TripADeal Reviews

Our driver and cook

Being our first time in Japan, this was a great taster as to what this country has to offer. It is hard to pin point a highlight as there was so many things to see and do. There is alot of travelling on the bus with your tour group. We had a fantastic tour guide that shared in depth history stories, helped us recite Japanese greetings and made jokes. Miyaki was a great host who kept us entertained. One thing to mention also, is there were a couple of us who left passports at our last known location, when contacted Miyaki went out of his way to ensure these were retrieved in quick succession. He gave great service and made himself available to us if we ever needed help! A quick tip for newbies to Japan, don't eat and drink while walking. Although it's not illegal, the locals don't do it. I witnessed a local stop, take out her food, take a bite, put it back in her backpack, then continued walking. I found this fascinating but loved the idea as the streets are very clean. No rodents, stray cats or dogs. I wished this was adopted in my home country!! During the trip there is a fair bit of touring in the bus however it was nice to get off your feet and to see abit of the countryside too. I was amazed by how many tunnels we drove through as the areas we travelled were full of beautiful mountains. Although it cannot be helped, when we arrived to Mt Fuji, it was covered by thick fog and wasn't able to see much at all however just being in the vicinity was amazing. Mid way through the tour I started getting confused as to where I was because the hotel stays were only 1 night and then bus ride to the next location. I would've liked to stay in Kyoto more then 1 night therefore would suggest passengers to lengthen their stay in Osaka and return to Kyoto once the tour has ended to explore more. All in all, we were satisfied with the tour overall and got a good idea of where we would stay when we return! If I could make a small suggestion - some ear pieces and mic for tour guide so everyone can hear the guide when walking as the streets aren't geared for big groups. Thanks Trip a deal for a fantastic tour!!

Well organised. Airport greeting smooth. First nights' accommodation was good, would have liked to spend more time there. Local farm lunch very nice, canoe and tractor ride probably nor necessary but good to support local people. Sigiriya hotel and stay great. Good accommodation and view. Enjoyed the elephant safari. Massage organised by guide was very worthwhile. Tea plantation enjoyable, would like a high tea. The elephant orphanage was also good. The tsunami museum on the last day was very moving and worthwhile. The river ride was not particularly enjoyable. Maybe more time in Negombo. Our transit motel was satisfactory, the food was very good.

A great trip for me and my two younger companions. TripaDeal were able to accommodate us so that we could be in adjoining rooms/apartments at every stage, which I really appreciated, and the guide and driver were terrific in accommodating any particular needs we had. Itinerary was excellent! First day out from Sandakan was extremely full and a bit daunting I admit, especially as we were all acclimatising to the humidity, but there was nothing in that first day I would have wanted to skip, and thereafter, the balance of activities, rest and travel was perfect. Loved the boat cruises! Thanks to all. Improvements - a pre-departure session (in the written material, perhaps) on the use of Malaysian toilets (eg Westerners, take your own toilet paper and learn how to dispose of it properly!) would have been really useful! I think our guide was too shy to go into it, or perhaps he just didnt realise what the differences were between Malaysian and Western approaches to toilets, especially for women.

This was the most amazing holiday that i think i have ever had. Each day we visited pinch me locations and were surrounded by history and amazing sights. Both our guides were amazing. At all times we all felt very safe in Egypt and Jordan - tourists need to go back to these areas. Accommodation was largely OK although food at the Sheraton Sharma was at times below par. Highlights of the tour included the balloon flight at Luxor, the visit to Abu Simbel, snorkelling at Sharm El Sheikh, Petra, and spending a night in the desert at Wadi Rum. The Helnan Dreamland was very comfortable and definitively a safe location but was not near any shops. The Nile cruise on the large boat was excellent and the food outstanding. More time needs to be spent in Jordan, it is an outstanding country and you really need more time in Petra and at Wadi Rum. The need for early morning starts needs to be spelt out in the itinerary. It also should state about the large amount of walking so that expectations are rea; i walked over 115km on the trip. I particularly felt the walk to the Treasury at Petra extremely taxing as it was over 2km downhill and i have a bad knee. I managed everything but would have taken the buggy down and back if i had known. The fights with Emirates were excellent. Cairo Air is also OK for internal flights. All buses were very comfortable. All in all this tour was filled with so many pinch me and bucket list moments.

