Sri Lanka Holiday Testimonials & Reviews

I have just returned from the Serendib in Bentota, Sri Lanka and had a fantastic holiday and was wondering when I could rebook?

Mr T Marnock, Tyne and Wear

Club Palm Bay, Marawila

I went to Sri Lanka with you in May and had a lovely holiday.

Vincent Tracey, Cheshire

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

We have just come back from Sri Lanka & Dubai and would like to thank your company for a fantastic holiday. We will use your company for any future holidays, Thank You.

Mr Allmett, Cornwall

The Sands, Kalutara

My partner and I just returned from a fabulous 2 weeks in the Ramada Resort Kalutara Sri Lanka. We'd absolutely love to go again and enjoyed traveling with Mercury.

Shellie, London

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

Dear Staff at Mercury Direct,

Thank you so much for our wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka (8th-26th Sept). The organisation of the optional tour (we did the 8 days) was great as was the choice of hotels. The 10 days at The Royal Palms Beach Hotel was excellent. We can't tell you how much it all enhanced our Golden wedding celebrations. We have booked 5 weeks in Malta in January with Mercury Direct and know we are going to enjoy that holiday too. Once again our very many thanks and best wishes.

Peter & Audrey Kershaw, Harrogate

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

Dear Madam,

My family have just returned from a 3 week holiday in Sri Lanka. The second that we have booked with you in the past 2 years.

I write this letter in the hope that your Mercury Rep (Tissa) in Sri Lanka receives the recognition and thanks for the excellent service we have received from him last year at The Palms Beruwela and this year at The Royal Palms Kalutara. Particularly this year as i was forced to return home early due to a family illness. Having rung him late at night to sort out arrangements to the airport, he was back in contact within 15 minutes having arranged pick up and transfers.

I know my husband thanked him in person on my behalf because the family stayed on to complete their holiday, but i hope Mercury Direct can find some way of recognising the excellent service he provides for your guests at the resorts. and to inform him that we have written in to you.

Mr & Mrs Macdonald, Worcester

Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo

Have just returned from holiday in Sri Lanka and would like to say how brilliant it was. We stayed at Browns Beach which for the money was of brilliant value. We shall be using your services in the future.

Richard Hubbard, Kent

Tangerine Beach, Kalutara

Dear Sir / Madam, I have just come back from a fantastic holiday with Mercury at the Tangerine Hotel, Kalutara. My flight was with Qatar Airways. I have travelled with other airlines but Qatar is the best. As you know I am disabled and needed airport assistance; Qatar made everything so easy for me ! . As to the hotel it was one of the best I have ever stayed in the staff, food and rooms was top class! the ambeance of the Hotel was first class + I was given every assistance by the staff at all times including cooking meals for my special diet ! The room boys kept the rooms spotless with fresh bed linen every day and towels twice a day. I stayed from 1/06/08 to 22/06/08 , I would recommend this Hotel and Mercury to my friends !. I am going to Malta with you over xmas and new year and I am looking forward to yet another fantastic holiday.

Yours Sincerly

Dave Evans

Emerald Bay, Induruwa

Dear Sir/Madam We are writing this letter from the Rydges Hotel to say how pleased we have been about the arrangements for our holiday.

The Emerald Bay Hotel proved to be very friendly, homely and comfortable. The food was excellent, staff efficient and really warm and welcoming. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The Rydges has been a touch of extra luxury at the end of our holiday.

We find Mercury really accommodating as regards the flexibility of doing your own thing for part of the holiday, which really suits us well. No other company we have approached have been willing to do this. From the first our booking was dealt with efficiently and reliably -

Gonia your representative who made the arrangements for us, was excellent - really helpful and efficient. Thank you for enabling us to have a really enjoyable and worry free holiday. We will have no hesitation in recommending you and using Mercury again.

