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TripADeal   Reviews

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Reviews 2.8.

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Our amazing trip to Sri Lanka

My husband and I have quite recently returned from our Trip a Deal holiday to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We were extremely impressed with the organisation, value for money and the amazing and beautiful accommodation throughout the tour. Our consultation Margurete was particularly knowledgeable and helpful and ensured we were well informed and well prepared for this amazing adventure. Five stars to Trip a Deal!

Date of experience : 27 April 2024

How to skim your customer ....

At present I am in a battle with TripaDeal about a name correction on my ticket. I have forgotten to add my middle name. And guess what – they try to charge me A$ 1300 for the privilege. I have done several hundred international and domestic flights before with only one given name on a ticked with no problems at all. I have checked the Singapore Airlines Name Correction Policy and they applicable fee is USD 50 for adding of a middle name. I would fly with Singapore Airlines and one leg with Air India. By the way a 51% stake in TripADeal was sold to Qantas in 2022. Just to let you know how creative TripaDeal is!!

Date of experience : 11 June 2024

TripADeal tour of Japan issues

TripADeal tour of Japan The tour was well organised and the experiences were wonderful. I was prepared for small hotels rooms but was most upset by the room that I was expected to occupy in Osaka. It would be an exaggeration to say that the bed and living space was 2m square. The view of of an alley. As a solo traveller I paid an additional fee of $1650. I felt that I was entitled to a double room. After some discussion with the tour leader I was provided with suitable accommodation for an extra fee of $30 per day. This experience impacted what could have been a really joyous experience.

Date of experience : 01 June 2024

Reply from TripADeal

Hi Eva, Thank you for taking the time to share your review of your recent trip to Japan. We're glad to hear you found the tour to be organised, and the experiences wonderful. We're sorry that the size of the rooms impacted your experience. We'll certainly take your valuable feedback on board, as we aim to improve the experience of this trip. We hope we get the chance to take you on another incredible trip in the future. Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

China terracotta warriers…

We did the China Discovery tour in Sept 2023. It was very enjoyable. Expect to be very busy every day.We did all of the optional tours and really couldn't fault the tour for the price. Sure they take you to silk factories and herbal medicine outlets but you aren't forced to buy anything and its only for a short time. I think most tour companies in China do the same. If you take a open mind and adventurous attitude you will have a fantastic time. We liked it so much we have booked Tripadeal trips this year 2024 on a 2 for 1 India tour in August and Natural Wonders of China tour in October.

Date of experience : 08 September 2023

Hi Tony, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your China Discovery tour. It's great to know that you found the itinerary enjoyable, even with busy days, and that you appreciated the optional tours included. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your trip so much that you've booked two more with us this year. We look forward to providing you with more unforgettable adventures! Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

Communication needs to Improve….

The reason for the low rating for TripADeal is due to their communication. We upgraded our flights to business and also our ship accommodation to premium balcony. Also had extra days in Japan before cruise. Not withstanding, they charged us extra for arriving in Japan early (why the extra charge when we were paying premium pricing as high as the commercial rate for flights and we self organised our own hotel prior to their hotel booking kicking in as part of the tour) …..they didn’t give us a choice of the tour hotel and ended up booking us into a smoking room… we had to call them to change this. Also the hotel they rebooked although convenient had very small space. They also booked us into fixed late dining on the ship without asking our preference and we had no choice where our cabin would be…. and by the time a cabin was allocated most of the shore excursions were sold out. So we found that it is best to organise your own flights, hotels and tours to be sure of getting exactly what you want with the flexibility…. especially if you are paying premium prices…since we found the amount paid to TrioADeal was not much different to paying direct…. of course that is if you can obtain the same tour content that TripADeal offers (which is not always the case).

Date of experience : 20 May 2024

19 day Taste of Italy and the Mediterranean

We have come back from a 19 day Taste of Italy and the Mediterranean , our trip was great, full on but not enough time in one place to explore on our own. We booked our trip in June 2023, got our itinerary and on it our last day was going from Civitavecchia to Rome to stay night and fly out next day. I kept checking our trip regularly to see there were no changes right up until February 2024. When we were on our tour we found out we were not staying in Rome for last night we were heading home that day, the rest of your group were staying. Contacted Tripadeal support they were looking into it and then the lies started, they told us we booked an 18 day trip and in July 2023 they changed it to a 19 day trip, the other tour group all paid same ammount as us but got extra day. I have proof of the payment and the original Itinerary was 19 days.I am dissapointed as we had our 2 grandchildren with us and we wanted to go to the Colleseum, Pantheon, Vatican on the last day. What annoyed me with Tripadeal was the conflicting emails and lies, they cheated us out of a binding agreement, be very Very careful when you book with them, what you book can change.

Date of experience : 09 May 2024

I rang trip a deal to finalise booking…

I rang trip a deal to finalise booking tours to be told now that booking is completed I can’t book tours or a flight instead of the bus. Has this happened to anyone and did you book tours/flight yourself ?

Date of experience : 10 June 2024

We just completed our 12 day trip to…China

We just completed our 12 day trip to China. It was value for money. As for the things we did not like, China Eastern airlines service was way below par. The staff were rude! The hotel accommodation while reasonable was at least an hour away from the city centre. It would have been much more convenient if the hotels were situated closer to downtown. The worst hotel we stayed in was in Shanghai - Regal Residences, our room was about 3 m X 4 m and the air conditioning did not work the first night. In addition the wash basin was not draining. Our tour guide had to intervene to get the A/C fixed. Staff were uncooperative. The tour guides were particularly well informed and helpful. The two top guides were Adam and Walker. Another issue worth highlighting is toilet facilities at the tourist sites, there were hardly any western toilets and if there were any, there was no toilet paper! So take your own. In Beijing we were advised by the tour guide not to flush toilet paper down the toilet, this is unhygienic. Other wise a great trip, cultural performances were simply awesome.

Date of experience : 17 May 2024

Hi Gerard, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that overall you found your trip to China to be good value for money and that you enjoyed the cultural performances. We're sorry to hear your expectations were not met, with regard to your flight experience with China Eastern Airlines. We appreciate your recognition of the tour guides, Adam and Walker, for their knowledge and assistance throughout the trip. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another trip in the future, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

A Night at the MSC Opera

Trip A Deal - Puglia , Amalfi and the Med . MSC Opera - the second part of this tour after the guided bus section . Like a frantic , funny and intense “ Opera .” The cruise between several Greek Islands is busy , action packed and filled with native Italians . The boat is not massive ( so they tell me - compared to other cruise liners ) but is spotlessly clean and run by a hardworking crew . Steer away from buffet and enjoy 3 delicious courses for dinner at the restaurants . It is initially difficult to navigate your way through cruise protocols but they couldn’t work any harder . You can do as little or as much as you like and essentially how much you get out of it is how much you’re prepared to enjoy yourself .

