Testimonials
Certified reviews by Eastravel clients about their trips and the experience of a tailor-made Eastravel trip.
Our Sri Lankan Experience
“My husband and I travelled to Sri Lanka for a 2 week holiday having booked with East Travel in Ipswich,Suffolk. Our only remit was to have the most amazing experience with as many sites and sounds of the cultural triangle, famous landmarks, and with a beach location to unwind after all our experiences. We were not disappointed. After a hassle free journey we were picked up from the airport at Columbo, and were expertly guided around temples, sacred sites,cultural landmarks towns and villages.It felt as though our guide hand been hand-picked to ensure we had the best experiences we could possibly achieve during his time with us. After 8 days of travelling to the most amazing sites and hotels in Sri Lanks, we arrived at our final hotel to spend 6 days relaxing by the sea. Our holiday had been the most incredible and memorable experience and better than we could ever had imagined. We cannot recommend the country and culture enough.
Rating for tour operator:
East Travel in Ipswich is an incredible travel agency that tailors your needs wants and desires expertly and efficiently, taking into your account all your wants, wishes and dreams. No want is too challenging, no wish is too extreme and no dream is too much to desire.” by Mackay13
North to South Vietnam
“A thoroughly enjoyable experience
2 weeks touring Vietnam from north to south then 1 week in Thailand
Rating for tour operator:
We knew very little of the countries we intended to visit so relied solely on our adviser at Eastravel in Ipswich to put together an itinerary based around our stated preferences. We couldn't have wished for a better experience which enabled us to see all the major tourist and historic sights in Vietnam and then include our wishes of a visit to the River Kwai Bridge and culminating in a relaxing beach resort for our final few days. All tours and accommodation fully met our expectations.” by Cazza
Thailand beach break
“As always with Eastravel another memorable and enjoyable holiday
We have travelled with this company for many years and are always guided by their expertise and knowledge of the Far East. We travelled to Ko Chang an island situated in the golf of Thailand. This was the first time we had visited this island and had a wonderful relaxed holiday staying at the Emerald Cove hotel. Staff were hospitable and willing to help rooms were clean and tidy but would recommend a see view or swimming pool room outlook as the rear view is not pleasant but ok. Plenty of restaurants along the beach to enjoy mostly run by families. We enjoyed fresh seafood with plenty of choice from crab to Tiger prawns and red snapper all cooked fresh on the BBQ. Prices worked out approximately £10 pp with drinks although you can eat for less. Best part of the holiday was not having to look for sun beds what a bonus. Thai airways flights out was good return not so pleasant as it seemed definitely one rule for economy passengers and another for business / first class. We seemed to have got stewards that just wanted to sleep and not help when I was unable to locate my night pillow to sleep and then came around and turned off my monitor whilst I was watching a programme . we travelled on the new A380 upper deck was pleasant and quite although I thing I prefer travelling with Eva air now.
Rating for tour operator:
Fantastic helpful and would not dream of traveling to the Far East without first going to see what they can do for us. We have travelled with this company for many years and will continue to use them for the foreseeable future . Thanks East Travel” by Dave's East
Unforgettable trip to Laos
“We spent three and a half weeks travelling around Laos including a week with a guide & driver in the south of the country. We even saw the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. This was followed by 4 days in lovely Luang Prabang and then 12 days self drive exploring the North East taking in Nong Khiaw, Vieng Xai Caves, Plain of Jars and Vang Vieng. We ended with a 2 day Mekong River Cruise to the Thai border. The scenery was stunning, the food delicious and the Laoatians so friendly.
Rating for tour operator:
Our tour operator was excellent. They had a great understanding of our requirements and efficiently put together the perfect itinerary. They were helpful and friendly, offered suggestions and were happy to make amendments to ensure our needs were met. I would have no hesitation in recommending their services.” by Bamboo Panda
Cambodia adventure
“Fun, fascinating, unforgettable
A trip to Vietnam and Cambodia taking us from Hanoi to magical Halong Bay, on to Hue and Hoi An through a breathtaking pass, Saigon and on to a fabulous Heritage Line cruise ship that took as in to the Mekong Delta and eventually finishing our holiday in Siem Reap with Angkor Wat as the highlight of the holiday. The food, the people, the whole experience is one we will cherish. What made this holiday different to others is the educational element. We came away feeling enlightened with more knowledge about this part of,the world, it's culture , history, and the day to day existence of some of its people. A true holiday experience.
Rating for tour operator:
Dorothy Heng and her team went the extra mile. We could not have had a more seamless, brilliantly guided holiday. This is the second time we have used East Travel. I cNnot rate them highly enough. If you want a holiday you know will be organised to perfection choose them.” by The young musketeer
Thailand beach break
“East travel have always been so helpful and made our holiday very easy . The help from all of the representatives was very very good.
We spent 10 days in hua hin ( regency Hyatt ) Then 10 days at ( tongsi bay ) Koh Sami Both hotels were very good , we enjoyed all of our time and experience . We have no complaints set all !!
Rating for tour operator:
They were all more than helpful . The people we met after our flights and transfers were so kind and helpful . They genuinely seemed happy to met and help us . Also, I would like to add that at no point did we feel that anything was to much trouble . They really were good at what they do .” by Paul&ian
Fantastic adventure
“We spent a week touring Japan taking in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Hiroshima. It is a country I had wanted to visit for some time and the itinerary put together by Eastravel was perfect. We were very fortunate to get some decent weather throughout which provided superb views of a snow clad Mt Fuji from Tokyo and in and around Hakone. Eastravel arranged all hotels and rail passes and flights to and from Japan. We then travelled to Shanghai and then onwards to Hong Kong by overnight train before flying down to Phuket for Christmas.