Yours truly

Mr and Mrs Trembeth, Devon

Dear Mercury Direct,

'CONGRATULATIONS'

Having just arrived back in the UK after spending the last 2 weeks of sheer bliss, in what must be considered the nearest thing to paradise, my wife and I feel it our duty to express our thanks and gratitude to yourselves, and all others involved for making our Sri Lankan Holiday the most enjoyable experience ever. On our arrival we were greeted by 'Niluk', who for the first 4 days was to be our tour guide , he was all that and more. The places visited were described fully by someone with immense knowledge and who is obviously proud of his country. Special thanks to the hotels and their staff.

Firstly to the 'SIGIRIYA VILLAGE' (room 143), although spending only 2 nights there we were treated like royalty, it was truly delightful.

Secondly to the 'KOSGODA BEACH' (room 110), we thought the first hotel was the pinnacle and everything that followed would be inferior, how wrong we were!!. For ten days and nights we were pampered by everyone, our roomboy (Rasika), the gardens, the pool attendants, the waiters, the security and bar staff, the receptionists, the manager should thank them all and give himself a huge pat on the back, they were all magnificent. Please pass on our comments.

We look forward to our next visit.

Yours Sincerely

Mr & Mrs Reed, West Yorkshire

Dear Sirs,

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka and would like to say how impressed we were with all your travel arrangements. Our driver/guide Sarath Samarasinghe for the first week was excellent. He took us to all the sites mentioned in your itinerary and allowed and helped us birdwatch on the way. He was always punctual, courteous and very helpful in every way. The hotels were all first class with outstanding service in every one. Our only little grumble was 'the near by eco site' at the Club Palm Bay was 20 miles away and we had expected to be able to walk there. We have no hesitation in recommending your company to our friends and relatives and we look forward to travelling with you in the future.

Once again 'Thank you'.

Yours faithfully

Mr & Mrs Fine, West Yorkshire

The Palms, Beruwala

Dear Mercury Direct,

Just a quick mail to let you know how much we enjoyed our holiday in Sri Lanka, which we booked with you at very short notice following the cancellation of our planned holiday to Kenya.

All to often we are all quick to complain, but neglect to praise when we are satisfied, we therefore compose this e-mail with much pleasure. Please ensure that all staff involved in dealing with the above booking receive our thanks for the prompt, efficient and polite service we received when dealing with our telephone enquiry regarding the flights, Sri Lanka, transfer and the hotel we were planning to stay at, we were impressed with their knowledge.

Following the booking of our holiday on the Internet, everything proceeded as smooth as clockwork. At both Colombo and Heathrow airports, we collected our e-tickets (a new experience to us) with the minimum of fuss, and were looked after very well in Sri Lankan Airways on the long flights. On arrivals at 0500hrs into Colombo Airport we were met by the cheerful Mercury Direct representative and escorted to our modern air-conditioned minibus for transfer to The Palms Hotel in Beruwala by a careful considerate driver.

We were absolutely delighted with all aspects of the hotel, accommodation, food, cleanliness, but most of all by the fantastic management and staff. Nothing was ever to much trouble and their determination to ensure we enjoyed our stay was highly commendable. We would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel.

Your resort representative was knowledgeable and efficient, a credit to your company. The transfer back to Colombo Airport and flight home were once again impressive. Once again, please accept our sincere thanks for saving our winter break and for providing such a quality service at superb value for money. We do hope to travel with you again.

With kind regards

Mr Denham & Mrs Myers, Kent

The Sands, Kalutara

Dear Mercury Direct,

I am writing to thank Mercury Direct for the lovely holiday we had in Sri Lanka. My Husband and I stayed at the Ramada Resort in Kalutara, The Ramada resort was wonderful. You woke up each morning to well kept gardens palm trees and the Indian Ocean. All the Staff were extremely pleasant and helpful and couldn't do enough for you to make our stay welcoming. We were there for 25 days and honestly couldn't find any fault during our stay.

The room was spotlessly clean and I would say one of the nicest we have stayed in, as we have travelled all over the world in many hotels. Each evening clean beach towels were brought to our room for the next day, and in the morning the man would get us a sun bed place our towels on it, nothing was too much trouble for him, and when he wasn't too busy he would stop and talk to you about England.

We do hope you keep this holiday in your brochure, as we would thoroughly recommend the Ramada Resort.