Date of experience : 24 May 2024

Hi Fiona, We appreciate your valuable insight and tips from your recent trip to Puglia, Almafi & The Med, which will certainly be helpful for fellow travellers! It sounds like you had a fabulous time on board, and made the most of your precious time. Thank you for taking the time to share your 5-star review. We hope to welcome you on another amazing holiday soon! Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

Qantas points scam

It has been 12weeks after I have finished my trip with them and my Qantas points are still missing despite two contacts to try to sort it out. Unbelievable how Qantas accepted to be associated with this company.

Date of experience : 19 March 2024

TripADeal Feedback - CHINA 2024 Feedback

TripADeal Feedback - CHINA 2024 WARNING - TripADeal is a rort. Do NOT book any holiday package. June 2024 China trip was a complete ripoff - 0 out of 5 stars. Given the extraordinary low price, our expectations were not high, however we wre not expecting such a farce. See the other reviews and you will see that approx 70% have given a 1 out of 5 star rating. TripADeal holidays are cheap, but poor value for money: - Flights include additional hours for domestic transfers and late night/early morning arrivals. No tour guide or bus was waiting at our arrival destination in Beijing. - Hotels are located in middle of nowhere typically 1.5 hour bus trip from airport or a city and often with no adjacent facilities or services. - Some hotels are very poor 2 - 3 star with dirty rooms, non-functioning air conditioning and noisy plumbing. - Some hotel staff are unhelpful, rude and abusive. - Daily itinerary involves a long bus drive to a so-called factory tour that is no more than a retail outlet where Tour Guide gets a commission, then a very short visit to the main attraction: eg Great Wall only 2 hours or bus leaves you behind. Our tour group requested deleting the factory/shop visit to allow more time on the Great Wall but Tour Guide just refused and bullied anyone who argued. - Some of the major attractions are cancelled and substituted for poor uninteresting local tours. - Tour guides speak poor english and very poor communication and management. - More hours spent on bus and train than on visiting attractions. - TripADeal has manipulated the daily itinerary so that the many optional trips start after visting main attractions that are located long way from hotels or cities so that thete is no option but to pay for the optional tour or else find your own way back to a hotel in middle of nowhere. - The itinerary is designed to maximize the income of the tour guide via sales commissions who abuse or hassle the tourists to sign up. Some guides are actually aggressive and abusive. - Majority of our Tour group was NOT satisfied with TripADeal. - I could say even more, but hopefully that's enough to warn you off TripADeal. TripADeal Feedback - CHINA 2024 WARNING - TripADeal is a rort. Do NOT book any holiday package. June 2024 China trip was a complete ripoff - 0 out of 5 stars. Given the extraordinary low price, our expectations were not high, however we wre not expecting such a farce. See the other reviews and you will see that approx 70% have given a 1 out of 5 star rating. TripADeal holidays are cheap, but poor value for money: - Flights include additional hours for domestic transfers and late night/early morning arrivals. No tour guide or bus was waiting at our arrival destination in Beijing. - Hotels are located in middle of nowhere typically 1.5 hour bus trip from airport or a city and often with no adjacent facilities or services. - Some hotels are very poor 2 - 3 star with dirty rooms, non-functioning air conditioning and noisy plumbing. - Some hotel staff are unhelpful, rude and abusive. - Daily itinerary involves a long bus drive to a so-called factory tour that is no more than a retail outlet where Tour Guide gets a commission, then a very short visit to the main attraction: eg Great Wall only 2 hours or bus leaves you behind. Our tour group requested deleting the factory/shop visit to allow more time on the Great Wall but Tour Guide just refused and bullied anyone who argued. - Some of the major attractions are cancelled and substituted for poor uninteresting local  tours. - Tour guides speak poor english and very poor communication and management. - More hours spent on bus and train than on visiting attractions. - TripADeal has manipulated the daily itinerary so that the many optional trips start after visting main attractions that are located long way from hotels or cities so that thete is no option but to pay for the optional  tour or else find your own way back to a hotel in middle of nowhere. - The itinerary is designed to maximize the income of the tour guide via sales commissions  who abuse or hassle the tourists to sign up. Some guides are actually aggressive and abusive. - Majority of our Tour group was NOT satisfied with TripADeal. - I could say even more, but hopefully that's enough to warn you off TripADeal.

Date of experience : 02 June 2024

Trip a Deal “2 for 1” Egypt deal … PLEASE READ !

Trip a Deal “2 for 1” Egypt deal …. Let’s get straight to the Nile River cruise….. a romantic twin sail boat down the Nile ? …enter the boat via a dusty paddock ,on to the muddy river bank, up the ramp with no rails to hang on to, no fridge in room, no constant air conditioning as the boats generators can only charge half the time, no cold beer or water (ice was supplied on last day into the community fridge/freezer on deck)… charged for water to the room…. Basic,basic,basic meals…..couldn’t open windows in rooms as they had no insect screens….And don’t complain to the TRIP A DEAL guide ….. AND don’t worry about sailing down the Nile, as a tug boat was used to tow us from one place to another….. LIKE THE BROCHURE….. NO !!!

Date of experience : 19 May 2024

We have just returned from a TripADeal…

We have just returned from a TripADeal tour in China. We cannot say enough positive things about the tour itinerary, the guides or the company. From the day we booked it until the day we landed back home, everything went well. Phone calls to the company with queries were handled in a timely manner and very professionally. The small amount of tips that were paid to the guides, drivers etc were well deserved. These people went out of their way to assist. Yes we had full on days touring, but that’s what the trips are designed as, not lazing on a beach somewhere. You are buying an experience in another country and its culture. Definitely five stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Date of experience : 08 May 2024

Hi Les, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your 5-star review from your recent trip to China. We're thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your trip, from the booking experience, to the guides, drivers, and culture. This is exactly what we love to hear from our return travellers. We'd love the chance to take you on another incredible bucket-list holiday! Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

HI, have just returned from a Trip a deal to Rome, Italy with tours to Siena, & Florence. TWO MUCH WALKING OF WHICH WAS NOT AWARE OF. One of tours was Florence-Cinque Terre-Pisa with a train ride, the train was so full that it was so dangerous, standing only, I refused to get on as I was afraid of suffication was disgusting , all of our group were so upset somebody one day will get hurt. Most accomodation was very ordinary. Our flights were so tiring waiting for hours for next flight which were 10-11 HOURS EACH. YOU advertise unbeatable prices but I won't be travelling with Trip A Deal again. Trip very disapointing.

Date of experience : 04 May 2024

TripADeal - bitter taste in my mouth

Returned 4 weeks ago from 2 for 1 Hawaii & Tahiti Transpacific Cruise with 4 night’s accommodation in Honolulu including returned flights. We throughly enjoyed our holiday despite a major issue. Despite having a package holiday that included our flights home we were stranded in Hawaii. On instructions by TripADeal we purchase our own flights home and we were told we would be reimbursed on our return. 4 weeks later we are still waiting for this. TripADeals communication has been nonexistent despite repeated requests for information and action. Advice to anyone travelling with TripADeal do not purchase anything that they have failed to deliver in the package. Definitely have a bitter taste in my mouth!!!

