Your calls always answered within 5 rings.
Went very well and excellent booking process
What a fabulous trip! All the information was helpful in decision making and the resort exceeded our expectations. Yet again Eric delivered a memorable holiday.
Finn, as always, was so helpful and dedicated throughout
All went smoothly and we felt in safe hands
We had a very enjoyable trip. All went smoothly - thank you to Michelle for all your help.
Seamless. Thanks
Great service from Dexter. Would highly recommend.
Amelia was incredible, we had to change our return trip at short notice and she could not have been more helpful. Also, the resort team were amazing, the service beyond excellent. We had a very good trip.
Stacey is the best travel agent! We have used her for 10 years. She understands what myself and family require.
Great service as usual, thank you!
This was our 2nd visit to the Anantara Dighu - but since the hotel has been taken over by another hotel group things are no longer as good as they were. The HB option only entitled us to dine at 2 a la carte restaurants so for a 10 day stay this is limiting. This resulted in us using the other restaurants and only a $60 allowance was entitled per adult which didn't even buy you a main course. It is a shame as the quality was not what it used to be.
Stan always gives us a very professional service and that is why we keep coming back
The service Greg provided was first class from start to finish as always - it’s a pleasure to book with you..
Thank you for booking my holiday. I really enjoyed my stay in Mauritius
All airlines were great and our resort in Maldives was excellent. Thoroughly recommend our Oblu Xperience for both families and couples. All inclusive was really good and a great variety of cuisines. Thank you Brody for organising our trip.
Outstanding from start to finish, with faultless electronic and human communications throughout. Dexter Tahsin is a legend!
Thank you for suggesting we went all inclusive. It was the correct choice. Brilliant holiday.
Everything worked out very well. Many thanks to Nicky Degun for all her amazing help in making this a holiday to remember.
Liam Rush is simply outstanding! I will continue to book future flights with him as he's always friendly, personable and efficient. A great advocate for the company .
Very responsive and extremely helpful. Thank you
We booked a small group tour because we wanted company but it turned out to be just us.
Excellent customer service especially from Finley Bee who kept us updated throughout the process.we have already recommended DialAFlight to friends and family.
Thanks Jim for organising a seamless trip away.
Have been using you for years and service was as good as ever, however the resort has changed dramatically and not for the better. It is more developed than in previous visits and service and food have taken a big dip. No longer the special place it was. I would be careful recommending it as it is fast becoming the Benidorm of the Maldives. No issue with DialAFlight and will continue to use.
A huge thank you to Liam Rush for arranging our holiday which was seamless. I would definitely recommend and book again with DialAFlight.
Joe Orton was excellent after the Heathrow fiasco and then our our plane breakdown in Mahe Airport. Many thanks
On arriving in chaotic conditions at LHR following the shut down, as wheelchair passengers, we were unable to contact our driver for transport home. A call to DialAFlight brought immediate relief with their intervention and we got home finally 5 hours after landing. Superb service!
We have dealt with Eric Spagnuolo for around 10 years and he is outstanding - the best agent that we have ever dealt with. Great servicve, great knowledge, great attention to detail, extremely professional and a top man
Was extremely happy with the service provided and will definitely be a returning customer!
We always use your company and have just arrived back from Sri Lanka which was fantastic. I told lots of people about your company and service. Unfortunately we were one of the flights that couldn’t get back to Heathrow, due to the closure so after 36 hours travelling we got home, tired but happy,
From honking traffic in chaotic cities, through myriad Hindu temples to palm-fringed beaches and beautiful national parks crawling with exotic animals, Sri Lanka is packed with variety.
Our first stop was the island's gateway, the bustling capital of Colombo.
The combination of energy-sapping heat, beeping tuk-tuks and congested streets make it all rather bewildering at first but a whistle-stop tour of the sprawling city provided a fascinating snapshot of life in the frenetic heartbeat of Sri Lanka.
We ate at the superb Ministry of Crab, owned by cricket stars Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, in the buzzing financial district.
The following morning we took the train to historic Kandy along the track built under British rule, through lush green hills.
Kandy is home to Sri Lanka's most important religious shrine, The Temple of Tooth, as well as to the greatest bowler ever, Muttiah Muralitharan, affectionately known as 'Murali'. We stayed in the stunning Theva Residency. Perched high above the city, it's away from the bustling centre but only a short tuk-tuk drive from the thick of the action.
Spacious rooms boast impressive views over the city and Richmond Hill, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the bathtub next to enormous windows.
From Kandy we made our way to Sigiriya, a russet rock that towers 600ft above arid plains.
Our chauffeur stopped on the way at the Luckgrove Spice Garden in Matele, for a fascinating insight into herbs and spices used in Sri Lankan cuisine.
Further north we called in at Dambulla, famous for cave temples - which involved a challenging half hour trek to a hilltop. All five temples are different but each lovingly decorated with beautiful murals.
In Sigiriya, we stayed at the magnificent Jetwing Vil Uyana, in the shadow of an historic rock fortress.
The eco-friendly hotel has drawn inspiration from local traditions. Guests are housed in individual thatched huts modelled on Sinhalese dwellings - which manage to be both homely and grand. Each comes with its own blissful ice-cool plunge pool.
Facilities include a spa – reached via a boardwalk over a lake – and a wonderful pool. A number of excursions were laid on, including a loris trail with resident naturalist Chaminda Jayasekhara.
Breakfast and dinner are served in an open dining area overlooking the lake (which has a crocodile gliding around in it).
Vil Uyana is perfectly positioned for the steep climb to 'Lion's Rock', best done at sunrise or sunset to avoid the worst of the heat.
We then headed to the east, still finding its feet following the end of the civil war in 2009.
The government is investing time and energy into restoring the area to its former glory. This has seen many resorts spring up along Pasikudah Beach - we stayed at the newly-built Anilana Pasikudah for two nights.
The gleaming hotel has an attractive foyer that looks out over the pool and beach and sea, giving an immediate 'wow' factor.
Our final stay, in Gal Oya Lodge, was the highlight. Tucked away on the northwestern edge of the Gal Oya National Park, it's a gem.
It was set up by boyhood friends Tim Richards and Sangjay Choegyal (as well as John Balmond, the son of architect Cecil) who fell in love with the place during an extensive tour of the country.
They set about building a lodge in the jungle and their love for the beautiful surroundings really comes across when you speak with them - theirs is the only lodge in Sri Lanka to receive a platinum award for their efforts to help the environment.
It comprises 11 eco-friendly rooms made from local natural materials that boast incredible open bathrooms.
We had a tour of the local indigenous community (the Veddha) led by the tribe's deputy chief, who explained their use of medicinal plants, ancient hunting grounds and historic cave dwellings.
We also made the short trip into the national park, home to rare birds such as the blue face malkoha, painted francolin, hoopoe and Indian peafowl, spotted deer, wild boar, monkeys, and, most excitingly, elephants.
On an evening visit we heard a crash in the foliage - and just yards away came the trumpeting call of an elephant, a thrilling if nerve-racking experience.
We remained motionless as the elephant trampled through the plantation, a few feet from the jeep, before sidling away.
We also explored the national park via boat. We bobbed along the lake, taking in the beautiful sight of birds – including white-bellied sea eagles – gliding gracefully across the sky until a guide excitedly shouted 'Elephant'!
There was a majestic 20-year-old male, grazing on the riverbank. We sat for half-an-hour watching the elephant, as the sky turned a wonderful shade of red. It was a stunning sight and a fitting finale to our stay on the paradise island.
First published in the Mail Online - August 2016
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