Rating for tour operator:
I have used Eastravel for over 25 years to organise and plan my trips to South East Asia and they have never let me down and when things have very occasionally gone wrong - with a hotel or flight booking - they have been on hand to sort things out immediately. They know what we like and tailor our holidays accordingly. I would have no hesitation in recommending Eastravel and have done to many of my friends who like me have always been thoroughly impressed with the excellent services they provide” by markyah
South Africa break
“Perfect experience.
Eastravel as usual came up trumps. Brilliant flights and perfect ground arrangements. Despite this being a quite short trip to S. Africa it was made so easy and relaxing staying at some elegant lodges along the way. Could not have been bettered especially and very good value.
Rating for tour operator:
really excellent selection of lodges along the way and our driver/guide was knowledgeable and top rank. Experience counts.” by SA perfect,
Magnificent Myanmar
“Myanmar is a most beautiful country to visit. So much to see and experience from hot and sticky Yangon and Mandalay to the cooler hill retreats of Hsipaw and Kalaw. We explored the temples of Bagan by bicycle and E-bike, hired a boat for the day at Inle Lake, trekking from Kalaw to list just a few activities. Three weeks just wasn't long enough.
Rating for tour operator:
Dorothy and Angela at Eastravel were most helpful in creating a varied and interesting tailor-made itinerary. Their response was professional and efficient. My requests for small hotels and transfers by boat and train were happily accommodated. I would have no hesitation in recommending their services.” by BambooPanda
OUR OMAN ADVENTURE
“We found ourselves in a fascinating country where everyone without exception was friendly and helpful. The history is fascinating the Portuguese having played a great part. Stories of the previous Sultan and the input of the present leader show why this is now such a progressive country. Muscat Nizwa Sohar all are special in their own way, the market in Nizwa is not to be missed. We self drove and the desert drive to 1000 nights camp should not be taken lightly they have been obliged to place the camp deep in the desert and the law does not allow for plentiful signing the way is not clearly defined and the hand drawn map leaves a lot to the imagination, once there the drive becomes secondary it,s a magical place. At the moment there is huge investment in infrastructure so there are endless road works and diversions but driving is a pleasure , watch out for strange and sudden changes in speed limits most don,t make sense . Also they have a gift for spelling a place name in numerous ways. Bottom line go there .
Rating for tour operator:” by desert rats
Oman 10 day self drive trip
“Having researched places to go and places to stay I spoke to Eastravel who organised all the logistics of hotel, car and internal flight bookings. All bookings worked smoothly including pick ups and transfers. Had a fantastic time with a 4x4 car travelling around Northern Oman including deserts and mountain off road tracks.
Rating for tour operator:
Organised all logistics really well, with good communications at all stages. I'd be delighted to recommend them.” by Windyday
Best of Burmese days
“friendly colourful and engaging
we were made very welcome by all involved . greeted with smiles and mingalarbar by all. Our guides drivers and reps were all punctual and patient. The accommodation was as good if not better than many we have had all around the world being in beautiful settings and spotlessly clean. First rate adventure.
Rating for tour operator:
Had everything arranged so well . We blinked and our driver and guide were there , never waited once , Although they were patient enough to wait for us and greet us with a mingalarbar and a smile” by draklofgeorge
An Indian adventure
“A fabulous exciting adventure
Bit if a whirlwind ‘tour’ of India travelling from Darjeeling through Delhi and down to Kerala.. Saw many of the famous monuments but also enjoyed meeting the people and seeing how they lived , poor to rich. A huge gulf between those in poverty and those more affluent. Lovely people. Tried different foods. Enjoyed buying some of their goods such as jewels, beautiful rugs and Pashminas. All in all a wonderful experience which went too quickly!
Rating for tour operator:
Right from the planning of the trip to arrival in Delhi everything was very well organised. The reps, guides and drivers all very efficient and obliging. Felt very safe and supported all the way. We so admired the driving. Driving in India’s towns and cities is a challenge to say the least. Cars were comfortable. Drivers/ guides were never late and usually quite early All hotels chosen were very good and a couple quite spectacular.” by Butterfly
Northern Sri Lanka Tour
“A never to be forgotten adventure
We spent 23 days in Sri Lanka. 17 of them with our driver guide Farzan who we cannot speak highly enough of. We covered a lot of the island from Jaffna in the north to Yala , Tangalle in the south and finishing in Bentota. Everything went so smoothly and this being our third year running to some of the properties we were made to feel so welcome. We will be returning as still so much to see.
Rating for tour operator:
East Travel have been amazing over many many years . Planning is probably the best bit of a holiday and can take a while . Many email exchanges , changing various bits until the jigsaw finally comes together and the day the ticket envelope arriving makes it all real. Red Dot the company they use in Sri Lanka are brilliant too” by AP
Laos and Cambodia
“The highlights of the holiday were: • Luang Prabang, which I loved. • The trip from Nong Kiau to Muang Ngoi and the Tham Kang cave. • The old town in Siem Reap, which had a great atmosphere, • Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom – which did not disappoint. I returned to Angkor Wat on my own in the evening, when there were fewer visitors, and much enjoyed it then!
Rating for tour operator:
East Travel was very helpful in recommending the itinerary and making all of the arrangements, and were very patient and extremely responsive in dealing with questions and changes.” by J and H
Vietnam holiday/tour
“We spent 12 days in Phu Quoc, 12 days in Nha Trang and 2 days in Hanoi. The hotels we great and the transfers professionally organised.
Rating for tour operator:
Been using East Travel for over 10 years now, they are always helpful and competitively priced.” by Old Nick
Dubai Beach holiday
“We booked our flights and hotel package through Eastravel. It was a seemless experience and all of the information given about the hotel resort was excellent. The flights were perfect and a car pick up service was organised for when we arrived and departed. The week in Dubai was thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed.