Date of experience : 05 May 2024

No, No, No. Do not use Tip A Deal .

I have just returned from the 12 day 2 for 1 China deal,..departed, 21/5/2024.. with Trip A Deal, They should change their name to Tip A Deal, their tour guides Hounded us ( 30 on our bus ) for $12.50 per head per day TIP, even for the days travelling between Australia & China, and reverse. Twice I did not want to go on a tour, and both times the different tour guides said, "off the bus " once in the outer suburbs of Beijing, and secondly, same thing in Shanghai. The first one, in Beijing, Jolie, said , "I hope you have cash for a taxi " which I did. It's not easy to get a taxi in the outskirts of Beijing, knowing no Chinese, and the same thing in Shanghai. The tours you have to pay for, which are most, are about 4 times the cost of the going tourist rate. And, the only place they take you to, apart from the Terracotta Warriors, are big sell places, Chinese medicine, Chinese tea, Chinese silk factory etc.. I notice they have a 65% 1 star rating, now I know why. A suggestion, Pandas, Zoos, human interest places, not just hard sell places. I felt the itinerary was poorly planned, mostly it was very late arrivals at the hotels, followed by an early morning start. Often no access to an evening meal. I have read some of the reviews on here, and, they are all answered with platitudes. I have also written directly to Tip A Deal, and they offered $150 off another trip, I wrote back and said, "Once caught, twice shy "

Date of experience : 21 May 2024

Poorly designed, poorly organised tour

Poorly designed, poorly organised tourGrand South Korea 14 days. Poorly designed and organised tour. I have been on the China tour and loved it but this tour has put me off doing an organised tour ever again. 27 people on the tour constantly complained to each other of how bad it was. Of 14 days we worked out that we did 8 days of touring. There were so many wasted days and wasted time during our trip. It was definitely not worth $4000. Examples include walking around a car park for an hour because a museum was closed that wasn't even on the itinerary, sitting around a domestic terminals for 2.5 hours prior to departure, being told the tip at the end of the trip wasn't enough, tour guide organising meals which was not on the itinerary and if you did not do them you had to walk around or wait 1.5 hours some days for others to eat lunch. Wine tasting that was on the itinerary cancelled because it wasn't open, going to random places that was not on the itinerary. Being told to sit and relax at a historical site for 45 mins instead of walking around seeing the most amazing beautiful historical houses. Being rushed at sites where we needed more time but was given 3.5 hours to walk around parks! On the last day and a half the tour guide left us saying I have to go home to see my family and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing to do to for 1.5 days. Just unacceptable on a tour, at least we should have been dropped off in Seoul to tour around by ourselves not at a hotel that was less than average and with nothing to do in a location far away from main towns/cities there were a few places to eat that is all. The tour guide was lovely but it was very difficult to understand her and her instructions were below average causing total confusion every day which yet again wasted more of our precious time. I now have to return to Korea to see the places again. I have sent trip a deal many messages since our return but have not heard back from them to even acknowledge that our message were received. I am not saying other tours are bad with trip a deal because from my previous experiences and others on the trip we have all had wonderful experiences but I am warning people not to do this particular tour until trip a deal make some changes. The first 5 days were good and from then onwards the tour went downhill to less than average. Even the guide realised that everyone was over it and just wanted to either go our way or go home. It was a very expensive trip for very little return

Date of experience : 25 May 2024

Another Sri Lanka debarkle

Another Tip a Deal Sri Lanka debarkle, 50% of time on a bus, elephant safari a joke (see pic) and tasteless buffet food all the way. Hotels too far to enjoy anything local, a solid 2 out of 10. Our tip, give TripaDeal a big miss.

Date of experience : 25 March 2024

Hi Mark Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry you didn't enjoy your recent trip to Sri Lanka. This is one of our more popular destinations receiving positive feedback. If you'd like to share more details we'd be happy to look into any of the things that you were not satisfied with, you can send it to [email protected] Kind regards TripaDeal Team

Osaka to Tokyo.

We had Rose as out tour guide on our land trip from Osaka to Tokyo. We had a great time. Rose was very professional and kept us entertained. Rose went out of her way to get priority tickets for our group for the cruise.Our first Trip a Deal experience and have to say it was well planned busy but very interesting.

Hi Josie, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience from your recent trip to Japan. We're so glad to hear how professional and entertaining Rose was when leading your tour. We hope this is the first of many more trips in the future! Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

Awesome trip to Vietnam and Cambodia

Awesome trip to Vietnam and Cambodia , May 2024, amazing tour guides, hotels where great, flights, bus trips all went smoothly, met some lovely people, will do another one.

Date of experience : 06 May 2024

Hi Leanne, Thanks so much for your 5 star review from your recent trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. It sounds like this trip surpassed your expectations on all fronts - from hotels, flights and most importantly; the people! We hope to take you on another incredible holiday just as great (if not better) as this one! Warm Regards, TripADeal Team

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Tripadeal Review – A Customer’s Perspective

- This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure.

With five trips to date both home and away, and another two in the pipeline for 2019, I could well be considered a TripADeal Frequent Flyer . The TripADeal model is changing the way many of us book our holidays. And bargain hunters like me LOVE it!

I’ve paid for all my TripADeal trips and have not received any special discounts apart from the regular prices available to the public. 

Since swimming with the whales in Tonga, which was my first TripADeal holiday in 2016, my husband and I have visited Malaysian Borneo, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Canada, USA (Alaska and Yellowstone National Park) and Rainbow Beach in Queensland – all through TripADeal.

So, I would like to offer you a TripADeal review and my own travel experiences with them.

My Love Affair With TripADeal

What makes tripadeal so appealing, travel or escape, do your homework before booking, paying for your tripadeal package, thumbs up: reasons to book with tripadeal, thumbs down: are there any negatives, how does tripadeal do it, q&a with a tripadeal business development manager, premium vs standard, negombo fish market , sigiriya, the ancient rock fortress “lion rock” , hiriwaduna local village tour, sigiriya , dambulla vegetable farmer’s market (dedicated economic centre) , golden temple of dambulla – rock cave temple , meurulanka cultural dance show, kandy , isini gems & jewellers, kandy , geragama estate tea factory, pinnawala elephant orphanage , minneriya national park – elephant safari, royal 100 spice and herbal garden tour, kawudupelella, galle dutch fortress, colombo, general comments – tripadeal sri lanka trip, suggestions for improvement – tripadeal sri lanka trip, thumbs up – tripadeal sri lanka trip, thumbs down – tripadeal sri lanka trip, choice of rooms , all-inclusive meal package, the meals were stunning, snorkelling was possible right off the west beach, general comments – tripadeal maldives 6 day stay, general comments – tripadeal 2 for 1 borneo, kota kinabalu (‘kk’) .

