from an agent called Dream Destinations/Sikkim Hills Travels. I specifically asked for a good comfortable SUV since we will be spending a lot of time on the road. I also requested that the hotels be 3 or 4 stars with deluxe rooms since there were kids and elderly. I also asked 100 times about travelling during elections. I was assured that everything will be taken care of and there was nothing to worry about. Here is our experience Hotels - The first hotel we stayed was Mandarva in Gangtok and it was good and just what we asked for. Clean, neat and good breakfast. We also had a lovely view of the city from our window. Unfortunately, it was in a residential area with no hotels or anything else nearby. It was too far from the shops/restaurants like MG Marg. In Sikkim, the sun sets by 5.30 pm and in the summer, it also rains heavily in the evening. So, taking a taxi and going out in the wet, dark hilly area is not really an easy option. So, we asked for a hotel that was close to MG Marg. They changed it to Pearl Retreat which was an older/ok ok hotel. However, they were kind and accommodative of my request to keep food ready on a day when we got stranded and returned pretty late. The worst hotel we stayed was a place called ‘Daksha’ in Pelling (Naming and Shaming here very intentionally). It was dirty, unhygienic and chaotic with clueless staff and run like a hostel forget deluxe standards here. Basic was also so terrible. We found out bed linen had hair, dirt marks and dust all over. They gave us a room without dusting, same old linen and a wet bathroom. Also, on the 3rd floor and no lift. I didn’t even want to stay there for 1 night! The other hotels were passable or okay. Cab and Driver – Spending a minimum of 4-5 hours in the car is unavoidable in Sikkim. As per our request we were given a nice SUV (a XUV 700 with sun roof) The car was comfortable most of the time and our driver was also a young local who drove really well and carefully in the mountain roads. However, on day 3, while returning to Gangtok from Lachung, the vehicle had some challenges with pickup/driving up the hill and we got delayed very badly. We had been awake from 6 am that morning visiting Zero point/Yamthang valley which were at high elevation and 3 of us had altitude sickness and had not eaten anything for hours. We found that the driver and the travel agents were more interested in sorting their vehicle rather than helping us figure out a way to get to Gangtok. I finally had to intervene ask for another vehicle to pick us up. Keep in mind, Sikkim is sparsely populated. The place we were stuck had no humans, lights and it was raining making the roads very muddy and dangerous. We got back late to the hotel after spending nearly 16 hours that day in the car with a very sick child. A nightmarish night ride where I was hoping and praying my child doesn’t get severe dehydration. Our driver for Darjeeling local sightseeing was another local driver and he refused to come to our hotel (Taksa Retreat) and wanted us to climb up the road. We explained to him that my mom and child were tired after climbing and walking so much every day. He was very reluctant, unhappy and had to be coerced by the travel agent to pick us up at the lobby. Our last leg of the journey was travel to Bagdogra from Darjeeling. Our flight was at 2.45 pm and we left Darjeeling at 10 am. It was the last day of election campaigning in WB and there were 2 massive political rallies at Darjeeling District and Siliguri. Neither us nor our driver had any clue about this. We got redirected by the police and paramilitary personnel multiple times and we had to take different diversions in the hills. Then as if the cup of woe has not run over, our SUV got a flat tire. By them time we repaired it and reached the airport, the staff refused to board us as they had closed the gates. But this is what disappointed me the most - I had requested our driver to wait for few mins after dropping us, in case I need help with getting dropped at a hotel. We were 3 women alone in an unfamiliar place and I was getting stressed about the possible options/safety in case we miss the flight. Our driver chose to leave, and he gave my number to a random driver in the taxi stand to help us. This guy was with us for a whole week, and we treated him well, but I guess he was in a hurry to go back to Gangtok rather than worry about people whose trip and tips are done. Luckily, the taxi driver turned out to be a nice person and dropped us at the hotel as requested. He mentioned that most taxis/drivers cancelled their trips to Darjeeling because of the political rallies. They also informed their clients who wanted to leave Darjeeling to leave early in the morning to avoid road closures and diversions. I really wish our Driver/Travel agent had done some check on this and updated us. Travel Agent – As soon as we landed, our travel agent mentioned that they had made some changes in our itinerary and that instead of Nathula Pass, we will be doing Yumthang Valley first. We were okay with that since we knew that traveling in Sikkim means being flexible and being okay with unpredictability. However, this seemed to be only applicable for tourists and not the travel agents. I requested that we post pone Nathula pass for a day after our nightmarish road travel back from Lachung and since everyone was sick. They expected us to do 2 consecutive days of heavy road trips to high altitudes. They made a huge fuss about cancelling and changing hotel plans and basically put all the extra charges on us. The manager Mr. Deepak was extremely rude and told me “You are already getting so much personalized services for the money you paid”. I really think that the package (which was hotels + ground Transport + personalised service) was not value for money especially the hotel accommodations. Not to mention the goof ups in getting permits to Northern Sikkim. My name was conveniently left out of the permit, and we could go only because of the military personnel being accommodative. (So much for personalized service!) However, Mr. Abhishek Thapa who was my SPOC and coordinated the whole trip for me was always polite, helpful and checked in on us morning and evening every day. I really appreciate that he was able to keep his composure and help us in the best way he can. May be in couple of months, all that has happened might become an interesting titbit/travel anecdote to share with others. But right now, I am quite bugged and feel very unhappy that we had to get so distressed during the holiday, especially at the end of it. Not to mention the extra money that we had to shell out again for tickets and accommodation. As for the travel agent/package we took – I am not so sure. I would have liked to give them the benefit of doubt, but in my interactions with them, I sensed that they were more interested in making their profit than worry about the customer’s well-being or experience.