Mary Hanks, Nuneaton

Dear Mercury Direct, I would like to thank you for what was a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka.

I was met at the airport by my personal tour guide who was extremely polite, knowledgeable, friendly, gave superb customer care and a safe driver. The tour was really well managed and I saw some wonderful sites. I cannot fault the hotels that I visited; all the hotels gave superb customer service, especially the Sigiriya Village Hotel. All the hotels gave good service, great food and nice touches such as flowers and good bye messages left on the bed. Fellow tourist I spoke to also have had praise for Mercury Direct. I hope to use Mercury Direct again in the future.

Once again, my thanks for a really well managed and wonderful holiday.

Yours sincerely

Mr G Rapley, Kent

Dear Mercury Direct,

My wife & I have today returned from our tour / hotel stay in Sri Lanka. We both feel that it was a superb holiday & outstanding value, especially given the very difficult conditions that exist there at present. Thank you for our 2nd holiday with you (Malta a few years ago).

Best Wishes.

Mr & Mrs Wilkinson, Worcestershire

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

Dear Sir,

We have just returned (6th Feb) from a fortnight at the Royal Palms Beach Hotel in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. This letter is just to say we had a wonderful holiday the hotel was excellent and the staff couldn't do enough for you. I would certainly recommend this hotel and am looking forward to receiving next year's faraway holiday brochure.

Yours Sincerely

Mrs Beatty, Tyne and Wear

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

Dear Sir,

We know that customers can be quick to criticise when they feel that a holiday has not lived up to their expectations. Having recently returned from Sri Lanka and Oman after booking with you we feel compelled to write and tell you what a wonderful experience our whole holiday was. The representatives who met us at airports, the drivers and the hotel reps, could not have been more helpful, everyone was on time and went out of their way to make our holiday enjoyable.

In Sri Lanka we stayed at the Ramada which was a delightful and relaxing experience with excellent facilities and a wonderful staff. We spoke to many visitors who, like us, were new to Mercury Direct and all were having a most enjoyable time in a quality hotel with excellent facilities and very appetising food. When we moved on to Oman the Crowne Plaza hotel was again excellent with Andreas the Gulf Venture rep, going out of his way to arrange the visits we requested on our short stay.

The Rydges Plaza used for our overnight break in Dubai was also a top quality hotel. We will have no hesitation in recommending Mercury Direct to our friends and colleagues, and look forward to travelling with you in the future.

Your sincerely

John and Liz McCarthy, Shropshire

Dear Sir/Madam,

We have just returned fro our first holiday with 'MERCURY' for our holiday to 'SRI LANKA'. We had never taken a 'tour' prior to our fortnights holiday before and boy did it work for us and what a way to travel, in a private car, chauffer driven everywhere, and your very own personal guide (his name was 'SUN HILL'!) The hotels were definitely 'hand picked', they couldn't be more pleasing to us and extremely friendly. The Sigiriya Village Hotel was pure luxury in a beautiful setting. The Topary had spectacular views over Kandy. The Club Palm Garden - right on the beach. 'PERFECT' - what more could you ask for?

The trips were a little tiring, but on reflection - Wonderful!

Mercury Direct Will certainly feature in our upper most thoughts when contemplating a future holiday! Once again, from start to finish - TRULY WONDEFUL. Thank you.

Mr Smale and Mrs Pearson, Cheshire

Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo

Just a big thank you for the service you supplied my partner and I on our holiday to Sri Lanka and stop over in Dubai. The hotel in Sri Lanka (Browns Beach) was lovely and the staff couldn't do enough for us. What a great holiday, then to Dubai (The Marco Polo), we thought we couldn't be bettered by another hotel but was proved wrong, the Marco Polo exceeded our expectations, magic staff lovely food, upgraded our room because of work being done on the pool and our own minibus to take us and pick us up from the beach. Also special thanks to your rep at Dubai airport who had collected our luggage off the carousel and was waiting for us. I thought I just had to say THANK YOU for a holiday of a lifetime.