• Mari Mari Sepanggar Island

Mari Mari Cultural Village 

Nabalu native market , kinabalu national park botanical garden, kundasang war memorial, ranau , sabah tea factory and gardens, kampung luanti ‘fish spa massage’, english tea house, sandakan, sandakan memorial park.

• Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary 

Kinabatangan River Cruise At Dusk

Sepilok orang utan rehabilitation centre and sun bear conservation centre, rainforest discovery centre – sepilok, gomangton caves in gomantong hill, sandakan, kinabatangan river cruises and jungle walks, tripadeal tour exclusions, any tripadeal complaints, great value for money, what is tripadeal.

TripADeal is an online travel agency currently setting Australia on fire.

Since its inception in 2011, TripADeal has become a one of Australia’s top online travel agencies.

TripADeal offers massive discounts on holiday deals and is competing with market giants such as Expedia.

It was voted ‘ Best Online Travel Agent ’ by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) in 2017 and all of this out of little ol’ Byron Bay.

With a mantra of “ Making Travel Dreams Come True “, their holiday deals fall into two main categories:

• Travel (tour packages sometimes including cruises)
• Escape (accommodation deals with no tours)

Both categories have domestic and international destinations, with occasional special ‘2 for 1 deals’ that will light anyone’s fire!

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Well, my love affair with TripADeal began in 2016.

The initial hook?

A full-page attractive ad in a local newspaper lured me in.

That was followed by automated TripADeal emails to my inbox at work after subscribing. Now that’s always a susceptible time to be thinking of another holiday!

And all it took was a headline highlighting one of my bucket list destinations, followed by a price I couldn’t resist.

“Simples”, as a certain meerkat would say.

My first dip into TripADeal’s world of adventure was the “ Tonga Whale Encounters – Swim With Humpback Whales”, an 11-day South Pacific experience of a lifetime at only $4499 all inclusive.

Little did I know that I was soon to become hooked on TripADeal, evolving (or some would say ‘mutated’) into a TripADeal multi-tripper.

Being a control freak with a triple-A personality, I used to make most of my own travel arrangements, especially if I could save a dollar or two.

But finding the time to do so is a huge issue, which is getting worse.

Everyone is time-poor.

I certainly no longer have the time to visit travel shops or peruse brochures or sit and detail all my desires to a busy, half-interested travel agent.

Working a stressful full-time job just doesn’t allow any such luxury and having the interest or inclination to plan details of a complex itinerary, with flights, hotels, meals and side excursions has certainly waned.

So, present me with an all-in-one package, with a great headline and price that catches my eye.

I’m in, hook, line, and sinker!

TripADeal seems to have perfected the technique.

Those regular daily emails just keep dropping into my inbox.

Filled with wonderful eye-catching headlines and photos, they certainly are an easy temptation!

TripADeal – Ease Of Booking Online

TripADeal’s website is quite user-friendly and their holiday deals are easy to search for.

A mere click on the photo or ‘View Deal’ button takes you to the deal and the details of your chosen holiday are extensive.

They include the itinerary, highlights, tour inclusions and other important info.

Their multi-paged package information is pretty much fully explanatory.

A countdown clock on the right-hand side displays the time you have left to make a decision.

Although we all know that it’s a great marketing ploy to give the customer a sense of urgency, in the case of these TripADeal holidays, there really is an urgency.

If it looks too good to be true, the available dates will go very quickly.

So be forewarned!

If you have any questions, you can call and talk to a Travel Consultant, or Chat Online. After all, they are a travel agency.

Personally, I have never needed to do this at all.

I find the online instructions very easy to read, understand and follow.

However, you should research your trip before booking, especially to choose the best time to travel for that particular country which best suits you.

Once you have chosen your trip, the date, how many travellers and other details, your final price is shown.

You simply have to complete your order and pay.

Payment methods include Paypal or Visa, Mastercard or Amex cards, great for accumulating points.

They also offer zipMoney, which is a book-now-and-pay-later facility, if you prefer.

Once you have booked your trip, you get a confirmation email that includes a link to your Passenger Information Form which you need to complete within 72 hours.

If you require flights, and if they are not already included in the package, their sister company Phone A Flight can help you with those along with visas or insurance. 

Four to six weeks before your holiday is due, you will receive your Final Travel Documentation with your itinerary and other details.

Eh voila, you are ready to go!

Oh, and if you sign in to your TripADeal account, you can see all your current or previous trip details under “My Deals”.

TripADeal –  Pros And Cons of Booking 

• The prices are certainly very attractive (I don’t think I could match them if I tried to book such trips myself let alone the time and angst it would take me!). 
• The ‘2 for 1’ deals are especially awesome. 
• There are many advertised cut-price travel deals on the web but the more you examine the details, the more exclusions you find, hence their low price. With TripADeal, that is not the case.
• Most of their Travel deals include international flights, accommodation, most (if not all)excursions and some (if not all) meals. So why re-invent the wheel if TripADeal has done all the hard yards for you?

Well, isn’t that amazing? I can’t really think of anything.

Except I guess that it is an online booking agency.

Well hello, but that’s why you are using it, isn’t it?

If you do get stuck booking online, you can still call them or chat online.

Although I have never actually had to phone TripADeal for anything, so I can’t comment on this.

I thought this might be a good point to have some insight into how TripADeal can offer such great holidays at such fabulous prices.

Well, Emmy Lou Stockbridge is one of those awesome passionate people who put TripADeal adventures together.

I recently had the chance to ask her a few questions. Here is what she said:

How long have you worked for TripADeal?

Three years

Do you enjoy it?

I LOVE IT !!

What is your role in the company?

I am a Business Development Manager – a BDM’s role is to create the unbeatable deals you see online.

How many people actually work for TripADeal – especially in your area?

Over 100 and growing. My department is ‘Product’ and there are six BDM’s.

What is involved in creating a holiday package deal for TripADeal?

First establishing where the customer wishes to travel, looking at global trends and then sourcing the best travel or tour companies and accommodation worldwide, negotiating rates and building relationships, joining this with flights and making an unbeatable deal to put out for sale.

Making travel dreams come true!

Do you visit the country yourself to test out an itinerary you are working on? 

Yes, we travel to all our destinations and create itineraries ourselves but only after testing THE BEST way to travel a certain route or a destination.

Is there any possibility of extending holidays before or at the end of the trips?

Yes absolutely, you can find this info in the fine print of all the deals.

Does TripADeal take into account travellers feedback, both good and bad? 

Yes, we do, this determines always how much better we can make the trip, we are always wanting to improve on even the most successful and best-selling trips.

How does TripADeal manage to offer such well-priced deals?

All due to the wonderful and skilled negotiations of the Travel BDM’s. This along with our dedication and loyalty to our merchants.

