-EA and SB – Basel, Switzerland

-CT – Kent, UK

-LM – Poland

-DH – Peterborough, UK

-CD – North Carolina, US

-CJ – Kent, UK

-RW – Barnet, UK

-NS – Surrey, UK

-CB - Robertson Quay, Singapore

-PR - London

-GF, Hampshire

-AE

-KA, Chennai

-TW - Dorset, England

-SS - Saudi Arabia

-SH - New Cairo, Egypt

-MM - Dubai

-TW - Qatar

-MM - Dubai

-MS - Mirdif, UAE

-GF - France

-PC, Hong Kong

-MV - Rome, Italy

-BT - France

-CC - Leeds

-AJ, India

-MG - Singapore

-KM - Mumbai

-AH, Mumbai

-AB, Manchester

-FS, USA

-TS, London

-VU - Melbourne, Australia

-PC - Australia

-PM, Australia

-MM, Singapore

-NLS - Shanghai

-CA - Sydney

-SP - UK

-MM, Australia

-MW, London

-IC - Singapore

--- AP, London

-MS, Surrey

--- KB, Bridgend

--- TM, Bangor

--- NB, Hereford

--- T, Haarlem

-- CP, Reading

-TK - Milwaukee, USA

-- EA, Australia

-- EB, Dubai

-- HC, London

-- AW, Singapore

-- YC, Kuwait

-- JF, Wokingham

-- LC, Lancashire

-- NL, Chile

-- JM, London

-- EC, Australia

-- B, Kuwait

-- JR, London

-JF, St Albans

-JM, Chennai

-- WT, London

-- K, Germany

-- GW, Reading

-- RK, Paris

-- CW, Devon

-- NT, London

-- MD, Paris

-- IB, Leeds

-- NM, UAE

-- SQ, Abu Dhabi

-- SB, United Kingdom

-- KM, Paris

-- MM, Cairo

-- W, Hampshire

-ES, Spain

-- R, UAE

-- WL, UAE

-- HA, Kent

-- B, France

-- MM, Surrey

-- SC, London.

-- VS, Australia

--- S, Stafford

--- F, Malaysia

--- SW

--- SB, Kuala Lumpur

-- FY, New Zealand.

-- EG, Glasgow.

--- LA, Victoria

--- AY, London

--- MA, London

-- HW, Newcastle.

--- JM, Paris

--- PB, Melksham

-- SS, Cornwall

--- JP - Henley

--- PH - Singapore

-- MH, York.

--- BT - Surrey

--- MW - Dubai

--- IW - London

--/-

--- EC, Hong Kong

--- KG – London

--- ZD – Norway

--- JR, London

--- AS, Lahore

--- AS - Pakistan

--- MD

--- AF - London

-- VE, Buckinghamshire

-- RM, Somerset

--- DH – South Australia

--- MG - Kent, UK

We were extremely expressed with your service when we wanted to move from a planned stay at Era Beach as it was not what we were expecting. We felt that our driver’ s English was not very good and we could not understand the little that he said. He did not really engage with us. He was, however, polite, on time and well presented. Also we were scheduled to do a safari jeep ride in Minneriya to see the elephants and he took it upon himself to recommend another park which he said would be better, and a 30-minute drive, and we got into park after two hours and did not see any elephants.*

[Red Dot investigated these comments thoroughly]

The Wallawwa, Kotogoda: Excellent hotel as a stopover at beginning and end of trip. The massage was wonderful.

Wild Grass Nature Resort, Sigiriya: Great wildlife position. Great staff and villas were nice but no hair dryers and the glass needed cleaning.

Ellerton, Gampola: The best value for money on our trip, in the most beautiful location. We would thoroughly  recommend this place.

Ceylon Tea Trails, Castlereagh:  Absolutely fantastic in all aspects. The food, service, house, rooms and attention to detail was faultless. We also thoroughly enjoyed te Tea Factory visit and the hiking. Also the train from Kandy to Hatton was a fantastic experience.