Mr Dawson, Manchester

The Palms, Beruwala

Just to let you know that we had a really lovely time on our recent visit to the Palms (Sri Lanka). The food was really good, even laying on a choice of set meals instead of a buffet when the hotel had few guests for lunch. The staff where really helpfull too. Sri Lanka is a great place with loads of exciting trips and wonderful people. A safari to Yala park was something different to the usual temples and elephant trips. We had a great flight with Emerates and on the outward flight we even flew on the new Airbus 380 ! Well done Mercury.

Mrs J Milton, Watchet

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

I write this letter in the hope that your Mercury Rep 'Tissa' in Sri Lanka recieves the recognition and thanks for the excellent service we have recieved from him last year at 'The Palms' last year and this year at 'The Royal Palms'.

I was forced to return home early due to a family illnes, having rung him late at night to sort out arrangements to the airport, he was back in contact within 15 minutes having arranged pick up and transfers.

I hope Mercury Direct can find some way of recognising the excellent service he provides for your guests at the resorts, and to inform him that I have written to you.

Mrs MacDonald, Worcester

The Sands, Kalutara

I would like to commend Tissa, your representative at the Ramada Resort. We had to return to the UK at short notice and Tissa dealt with our issue promptly, courteously, sympathetically and in a professional manner. He managed to arrange flights back to the UK that night. By making this arrangement we made it home in time, we are extremely grateful that we were able to return home. Please pass our utmost thanks and best wishes to Tissa, to whom we are very grateful.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr Smith, Glasgow

Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo

I have just returned from a wonderful relaxing holiday at the Browns Beach Hotel in Negombo, Sri Lanka. I am taking this opportunity to thank you for your service. This was the first holiday with Mercury Direct and i hope it certainly will not be the last.

The hotel was very clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

The rep gave us plenty of information on trips and tours.

Myself and wife thouroughly enjoyed this holiday and will certainly recomend mercury to friends and family.

Mr Sheppard, Blackwood

Heritance Ahungalla, Ahungalla

Having just returned from our holiday in Sri Lanka and Dubai, my friend and I feel we really have to write and congratulate you on your excellent service. It was the first time we had travelled with your firm and from the word go everything ran like clock work and we consider it excellent value for money. The flight with Emirates was one of the best.

We were greeted warmly by your agent in Sri Lanka and although we only had this driver for two days a replacement driver was with us by 9am the next morning and was both a good driver and very well informed on all the history and culture of his island.

All of the Hotels we stayed in were good and the staff friendly and always smiling.

Our two nights in Dubai were very much enjoyed and the tour we decided to take was very informative and we made the most of our time there.

Having now experienced the efficiency of Mercury Direct and your agents we would have no worries about travelling with you again in the future and we shall certainly recommend you to our friends.

Mrs Keen and Mrs Knight, Cheltenham

Tangerine Beach, Kalutara

We have recently returned from our first holiday with you and thought we had to let you know how very satisfied and happy we were with your company. We arrived back on Good Friday from Dubai which was a three night extra after a fortnight in Sri Lanka and every step of the 19 day holiday went very well. The arrangements from the first day at Heathrow to the last day back at Heathrow went perfectly. The tour companies you use in Sri Lanka and Dubai were first class. We will certainly be using mercury Direct again and will also reccommend you to our friends.

Thank you once again for such a lovely holiday.

Mr and Mrs R Kettle, Dorset

We were inpressed by the Blue Waters Hotel, it's architecture, quality, the staff and variety of the cuisine also how well the building and gardens were maintained.

You offer good value. We'll be back for more whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere!

Mr Connel, Essex

Our holiday turned out to be everything and more than we expected. We were the first Mercury clients at the hotel and we were greeted by the hotel manager and many staff members. They had even made a welcome banner with our names on!

Throughout our holiday everyone was very attentive and the setting and facilities were all first class. They even had a resident naturalist to point out the various bird and reptile species.

The hotel manager came round and spoke to all the residents at meal times and no request was too much trouble for any staff member.

Well done Mercury we will certainly book again next year.