loved the country, our travelling group and the tour guide Vaneet, our highlights were the Taj Mahal, visited sites and the food

Just completed Vietnam for 2 and highly recommend this for all ages. Started in Hanoi and moved on to Halong Bay which is out of this world and so much fun. Followed by Ninh Binh (photo included) finished our trip in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, incredible history of this country. Our Tour Guide Zoom was extraordinary and he made the trip 'perfect" and so did our bus driver as it is not easy getting around streets/roads of Vietnam.

Terrific planning by trip a deal. Excellent choice of venues and optional activities. Great guide ‘Zoom’ who was very knowledgeable and professional and thoroughly prepared. Fun group and brilliant food.

A wonderful relaxing stay, great food, drinks and excellent snorkeling. Room was comfortable. Staff were excellent. Flights there and back are a bit of a haul, and we didn't arrive til after midnight for the first night, so if we went again we'd do the 7 days, not just 5.

It was our 1st Trip A Deal trip and 1st time to Vietnam, it was an experience seeing a different part of the world. seeing the different food and ways of life was amazing, going to different cities was interesting. the big bridge was a fantastic place to visit, it was to have a group of people from all over Australia to meet.

Absolutely loved our Japan Discovery trip. Our guide Yumi was so attentive and funny. Loved all the spots we visited and how organised everything was.

This tour was exceptionally well organised and provided a great insight to wildlife in Borneo. The wildlife destinations were really an opportunity to get an insight into the incredible diversity of the animals and ecology of Boneo. The balance between visits to particular wildlife locations and free time was just right. especially for the age demographic of the participants on the tour which arranged between 50 and 85. The tour guide, Brendan was an outstanding person with his detailed knowledge of both flora and fauna of the region. In addition to this he had a very good understanding of the English language as it is used by Australians. Because of the isolation of some of the nature accommodation all meals were provided, which was greatly appreciated. Having the last three days of the tour staying at the Kota Kinabalu Hilton Hotel was an excellent venue to recover from the tour and prepare for your departure to Australia.

Great experience viewing wildlife and learning about Borneo as a country

It was so good that we did not have to think about anything. Everything was done for us.

Excellent value for money, it was nice to sit back while someone else worried about the schedule and the driving, also not having to queue for the entry tickets and hotel check-ins . The tour guides were very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly

Great tour guide - Hung

Can highly recommend this trip The tour was fantastic., the destinations were magical.The guide was so friendly, knowledgeable and went out of his way to show us the local culture. The ease of booking etc was very easy. All information needed was given. Great value for money. Improvements I would suggest - accommodation should not be rated as 5* as our 5* is a lot different and people were expecting that, more information for optional tours and the airport transfer in Singapore and the accommodation.

What an excellent trip! The guide Roland was lovely, experienced and knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about his job. The itinerary was as advertised. The accommodation was mixed, some a lot more basic than others but completely fine especially given the locations, and the cost of the trip. Some hotels were above and beyond expectations, so overall happy. I’m vegan and I was catered for at every location with a smile and without having to ask. Definitely recommend, with the slightest caveat that some of the jungle experiences are probably not for everyone as they are not 5 star, but absolutely awesome experiences overall.

Itinerary and accommodation met expectations. Guides and bus driver very competent ( Mr Ngoc and Mr Bing). Mountain scenery spectacular. Value for money.

We fell in love with Japan. The sites we visited were great and our tour guide Hiro was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, entertaining and very accommodating. We would definitely recommend the tour to our friends and family.

The trip was amazing and we LOVED it. From the hustle and bustle of the streets in Hanoi to the amazing overnight cruise at Ha Long bay to the calming atmosphere of Pu Luong. If there was anything that we would change, it would be another day/night in Ninh Binh. Thank you so much for these amazing deals that you offer. I have been telling everyone to book a trip with TripaDeal.