Rating for tour operator:
I have booked a number of tailor maid holidays all over the World through Eastravel and they have always offered a first class, professional service. The whole process of booking with them is painless and all of the holidays that they have organised for me have been fantastic and will be lifelong memories ....” by MeaC
Elephant Hills Elephant Camp
“Magical Thailand tour
We took an accompanied tour from Bangkok around central Thailand and up to Chiang Mai, then headed South to Kao Sok national park and Elephant Hills, finishing with a few days on the beach in Phuket
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel were super-helpful from our first contact, answered all our many queries and were even available for advice while we were on the trip” by Mike K
Bali / Singapore experience
“This holiday involved a 12 stay in 3 different areas of Bali and a final 4 day stay in Singapore. The link agents in Bali in Bali were Panorama, we were met in Bali by local rep, who advised us to take a look at a couple of places before we arrived at our hotel which we reluctantly did, due to long flight travel from U.K. to Bali I felt he was keen for us to spend some money at a couple of tourist attractions like local sherong factory and silver factory. I'm sure he wanted to share local crafts whilst on route to hotel. The locations we stayed at were excellent our favourite location was Gill Meno which was superb experience. We undertook to organised trips with local hosts Panorama, but were good the representatives were very good Particularly Sanglah whose knowledge of traditions and history of temples was very impressive tour B. The only disappointment with tour A was we were expected to access the temple fountain where tourists were given opportunity of entering the temple of youth for the ritual of bathing and washing we advised that we could not undertake this and would need this would need to be arranged separately
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel coordinated everything excellently from UK and details of locations and hotel standards were spot on. We enjoyed Gili Meno stay particularly which Cathy recommended to us. Thumbs up Cathy excellent location” by Bali / Singapore experience
Vietnam & Cambodia adventure
“Visiting multiple destinations in North Vietnam, four days in Siem Reap and eight days in Con Dao Islands returning to UK via Saigon.
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel are the perfect specialist TO. A small friendly company very knowledgable and efficient. They helped us create our dream visit to Vietnam & Cambodia. Documents were clear and the complicated itinerary was tailor made for us. Our fabulous three week holiday adventure went almost exactly to plan. I highly recommend Eastravel.” by NBC
Florida family fly drive
“We flew into Miami as the start point of a two week holiday driving through the Florida Keys. After picking up our hire car at the airport, we made our way to the Holiday Inn in Miami Beach. As well as time relaxing around the pool and on the beach we took a hop on hop off bus tour around the city. Highlights were Little Havana and the Bayside Marina and shopping centre. We left Miami and headed for 2 nights in Key Largo. Enroute we went to the Everglades National Park, the $30 entrance fee giving you 7 days of access. As well as the landscapes we saw alligators, turtles, lizards and a variety of birds, a great spot for nature lovers. The following day we returned to the area for an airboat tour, where we were lucky enough to see more 'gators and turtles. We also took advantage of our 7 day Everglades pass and went for another drive through the park. Next it was on to Islamorada and a stay at the Amara Cay hotel. From here we drove to the Dolphin Research Centre where we had pre-booked a "family splash" session where we got to meet Pax and Talon. The centre rehomes dolphins from other centres or injured animals that can't be returned to the wild and was a great day out. The following day we went on a snorkelling trip, upon arrival at the reef the boat anchored up 100 yards from the reef and required an open ocean swim which was not suitable for younger children. This was a trip we booked ourselves locally and this was not made clear when booked, but our teenage son enjoyed the reef, but our 10 year old did not want to do the swim. The Amara Cay ran a Fish Like a Local session once a week, which took place while we were there so we were lucky enough to spend a couple of hours catching snapper under the tutelage of our very friendly and helpful instructor Patrick, all catches returned to the sea. Patrick also gave us some great local advice, like where to see a manatee in the wild which we managed the following day. The last leg of our trip was to the historic Key West. Here we visited a small but interactive aquarium where we helped at shark feeding time and hand fed manta ray. We visited the oldest house in Key West, had ice creams on Duval Street, went shopping in Mallory Square and watched the sunset from the dockside area. On the advice of our bus driver, we spent a day at Bahia Honda state park, where we hired snorkels and snorkelled from the beach. No corals but plenty of fish which kept us entertained for several hours. After our stay at Key West we headed back to Miami for our flight home, on the way stopping at the Fort East Martello Museum, home of Robert the Doll an apparently haunted toy doll and also called in at the John Pennekamp state park for some more snorkelling from the beach. A night in Miami before flying home.
Rating for tour operator:
We used Eastravel in Ipswich for our trip who we have used several times before and have always provided us with excellent tailor made holidays and offer a very personal service. They work hard to deliver an itinerary that meets your requirements and budget. We highly recommend them.” Mr A
Amazing China
“Our trip to China was to be our retirement holiday of a lifetime so we wanted 2 – 3 weeks that would truly immerse us in the culture and history of the Country and its people. Planning started 18 months in advance but none of the brochures from the specialist companies offered quite what we wanted so we started to wonder if we could afford a bespoke service on our budget. We contacted Eastravel knowing that they specialise in Asia but not really believing that we could get a one to one tour for what we could afford. However, Dorothy Heng totally understood what we wanted to achieve and arranged the perfect experience for us. When we ‘discovered’ Zhangjiajie less than four months before we were due to fly and wanted to rearrange half of our tour, Dorothy took this in her stride, cancelling and rebooking hotels and all of the other arrangements. A tour guide met us at every location and each one spoke good to excellent English. We had a complete range of hotels, as requested, from a new five star hotel to a 200 year old charismatic, traditional hotel in the Beijing Hutongs with a rural, boutique hotel converted from traditional farm buildings on the way.
