2012

If you would like to add your own feedback about a Kerala Connections holiday - scroll down to the bottom of the relevant year and click on COMMENTS. To complete our ON-LINE QUESTIONNAIRE go to ABOUT US and you will find it at the bottom of the list on the left hand side.

Shibu was a great driver with a sense of humour.  Although we did not see him, Mr Kumar was, as usual, efficient and helpful. Chera Rock was idyllic with great food and service.  We loved Fringe Ford - we had a great time there and will return.  Ayisha Manzil is a very well run homestay and good at finding Theyyam.  Olappamanna Mana was a beguilling and memorable homestay.  Fascinating glimpse into a different world, with some of the best food we have tasted in India. Hornbill Camp has knowledgeable guides - we are now infinitely better informed about the birds of India and can even recognise a few.  It has a  superb location. Dewalokam deserves the praise it has gathered.  A wonderful trip - many thanks, Gary.  Eve Pleming

We loved our holiday and can't wait to go back to Kerala, and maybe Tamil Nadu next time.  All very well organised.  We had a wonderful, safe, competent and very pleasant driver - Mohan.  Manayath Heritage - lovely people.  Beautiful situation.  We loved the place. Mannaas Veedu - the food is wonderful.  Alex very helpful.  Elegant and delightful.  We loved this homestay.  Dewalokam - Amazing place.  Wonderful hospitality. Super food.  Gorgeous place, don't miss it.  Caroline Sigrist

I just wanted to let you know all the arrangements were spot on and ran like clockwork. Companion Holidays always contacted us to keep us informed as to collection times etc. We were very impressed. The drivers were very helpful and courteous and we enjoyed meeting them. We enjoyed our holiday very much. The best experience was with Jose and Sinta at Dewaklam and we would have liked to stay longer there. It was also nice to meet your other clients staying there at the same time.  Periyar was a bit disappointing, though Wildernest was good and the chaps who run it are very professional and very geared up to the European visitors.  Martha Allguen

Kerala Connections makes travel in Southern India an unforgettable experience. You can tell the quality of this organization by the way the drivers and on site people in India speak so highly of the company they work for in the UK. There is a reason why most have been with Kerala Connections for many years. The drivers are amazing – Jess who was with us for three days was a star. The quality and comfort of the vehicles is high. Everything ran like clockwork, on schedule and on time.  Gary is the most efficient and organized travel operator. He made being a New Zealander living in Shanghai and booking through a UK travel company a breeze. It was a winning combination of personalized service and Internet convenience.  We have already recommended Kerala Connections to friends and would have no hesitation using them again.  Carol Jordan

Kerala is indeed God's own country!  Your website attracted us.  Gary was extremely well informed, prompt and honest.  A memorable holiday - exceeded expectations.  Very varied and just what we wanted.   The choice of hotels was a delightful mixture.  Mr Sethi

Excellent holiday - helped enormously by the advice and experience at the planning stage. Success was in the detail! We appreciate all the work you put into make such a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Jackie Whitehouse

We had a superb time At Dhole's Den. We felt like we were staying with a group of friends. I think for older, quieter people they may find it a tad boisterous but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Nichola Green.

We were really impressed by Kerala Connections knowledge and service and have already recommended you to others.  We got the impression that your company is held in high regard by the hotels, homestays etc that you use.  The facilities were superb at Dewalokam Retreat.  The hosts ate with us and the food was excellent.  Mr and Mrs Hodges

The flight delay was the only minor blip! We had a fantastic trip with so many highlights - too many to mention, but the trek was brilliant. All the arrangements worked perfectly - so thank you very much for a brilliant trip! We thanked them at the time, but if you could also pass on our thanks again to Mr & Mrs Daniel and their daughter for their very kind hospitality on our last night - they were very generous to us. Thanks again, Gary, for a great trip.  Dave Milbourn

A truly wonderful holiday. Every homestay was lovely in its own individual way.  All the arrangements went incredibly smoothly, it was a very well organised holiday and the local agent was extremely helpful and conscientious.  The drivers were all good if sometimes a little difficult to communicate with. Thank you for all your advice and good organisation.  We hope to return one day and will certainly recommend you to any friends /family who want an Indian adventure!  June Harris and John Cook

Gary - we have been back for a week from another fantistic trip to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.  Thanks for all your help.  Coconut Lagoon was amazing.  We happened to mention we had been before so were treated like royalty.  When we left the General Manager and about eight staff came to see us off.  Our second trip with Kerala Connections and still as excellent.  Roger and Amilia Burrage

Gary - back now from an excellent holiday.  Everything went to plan and we thoroughly enjoyed each location.  Thank you for arranging everything. Dewalokam was the highlight for us - the food, company, relaxed atmosphere were just perfect.  We will certainly recommend Kerala as a destination and Kerala Connections to organise a holiday to our friends and I am sure we will be back in a few years time to explore different areas.  Tricia Lawrence

 Fantastic experience.  Keep up the high standards.  We had a great time at Aanavisalam and Pirko was charming. Dewalokaom was amazing.  Really enjoyed the stay. Wonderful family and staff.  So attentive and charming.  Lovely location.  John Rendall