It was well balanced between lots of sightseeing & the option of having free time for self exploration or rest.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, I thought the fact it was all planned out and you were just told to go where and when was very convenient. You got to see all the big ticket items and places you would have never thought to go to yourself which were super cool. We were lucky on our last days in Beijing and in Shanghai we had layer flights so we could do more stuff during those days but if you had earlier flights you could’ve missed out, I’m glad there were options for free time with the optional tours as it allowed you to plan out and see things you were interested in like we went to the birds nest stadium in Beijing and Olympic site but all the inclusions were so cool and fantastic I wish we had another day in Shanghai but overall a thoroughly enjoyable tour and especially John the tour guide in Shanghai was marvellous and he made the trip super special

Overall pretty good

Fabulous trip with 10 other lovely travellers. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip & the beautiful colours & contrasts of Morocco. Our guide Hischam was absolutely amazing & selfless in sharing his culture with us all which just added to the overall experience. Highly recommended.

What a fantastic amazing trip. Every day was a new adventure. Beware though, this trip is not for the feint hearted. It is full on from start to finish. We were very lucky and saw lots of animals including the big 5. The scenery is amazing and Boyd and Godfrey were wonderful hosts. We had a fantastic group of people who became like family and we were sad to leave. As a suggestion, maybe the trip could be extended for one or two days more. There were a few very long days of driving on extremely poor roads which I think could be broken up into shorter routes. Maybe only one day in Swakupmund and more time in Botswana. Overall a fantastic experience, thanks Trip a Deal.

Very well organized trip starting from pickup at airport where we were collected by our tour guide & dropped at our motel for our first night. Each days itinerary was packed with interesting places. Our motel accommodation was very good & in walking distance to shops & markets. We loved how well it was put together.

Not having to worry about driving anywhere. Seeing some things that you wouldn’t normally if you were travelling alone.

The holiday went beyond my expectations Rajiv was an amazing guide who went above and beyond to help anyone. I will certainly do another trip a deal

Our tour guide in Delhi was amazing- incredibly knowledgeable and really made our time there special. Only feedback would be the Agra food tour add-on option was a bit disappointing- didn't feel like we really got to experience the local food and thought it was cut a little short. Varanasi was beautiful and our guide was lovely, but he lacked a little confidence (I think this was also because we had such an incredible guide in Delhi that the bar was set very high!). The boat ride on the Ganges was amazing- highly recommend. Would have liked a bit more time to peruse the market in Varanasi (or elsewhere), as there wasn't a lot of time for shopping on the tour. Would have preferred to have arrived in Delhi earlier on the first day as we didn't get to the hotel until around midnight and had an 8am start the next day. Definitely include all the add-ons - there was nothing I felt I would've liked to have not done even though it is quite a 'full' schedule.

Loved the organisation of the team, especially the guide, coach assistant and coach driver. We were well informed as to meeting times, departure times and any changes to the itinerary as they occurred. The hotels were clean and well equipped, included meals were more than adequete and the optional tours were very worthwhile. We were kept busy but there was still free time for a swim some days. The only criticism would be, that the showrooms we visited were certainly enlightening and interesting but there was pressure to purchase, even though we were told that there was no pressure to purchase. Overall it was an amazing trip and certainly would recommend Trip A Deal to family and friends.

Excellent trip. Wide range of activities, lots of choice and a great experience- including good accommodation . Guide was excellent, informative, entertaining and going out of his way to offer insights, support and activities

We had the best trip, and everything was exceptionally well organised from start to finish. During our time in Beijing, Mr King provided excellent explanations about China, its history, culture, and all the areas we visited. He was knowledgeable, professional, and passionate, and his explanations gave us a much deeper understanding of the country. The bus driver was also very polite and helpful. All the food was amazing, and every destination included in the package, as well as the optional tours, was spectacular. Our Shanghai experience was equally wonderful. Mrs Sunny did an excellent job organising everything, and the bus driver was fantastic as well. We had an amazing time exploring Shanghai, visiting many places through both the included tour and the optional excursions. Both Mr King and Mrs Sunny shared their knowledge of Chinese culture in such an engaging and meaningful way. They genuinely changed our perspective on China and helped us appreciate its culture, history, and people much more. Overall, we had an unforgettable experience. Everything was well organised, the guides were outstanding, the drivers were courteous, and the food and destinations were fantastic. We have no suggestions for improvement and would highly recommend this trip to others. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

Loved Hoi-An, loved Halong Bay cruise, loved Ba Na Hills, awesome travel group, didn't like Westlake Hotel in Hanoi but everything else was perfect.