Mr and Mrs Duffield, Chesterfield

My wife and I have just returned from Sri Lanka with Mercury Direct. At the beginning we went on the four day tour you offer, and it was EXCELLENT. A GREAT trip, wonderful hotels (including a night in the Executive Suite of the Hilton Hotel in Colombo at the beginning!) and a VERY good guide/driver, Prabhat. Incidentally, at the Topaz Hotel in Kandy we were given VIP treatment because we were with Mercury Direct!.

Thank you!

Chris van Straaten

Hibiscus Beach Hotel, Kalutara

My holiday went very well and I had a wonderful time.

I wish to add a speacial mention for Tissa the Mercury Direct representative for the area. When my planned overnight tour was cancelled at the last moment due to an accident he arranged a special trip for me only for the following day as the other tourists had cancelled following the accident. I was also given a complimentary bottle of wine.

I was also very pleased with the hotel as prior to my departure I had requested a room beside that of a friend who was travelling from England a day earlier to also stay at the Hibiscus Beach Hotel. I was aware that Mercury Direct do not guarantee that this can be done. Despite arrinving on a different day to my friend the hotel had re arranged their rooms to meet our request.

I would have no hesitation in travelling with Mercury Direct again or in recommending the company to others.

Mrs M Hill, N.Ireland

Club Palm Bay, Marawila

I would just like on behalf of my wife and myself, thank you very much for a wonderful holiday you organised for us in Sri Lanka recently. The Culture tour was magnificent and the young guide we had was polite, humerous, extremely knowledgeable about his countries history, religion and its wildlife and as become a friend of ours for a very long to come. This was our 1st holiday with your company but will certainly not be the last.

Mr & Mrs L Brooks, Nottinghamshire

The Palms, Beruwala

My wife and I have just returned from an excellent holiday to Sri Lanka. We stayed at The Palms Hotel Beruwala and had a enjoyable and relaxing stay at this superb hotel. Our transfers to and from the hotel were efficiently organised. Our check in and out of the hotel was also well-arranged and stress free. The staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome and fulfilled all our requests in a friendly and professional manner.

Thank you for providing us with an exceptional holiday and we are looking forward to returing to the Palms in November.

Mr D Keen, Surrey

I must thank you and all the staff who were involved for allowing me to have an enjoyable holiday, your service could not be faulted. The airline Qatar was very good and the in-flight service could not have been better. The transfer from the airport to the hotel was good. On the first evening I found that the staff at both the bar and the dining area were as helpful as possible. The food was excellent. As the days went past the cleanliness of the room and the hotel was kept up to a high standard.

It was agreat holiday and for the money value, I have had few holidays to equal it.

Once again I thank you and all for your help.

Mr M Gilbert, Essex

Tangerine Beach, Kalutara

I acknowledge with great relief and gratitude receipt of your cheque, refunding our holiday spoiled by the volcanic ash situation. It was a concern that we risked losing a considerable sum of money, especially at a time when insurance companies appear to be hovering their magnifying glasses over the small print in their policies. Thank you.

I would like to thank you, your company and the various people who managed our booking for the calm, efficent, honest and professional way you have dealt with us.

Mr M Lewis, Northampton

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

I just wanted to let you know I enjoy booking my holidays through your company. It is also great that some of your holidays come without a single supplement as this can sometimes make all the difference as to whether one can afford a break.

I must also compliment your administration staff who I have always found pleasant in manner and most helpful. Their service is excellent and prompt. My most recent contact was via John whose praise I have extolled to my friends and colleagues, as he helped to tailor a holiday specifically for my needs and which I am so looking forward to. I am hoping there will be many more, too!

Mrs J Salkeld, Hampshire

Having just come back from a super holiday in Sri Lanka I would like to thank you for the superb organisation of our trip. It was very worrying when we found that we had no bedroom in either of the mini-tour hotels but your rep got it sorted in each case.

The Hilltop Hotel in Kandy was very poor and I would recommend that you drop it from your itinerary!!

Your guide Cheran Wichramarachchi was marvellous. We have travelled all over the world and have never had a better guide. He was friendly, thoughtful, very efficient and extremely knowledgeable about everywhere we visited. His English was impeccable and he made all our trips interesting and fun. In all we had a great holiday, again, many thanks.