Does TripADeal offer a flight price reduction guarantee?

No, we will just find the best rate online at the time of booking.

If someone still wants to book a TripADeal holiday face-to-face, is that possible?

Yes of course. We are part of Travellers Choice Travel Agency, with 150 stores Australia wide.

Are online bookings the most popular way of booking?

We have been awarded Best Online Travel Company twice, and we send over 30,000 eager travellers around the globe every year.

This is a testament to the growing number of travellers wanting to purchase online.

It’s simple and if you have a fabulous in-house Customer Service department like us, you can’t go wrong.

So what age group do you think TripADeal holidays most appeal to?

In the past, it was generally over 40+.

But a new trend in the market has shown we appeal to all ages!

A lot of the younger travellers are seeing the incredible value in our trips and are jumping on board.

TripADeal Reviews

If you want to know more, read my TripADeal Reviews of their Travel tours I have recently experienced.

If you want to travel independently, here’s a Sri Lanka itinerary to help you plan an independent trip. 

16 Day Fly, Tour & Stay – Maldives & Sri Lanka

Cost: $2799 (Standard Package), $3199 (Premium Package)

The premium package of this Tripadeal trip offers upgraded hotels during the 7-day Sri Lanka tour. Hence the price difference.

Whilst you may be tempted to book a Premium Package, to be honest with hindsight most of us wouldn’t have (see suggestions below).

Many tour highlights are included in the price but not all were mentioned in the advertised itinerary or as optional extras.

So I have included them here in this Tripadeal review.

Highlights Of our Tripadeal Sri Lanka Tour

The coach takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lion Rock. But admission for a self-guided tour was Optional (and a MUST do).

This was FANTASTIC!

Not only the amazing history (built in 477AD) and magnitude of the rock fortress but the 200m climb up from the jungle to the top is a must.

Beware of the young men who will forcibly try to assist you along the walk up the rock.

They are very insistent and quite pushy and will demand payment after.

Despite this hassle, the views at the top are stunning, as was the abundant wildlife along the way.

The troops of macaques were particularly curious, engaging and sneaky thieves if given half a chance!

It included a twin oxen cart ride through the village (definitely a highlight!) followed by a short walk along rice paddies and treehouses (watchtowers against marauding elephants).

Then board a local catamaran canoe to cruise a lake, the iconic Lion Rock in the distance. Landing alongside a local village pontoon, we were invited into the village.

Entertainment included learning to de-husk rice, crack a coconut and a leaf weaving demonstration.

And after all that hard work, we were served a beautiful freshly cooked traditional village lunch.

A scary tuk-tuk ride back to our transport completed our tour.

What a memorable experience, and one with a difference.

Walking amongst hundreds of stalls selling local produce whilst commercial trucks and utes try to load up.

This was a very busy active Farmer’s Market selling so many fruits and vegetables we didn’t even recognize. 

Again, not itemized.

You will need to take off your shoes and reverently walk through the site to see the 150 statues of Buddha.

Watch out for more monkeys too.

This included show demonstrated twelve colourful ritualistic cultural dances.

But the highlight was the south Ceylonese Wedi fire dance.

Firewalking and fire-eating performed in a street-level car park. Amazing!

A very insightful tour of a top-class gemstone factory and showrooms.

It included a historical film of gem mining.

From the Sri Lankan moonstone to multi-coloured sapphires and red or green garnets.

Gorgeous and very tempting!

And did you know?

Lady Di’s iconic blue sapphire engagement ring actually came from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has a 150 yr history of growing tea.

This was one of the largest tea factories and its tour was very enjoyable.

Tea is still traditionally hand-picked by only women and the eight different Ceylon teas are world re-known.

Tasting the final product was fascinating.

Orange pekoe tea purposefully drunk over a cube of palm sugar and no milk. And a coffee-tea blend, well, that tasted peculiarly like peppermint.

Instead of driving to the Orphanage, our fabulous guide took us by train.

This turned out to be a great experience of local rail travel, and a highlight for many. But the Orphanage itself was a letdown.

Said to be a conservation and educational centre, it looked more like a commercial zoo.

There were large crowds standing in the dust and heat with not a lot to see.

A group of elephants at the back of the complex had their legs chained. They seemed stressed and very fearful of their keepers.

Another elephant was being forcefully hosed down in front of the tourists but it didn’t seem to be enjoying the experience at all.

Not a good sign.

This optional tour, however, was a real highlight. We travelled in open-top 4WD Mohindra jeeps through the National Park.

Hundreds of elephants roamed the savannah and lake’s edge.

There was abundant other wildlife with eagles, ibis, strutting peacocks, brahminy kites, woolly neck storks and spoonbills.

Caribou and small groups of hunting jackals were also spotted.

And to top it off whilst driving home, our traffic was stopped by a lone elephant strutting its stuff along the main road.

This is Sri Lanka.

Just priceless!

The oils and drinks made from them appeared to cure almost any illness.

The tour included free half-hour Ayurvedic massages (although tips were expected).

But then we were split up into individuals or pairs (against our wishes) and escorted through the shop.

What followed was a hard personalized sell of over-priced Ayurvedic products.

A great shame as everyone reported being harassed to buy, at times quite rudely.

This was a guided tour of the historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress.

The mix of Asian and European architecture has evolved since the 1500s.

Wander along fabulous three-century-old streets, through the Old Gate, past the Dutch Reformed Church, New Orient Hotel to the Galle Lighthouse.

Shop in the boutique shops of the Dutch Hospital Shopping Complex and stop at a lovely restaurant for some local food or drink to cool off.

Read this post for more things to do in Colombo . 

Our itinerary ‘evolved’ out of the advertised Tripadeal one.

We had a great tour guide who occasionally took it upon himself to suggest changes if it suited the group.

Or if the weather was too inclement for planned excursions.

He thus recommended NOT to pre-book (and pay for) Optional excursions prior to starting the trip.

One such example was our Day 3.

We didn’t actually travel to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa .

This became an optional tour which clashed with an opportunity to do the Minneriya Elephant Safari and that turned out to be one of the group’s top highlights.

He also arranged a free tour of an orphanage school in Kandy.

This totally delighted the group, especially the retired teachers amongst us.

And he made the pain of tipping a breeze.

We each contributed one amount to him to cover our whole week of gratuities.

Then he arranged all the tipping in our hotels and restaurants.

So much easier and less stressful than trying to work with foreign currency and local habits!

1- Review of Standard and Premium Hotel Rooms

Having both standard and premium hotels each night was not ideal. The tour group was constantly split up. This limited any ability to socially mix at the end of the day during meal times.

It also meant more driving, with different drop-offs at night and in the mornings.

In fact, everyone commented that there was very little difference between the two hotel standards in Sri Lanka. Perhaps with two exceptions.

