Holiday review by Mr. Jolyon Pope

Name: Mr. Jolyon Pope

Date of trip: 03/02/2018

Number of people: 2

We travelled to Costa Rica under our own steam and stayed in the Bahia del Sol hotel in Potrero where we met a couple who were your clients! The main purpose was to get some warm water dinghy sailing in the club next door for a week. The drive from San Jose to Potrero and back is not to be recommended, we hired a car. Liberia would be easier. We travelled on to Quito then to Galapagos. The Galapagos week was very special aboard MV Eric. Swimming with multiple sharks was an experience as well as being "seen off" by a bull sea lion. We were surprised how active the week was, it was too much for some elderly couples, but great for us. Quito was interesting but we all suffered a bit from the altitude as most people unaccustomed seem to do. Slight head aches, breathlessness and difficulty in sleeping. Still, it was worth visiting. Amazonia was extraordinary. Due to low water we had to walk 4k into the Napo Wildlife centre. Again it was a very active 2 days, being woken very early and setting off in the dark. Paddling across the lagoon in the dark with caimans watching us in the torchlight. The otters were very special. Overall a very enjoyable holiday, the travelling to and fro was very long, coming through Madrid, but that was our choice.

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MY Letty

Galapagos Islands

Altogether EXCELLENT, a thoroughly enjoyable week.

One small aspect that you could endeavour to get your ducks in a row with the boat and tour company is the tipping recommendations.
Your recommendation, the boat's recommendation and our travel book's recommendation all suggested widely differing levels of tipping. Suffice it to say that these days carrying large amounts of cash through to the end of the holiday is, I believe, a thing of the past. It won't be too long before cash, in particular high denomination notes disappear, in my view.

Napo Wildlife Centre

Ecuador

Need more water in the creek !!

but the walk in was fun, but not for the elderly or infirm.

La Casona de la Ronda

Ecuador

More English than an English hotel, particularly in the clientele !!

we were there during carnival and got covered in crazy foam whenever we put a foot out of the door. Be sure to recommend quiet rooms with OUTSIDE windows facing away from the street.

Excellent restaurant next door.

MY Letty

Galapagos Islands

The Eric was kept immaculately clean. Always had hot water and plenty of it for showers, etc. We loved the sundeck and communal sitting area which were both very sociable. The food was great and we were very impressed with all the snacks ready for our return from outings.