Mr Hall

Tangerine Beach, Kalutara

My Husband and I would just to say a few words in appreciation of a holiday that we booked through Mercury Direct. We would like to thank Victoria for the excellent service she provided for us with our booking, everyhting was taken into account for us with our disabilities and also we would like to thank everyone else who was involved with the organization of our wonderful holiday in Dubai and Sri Lanka.

The service that we had at the airports both in our country and abroad was excellent and the transfers were also excellent and the couriers very polite, everything flowed like a Dream. We enjoyed our stay at the Marco Polo hotel in Dubai and the Tangerine Beach hotel in Sri Lanka. In fact, there was nothing that we could find fault with and we would recommened Mercury Direct to anyone and we would not be afraid of booking another holiday with you.

Mrs and Mr P Ninnis, Stoke-On-Trent

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

My wife and I have just returned from two weeks in Sri Lanka at the Royal plams Beach Hotel. I would like to inform you that we have NEVER HAD SUCH A GOOD HOLIDAY. EVERYTHING WAS ABSOLUTELY SUPERB,, Flights, hotel , rep, weather, Sri Lankan people. Thank you for that, we look forward to travelling with Mercury again.

Best Reagrds

Mr and Mrs R Price, Nottinghamshire

Palm Village Hotel, Uswetakeiyawa

Just had a Holiday to Sri Lanka. I cannot praise you more. Pricewise and effiency. The Palm Village was basic but very good.The Gardens superb the staff very attentative. Will check return flights more carefully when I book a holiday again. As I will. Especially the no Single Supplements(great value). You will surely soon be rated the best Travel Company ever!

Mr . J. Gregory

I have just returned from a holiday at Club Palm Garden, Sri lanka. This was my first holiday with Mercury Direct and also the first holiday as a single - however any fears I may have had were totally unfounded. I have had the BEST holiday ever. My stay was wonderful and made even better by the effort of the animation team, who in my opinion are second to none. They are really professional and hardworking, dedicated to ensuring the guests enjoy their stay! The hotel was so welcoming , clean and the food varied and delicious, the staff going out of there way to ensure everything was as it should be, My journey with Qatar airways could have been a disaster but I was taken such good care of by the ground staff and air crew, taken by wheelchair and transport. Totally cared for every part of the way. I am so grateful. I cannot wait to return! I would be very interested in booking with you again.

Thank you once again for a really wonderful holiday!

Mrs J Ward, Surrey

Palm Village Hotel, Uswetakeiyawa

Many thanks for a great holiday in Sri Lanka. Palm Village Hotel staff were magnificent. Thanks again.

Mr. J. Davis, Derbyshire

Hi there, just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our holiday in Sri Lanka with Mercury Direct.

The cultural tour was fantastic, and our guide and driver Ruwan Kumara was friendly and informative.

All the hotels were good, and overall the arrangements were impeccable.

Andy & Gail Cummings

Cultural Highlights Sri Lanka Tour, Tours

We have just returned from the Cultural Tour of Sri Lanka.. It was absolutely fantastic, exceeded our expectations. Our driver/guide was Udith Jayasundira, from Aitken Spence and he was brilliant. We saw and learnt such a lot. I totally recommend this tour expecially if you get Udi!

Jean Maile

Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara

I am just e-mailing you to let you know that my wife and I had a fanstastic holiday at the Royal Palms Hotel in Kalutara.

I did express concern at the time re the transfer an in fact it was hard work after the 7 hour flight to Dubai and the 4 hour flight to Colombo. The transfer took three hours! but it was worth it as the hotel was even better that we expected. The whole holiday, which was a surprise for my wife as it was her 60th birthday, was excellent.

even the flight on the Airbus 380 was brilliant(I was like a little boy in a sweet shop when I boarded the airbus...even being invited to go into the cockpit once we landed in Dubai.

So once again thank you for your help in sorting the holiday.

Rest assured that we will concider Mercury again(this was our 7th holiday with you).

Mr Reep