The people in the group were great. The gold leaf experience was probably my favourite. The deer on the island were good The different food streets were good having own time was good. Would have liked more time in Kyoto it was pretty.

We had an amazing trip to Vietnam from the 1st day till the end.Everything was well organised.We had the chance to visit different places and stayed at different hotels.All the food were delicious.Being on the mountains for several days were an amazing experience.We had a friendly and funny tour guide Mr Knoc.It was an experience that we will not forget.We are looking for something similar for the future!

The whole trip was amazing Sarah the guide was exceptional as was mr Kardi the bus driver The animals we saw were next level Everything was unbelievable Would highly recommend

All tour attractions and additional optional tours were fantastic. Our tour guide was very well educated on all historical events. The Sri Lankan people were absolutely lovely. The people on the tour were amazing, Our driver, very good in handling some very tight driving situations. We got a very small taste on how the Sri Lankan people live. The staff at all of our accommodation stops were friendly and daily breakfast were amazing.

My first group tour in 30 plus years and I loved every minute of it. The value for money was fantastic, however what brought it all together was our tour guide, Sarah. She has boundless enthusiasm and energy, the depth of her knowledge and the stories she brought into every day made the experience so much richer. I highly recommend TripaDeal and Sarah as guide, along with our excellent driver, Kardi.

The whole tour was fabulous and I had a wonderful time! Highlights included an excellent guide (Yoyo is highly recommended), great accommodation, and the additional tours including the evening in the teahouse in Kyoto with the Geisha. And the other members of the tour were fantastic travel companions.

Tour Guide Thang was great, he was so informative and went out of his way to make sure we were all catered for. The coach driver was also very competent, We travelled up many winding roads and I felt very safe.

The whole experience was amazing but especially the magical beauty of these countries.

We had the time of our lives. George, our tour leader was amazing and really went the extra mile for us every day to ensure we all had the best trip possible. We met some wonderful new friends and the trip itself was so well planned. We went on this trip to get a taste of Europe to plan for a longer holiday down the track, but in the end we now want to do another Trip a Deal holiday as it was just so amazing.

The appalling stuff ups caused by Qatar's last minute cancellation of our flights & refusal to take any responsibility for the costs we incurred because of this left bad taste in our mouths.

Our guide was wonderful. There was a balance between activities to do and down time for relaxation and own time. The coach driver was terrific

Spectacular scenery, good accommodation, and great wine tasting experiences.

SEO g & learning about Japan including the diversity of modern & traditional environments

My Wife and I loved this holiday. Other than the initial worry about joining up with the tour leader, once we were notified about the alteration change it wasn't a huge deal. All of the locations were amazing, and the flights were well planned with as few stopovers as possible (very important for us). I'd say our favourite stop was Edinburgh but it was really hard to pick any favourites out since they were all great. Special mention to Mike Wilson since he was a terrific, knowledgeable tour leader and Stevie the coach driver was fantastic too. Considering the overall cost incl. flights, the group trip was well within our budget so we will be looking at further Trip-A-Deal tours.

Loved this tour. Borneo is a very interesting place to visit. My favourite things were seeing the Orangutans, Probiscus Monkeys, the river boat rides and seeing the crocodiles and monkeys in their natural environment

Would have loved to do the same length of tour with two days at each stop rather than one and leave out the cruise.

I liked 2 nights at each stop so it wasn’t rushed. We had long stops which is fantastic !