2- Colonial-Style Accommodation Appeals

In Kandy, most of the group preferred the heritage Hotel Suisse. This was in comparison to the more upmarket and minimalistic Ozo Kandy. Both were on the lake’s edge and 10 mins walk from the city centre.

But Hotel Suisse was a beautiful heritage colonial-style hotel set in 4 acres of tropical gardens. Its amazing original ballroom served as the restaurant. And the decor of the hotel, rooms, and elevators transported you back in time.

3- Include Traditional Stilt Fishing in the package

The older motel-style standard hotel in Koggala was certainly substandard to the much more upmarket premium choice. But the latter was quite a few km out of town.

Whilst both were beachfront, the standard hotel was in Koggala. It was also only 200m walk from where a few traditional pole fishermen were.

It was a real bonus to witness this as stilt fishing is a dying south coast Sinhalese tradition. We would certainly recommend including it in the package if possible. Even if it is generally posed for tourists.

• The Minneriya Elephant Safari was terrific and would a great addition to any future itinerary.
• Parts of the tour we wouldn’t recommend? The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage got a definite general thumbs down.
• As for the Royal 100 Spice and Herbal Garden. A tour of a Sinhalese spice garden is a great idea given Ceylon’s history of spices. However, there is a definite need to change the venue. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

Tripadeal Maldives 6 Day Stay

The Adaaran Club Rannalhi resort was a 45min fast boat ride from Male Airport.

The marina was also right outside the airport.

The crystal clear, azure blue waters were stunning, and that was just in the harbour!

Once on the island and in your room, time stops.

Time to chill, grab a sun lounge or a hammock, and relax.

Thumbs down – TripADeal Maldives 6 Day Stay

Standard rooms came with the Tripadeal package.

We personally scored a room on the east side but the beach there is sand-bagged due to strong wave action. And the afternoon shade hits these rooms from about 3 to 4 pm.

So, if possible, request the west side of the island.

It has much longer daylight hours with great sunsets.

However, the resort staff was very supportive of any request to change rooms.

Some even chose to upgrade to the overwater bungalows as they become available.

Thumbs up – TripADeal Maldives 6 Day Stay

Lunches and dinners were generally not included in Sri Lanka.

But all meals (5 a day) in the Maldives were included.

Plus, there was an all-inclusive drinks package.

Yes, wine, champagne, beer, and cocktails. Here’s to sundowners!

The restaurant was smorgasbord style with too many choices at each meal, both traditional and international fare.

Our group was placed together at each sitting too.

This was much appreciated by all given our separation in Sri Lanka.

Morning and afternoon snacks were also available at the two bars around the island. And Wifi was accessible in the reception, restaurant, and both bars.

Small coral reefs were within 100-200m of the rooms.

Although severely bleached, coral fish were in abundance.

From clownfish, angelfish, and triggerfish, to a resident moray eel and an amazing friendly hawksbill turtle.

Optional excursions included snorkelling out at sea in a traditional dhoni.

Scuba diving, fishing trips, spinner dolphin, manta and whale shark tours were also available.

As well as the usual watercraft for hire.

Namely, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, jet skis, and catamarans.

What GREAT value for money.

A google search quoted our room that same week at $500-$650 per night.

Yet our Tripadeal package included 7 nights, with all transfers and an all-inclusive food and beverage deal. Amazing!

A restful week on the island was also greatly appreciated after the extensive high paced tour of Sri Lanka.

Doing so much in such a short time with virtually different hotels every night can be quite tiring.

Placing the Maldives Stay at the end of the package was brilliant thinking!

Looking for more things to do in Southeast Asia? Try these:

• 15 Things To Do in Ho Chi Minh City
• 18 Things To Do in Hanoi
• 15 Things To Do in Manila
• 15 Things To Do in Cameron Highlands
• 15 Things To Do in Cambodia
• 15 Things To Do In Changi Airport
• 30 Things To Do in Bangkok
• 30 Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur
• 30 Things To Do In Bali
• 25 Things To Do in Penang
• 20 Things To Do in Melaka
• 20 Things To Do in Isaan

10 Day 2 For 1 Borneo

Cost: $3999

This Tripadeal review is about an offer that looked too good to resist.

We had experienced orangutan volunteering in Indonesian Borneo where we visited Balikpapan and worked with rescued orangutans but Malaysia and Borneo were totally unknown to us.

We travelled with Tripadeal in May 2018. 

Our 8-day route covered the capital city Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in east Sabah.

Booking the trip was easy and uncomplicated.

The quoted price included international flights, accommodation and virtually all our meals.

Bottled water was provided free and in abundance by our tour guide.

Dehydration in the hot and humid climate is a no-no, so personal hydration is a must.

We also usually had access to free tea and coffee wherever we stayed.

Our 8 days on this TripAdeal Borneo holiday were packed with included activities and excursions and we soon discovered there were plenty of things to do in Sabah .

There was little spare time to chill or relax.

We covered a lot of territory in our coach with 28 other adventurers.

Highlights Of Our TripADeal Borneo Tour

A tour of the largest most modern city.

An insight to compare with home, with waterfront walks, busy markets, and various malls.

A particular highlight was the City Mosque or White Floating Mosque of traditional Moorish architecture, it is built on a platform in the middle of a reflective lake.

Via short ferry from Jesselton Point Jetty, Kota Kinabalu – a tropical island ‘paradise’.

A few hours to chill and relax by the azure-coloured water’s edge.

All under the cover of lush palm trees with a stunning island treehouse setting and Malaysian style smorgasbord lunch. 

Shame about the floating plastic mimicking jellyfish.

Or the derelict beached fishing boat and rubber tires masked as plant holders. And the piles of discarded empty sacks of biscuit flour (contents ‘Vitamin C and benzoyl peroxide’) at both ends of the beach.

A 3 hr visit with a local dinner and cultural performance.

A delight to see and experience local traditions and foods.

Evil rainforest insects though. Super strength insect repellent is a must!

A shortstop passing through the Crocker Range with stunning Mt Kinabalu and National Park in the background.

Great for local food tasting, local handicrafts and cheap T-shirts for presents.

A guided walk through the rather stunning rainforest.

A taste of some Mt Kinabalu park trails and the Summit & Climbathon route to the top of the mountain (4095m).

A self-guided tour of the Memorial to the infamous 250km death marches from Sandakan to Ranau.

Two gardens commemorate the Australian and English POW’s who died.

The Borneo Garden is for the locals who helped them.

The Contemplation Garden honours all the victims of these horrors of war. 

The Australian Memorial Hall was full of emotive memorabilia.

A Channel 9 Jana Wendt documentary video about the death marches brought tears to everyone’s eyes. 

We even met Mr Sevee Charuruks, a great honour, a Thai national who was instrumental in restoring the Memorial in 2005.

He still works in the souvenir shop café, along with his family and grandchildren.

The beautiful tea gardens overlook Mt Kinabalu, great for photos.

The informative tour of the factory of Borneo’s top tea producer was hard to hear because of the loud machines.

