Ho Chi Minh City Family Packages

After much research and discussion, we decided to do a Sikkim Darjeeling family trip in April. I decided to use travel triangle to find good quotes and finally went with an 8 day/7-night package 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.

Trip was very well organized and managed by Emily, Tina and the team from Cambodia. There were issues with VISA for an incorrect Passport Number, however Tina was very helpful in getting the Approval Letter for VISA on Arrival. The organizers(Emily and Tina) + the Tour Guides in all places (Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia) were great + Locations + Arrangements were spot-on and excellent.

Service rendered by Diu travels is excellent Staying at Narmada tent city 2 is a memorable one

Hi we had a very bad experience in below from House of travel for the trip to Singapore and Malaysia 1)Coach from Singapore to Malaysia Starmart is the worst one and very local vehicle they had given 2) Sentosa they have not planned well its less than half a day planned which is not enough 3) They changed the itinerary on the last day of travel to accomodate other plan as per other travellers which we never agreed for but we dont have any option left out to accept becauase complete payment is done 4) Good thing is Nam ho land agent had done his part pretty good except above Thanks Vijayganth d

Overall trip experience was "above average" or "3.5/5 -star rating". Some good things - - The arrangement during the trip was good. Guides were mostly on time, pickups from airport were on time - Hotels were good, no real complaints on that front Things that could have been better - - While communicating needs of trip, I think some miscommunication happened and I believe fitting "dan ang and bana hills" in the trip could have been great (maybe even if it meant removing ho chi minh). Talking to other travellers there, I realised those were the more touristy place - I had mentioned that it's our honeymoon trip and first international trip as couple. Any small gesture with regards to that (like maybe decoration or dining) would have been great. Of course, I didn't push on arranging anything so I don't mind as such. Halong bay trip was mentioned as "romantic and intimate dinner" but it was just a simple dining hall setting with all travellers sitting together. - Some tour buses were a bit uncomfortable / crowded, I have left feedbacks for them accordingly - A bit more proactive communication from TripNexa's side regarding weather, currency exchange, popular dishes there etc, would have been good. Anyway, I had pinged Shruti or you in cases where I needed inputs.

Recently we went to Thailand (Pattaya (Coral Island), Phuket (Phi Phi Island & James Bond Island) & Bangkok (City Temple & Safari World)). Great experience booking with Navigatio Asia Holidays very co-operative even provided suggestions for the entire trip by Parul and even added a person on the last minute. Parul, Tarun and the entire ground team were very helpful and supportive throughout the trip. Updates were given on daily basis. In short everything was excellent. Will recommend to book your Thailand trip with this team Thanks a lot to the Navigatio Asia Team for the memorable trip.

Entire stay was awesome. We were unable to visit city palace at Jaipur due to some local festival. It would be great if the travel agency have such information and inform tourists in advance so that we can plan our day itenary accordingly. Rest all is good

in oral conversation with the agent, they informed us that they will provide guide to the city tour. but they dint send any guide to the city tour. the cab driver who was attended us for the city our is too bad, he just roamed in the city with a 60 km speed and completed the tour in just 60 min of drive, how can a person visualize the new area in the vehicle which is travelling in 60 km speed ?

Well Co ordinated , timely pick up drop , one suggestion city tour can be much better planned , should include local Indian temples which are the base for vibrant Singapore Loved the cruise and zoo

Our interaction with Alice from Namaste Vietnam was exceptional. She exuded warmth, proactivity, and genuine kindness throughout our journey. Alice effectively coordinated and communicated all tour and guide details, even being available at midnight for any concerns that arose. Her personal touch was evident as she made sure to meet and greet us before our departure and offered suggestions for additional places to visit when we had free time. When we encountered a flight delay in our second city, Alice swiftly adjusted our plans, demonstrating remarkable flexibility and dedication to ensuring our trip ran smoothly. Regarding accommodations, all the hotels were ideally situated, allowing us to explore the cities easily on foot. Our travel itinerary, covering three cities starting with Hanoi, then Danang, and finally Ho Chi Minh City, was meticulously planned. Each destination offered unique experiences, from exploring Ha Long Bay to visiting pagodas and marble mountains in Danang, and finally, discovering the Cu Chi tunnels and Mekong Delta in Ho Chi Minh City. The tour guides in each location were exemplary, always punctual and ensuring there was never a dull moment during our excursions. In terms of constructive feedback, it's worth noting that Vietjet Airlines consistently experiences delays, which could impact travelers' plans and schedules. Additionally, while the Cu Chi tunnels were a fascinating visit, some travelers might consider Mekong Delta as optional, as it may not align with everyone's interests. Overall, our experience with Namaste Vietnam exceeded our expectations, thanks to Alice's outstanding service and the well-planned itinerary that allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty and culture of Vietnam. One of the most cherished aspects of our journey was the genuine warmth of the people we encountered. Immersing ourselves in their rich history provided profound insights and appreciation. We relished the culinary delights of vegan restaurants, while the breathtaking beauty of Ha Long Bay and the serene atmosphere of My Khe Beach left lasting impressions. Exploring pagodas offered moments of tranquility. strolling through vibrant night markets added an element of excitement. Thanks to the diverse eateries, our days were filled with delightful culinary experiences. Moreover, engaging with fellow travelers added an extra layer of joy to our adventure. Overall, the trip was a tapestry of unforgettable moments, blending cultural exploration, culinary delights, and meaningful connections with new acquaintances.