Rating for tour operator:
We cannot recommend Eastravel highly enough. We are a discerning couple who know what we want and Eastravel delivered this in spades. I would not hesitate to use their quality service again.” Suffolkpigpen
Singapore/Bali/Hong Kong extravaganza
“Our holiday began with an overnight flight to Singapore, arriving late afternoon and transferring to the Marina Mandarin, an hotel we have used on previous occasions and deem excellent. After 4 nights of meeting up with friends and seeing new things, we flew to Bali for a 13 night stay, the first 3 nights at the Maya, Ubud and 10 nights at the Nusa Dua Resort. Bali was fabulous. Both locations were superb and the staff at the resorts were fantastic. We thoroughly recommend them as well as our tour guide from Destination Asia who provided transfers and a guided tour of Ubud and it’s surrounding area. After Bali, we flew to Hong Kong arriving at the Harbour Grand Hotel late at night. As in Singapore, we met with friends and explored the island of Hong Kong. This was my first visit and as such I wanted to explore as much as possible. My wife had traveled to HK as a child and wished to rekindle her distant memories of the place. Needless to say, in the short time we were there we covered a lot of ground. Overall this holiday was one to remember, from the serenity and beautiful people of Bali to the hustle and bustle of Singapore and Hong Kong. Saving like crazy for our next venture.
Rating for tour operator:
We have been using Eastravel for almost 20 years, since being introduced to them by my wife’s parents. I have never had any problems with the company and have always found them to be superb at suggesting itineraries and locations. They are extremely friendly and quickly get a feel for what you want out of a holiday. When I choose my next Far Eastern adventure it will, without a shadow of any doubt, be with Eastravel. Dorothy, Cathy and the rest of the team are like old family friends.” by Stevie G
Borneo and Maldives Family Wildlife Holiday
“Eastravel organised a bespoke holiday visiting the Sabah region of Borneo for 10 days and a 4 day stopover in the Maldives on the way home. The holiday catered for our interest in wildlife and conservation with some slightly more adventurous activities included for the 2 teenage members of the family. We visited an Orangutan and Sun bear sanctuary, stayed in a remote rainforest lodge and saw wild orangutan, monkeys, flying squirrels, lizards, snakes, bats, crocodiles and exotic birds; visited mount Kota Kinabalu, learned about WW2 in Borneo, helped with some conservation in the marine park and had some excellent snorkelling in the Maldives. All the activities and transfers went as planned, the local teams were always on time and very polite and helpful and the guides for the tours, nature walks and rafting were very professional and interesting and did their best to find the wildlife or explain about the plants, people, history or region. A great holiday and lots of good memories from our visit to these two very nice countries.
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel were very helpful in planning and customising our holiday. They were very prompt in responding to any questions; the information, documents and even an app were very clear and professional. Dorothy was very helpful when unfortunate World events meant we had to change most of the initial holiday plans, and she was even in contact during the holiday checking everything was going according to plan and assisting when our luggage got delayed. We would highly recommend the service as it covered everything from the initial queries to checking we were safely back home. We wouldn’t hesitate to use Eastravel next time we holiday in Asia.” by Johnson Family
Amazing Indonesian Honeymoon
“Our trip was from the 23/10/19 to the 17/10/19. We flew from London to Denpasar Bali via KL with Malaysian Airlines. The flights were on time and as comfortable as it gets in economy. The timings worked really well and we slept as much as is possible. We had a few meals on the flights which I found to be nice (I had the more traditional style dishes) but my wife didn't like some of the options and therefore had to go without. All our transfers were via EXO Travel Indonesia who were brilliant (we had the same driver and guide the whole time and they were lovely people who told us about the different regions, events etc. we passed). Our speed boat transfer was with Blue Water Safari which was quick and efficient. We spend the first part of our trip in Ubud, Bali. The Komaneka Bisma is a beautiful hotel with great suites and a nice atmosphere. It's really close to the monkey forest in Ubud as well as cheaper and tastier Warungs along the slightly back road it occupies. The pool and grounds were lovely. Absolutely could not fault this hotel and it's staff, would highly recommend it and we were sad to leave. We then transferred to Karma Reef resort on Gili Meno via Padang Bai. The Karma Reef location is great as it's right on the beach and next to the arrival point (our transfer was to Gili T and the hotel boat picked us up from there). The resort is on the East of the island facing Gili Air and you can snorkel right off the beach. They also put on a band and cinema on the beach which we really enjoyed. The staff once again were great. We stayed in a beach tent which was fun but a little dark and noisy. The sounds really travel on the islands and we were disturbed by the music from the other islands and the mosque call to prayer until we got accustomed to it. The resort has paddle boards to use. We also took a boat trip with one of the local guides from a warung we ate at and saw the few different sites of interest for snorkelling around the island. Loads of good warungs to eat at. The lake wasn't particularly interesting and the dock wasn't safe to access and was barriered off. Walking to the different areas of the island was pretty easy. Lots of wild cats there but they are all friendly. The islands exterior looks pretty lovely but they haven't fully recovered from an earthquake and there is a lot of litter and fly tipping, more so within the interior of the island. Last place we visited was Plataran Menjangan. We had an ocean villa and the room was very nice and clean and comfortable. The loungers and plunge pool were a nice touch and we had monkeys and deer visit us. The key thing about this hotel is that it is completely isolated from anywhere else and takes a very long time to get to. Only one of the restaurants was operating during our visit and the food options were therefore very limited. A lot of the food didn't cater to our tastes and a lot of it was western which defeated the point we thought. We used one of the hotel kayaks and went over to the other side of the river on which the hotel sits. You can't really snorkel at this hotel as you can't swim unless it's from the pontoon. We didn't end up doing a trip to Menjangan island because we didn't feel the price justified the trip and they all included a meal of some kind which we didn't want. All in all an amazing trip with great people, beautiful views and perfect weather.