This was my first time booking through Trip A Deal and my first time travelling as part of a "group tour". I loved it! This holiday was the perfect balance of pre-planned group activities and free time to explore on our own. The hotels in both Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An were great - the Hanoi hotel was okay but a little lacking compared to the others. Given transport is cheap and easy in Vietnam, it didn't matter that the hotel's were a little bit out of the city, but I can imagine in a larger or more expensive city this would prove difficult. All three guides - Huang, Annie & Bobby - were incredible and really made the trip what it was. They all had their own little ways of getting everyone involved, were super knowledgeable and great fun! Inbound and internal flights were well organised and suited well - we were travelling with carry-on luggage only so the initial pick up was quite slow and drawn out while waiting for the rest of the group to clear customs. We ended up changing out outbound flights as it felt like a bit of a waste getting back in to Hanoi from Ha Long Bay so late - only to fly out the next day and then have to fly overnight from Singapore. We flew a day earlier from Hanoi and managed to get a day time flight out of Singapore - not a deal breaker but some flexibility around flight options could be good?

Although days were sometimes long travelling over rough corrugated roads it was a wonderful trip with many unforgettable experiences. Saw The Big Five!! Zanele, our driver guide, was kind, knowledgeable and helpful. Thembi, our chef, was great. Always prepared our meals patiently whilst taking care of dietary requests. We were treated with many different tastes and recipes. Kind supportive woman. Every day was interesting whilst we experienced Africa. It may have been nice to have an extra hour at the end of the day to enjoy the pool or relax however the road conditions were beyond the drivers control.

The people we met on our tour were exceptionally lovely people. Our guide Bao and bus driver were the kindest caring people and prepared to answer any questions or help in any way.

I absolutely loved everything about my holiday. Just when I thought I couldn’t be surprised anymore a new day a new surprise. Such a gorgeous country and beautiful people. Our travel guide Hans was just the ultimate person for our holiday. He made everyone feel welcome, he was full of informative information and explained everything to us. I would highly recommend this holiday to anyone who is interested in going to Japan. We are already talking about going back!!!

From the time your man met us at the airport in Tokyo I felt totally supported and confident. We were very impressed with our Guide YoYo a wonderfully organised, knolagable and able to convaue the information to our group even with the language difference most competently. The fact There was no need to stand in line and the entry tickets were always there and ready to go was very impressive.. The group of people with us were a very pleasant and cooperative lot, a situation that added to our overall enjoyment of the trip. As for the Wonders of Japan We have never had so many Kodak moments. I am very happy to recommend. It's possible the use of Name tags could help in remembering the names of those in the group.

The whole trip was organised so well.Receiving all tickets to all the ferries as soon as we arrived. There was always someone waiting to pick us up from ferries to hotel or airport.

Very organised and great experiences

Great value for money. Guides and drivers all very professional. Loved the hotels and places we visited. However, the Costa Smeralda was a bit too crowded for a lot of us. But I did enjoy the entertainment on the ship. Especially the dance classes. Food was fantastic. Great choices. Staff very friendly and very helpful. My fourth Tripadeal holiday and will do more in the future:

The accommodation was so amazing, every place we stayed. From the food, rooms & service, it was excellent. Our Guide Sujhit was a light of information and positivity the whole trip, nothing was too hard for him, even though we had some challenges with a few members of the tour with mobility issues, he always went above and beyond as did his assistant Nero and driver Roshan. This was my first Trip-A-Deal and will definitely go again as my Mum (81 years young) and I were pleasantly surprised. We loved everything about the tour. Highly recommend.

What I loved: The amazing food, friendly people, and rich history throughout Turkey. Highlights: Exploring Istanbul, seeing Cappadocia, and enjoying authentic Turkish cuisine. Our tour guide, Semih, was fantastic and made the trip even more enjoyable with his knowledge, organisation, and great sense of humour. Suggestions: A little more free time and longer stays at some attractions would have made the experience even better. Overall, I had a fantastic holiday and would happily visit Turkey again.

Enjoyed the pace, the guides were excellent, hotels generally good, although it would have been good for some of rhe Hanoi nights to be in a hotel more centrally located and closer to tbe old quarter.

It was a great way to see North Vietnam. We had some busy times, balanced with some time for relaxation and self exploration. The tour guide was knowledgeable and informative, he also had a sense of humour. The driver was very skilled and we felt safe on the buses.

