5 independent reviews for Tamil Nadu and Kerala vacation, India
Reviews for Tamil Nadu and Kerala vacation, India
Kathryn Tunstall review 17 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing an authentic India. The size and scale of the temples in Tamil Nadu. The warmth of the welcome everywhere we went2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take Sanjays advice on where to stay and for how long3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. All the places we stayed prioritised environmental impact. We met local people and found opportunities to support them. Conservation and sustainability was a high priority4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
One of the best we have had. The operator made what looked like a busy schedule on paper incredibly relaxing. This was due to efficient organisation and stunning accommodation throughout.Steve Burdikin review 18 Jan 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Visiting the temples and towns during the day and spending the nights at beautiful hotels2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared to be surprised and amazed3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
No, not really4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very interesting and spectacularRead the operator's response here:
Hi Steve,Thanks so much for your wonderful comments - it was really very enjoyable working with you to create this adventure.
We are glad that you enjoyed the hotels - we are very careful about what hotels partners we choose for our guests and they generally have well established
policies in place to supporting local communities in very many different formats which may not have been obvious to you - maybe a school or local
community project, maybe its commitment to recycling and reducing environmental waste or even something to the continued on going welfare support
of its workforce in times of adversity.
We do look forward to welcoming you back as no doubt India would have left its imprint on you and when you are ready we will be all too delighted to help
you plan another journey with us.
Many thanks
Sanjay
Santha Blankley review 5 Mar 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing the evening ceremony at the ghats in Varanasi and visiting the temples of Madurai and Tanjore.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take lots of sunscreen as well as a hat - it is very, very hot and sunny in Tamil Nadu.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
To a certain extent yes as nearly all our hotels were local ones rather than multinationals so the money we spent stayed in India. However, we still had a huge carbon footprint due to the flights and use of car.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was truly memorable and a fantastic experience.Judy Mcguire review 29 Jan 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
So many highlights of our month-long trip to Tamil Nadu. We'll never forget the stunning trek through the Nilgiris, spotting langur monkeys, deer and leopard poo (though no leopards!) and a host of birds with our knowledgeable guide, who took us to meet welcoming hill tribes on a route during which we didn't spot a single other tourist! Fabulous. We were blown away by the temples at Madurai, by the exquisite mansions of Chettinad, and the unspoilt countryside near our hotel in Kumbakonam (more bird-spotting from the patio outside our room). A final week in Pondicherry showed us yet another side of Tamil Nadu, a state of extradordinary contrasts, where Western visitors are relatively few (which meant we kept getting stopped and asked for selfies!), and the locals are wonderfully friendly.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take the Toy Train journey to or from the Queen of Hillstations Ooty - spectacular. Oh, and if you're going to the Nigiris in the winter, pack some warm clothes - it gets properly cold and sometimes frosty at nights, though daytimes are lovely and warm.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We stayed at hotels that made a point of supporting local people and using local staff, using organic and local food, and doing their best to avoid the environmental impact of plastic use4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
One of the best vacations we've EVER had. We loved it.Lesley Somerville review 4 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Meeting so many kind and funny Indian people everywhere we went. Everyone was helpful, full of fun and the joys of life.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Think carefully and realistically about what you want to do/see and factor in traveling from one place to another via very slow Indian roads - or use trains which in our experience were efficient and much faster.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Local people acted as guides and drivers. We stayed in a home stay and also hotels with good eco credentials. The local naturalists were passionate about conservation and we learnt a lot about the challenges faced and how we as tourists can support their work.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Best ever!Read the operator's response here:
Thank you so much for your lovely words Lesley- you were are pleasure to help and for your first trip to India you certainly tore up the rule book and did what folk do on there second or fourth trip. I know the teams in the south all enjoyed meeting with you and very much hope to make your next India experience just as rich.
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