Rating for tour operator:
I had done some research into areas which we wanted to go on our honeymoon. Eastravel helped us to piece this together and gave us advice about how it would work logistically which really helped us to order things and get our durations correct. Everything went smoothly with the travel and accommodation and booking with them helped remove any stress from it. Thank you so much.” by tommy2b
China Grand Tour
“Informative, exhausting, fascinating, overwhelming, exciting and fun all at the same time
Thanks to the team at Eastravel for organising such a fantastic trip. It was informative, exhausting, fascinating, overwhelming, exciting and fun all at the same time. Pretty much what we were hoping for! Everything went to plan and was extremely well-organised. We particularly loved Pingyao, Guilin, Huangshan and Hangzhou. Our memories include: our introduction to Pingyao by mad golf cart ride; listening to Chinese music at night next to the lake in Guilin; walking on the inside of paths at Huangshan because we’re afraid of heights (until we weren’t); dumplings with chives for breakfast. The Yide Hotel in Pingyao and the Pig’s Inn in Xidi were perfect. It really felt we were in old China. The Ru Yi Boutique Hotel in Hangzhou showed the elegantly, modern side of China and had a fantastic restaurant. If we knew then what we know now, we would have dropped the visits to the Summer Palace, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors. This is entirely due to the sheer volume of other visitors.
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel were extremely good. They helped tailored our holiday to our needs, found just the type of hotel we wanted and overall the trip went to plan and was well-organised.” by Edinburgh Marco Polos
Indochina trip of a lifetime
“Indochina trip of a lifetime
Fabulous trip of 35 days taking in Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao, Thailand and Singapore.
Rating for tour operator:
Great communication before, during and after the trip to help plan and support our journey.” by Phil, 12 Dec 2019
Most AMAZING honeymoon!
“Most AMAZING honeymoon!
Just come back from the holiday of a lifetime and the most amazing honeymoon! We went to Thailand for 2 weeks, starting in Bangkoh, then to Khao Lak, Elephants Hills then ended in Koh Lanta. We honestly couldn't have wished for more! We loved every minute of it!
Rating for tour operator:
Dorothy at East Travel was so helpful throughout and offered us lots of options when booking our honeymoon, to ensure everything was exactly right for us. We loved the personal service and even went into the office to meet with Dorothy to go through every thing just before we booked. We knew we wanted to go to Thailand and with Dorothy's expert advice, we were able to pin point the exact areas we wanted to visit to make the most of our 2 weeks! We were extremely happy with all of the hotels we went too, the transfers in between all went very smoothly, and we absolutely LOVED the East Travel App. It was so handy as a referral point, each morning we would wake up and have a look! Would highly recommend East Travel, and we are already in talks with them to arrange our next adventure!” by Kayleigh Claydon , 20 Jan 2020
Panwa Boutique Beachfront Resort
“Amazing
We stayed in Panwa Boutique Beachfront Resort in Phuket, Thailand. It was a superb location & suited our needs perfectly. As a family group of 7 (grown up kids) it was far enough away from the hustle & bustle, but there was plenty to see & do nearby & just a 40min taxi ride away from the crazy night life.
Rating for tour operator:
Cathy from Eastravel was excellent. I hadn't travelled to Asia before & her advice & recommendations were invaluable. She understood our needs & arranged & booked the flights & hotel on our behalf. The hotel was beautiful & in the prefect location.” by The Manigans 7, 15 Feb 2020
Tailor made Thailand anniversary holiday
“Tailor made Thailand anniversary holiday
2 nights in Bangkok at the Annantara hotel followed by 6 nights at the JW Marriot in Khao Lak to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Rating for tour operator:
East Travel dealt with our requests to an exceptional level. Our transfers were perfect, the hotels had been advised it was our anniversary without our knowledge and some exceptional little touches made a huge difference to the holiday experience.” by Alan, 25 Feb 2020
Exploring Gurajat and Rajasthan
“Great adventure wonderful sights and sounds.
Visited Gujarat and Rajasthan always enjoy India these were just two new areas of a wonderful country.
Rating for tour operator:
Nothing is ever too much trouble and I am famous for giving trouble. Dorothy and her staff have great humour and patience I feel they always have our interest at heart.” by Draklof George, 25 Feb 2020
India Golden Triangle Tour
“Holiday of a lifetime in India
We went on a wonderful adventure in India. Started with exploring Old and New Delhi, followed by a 2 day trip to Varanasi and taking in the amazing Arti ceremony and a morning boat trip on the Ganges. We then travelled to Agra and saw the Taj Mahal- the highlight of the trip. We also went to Rajasthan and Jaipur and visited forts and places of interest and finished the trip with a 5 day stay at a beach resort near Alleppey in the south of India. We stayed in 3 star hotels which were great with really good food. Our driver and guides were really helpful and made our trip totally stress free. The internal flights with Indigo and Vistara were excellent, very nice planes with no delays.
Rating for tour operator:
Dear Dorothy John and I would like to say a huge thank you for organising our amazing trip to India. It was a trip of a lifetime. Everything went seamlessly. Our driver, Mr Singh, who was with us from Delhi airport till we left Jaipur to fly south, was absolutely brilliant. He really looked after us and we felt safe in his car despite the chaos all around!! Our hotels without exception were absolutely great. The Indian people are so nice and friendly. The Taj Mahal took our breath away and all the forts and temples were just amazing. We loved the Arti ceremony and the boat trip at the Ganges - such a special place. Abad Turtle Beach was a lovely place to end our trip. We even managed an afternoon boat trip on the backwaters which was so relaxing. Where on Earth will we go next?? India is going to take some beating. Any ideas??? My sister is thinking about a trip to Japan - do you arrange trips like ours there? Very kind regards to you and your team. Gillian x” by Davis’s, 11 Mar 2020
Exploring Costa Rica
“Exploring Costa Rica
We toured Costa Rica with an itinerary based primarily on wildlife. We moved between five hotels and lodges, taking in the central lowlands, mountains and volcanoes, cloudforest and the coast. The hotels were all very good, and all bookings, transfers and excursions worked perfectly. Guides were knowledgable and informative, particularly in relation to wildlife. The only slight negative was that the travel between some locations was a bit much, given Costa Rica's poor roads and serious traffic problems, particularly around San Jose. Despite this, it was an excellent holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating for tour operator:
The itinerary had been customised for us to reflect our interests , fitness, etc. We have travelled with Eastravel for several years and have got used to well planned and efficient arrangements and quality hotels etc. This trip lived up to these high standards in every respect.” Michael and Cathy, 25 Mar 2020
India Golden Triangle Tour
“What an Experience!