Era Beach, Thalpe: Road noise at night was bad here and bar/food was ridiculously overpriced. The whole ambience felt very three-star. Not impressed at all apart from the setting.
[Since these comments, Jetwing have taken over management of this villa].

South Point Villa: You kindly organised our transfer here and we were not disappointed. The staff and food were second to none and the beachside setting was laid-back luxury.

Kahanda Kanda, Koggala: The best room of our whole trip. Absolute, tasteful luxury. Great place to chill and relax.

--- SG - London

--- CE - Northampton

--- HS – Oxford

--- JH – Leeds

--- CA, Kent

--- Group of 12, Malaysia

--- JY, Singapore

--- VH – Oxfordshire

-- RR, Charlottesville, USA.

--- ML - London

--- JJ – New South Wales

--- RI, London

--

--- AP – Birmingham

--- BD - Australia

--- PC - Henley

--- MP – Surrey

--- SC, Buckinghamshire

--- FJ, London

--- SL, Sydney

--- AP, Birmingham

--- JE, Colchester

--- VJ - Australia

--- RH - Canada

--- CB, New South Wales

--- EE – Australia

--- PL - London

--- D – West Yorkshire

--- CS - London

--- CM - Singapore

--- SS – Victoria, Australia

--- GC - London

--- TN, Hong Kong

--- AS - London

--- GC - Bath

--- AD – Hong Kong

--- SM – Vancouver

-- AG, Chennai

--- JS – Bangkok

--- TR - Australia

--- SW - London

--- KM - Oxford

--- TC - Glasgow

--- MM, the Netherland

--- AS – London

--- SJ – Sussex

--- NI, Dubai

--- RB, London

--- HJ, Brighton

--- MM, Spain

--- DN, Netherlands

--- KB, Singapore

--- JS, London

--- CB, Durham

--- NS, Burton

--- CK, Surrey

--- GE, Australia

--- JV - London

--- WB, Kent

--- KH, England

--- JK, Richmond

--- SK, London

--- HF, Bristol

--- RS, Wokingham

--- CM, Ireland

--- RA, Hampshire

--- BW, London

--- CD, USA

--- GS, Singapore

--- ED, Hayling

--- TR, Surrey

--- PT, Sheffield

--- RM, Lancashire

--- DS, Norwich

---JW, East Sussex

--- CA, London

--- RT, Dubai

--- KR, Sussex

--- KM, Chester

--- CW, Guildford

--- VU, Australia

---CW, London

--- JC - Chicago

---JT, Scotland

--- SJ - Bangalore

--- TGS – Hong Kong

---/--

--- AM – Dubai

---JC, Victoria, Australia

--- JF, Singapore

--- NM - Renfrewshire

--- CL - Singapore

--- AL - Greece

---AM - Brazil

--- ROS - Kent

---/--

---KS - California

---CL - Doha

---HN – Bath

---ER – Kent

---SD - Yorkshire

---DN - Kendal

---/--

---/--

---FG - Singapore

---CW - Qatar

---JB – London

---EC - Singapore

---LM – Northampton

---MG - London

---MR – Swindon

---CL - Surrey

---MS - Bristol

---SD – Somerset

---/--

---SM – Hants

---AM - Somerset

---JB – Abu Dhabi

---MF - Harrogate

---MG – London

---TR – Northants

---MP – Stamford

---NS - Beds

---AN - Surrey

---JE - Bucks

---HR – East Lothian

---TZ – Lancashire

---NS - Falkirk

---SW - Radlett

---SW - Surrey

---JA – Melbourne, Australia

--- PB – Phillipines

--- GL – Herts

--- TG – Birmingham

--- HB – Wigston

---

--- RH - Herts

---RS – Kent

---TT - Dubai

---CG – Hong Kong

---JT – Dorset

--- PD – Brisbane

---GL - Herts

---TC - Birmingham

--- AM – Aranda

--- NH – Dorset

--- TF – Leics

--- MP – Dubai

--- MF – Doha

---DK – Bangalore

---CS – Yorks

---LC – Derbysire

---DM – Cardiff

--- MS – UAE

--- SS – Bristol

--- DW – Farnham

--- JB – Southampton

Villa Talangama - A wonderful surprise, beautiful location. Very well maintained, excellent food. Attentive host.

