Troy came up trumps as usual
Fabulous attention from Megan and Nicholas, in fact whoever I spoke to was very helpful. This level of service is hard to find nowadays. Well done team you’re doing a fantastic job !
Stan Castle has been excellent and I will be booking again with him for our next trip very soon!
BA outbound flights were not up to standard, inbound much better
Easy to contact.
My travel went very smoothly, couldn’t have asked for more.
We couldn't have wished for a better service. We were looked after incredibly well every step of the way by Daniel Webb. Our resort was beautiful, the transfers were managed well and we couldn't have wished for a better holiday. As regular customers of DialAFlight, we know we can always rely on you to provide a great service and lots of helpful advice.
Hassle free
Once again, perfect service.
Seymourwas always there to help us and give us information and peace of mind
Thank you Claire and your team for helping us find an amazing holiday in Mauritius especially with all the last minute tweaks and changes we threw at you! DialAFlight made the experience smooth and stress free from beginning to end. Looking forward to our next adventure
Zoe was awesome. And anyone I have dealt with in the past has also been awesome. Always attentive and great at answering any questions. Unbeatable on price. I have already recommended to friends who are now your clients.
Nothing less than perfect from start to finish. As usual, Craig Paul ensured we had the best service. Would never use anyone else and most certainly recommend regularly.
Rupert and team were phenomenal. Thanks so much
Service has been impeccable - my go to person is Ryan who takes all the pressure off me.
Thank you Jason!
Justin was fabulous- personal touch, great communication - absolutely brilliant service
My experiences with DialAFlight are excellent - reliable and always prompt to receive a quick response from Bill Gardner and other staff.
We had an amazing holiday. Everything was as promised and you took away so much of the stress in planning and organising. Will definitely be coming back to you in future
Easiest holiday ever booked. Timings, flights, transfers and accommodation brilliant!
Will definitely use DialAFlight again. Great service
Seamless booking organisation by Alex Gache and great rep (Sarah) in resort. Will highly recommend DialAFlight!
Really helpful staff especially Jordan. Accommodated a last minute change in dates smoothly and quickly. Great service
Thank you Ivor Savage for all you help! We had a fantastic holiday and everything ran smoothly.
Everything went to plan - flights, hotel and transfers and the local tour agent was excellent.
We are so happy with excellent service from Liam Rush. He is so helpful. We had a great holiday and definitely recommend to our friends.
Great service from start to finish. Very helpful, efficient and professional. All details regarding the trip were emailed in a very easy to read format and any requests and updates were dealt with promptly. I would definitely recommend them.
We have already recommended you to our friends and will use DialAFlight again. Brodie Letchfield was most helpful and an excellent asset to your company.
The best and only travel agent I use. Always a great deal, great service and very competitive. My agent is the best !
Perfect handling of my holiday from start to finish. Thanks again Ross for all you do.
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
More articles below...
Not quite what you're looking for?
We can easily customise an offer to suit your exact requirements