What an experience. India heightens all your senses with its sights, its smells/aromas/, colour, food, and oh my goodness, the way they travel! We made memories we will never forget.
Rating for tour operator:
Eastravel and in particular Dorothy and Angela organised the whole trio amazingly well. They looked after us even before we left by organising travel, visas etc and making sure we had everything we needed before we left. The Vamoos app is also fabulous. We were met at the airport when we arrived in Delhi and from that moment on were never left to flounder on our own. Timings were spot on with tour guides and mini buses always waiting for us. We were really looked after well. The hotels were also spot on. Our guides all spoke fluent English and responded to questions and requests. Atol stands out in particular as a fabulous guide. His knowledge, humour and engagement were faultless. As was our driver, Mr Singh who was with us from Delhi until we flew out of Jaipur. His driving skills were flawless and we felt safe with him at all times. Our next driver who was also Mr Singh! (we called him The Stig!) was more erratic to say the least and we didn't feel very safe in his hands. The last few days of our trip was when Coronavirus hit the world and everywhere started to go into lockdown, including India. At this point my husband and I decided we wanted to come home a day earlier than planned and Dorothy put all the stops out to make this happen. We cannot sing her praises highly enough. Not only did she organise the whole trip very very efficiently she also looked after us while we were out there and kept us safe at all times. She was available 24/7 via Whats App and responded to our every need. Thank you Eastravel.” by Nicola Hicks, 8 Apr 2020
Borneo Beach and Wildlife Safari
“It was due to be amazing!
Unfortunately we were unable to travel to Borneo due to the pandemic, but it was an amazing itinerary and we hope to go in the future.
Rating for tour operator:
Dorothy Heng and her team at East Travel have been brilliant in securing us a full refund of monies paid, and have been in regular contact throughout, we were due to travel early July. We could not have asked for better service, East Travel have been extremely efficient, helpful and very willing to go out of their way to arrange exactly what we asked for, we can't recommend them highly enough.” by Hobberty, 11 Aug 2020
Golden Triangle + more
“Group of 7 on an organised tour, based around our agenda / wish list, Which was timed to co-inside with the Holi Festival. our route was Delhi - Agra - Ranthambore (tiger reserve) Jaipur (incl visits to Elefantastic & the Monkey Temple & to celebrate the Holi Festival) Udaipur - for Palaces/Temples/Lakes Aurangabad - for The Ellora Caves (unfortunately - we were unable to go to The Ajanta Caves - due to India Government closing all attractions due to the Corona Virus ) Then internal flight to Mumbai for our flight home.
Rating for tour operator:
Had previously been on a group trip to China with Eastravel, Ipswich - as that was so well organised, we contacted Dorothy again, to arrange our Indian adventure. Everything was again superb, great hotels/guides/transfers -perfect However, you only get to see how good a company is, is when things don't go so well! Firstly, we all meet up to check in for our Flight - had problems...……….. Dorothy, to the rescue! (late one evening) Secondly - CORONA VIRUS - flight home cancelled by BA …… Dorothy to the rescue AGAIN! Worked overtime to get us all home on alternative flights (incl. finding us hotel rooms at Mumbai Airport - so that we didn't have to wait 16hrs at the airport) Will certainly be using EASTRAVEL for our next big trip.” Leay Tours 25 April 2020
Jogya and Bali Honeymoon
“Rating for this holiday Excellent
Using Eastravel as our agent was the best decision we made. Not only did they come in at around £2,000 cheaper than Thomas Cook and Thomson, they also facilitated private tours in Java and Bali, private transfers to each and every destination as well as selecting the very best hotels regardless of budget. This was a special trip for us, what with it being our honeymoon, and for that we will always be grateful for their efforts.
Panorama we're great from the outset. Literally. It was hard to miss them in their very bright shirts at the airport! We had one particular guide called Agus who went to great lengths to show us everything there was to see in Yogyakarta including introducing us to friends of his who had suggestions of places to see and things to do in our spare time. Although we told people we were going to Bali for our honeymoon, it was the stint in Java that has resonated most with us as it was just such a pleasure and a surprise to be immersed in a drastically different culture - I don't think it would've been as hard-hitting if it hadn't been for Agus' knowledge of the area and his passion for Javanese culture and values.” Danielle Forbes and Christopher Wright
A tour of Southern India
“We have just returned from a 16-day touring holiday of southern India starting our adventure in Bangalore. We then travelled to Mysore, Nagarhole, Ooty, Cochin, the backwaters at Allepey and finished on the beach in Kovalam. We covered some 1,400 Kms and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We experienced everything from the Maharaja's palace in Mysore to tiger spotting in Nagarhole, to Ooty a beautiful hill station, tea plantations, a silk sari factory and at the end a lovely hotel in Kovalam to relax in before coming home. The food was wonderful and the local people quite delightful. All in all a great experience.