The whole Trains of Switzerland holiday was a truly beautiful experience. The scenery was picturesque, magnificent, grand, quaint, stunning and never ending. The transport by train was wonderful and everything ran smoothly and on time. Other than a hard bed or no kettle in a couple of places the accommodation was great and very centrally located. Our tour manager Paul was very knowledgeable, helpful and just a lovely guy. Highly recommend this trip and thanks to Tripadeal for another fantastic experience.

Had a wonderful trip to Japan with my 84 year old mother. Lyn, out tour guide, really made the trip a fantastic experience. She was thoughtful about tours and organised additional tours to accommodate what people wanted to do.

A dream come true !! This trip was absolutely fantastic. Our first “Trip A Deal” holiday and we couldn’t fault it. We loved every single minute of our holiday and seeing the Big 5 is something we will never forget. Brilliant !

Enjoy the smooth travel and everyone is punctual and caring . Tour guide n drivers are very professional.

All of the holiday was great,saw every animal we could hope for, food was tops and accommodation was very good

The highlight of the holiday was the amount of animals we saw in the wild. We had a really great tour guide Zenele, and Thembe, our wonderful "chef" who definately made sure we didnt go hungry. And a great bunch of people to share it all with. The only downside for me was the fact that at 37° and no aircon, the bus was very hot which also made our drinking water hot.

Great country and people, good hotels and fantastic guide, driver and assistant.

I think if you were honest at what you booked you can’t complain. Our guide was amazing ( plus the bus drivers . All did far more than what was expected ! Lots of extra hours done by all the make our trip an amazing experience. By chance most of the large group was lovely . I few really tested the patience of the guide / bus driver but they handed it well

Tour leader is professional and good and safe driver

Busan, the cultural village, beach front and the war memorial, Jeon ju was a beautiful village so pretty. Korean food. To learn about Korean history, the DMZ was unbelievable to see and learn the history. Our guide was brilliant

This was our second TripaDeal holiday and we absolutely loved it. Everything was fantastic! The hotels were great with massive king size beds, spotless amenities and all within walking distance to restaurants, bars, markets and sightseeing. The meals that were included were fantastic! We had enough free time to experience the night scene, walk the laneways, try street food, bar hop and spend time with the locals. Our tour guide Nam was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable on all things Vietnam. Nam went above and beyond everyday to make sure we were well looked after. Our coach driver, Mr Qong had exceptional driving skills which made for relaxing drives between each stay. The places we visited were very scenic with lots to see and do. It was a very well run tour with no complaints from my husband or myself. It was a small group of 10 people with a range in age groups who all got on famously. I am now checking TripaDeal for our next holiday.

Halong Bay was the highlight of the trip - more than one night would be preferable.. English breakfast or black tea + milk as complementary drinks in hotel room would be welcome too. Walk around towns would be better if specified exactly where and when and what to expect rather than just walking and not seeing anything in particular. Group was just the right size and guides were good. Generally a good tour

The tour guide was efficient and knowledgeable so we were given great talks and service, eg getting to hotels, receiving local information to find food etc. The tour was also full of the tourist highlights we’d heard about in Sth Korea.

I loved everything about this holiday. It is fast pasted and you get to see a lot of Japan. Our guide was Richard and our bus driver was Mr Fu. They were very accommodating. They ran extra tours on the free days. My suggestion would be to purchase snack at each accommodation for the next day

5-Star Vietnam was amazing. The eco- resort was nice but offered limited food options.

We both think that this was the best holiday we ever had. Every step of the way was superb. A great guide crew, top notch hotels, variety of experiences and then the gem on the top - four wonderful nights in a beautiful Maldives resort. Plus we had a great group of people. Highly recommended without hesitation

Loved the sights and how the tour was operated accomodation at times was too far from the main parts of the towns so looking at accomodation closer to the Main to the towns would be great.

Small group tour good. Gave time to get to know others. Pace good. 2 or more nights in one motel good idea. Less unpacking and packing. Guides excellent, knowledgeable and friendly. Would like more tours to see natural beauty of country. Loved Hoi An, could have spent longer there. Would have liked more bike riding options.