Just don’t lean on anything green that may look freshly painted.

It probably is. Warning signage is not a Borneo thing! 

Our heavily accented tea guide was very difficult to understand. But the tea tasting at the end was very enjoyable. And many of us purchased various Sabah tea product souvenirs.

Not what you would expect in a western world spa.

Definitely third world in its execution.

Hundreds of (large) fish hilariously nibbling your feet and legs at the edges of the river.

The locals look on and laugh!

Experience a beautiful three-course lunch in a classic colonial heritage house and gardens. Takes you back to the good ol’ days of English occupation.

A self-guided tour of remnants of the actual World War II Sandakan POW camp.

Dedicated to those who died in the Sandakan Death Marches to Ranau.

A circular route through restful rainforest gardens. See original remnants of an excavator and the steam generator.

A beautiful Memorial Pavilion and nearby Memorial Obelisk complete the park.

Very emotional and moving.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary  

A personal highlight was to experience a feeding session of wild proboscis monkeys.

From a seemingly quiet and empty rainforest to feeding platforms full of troops of big-nosed proboscis monkeys.

A photographer’s delight!

Cruise along the river from a local Muslim fisherman’s village on an authentic fishing longboat.

More wild proboscis monkeys. And sparkling fireflies in the bushes along the river’s edge. 

A sunset return for a traditional dinner cooked and served by village ladies.

Soup, fish, vegetables, chicken and pineapple curry with refreshingly cold rose water to drink. 

Another personal highlight, this visit starts with an introduction video about the wildlife.

Then go on your self-guided tour to feeding platforms and an Outdoor Nursery. 

The latter has both air-conditioned and open-air viewing rooms.

Both provide slightly different angles of viewing the juvenile orangs, which is especially important for photography with ever-changing sunlight, reflections, and shadows through the glass. 

We were even lucky enough to meet a young male orangutan walking along our boardwalk handrail.

Talk about an up close and personal experience. Memorable!

The informative guided garden tour was fascinating.

A great introduction to many tropical plants, herbs, and spices. But the highlight was the rainforest canopy walk.

The view of the top of the rainforest was amazing. As was the birdlife we encountered along the way.

A tour of the world-famous bat and cockroach-ridden caves.

Another personal bucket list item. And we were not disappointed. 

Although we did miss the wild orangutan hanging in the forest along the boardwalk.

Similarly back at the educational exhibition area on the way to the cave. Aaargh!

Included were sunrise and sunset river cruises along a remote stretch of this river.

Stunningly mesmerising in the middle of the Borneo jungle.

Listen to sounds of monkeys howling and birdlife calling as numerous hornbills fly overhead.

The included daytime jungle walk was hot and humid, consequently, little wildlife was seen.

But the optional nighttime walks were a different story.

From Malay and Palm civets to a rare mouse deer and skunk, as well as sleeping kingfishers and a Draco flying lizard.

So worth braving a few forest leeches…

• Camera Fees – Local government bodies charge ‘camera fees’ at certain excursions. Included were: Gomantong caves, Labuk Bay Monkey Sanctuary, and the Orang-utan/Sun Bear Centre. But at only a few dollars at each site, they were more than worth it. And phone cameras were exempt.
• Optional Tours – We paid about AUD $10 each to experience the evening guided rainforest tours at Bilit. What we saw in insects and birdlife was well worth the leech attacks!
• Sundry Items – Alcohol and other drinks, a local Malaysian tourism tax ($3 per room per night) and tips.

Well, to be honest, there were very few.

• The coach was very comfortable and air-conditioned. Toilet and food stops were regular.
• Similarly, the accommodation was 4 star in the city and towns. Our rooms were nice and clean, with air-conditioning and swimming pools. In the Borneo jungle, it was 2-3 star. But there was nothing higher in these remote areas. As one could imagine.
• Where possible, we experienced traditional British colonial-style hotels. Our Sepilok Jungle Resort was right next to the Orangutan and Sun Bear Sanctuary. And our authentic jungle lodge was in a remote riverine rainforest area on the Lower Kinabatangan River.
• Most noticeably, the food. Well, that was fantastic. We experienced abundant local traditional fare. But there was always international food if you wanted it.
• Furthermore, the currency exchange makes travelling here very cheap. Food, tips, and drinks were only equivalent to a few dollars. This was a great bonus as the Australian dollar went a long way.

However, one relatively unfit, medically challenged elderly couple did comment: “There was too much sightseeing and walking, especially in the humidity and heat”, and: “Wildlife did not particularly interest us”.

So, if you fall into this same category, perhaps this Tripadeal Borneo 2 for 1 trip may not be the tour for you.

All in all, this was an AMAZING trip. Everyone commented on how much we had seen and experienced.

The wildlife, in particular, was stunning. We even saw wild orangs outside our rooms at the Bilit Adventure Lodge, with numerous wild proboscis monkeys on the river cruises.

However, Sabah’s rare pygmy elephants remained elusive. Just another reason to re-visit one day, I guess!

So if you want value for money, wildlife galore and a true authentic Borneo experience? Then you could not do any better than book this trip.

Read about my TripADeal Cruise, Canada and USA trip here. 

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2FOR1: 10 DAY WILD BORNEO TOUR WITH FLIGHTS

$ 4,699 for 2 people.

Experience world-class wildlife on this 2FOR1 Borneo tour with flights! Starting in Kota Kinabalu you will experience this vibrant Asian city with two nights in a centrally located hotel. Travel overland through the stunning Borneo hinterland, stopping for a night at Mt Kinabalu National Park, enjoying breathtaking views. Delve into WWII history with an included visit to Kundasang War Memorial; dedicated to the Australian soldiers who died in the Sandakan POW camp during their death marches to Ranau.

Continue on to Sepilok to visit the Orangutan and Sunbear sanctuaries. Then, experience the real Borneo with two nights in a jungle lodge set on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Here you will enjoy relaxing river cruises in search of Pygmy Elephants, wild orangutans, Macaques and more exotic wildlife. Head back to Sandakan and enjoy a visit to a local Fisherman village including a sunset cruise to see thousands of fireflies and dinner on your final night. If you want to stay longer we have a 3 day extension to visit the Turtle Islands National Park.

Our 2FOR1 Borneo tour with flights includes 8 nights accommodation. Return international flights from Melbourne, Sydney or Perth. Most meals, dedicated transport and professional English speaking guides. Entrance fees, river cruises and much more. Plus, you can extend your trip with our TURTLE ISLAND EXTENSION. We have travel dates available until November 2025 and you can secure your booking from just a 25% deposit . Please see tabs below for departures, prices and a full list of inclusions. 