Rating for tour operator Excellent
We have been using Eastravel for a number of years now and have always been very pleased with the service that Dorothy and her team provide. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they always go the extra mile to ensure our holidays run smoothly. We would have no hesitation in recommending them.” Lynn and Danny Lachs
Zambia Safari with Victoria Falls
“The Zambian holiday was fantastic. We saw all the animals we wanted to especially the Leopards, several times and close up.
The selected camps were great and suited us well. Throughout the people very exceptionally helpful and friendly. The Robin Pope camps were probably the tightest managed and South Luangwa the best park for seeing lots of animals. Chongwe River is a fabulous location, the management not quite as tight, but nice people and the water activities great. Tongabesi is again a great location, nice and relaxing, very helpful staff and the trips to Vic Falls wonderful, the large private space for each room was exactly what we wanted for a bit of a rest at the end. If I was being picky you could say Tongabesi is becoming a little run down, but nothing that bothered us and the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff was great.
All the arrangements, connections, flights transfers etc worked faultlessly throuhout.” Dave
Truly excellent trip to the Seychelles
“Two stop trip to the Seychelles incorporating a stay on Praslin and Mahe. Fantastic hotels, scenery and food to match.
Excellent service from start to finish. All flights, hotels and trasnfers were left to Eastravel and the whole thing was faultless.” Mr A V 14
Tanzanian Safari
“Our wish was to see as much wildlife as possible during a 9 day visit to Tanzania. We stayed in 3 lodges in different areas and each had great charm and interest.
We have used Eastravel for over 20 years now and are always happy with their recommendations, particularly when we are travelling to a destination for the very first time.” Chris
Amazing from booking to arriving home
“We stayed at the Sunset Palms in Jamaica, Negril. The holiday was simply amazing! Eastravel made it stress free and straightforward for us.
The rooms we spectacular and the balcony served us well for quite a few sunsets. The mini bar is stocked up with whatever you want daily and the gardener brings you fresh coconuts to the balcony. The staff couldn’t help anymore and the food was amazing. Te walk to the beach is 2 minutes max and you are escorted the whole way by the security guards. The beach food was great, the shops along the front were brilliant and anyone who complains about the workers trying to sell you stuff has far too much time on their hands! As soon as we said “we are ok thank you” they nod, wish you a good day and walk on. There was difference night entertainment every evening.
We did quite a few excursions but we used the local taxi drivers mainly. They gave a much better price than the hotel itself and they would always take us to local jerk huts and give a more honest tour guide speech! We did one trip through the hotel and it was without fault, just a bit more pricey than the locals. All in all, it was a very memorable holiday.
Eastravel are very easy to talk to. I think we changed our mind about destination and hotel 4-5 times but each time, it was never too much hassle for them. We dealt with Cathy who was extremely personable and searched high and low for the best deal possible for us and always went the extra mile to meet our requirements.” Sunset Palms Negril - Eastravel
Magnificent Myanmar
“Myanmar is a most beautiful country to visit. So much to see and experience from hot and sticky Yangon and Mandalay to the cooler hill retreats of Hsipaw and Kalaw. We explored the temples of Bagan by bicycle and E-bike, hired a boat for the day at Inle Lake, trekking from Kalaw to list just a few activities. Three weeks just wasn't long enough.
Dorothy and Angela at Eastravel were most helpful in creating a varied and interesting tailor-made itinerary. Their response was professional and efficient. My requests for small hotels and transfers by boat and train were happily accommodated. I would have no hesitation in recommending their services.” BambooPanda
Off the beaten track in Northern Laos
“We wanted a touring holiday visiting the villages of the ethnic people & to see their every day work & lifestyles without the obligatry tourist outlets of imported goods.
East travel arranged for Indo China Services to provide a guide & transport. Our guide understood our requirements precisely & took us to places where we watched a man casting aluminum propeller blades from broken motor bike wheels & another a fishing spear gun from an old umbrella. These were only two items in two weeks of fascinating discoveries.The organization was flawless even though both guide & driver had to contend with minor hiccups such as two major landslip road closures in the mountains.” Bellamy
Myanmar and Thailand 2014
“Dear Dorothy,
Just to let you know that we are back from our wonderful holiday.
Everything seemed to work very well and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and Myanmar lived up to expectations. The first two days in Yangon were very interesting but the crowds at the Shwedagon Pagoda were unbelievable. It was however very impressive. We enjoyed our trishaw ride on the second day and it was interesting to see the other side of the river on a very crowded local ferry. Our guide in Yangon was probably the best we had and she was delightful.
Bagan was very impressive but we had to change the arrangements to travel by minibus instead of bicycle. There was no way that we were all going to be able to manage this! My only complaint was the food in the hotel which was not good. However the rest of them did not agree with me! It was a beautiful hotel but very pretentious in my view - possibly because Obama was due to visit! The excursion to Mount Popa was very interesting and also a chance to see the countryside and the manufacture of all the products from the palm tree. We did not consider the balloon flight when we planned the holiday. I am sure this would have been good but very expensive!
The cruise to Mandalay was truly magnificent and was one of the main highlights of the holiday. The service and food were impeccable and it was very relaxing to watch the world go by. We were actually on the Paukan 1947, which is a beautifully renovated boat built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Scotland,and not Paukan 2007. I think we had the better deal!
Mandalay was very interesting. We had an initial problem with the hotel with the room allocated to us which was was in a dark corner. However they were very helpful and changed this without question. They also found a missing empty canvas bag which we could not find when we left the hotel and got it back to us in Heho through ICS - very impressive service! The visits were interesting but I did not enjoy the visit to the monastery to see hundreds of monks being fed. The river trip to Mingun was interesting and the site very impressive. Pyin o Lwin was something of a time-warp from the colonial era but the market was very vibrant. The botanical gardens were quite spectacular.