Kalu’s Hideaway - A big disappointment. The location is fabulous, we saw so many different birds from the garden. Unfortunately we felt that management was not that great. The rooms were large but no bedside tables or lamps. The hot water system is one of the most strongest we have ever seen and most possible the most dangerous. One room had no hot water, and it was possible to have boiling hot water or very cold water but nothing in between. Service was generally slow. The place was not clean.

Olanda beach villa  - Beautiful house and location. Problems were taken care of promptly. Staff were very nice. Our only criticism is that cleaning should have been of a higher standard.

--- SH – Israel

--- JC – London

--- JB – Southampton

---HB – Leicestershire

---EB – Essex

---PS – Birmingham

---EF - London

---AM, Australia

---KL – Dubai

---AH – Australia

---MP – Italy

---LL – Qatar

---MR – Rickmansworth

---MN – London

--- RH – Derby

--- SW – London

--- JH – Merseyside

--- JH – London

--- AH – Singapore

--- RM – Somerset

--- NH – Dorset

--- KE – West Sussex

---NB - Sheffield

---TW – London

---RH – Derby

--- SC – Cornwall

--- SB – London

--- SP – King's Lynn

--- DB – London-

---JH, Caldy

---DW - Bucks

---DL - Hants

---NH – Dorset

More detailed responses to my questions asked by email would have been useful*

[*Note: All email exchanges re this holiday were examined and discussed with the sales consultant]

This is our second tour with Vijay [driver]. He is consistently helpful and professional. He does his absolute best to iron out any little problem. He is wonderfully protective and we always felt completely safe with him. He is a knowledgeable guide and thoroughly nice man.

Barberyn Beach Ayurvedic Resort: The attention to detail and commitment to guests’ comfort is outstanding. Everything works exactly as it should. The only negative is that the so-called “deluxe” room is not really deluxe but fairly basic. However, the room was very spacious with large balcony and superb views. Our room was not air-conditioned and we found the heat and humidity overwhelming. Would never again do non-a/c in Sri Lanka.

Galle Face Regency, Colombo: A superb hotel in a wonderful location. We loved the colonial atmosphere combined with modern comfort and efficiency. Excellent value. We were delighted to have a couple of days in Colombo which is a fascinating city.

Yala Village Hotel, Yala: The problem is the remote location and the road to Tissa is currently being rebuilt and is dreadful. This made for long journeys for our excursions to Bundula and Kataragama. The swimming pool had no pool umbrellas. The hotel needs a new manager to sort out all the little problems.

Hotel Suisse, Kandy: Great hotel and great architecture but the hotel was shabby and chaotic. Each day brought new problems. The window didn’t close properly, the sheets were threadbare, there was no shampoo. The phone didn’t work properly. There was no safe box available when we arrived. There seemed to be loads of staff and they tried their best but seemed to be unmanaged and untrained. This could be a wonderful hotel but currently resembles Fawlty Towers.

---JB - Southampton

---BP – Twickenham

--- RM – Edinburgh

--- JB – East Sussex,

--- RR – London

---SS – Bristol

--- DN – Kent

--- RC – Yelverton

---SP - Australia

---OL – West Sussex

---LW – Isle of Skye

---RC - Devon

---MS - Dubai

---DN - Kent

-BK – Worcester

---BC – Australia

---SC – Down

--- LS – Qatar

---AH – Surrey

--- DA – Herts

--- EG – Surrey

---JH – Leeds.

---RH – London

---JR – USA

---GM – London

---AR – London

---RM - Somerset

---MH – Warwickshire

---JG – London

---RG – Hampshire.

---JS – Canada

---AH – Kent

---GF – Malden

---AP – Sweden

---DB – Kent.

---PD – London.

--JR – Australia.

---SK – France.

---JA – Glos

---AJ – London.

- --JL- Burford

---CL – Dorset

---MS – Stafford.

--- HD – London.

---GM – Cheshire