We just completed Trains of Switzerland and could not fault the trip, excellent guide, itinerary and accommodation HIghlights were Lucerne, the Matterhorn and each train journey over the length of the trip. One improvement would have been more time in St Moritz, we arrived at 4.30 pm in the afternoon and left next day at 9.00am, would have liked longer to have had a look around.

A lot of highlights, we saw and did some amazing things we would never had done if we booked a trip ourselves to Vietnam. Ba Na Hills was amazing!

Loved our 11 nights Japan trip. Great tour group (37 Australians). Lots of optional 1/2 and full day tours. All tours were well planned, informative and provided different experiences. Always a 7 eleven close by for easy dinners. Highlights seeing Mt Fuji, the countryside and immersing in some Japanese culture. Lynn (our tour leader) was fantastic, with her local knowledge and sense of humour. Many memories to treasure.

Peru. Maccu Pitchu was fantastic. And iguazu falls.

The Galápagos Islands were amazing, and I cannot speak highly enough of our guide Martin Cox, he’s incredible.

Our guide (Richard), ****** & driver were all brilliant! Knowledgeable and patient and hardworking for us. Hotels were fantastic, tours were great. I had a lovely time with Trip a Deal Sri Lanka

We really enjoyed the 12 day tour through Northern Vietnam, from Hanoi city staying at the Solar deluxe with daily buffet breakfast, rooftop Bar and pool. Next to Ha long Bay for an overnight cruise and on shore activities, then to Ninh Binh, staying at The Reed hotel. We engaged in various activities, including visits to historical sites, temples, caves to immerse in some of the Vietnamese history and culture. Our guide Zoom was excellent, he has good English skills, great knowledge and a nice person with 19 years experience in the tourism industry. We capped off with 3 nights at Puluong in the North Western mountains, staying at the Bocbandi retreat, with spectacular views, cool and quiet, with small villages surrounded by terraced rice fields and jungle, saw waterfalls and many other natural wonders. Overall the food was fantastic, our driver (Mr T) was very good as we felt safe travelling to our destinations, some of which were challenging. Would highly recommend this tour. We were fortunate enough to have a really good group who became friends within days.

Good holiday. Sri Lanka is a fair distance for a nine day holiday. The people are very welcoming. If India and Bali had a baby it would look like Sri Lanka. I loved that it was not as commercial as Bali and not as crowded and as dirty as India. The itinerary had plenty of down time and covered a good section of Sri Lanka, it's people, it's food and it's culture.

It was fantastic. We had a great tour guide, Lin and that makes all the difference. We went to quite a few cities and it was an all round great trip.