We found your price for this holiday several hundred pounds cheaper than the bigger operators that we enquired of.  We had a wonderful time - all the accommodation excelled.  Special praise to the staff at Coconut Lagoon who went out of their way to be helpful and welcoming.  Mr Kumar was very efficient - all went perfectly.  We would hope to book with your company again in the future.  Michael Marshall

Hi Gary. It was amazing!  Thank you.  Backwater trip was relaxing, well organised and a good break from Cochin intensity.  Guide's English accent difficult to understand so I didn't get any info.  I had a really wonderful time and felt very looked after.  I made a great decision to use you.  You completely understood my needs!  Not easy.  I will recommend and book again with you. Katie McCrum

We have just received all the travel documents from you and I must say we have never seen such great paperwork for a holiday. Mr Bernard Marder travelling in February 2012

Hello Gary. I have to say that we had a brilliant time. Quite the holiday of a lifetime. All the arrangements were spot on, including the service from local representatives, our drivers, guides etc. The hotel in Cochin was perfectly located, and our trips up to Munnar and on the rice barges quite memorable. Finishing up at Marari Beach was not a disappointment - it was the perfect chillout second week. The hotel staff there and everywhere were a delight and so eager to please - and just the most terrific food.  Malcolm Williams

Hello Diana, We want to thank you for making all the arrangements. Your recommendations for our travelling and accommodation were right on the button. You couldn’t have answered our brief, better! All your drivers were very knowledgeable, kind and considerate. They certainly had some challenging journeys to navigate, especially the up and down to Ooty which was mostly in the dark. And we enjoyed each of our main stays… Tranquil was probably the highlight and is definitely on the wish list for a return visit. Victor and his family were great fun and extremely generous hosts. They were especially kind in arranging visits to the tea plantations where my Grandparents had lived and worked in the 20’s. A very emotional day as you can imagine! As you predicted, we did have a bit of an exciting time making our connection back onto the BA flight but in fact, the Duty Manager at Cochin Airport sorted things by transferring us onto a Jet Airways flight via Chennai and we made it with a few minutes to spare. All in all, a great trip and hopefully we will be in touch in about a year to plan the next one! Many thanks and all the very best, Su and David Bishop

Hi Diana, I just wanted to say a very 'big thank-you' for organising our recent trip to Kerala.  We had the most amazing time and have fallen in love Kerala.  All the arrangements were spot on, the accommodation and the drivers were fantastic.  RK - the driver we had for 6 days was excellent.  He was extremely informative, polite, helpful and more than accommodating.  We would love to go back and do a different part of Indian including Kerala and when that opportunity arise, we will certainly be in touch with you again. Once again, many thanks for all your help, advice and for organising a wonderful holiday for us.  Kim and Graham Stansfield

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Kerala especially the homestays.  Hospitality in all places was wonderful. We wondered if four nights at Nelpura might be too long but the family made our stay most enjoyable and we really enjoyed the village / backwater life. We will use your services again for future trips.  Roslyn McHardy.

I am writing to very highly commend Gary Tree to you. We have finalised a booking with your company and our decision was based in large part on the way Gary handled the whole thing. He was very responsive, efficient, courteous and knowledgeable, all the things you'd want to find in an excellent tour operator. What's more, given the way Gary has conducted the business, we have every confidence things will go well when we reach India, and that confidence is a good basis for a good holiday. Make sure you keep him - he's a good 'un! Charlie Watson, travelling in March 2012

An unforgettable and incredibly well organized trip thanks to Kerala Connections. Everything worked as planned, excellent drivers, especially Jess, and guides, the absolute best was Thomas in Aurangabad. Thank you, Diana and Kerala Connections. We certainly will recommend you to all our family and friends.  I would really like to stress again how much we enjoyed this trip and how pleased we have been with your organization. We certainly plan to travel with Kerala Connections again.  Magrit Meyer from Canada

We really enjoyed our trip – no hitches and more restful than our usual Indian holidays.  Liz Brough

Gary Tree handled our holiday with great care and attention.  The help with the Visa and tipping advice was very useful.  The itinerary ran like like clockwork.  The transfers were always ready and waiting.  We particularly injoyed our stay on the houseboat with Deepunow, Paul and Anthony.  They made our stay one we shall never forget.  The food was excellent and our every need cared for.  We will definitely return to India again in the future and stay even longer on the houseboat.  Our thanks to both Gary Tree and Mr. Kumar for their flawless attention to detail.  We will have no hesitation in recommending Kerala Connections to anyone thinking of travelling to India.  Mr and Mrs Thompson.

All the drivers were excellent.  The whole holiday was a wonderful experience.  Brenda Preston

I'm very pleased that my sister (who used you about 10 years ago) recommended you to us.  If I return to Southern India again I would have no hesitation in using your services again.  Mike Berry

In spite of the holiday being cut short due to illness I cannot recommend Select/Kerala Connections too highly. The information provided before the holiday was comprehensive and most helpful. The five days of holiday we did have were terrific and I'm sure the remainder would have been the same. I hope we will be able to return to India one day and we will only use your company.  Pippa Landsberger