Darjeeling joy train ride, tiger hill View of Kanchenjunga

to call and take feedback. Our driver was a gem of a person. He not only took us to right places but also helped us in identifying right time, place and food to satisfy our hunger. Always on time without reminder.Hotels location rooms and staff was also very good. And finally the people of Sikkim, great host, ambassador of peace, happiness and hospitality. Their every expression, action and reaction was Happiness Personified.

al . Need to mention the amazing driving skills of Mr.Umesh who was with us for our Darjeeling trip. But due to rain could not cover few places .Only drawback was hotel room in Darjeeling it was very small but the hotel service and food was good. We experienced snowfall and heavy rain in Nathula pass was bit scared but the drive was amazing totally memorable experience.

nshot of the call logs. Baba mandir tour.

rnary but still it was not covered after taking extra money. Agent never received calls and responded to messages after getting full money. Highly disappointed with dream destination services.

ke and ( ropeway) and Sunrise and Tiger hill was just mesmerizing...

the hotel stay in lachung ( divine elite zong hotel ) was very average without even basic amenities like electricity . On the day of pelling visit we requested the cab to be sent early as we wanted to cover char dham as well , still they sent the cab two hours late and also a smaller vehicle when i had specifically requested to be given bigger vehicle on all days . because of which we missed sight seeing in pelling . Despite their shortcoming the local agent ( Rapti ) demanded extra payment at the end of the day and threatened us that she will not send the cab for our airport drop the next day . it was very difficult for us as pelling is not a place to get alternate cab easily . And i had to contact their manager at the head office to sort out the issue , i am thankful to mr surath mukherjee for the same . the cab given to lachung was very dirty also .destination was wonderful , trip was good however this incident with the local agent left a bitter taste in our experience .

ptwith our GST number which was promised to be delivered on 1st April. All locations where good and enjoyed all the trips.

t our trip. In one occurrence a tour operator threatened to pay more money. If we did not pay he said he would not provide a taxi for sightseeing in Darjeeling. I paid 2000 extra to get the service as we do not want to sit in the room Below are the troubles he created for us. 1) Tour operator completely changed our itinerary without informing us. I have all hotel bills which we stay and it is not as per our required itinerary. 2) He is not reachable and did not respond to phone calls on Sunday night (24-Mar) and Monday (25 Mar). As he is not reachable and we do not have any other option, we are forced to visit Gangtok local sightseeing in the rain only. 3) As he changed the itinerary we missed the trip to Changu lake and baba mandir. If the plan is as per our wish permits are approved and we could have visited these places. 4) He threatened to pay more money (Rs 4000). He threatened us saying if we did not he wouldn't provide cab service for Mirik and Darjeeling sightseeing. We paid 2000 to get the service. 5) He changed the hotel from "Rufina Lachung Deezong" to "Royal Lachung". Operator informed us about this hotel change just before reaching the lachung. It is the worst hotel. It does not have any facilities. No one is available to provide breakfast or any other service. No electricity, TV and Wifi. 6) Operator did not make hotel reservations prior. He forced us to shift to another hotel in Darjeeling after 2 nights. New hotel is very far and we need to climb 80 steps to reach the hotel. 7) He is very rude and not reachable most of the time. Whoever answers the call from his company they say we do not have any information or control in any of the hotel reservations or cab booking. 8) Operator is from Siliguri but he mentions in travel triangle from Gangtok. People go on holiday to have peace of mind and enjoy the trip. We went on the trip believing in the Travel Triangle and tour operators. We had a terrible experience and do not have words to express our pain and agony. We suggest never book any trip from tour operator if you want to have peaceful and happy tour.

, they refused to provide hotels and room category discussed. The reason shared was rates have increased. They should have checked before finalising the quote with the Guest 2. On site experience with the travel agent was not at all good - They were not transparent at all and provided wrong information in the voucher 3. In the voucher locations were marked based on different weather - For ex. Valley of Flowers is not really valley of flowers but a valley of snow at this time of the year (should have guided the guest to pick up some other location) 4. Usually, it is travel agent's responsibility to pick guest and make proper arrangements to make them reach to the destination. Due to land slide (which we had no clue) they asked for additional money (no where in the voucher it was stated) 5. Locations to visit usually are pre-paid and tickets are managed by the travel agent - that is what I have always used with Travel Triangle but this was totally opposite. Every location I was supposed to buy tickets 6. We cancelled the Lachung trip midway - Driver continuously harassed us that he will drop us in midway as Trip 2 Hill is not paying them entire amount due to mid way cancellation. They have not returned anything to us. 7. Due to mid trip cancellation I requested them to book a hotel for one additional night in Gangtok, they provided me a hotel which is very far off and had never served guests before (we were their first client to serve dinner, they had no proper arrangement for Breakfast even). Overall very bad experience working with Trip 2 Hill

coordination at all, which creates lot of confusion, even travel agent asking money, can service member also asking money. If travel agent team coordinates properly, many of things would be solved

imings from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for civilians. 2. Not sending the car as per pre agreed in last day. 3. Daily changing the cab inspite of advance booking. 4. Cab interchange in mid way of the route. Nathula Pass Visit, Tsongmo Lake, Baba Mandir, Ravangla Buddha Park, Zero Point Lachung

ormed mr. Yogesh same time during check in at the hotel