Great tour guide made trip even better

The whole trip was very well organised. The first interaction via the website, payment for the trip, and receipt of the detailed documentation placed me in a confident position. Consequently, I was relaxed, knowing that all arrangements were in place. The detailed notes answered all my questions and alerted me to items that needed attention before travel. I found the information on visa requirements and the detailed itinerary particularly helpful. The trip from Australia to Colombo went smoothly with Singapore Airlines. As I had elected to arrive early, I spent three days in Colombo before meeting the group in Negombo. As the group was being picked up from the airport late in the evening, our guide, Richard, contacted me earlier that evening to welcome me to the tour and outline the meeting arrangements for the following day. As I experienced throughout the trip, Richard was one of the finest guides I have encountered on any tour. He is a gentle person who guided us with confidence, knowledge, and just the right amount of commentary. He looked out for us throughout the journey and helped us connect with the land and its people. Richard has a rare gift for leading a group. The company that operated the tour for TripADeal, Aitken Spence, has incredible support resources and is an excellent travel organisation. It also owns several of the hotels in which we stayed, including Heritance Kandalama, The Heritance Tea Factory, and the Heritance Negombo, all excellent five-star establishments. What stood out most were the staff and their training. I liked the concept of breakfast being included and, at every location, breakfast was excellent. It featured both familiar foods and enjoyable Sri Lankan curries. The guide directed us to good eating spots along the way and, in the hotels, there was always the option of in-house dining, which was reasonably priced. We also stayed at the Araliya Resort, the DoubleTree by Hilton, and the Hilton Colombo, all of which were excellent properties. Combined with the Heritance Hotels in Negombo, Kandalama, and The Tea Factory, these six hotels continually made us wish we could stay longer. They were supported by highly competent and friendly staff. Staying in these properties was one of the highlights of the trip. Kandalama was a wonderful surprise, with its beautiful architecture blending seamlessly into the jungle. Birds and monkeys appeared on the balconies, often coming remarkably close to observe the guests. The Tea Factory was another architectural marvel, cleverly repurposing the iconic structure of a former tea-processing facility into a comfortable hotel. Much of the original machinery has been retained as furniture and decorative artefacts. It was the perfect place to enjoy the tea country and absorb the peacefulness of Sri Lanka. The game parks introduced us to the wildlife of the country and included spotted deer, elephants, crocodiles, and an impressive variety of birds. The leopard remained elusive. Perhaps next time an early morning or late afternoon safari might bring better luck. Of course, no tour is complete without a visit to the bazaars and shopping areas. There was plenty of opportunity to explore and hone one's bargaining skills. Then there were the many gem shops, featuring local precious stones, especially the famous sapphires. The days spent at Araliya were wonderful, with many good restaurants just a few minutes' walk along the beach. Being close to Galle, a tuk-tuk ride to the old Portuguese fort ensured that this mode of transport, weaving in and out of cars, buses, trucks, and pedestrians, kept one's belief in guardian angels intact. This 15-day tour of Sri Lanka was a magnificent experience, supported by a great guide, an excellent tour assistant, and a skilled driver. Well done, TripADeal. suggestions The information pack was excellent in its level of detail. May I humbly suggest two areas where some additional clarification may be helpful?1. Sigiriya Rock optional excursion The notes regarding the optional visit to Sigiriya Rock could perhaps include a brief statement that the climb involves a significant number of steps. Travellers with mobility issues or limited fitness may find the climb challenging, and this information would assist them in making an informed decision.2. Tipping arrangements I found the information regarding tipping slightly unclear. Specifically, I was unsure whether the suggested gratuity of 2,000 Sri Lankan Rupees (approximately AUD $10) was intended to be:2,000 SLR per person, per day, for each of the guide, tour assistant, and driver; or2,000 SLR per person, per day, to be shared among the three.A brief clarification in the notes would be helpful for future travellers.

Highlights- boat trip on Halong Bay, Hoi An, local food, wonderful guides, cu chi tunnels, time in Ho Chi Minh to see war remnants museum, train street, local walks, Bana Hill, ability to join optional activities at last minute. Improvements- maybe some suggestions for things to do before we arrive ( e.g. if we had known about the water puppets before we arrived, we would have liked to have seen them) . I know we probably should have done this ourselves. Hotel food was not as good as local cuisine- not something you could do anything about, just a bit disappointing. Except for Breakfast- those were amazing!!!

This trip was a huge success from start to finish! Tour guide/driver (Mark) was exceptional in all aspects. Outstanding interpersonal skills with a deep understanding of the regional history, geography and environment. The itinerary was well paved with great Accommodation, meals and activities. Thankyou! We will be looking out for our next adventure through TripADeal!

Loved the Georgian countryside.. The people in all the countries were extremely friendly. Having WiFi on a bus was amazing. We had an issue with one bus late in the day, however, it was fixed but the next morning which was fantastic. The only negative, and this is minor, is perhaps make it clearer that headscarves need to be worn in some churches and shorts or pants for women shouldn't be worn.

What a wonderful way to see, as the title rightfully suggests, the main highlights. Accommodation, tour guides, extra tours were all exceptional. We were a small group of 12. Perfect holiday.

We saw the northern lights

Excellent and knowledgeable guide. Great views of wildlife. Well paced- usually 2 nights in most places.

First of all our tour guide Nikola Medved was so excellent. Organised,Informative,extremely helpful,most of all a really likeable guy.The holiday was so enjoyable with the fantastic scenery and sights. The hotels on the whole were comfortable and clean with delicious breakfasts.Also we really got on together as a group. A really fantastic holiday