Lake Inle was a wonderful experience with a fantastic hotel but we did not have a lake view as promised but the rooms were fine. We thoroughly enjoyed the boat trips and also the day of leisure which Angie and I used for a visit to the Red Mountain vineyard on bicycles. We collectively drank more of their Sauvignon Blanc than you can possibly imagine during our holiday and found it to be very good value.
The last three days at Ngapali were most enjoyable and restful. It is a beautiful place and excellent hotel. We did however have to get our room changed as they put us right at the back of the hotel a long way from the sea in a very poor room (number 041) to start with. The italian manager was most helpful but ICS should be made aware that the initial room was not satisfactory and not ‘deluxe’ in our view.
All internal flights in Myanmar were quite good but the terminals are chaotic and they are strict on size of hand luggage. This is smaller than on international flights. We fell foul of this on the Yangon to Bagan flight. Thank you very much for the lunch in Yangon on our way to Bangkok. It was a very special place.
Bangkok was OK and a charming boutique hotel which is vegetarian and run by a rather eccentric englishman who was very interesting. The Bridge on the River Kwai was very atmospheric as was the war cemetery. The museum was also very interesting.
The traffic in Thailand has to be seen to be believed and it took us nearly two hours to get across town to the Oriental for dinner on the last evening. However the banquet was very special and the dancing very impressive.
It all seems rather drab and dreary now that we are home but we have some very happy memories and lots of pictures!!! The holiday was arranged by Dorothy Heng at East Travel in Ipswich (www.eastravel.co.uk). They were excellent. ” Will
Only one word sums it up 'Stunning'!
“We travelled to Beijing to explore this fascinating city. We marvelled and took in the wonders of the Great Wall of China. We flew to Xian to see the exquisite detail of the Terracotta Warriors. From Tianjin Port we boarded the Sapphire Princess for a wonderful 17 day Grand Asian cruise. We visited six countries including dazzling Hong Kong before leaving the ship in Singapore. Here we experienced the famous 'Singapore Sling' at the Raffles Hotel and ate at the romantic Ku de Ta restaurant at the top of its highest building. We flew to Dubai and took in the stunning view at the top of the Burj Khalifa and finally, flew to Qatar to spend a relaxing week catching up with my daughter before sadly heading home. This was a holiday of a lifetime and one that will always stay with us.
We could not of done this trip without Dorothy and her team at Eastravel in Ipswich. Dorothy's knowledge of this part of the world proved invaluable. When planning the holiday she guided us through the many possibilities with expertise and patience! It seemed as though we were her only client. By the time we had our itinerary and tickets in our hands, I felt we had made a true friend. One I wanted to take with us, as how could we cope without her! All visas, flights, hotels, limousines, guides and trips arranged worked without one hitch. Thank you so much Dorothy and her wonderful team at Eastravel, we will be back.” Susie W, Kirton, Suffolk
Utterly awesome - wonderful hotels, excellent people and inspiring things to see and do
“We travelled to Bangkok and Myanmar. Within Myanmar, Eastravel arranged a perfect itinerary for us. The hotels were very centrally located and allowed us easy access to the places we were visiting. We like to travel independently and not feel restricted and in this respect we were utterly delighted. The hotels were comfortable and often boutique in style which suited us perfectly. The places Eastravel recommended for us to visit were excellent and provide a fine balance between days spent indulging in culture and history with relaxation whether that was in the form of a meander through markets or a lazy day on the beach.
We have built an excellent relationship with Eastravel over the years and always turn to them for help whenever we are planning to travel East from the UK. They understand our requirements and offer a tailored solution. We work together to form a trip that goes way beyond the packages that most other operators offer. What's more, whenever I've needed to call on Eastravel's support whilst I've been away, they have been absolutely amazing in their response. I highly recommend their service.” Maz
A creative itinerary though Myanmar
“For the first week we travelled through the south of Myanmar, based at Moulmein and Hpa-An, getting between the two places by boat up the Salween river.
Then back to Yangon and an internal flight to Bagan, then up the Ayerawaddy to Mandalay. Side excursions from both these bases included Mount Popa and Pyin Oo Lwin. A flight to Heho and a night at Kalaw was followed by a two day trek ending at Inle Lake, Then a flight to Thandwe and four nights at Ngapali Beach.
As well as learning so much about the country, and finding people very easy to talk with, we explored by water and on foot, snorkelled, caved, and most memorably ate a lot of wonderful Burmese food. We didn't know what to expect - it is a relaxed, friendly and safe place, exotic and unspoiled.
Lots of consultation ensured that our personal tastes for accommodation and programme were met. We knew next to nothing about Myanmar when we planned the holiday, and when we arrived we realised how well Dorothy had done in her choices for us. The local tour operator was obviously an excellent choice as our guides were a lot more informative and capable than those with other travellers. It was a complicated itinerary but it was all arranged very efficiently. The only slight hitch, where one item of our luggage didn't arrive, was speedily resolved without our having to do anything. Full marks to Eastravel.” Fiona
Another Eastravel Triumph
“We have used Eastravel for many years and their handling of queries and attention to even the smallest detail is superb. Eastravel put a great deal of effort and expertise into helping us plan our itinerary and their input is invaluable. The accuracy and presentation and reliability a of all documentation cannot be faulted. The quality of all the accommodation is excellent. We find that Eastravel provide not only excellent value for money but a truly exceptional personal service. All our trips have definitely met if not exceed our expectations. Memorable experiences are numerous but we especially cherish the time we spend with the many friends we have met on our travels. Eastravel offer an exceptional personal service that is second to none.” LIBBY B
Perfect experience
“Eastravel as usual came up trumps. Brilliant flights and perfect ground arrangements. Despite this being a quite short trip to S. Africa it was made so easy and relaxing staying at some elegant lodges along the way. Could not have been bettered especially and very good value. Really excellent selection of lodges along the way and our driver/guide was knowledgeable and top rank. Experience counts.” SA perfect