Aimee
USA, September 2024
What did you like most about Sri Lanka?
People, birds, food.
What did you like least about Sri Lanka?
Heat.
What is your opinion of your accommodation in Sri Lanka?
Great.
[The Notary's House, Makandura; Lake Lodge Boutique Hotel, Dambulla; Theva Residency, Kandy; 98 Acres Resort & Spa, Ella; Kalu's Hideaway, Udawalawe; Flameback Eco Lodge, Weerawila; Buckingham Place, Tangalle; The Merchant Galle Fort, Galle; Uga Riva, Negombo]
What is your opinion of your chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka?
Very good - likes birds, like me. Made the trip. [Kapila]
What is your opinion of your flights to and from Sri Lanka?
Long [way] from Hawaii. Qatar [Airways] great. [Arranged their own flights]
Any other comments?
David
I really enjoyed my trip to Sri Lanka. What really helped to make the trip is Kapila was very accommodating and I got to see a lot of birds. People were very friendly and we enjoyed the food. The weather was great and as we discussed, we went off tourist season so there were no crowds to speak of which we really appreciated. [Really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the holiday with us and Kapila looked after you so well. A great chap and a font of knowledge.]
One suggestion is on the accommodations, sometimes there were choices for the great venues chosen. For example, we like to be on an upper floor so at Kalu's place, we changed to an upper level room after the first night. For our last night stay, we tried to get a more quiet room in the back but they were all booked up. Had I been given a choice of a more quiet room, I would have paid the upgrade. I found the cost of accommodations very reasonable. [Thanks for the feedback on accommodation preferences. We try to offer the best rooms at the hotels within the price category but sometimes they are not available on booking. We will bear your comment in mind for the future.]
Thanks again for your help and if there are other trips you organize, please send me info. [We are Sri Lanka specialists so don’t offer any other countries. However, if you would like to revisit at some stage then please get in touch.]
I do travelogues of my travels and if you like, I can send you as a PDF in a couple of months of our Sri Lanka trip when I finish it. [We would be very interested to read your travelogue when it is written, many thanks.]
Aimee
To be constructive, my comments will be different.
Our guide/driver worked very hard. He was both kind and helpful. [I am glad that you, too, appreciated Kapila’s diligence and expertise on your tour.]
The hospitality of the Sri Lankans is hard to surpass. They are all gracious and kind.
The tipping could have been more transparent to us. As an American in a tourist state, I felt that we were tipping far more than necessary, and the gap between us and the Sri Lankans is enormous, so it was difficult. The bed and breakfast would have been better than inclusive meals. Sometimes, we needed to know what we were paying for and what was included. Food is inexpensive. I would have preferred to pay as we went. We are not big eaters; we are seniors and health conscious. [Tipping is the prickliest issue on the island, and you are not the first, by any means, to find the tipping culture difficult. We try to offer advice, but individual travellers have different perceptions of how much and when to tip. Regarding meals, we offer flexibility in the meal plan, and we would have included B&B throughout had we known of your preference.]
The car was very small. David and I only travel with carry-on luggage, so if we had more luggage, the vehicle would have been too small. This was difficult for me in the back seat with all the driving. I was car-sick on the windy roads. It would have been better to have a small SUV. And it was a comfort paid for in the price of the tour. [Cars or ‘vans’ (minibuses) are the standard vehicles for taking visitors around the country and our cars are the average size in the travel industry. I appreciate that cars are larger in the USA and expectations differ between countries.]
The trip should have been shorter. I wonder why we went to Kandy. That wasn't very good. We did nothing but make it to our hotel, spend the night, and leave the next day. We lost two days due to the awful traffic. I wish it were not even on the schedule. Buckingham Place: I have no idea why we were there for two days. You cannot swim at the beach, and I felt we wasted two days there. [The itinerary was developed over time with input from you both. All of our holidays are tailor-made, which means the length of stay, type and style of accommodation (including upgrades, on request), meal plan, and activities and sightseeing trips (including train rides) are all open to individual preferences and requirements. We suggested an itinerary based on the information we received from you as well as highlights of the island.]
I did like Ella and Galla [Galle].
I also needed to understand why we were not put at an airport hotel so we did not have to pay for service when arriving and leaving. I was so disappointed when a driver was not there when we arrived at CMB. Getting over jet lag was terrible. [Your arrival transfer guide was at the airport on time to collect you, so I am unsure of the reason for your not being picked up on time. I apologise for the mix up. The Notary’s House, where you stayed, is one of our close-to-the-airport hotels. The hotel within the airport is a transit hotel only and may not be used by arriving visitors.]
I was also disappointed that our room category was low at the times we really needed sleep. Although it was a small amount to pay for the upgrade, I was willing to pay if it was available. The price increase was minimal. I wonder why we did not have these minor upgrades. With the cost of things in Sri Lanka and the price, we paid for the trip.
David did enjoy his photography. David is fantastic and always sees the good in everything. He was in his element. I usually put our travels together, and I would have thought of the things I mentioned and had those comforts covered. But please remember that going to Kandy to see a tooth ceremony is not worth being in the traffic and the heat. It would have been helpful if this was explained to us. The train ride also could have been presented to us. We waited hours for a filthy train ride. It was raining, and I would have preferred getting to 98 acres sooner because there were things to do. We did not arrive until evening, which was also a waste of time and money. We were already paying for a drive to go there. Why wait with clouds in the sky? And this was back-to-back with Kandy. [The traffic has become very busy over the past few years which, I am sure you will appreciate, is out of our control. Similarly, the unfortunate train delay. I am sorry that you felt car sick in the Hill Country, which is one of the reasons for taking the train instead.]
For a couple that loves nature, Ella was the place for us.
We did try to get a better room here, too.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful place, and the people are lovely.
Thank you for your assistance in our travels there.
[I am disappointed that you feel the holiday didn’t meet your expectations overall. However, I am pleased that you found Sri Lanka to be a very hospitable country, incredibly welcoming and wonderful to visit.]
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