Departure Date

2 Review and Purchase

Spots Available

DAY 1: Depart Australia (Thursday)

MEALS: In-Flight

OVERNIGHT: In-Flight

DAY 2: Kota Kinabalu Arrival (Friday)

MEALS: In-flight meals

OVERNIGHT: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu

OPTIONAL: North Borneo Sunset Cruise with Dinner [departing 4pm] $149pp

DAY 3: Kota Kinabalu ~ Free Day

MEALS: Breakfast

OPTIONAL: Kota Kinabalu City Tour & Mari Mari Cultural Village $149 pp

OPTIONAL: Island Hopping day trip with BBQ lunch $99 pp

DAY 4: Kota Kinabalu ~ Kundasang ~ Kinabalu National Park

MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

OVERNIGHT: Sabah Tea Resort, Ranau

DAY 5: Ranau ~ Sepilok

OVERNIGHT: Sepilok Jungle Resort

DAY 6: Orangutans & Sun Bears

OVERNIGHT: Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sepilok

OPTIONAL: Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary [afternoon feeding] $79

DAY 7: Sepilok ~ Kinabatangan River

OVERNIGHT: Bilit Adventure Lodge, Bilit

OPTIONAL: Wildlife night jungle walk RM10 ($5) per hour payable on arrival

DAY 8: Kinabatangan River ~ Wildlife River Cruises

Day 9: kinabatangan river ~ sandakan.

OVERNIGHT: The Sabah Hotel, Sandakan

OPTIONAL: Sandakan Half Day City Tour & War Memorial $89

DAY 10: End of Tour ~ Departure

MEALS: Breakfast, In-Flight

DAY 11: Arrive Australia

***turtle island extension*** [subject to availability], day 10: sandakan ~ turtle island.

After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred Sabah Park Jetty in Sandakan where you will take a 1-hour boat ride to Selingan Turtle Island. Located only 40 kilometres from North Sandakan, you will have the opportunity to see the main nesting areas of the Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Upon arrival, lunch will be served. Check in to your basic but clean accommodation. The rest of the day you are free to stretch out by the beach or jump right into the sea for a snorkel round the nearby reefs. Dinner will be served on the Island. After dinner, a Park Ranger will inform you on the right time to encounter turtle laying their eggs along the beach. Get the chance to witness the collecting of eggs from the nestling site and into a safe hatchery and watch baby turtles scrambling out into the open sea upon their release on shore. An adorable sight not to be missed! It’s time to hit the hay and rest up with an overnight stay at your Selingan Turtle Island Chalet.

OVERNIGHT: Selingan Island Chalet

DAY 11: Turtle Island ~ Sandakan

Day 12: end of tour ~ departure, day 13: arrive australia.

This morning you will arrive back in Australia. Your amazing Borneo holiday has come to an end, but your memories will remain forever! NOTE: If you are returning to Brisbane, you will need to fly home via Sydney if taking the Turtle Extension.

DEPARTURE DATES

• UPGRADES & OPTIONS

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Tour information, description.

Return International Flights ex SYD/MEL/PER/*BNE

8 Nights hotel accommodation

8x Breakfasts, 8x Lunches, 6x Dinners

Entrance to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Entrance to Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre

3x Wildlife river cruises along Kinabatangan river

Guided walk in Kinabalu National Park

Visit  Kundasang War Memorial & Marakau POW Camp

Tour of Sabah Tea Factory

Return airport/hotel transfers

English speaking local guides

AC transportation throughout

Small Groups Maximum 16 people

$2 Donation to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Wildlife Rescue Unit

TURTLE ISLAND EXTENSION:

All of the above, plus:

1 Night Sandakan

1 Night Turtle Island Chalet in AC room

Return island transfers by boat

2x Breakfasts, 1x Lunch, 1x Dinner

Subject to availability  (not available in August 2024)

*Departures ex BNE incur a surcharge of $300 per person

Tourism Tax of RM10 (approx. $3) per room/night payable on arrival

Camera fees (Approx. $5 per per person per attraction. Mobile phone cameras are free)

Beverages for all meals

Tips for guides and drivers (Recommended $5 per person per day but not mandatory)

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

Optional tours

Other meals not included in itinerary

DEPARTURE DATES 2024:

May: 9, 16, 23, 30

June: 6, ^13, ^20, ^27

July: 4, ^11, ^18, ^25

August: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

September: 5, ^12, ^19, ^26

October: 3, 10, 17,  24

November: 7, 14, 21

DEPARTURE DATES 2025:

February: 27

March: 13, 20

May: 1, 15, 29

June: 5, ^12

July: 24, 31

August: 7, 21, 28

September: 4, ^11, ^25

October: ^2, 23, 30

November: 6, 20

Dates marked with a ^ incur a surcharge of $300 per person

3-4 STAR HOTELS:

Kota Kinabalu:  Grandis Hotel

Sepilok: Sepilok Jungle Resort

Kinabatangan: Bilit Adventure Lodge

Ranau: Sabah Tea Resort

Sandakan: The Sabah Hotel

In the unlikely event that the listed hotels are fully booked, alternative hotels of the same standard will be used

Triple Share: Not all hotels offer triple share rooms. If a hotel does offer a triple share room, it may include a rollaway bed.

UPGRADES & OPTIONS

No upgrades available

OPTIONAL TOURS:

DAY 2: North Borneo Sunset Cruise with Dinner – $149 per person

DAY 3: Mari Mari Cultural Village and Kota Kinabalu City Tour – $149 per person

DAY 3: Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Island Half Day with Lunch – $99 per person

DAY 5: Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary – $79 per person

DAY 9: Sandakan Half Day City Tour & War Memorial- $89 per person

Optional tours must be added at the time of booking or at least 30 days prior to departure

Cancellation of optional tours is subject to standard cancellation policy

FLIGHT EXTENSION:

Extend your time overseas by including the Flight Extension surcharge to amend the flights to the dates of your choice.

• $200 per person.

Flight Extension cannot be purchased once tickets have been issued.

The Flight Extension does NOT include accommodation, transfers, or activities.

If amending arrival and departure cities, further surcharges and fare differences may apply.

Any changes are subject to airline scheduling and availability.

Advise of intended date or city changes in “Order Notes” when booking.

See FLIGHT INFORMATION tab for more information.

LAND ONLY OPTION:

To remove flights from your package, select the “Buy Land Package Only” option in the “Departure City” dropdown menu.

• From $2899 per 2 people

NOTE: Due to flight scheduling, some packages include extra accommodation. If flights are removed, the accommodation will also be removed. 

EXTRA NIGHTS:

Extend your time overseas with pre or post tour accommodation

Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu: $200 per room

Sabah Hotel, Sandakan: $200 per room

Priced per room per night, including breakfast. Airport transfers are not included.

If your package includes flights, Flight Extension surcharge is also applicable.

3 DAY / 2 NIGHT TURTLE ISLAND EXTENSION:

Selingan Island or also fondly known as Turtle Island, is a safe haven for the green and hawksbill turtles. Both turtle species are currently endangered but the island serves as place for them to safely lay their eggs.

Just 40 kilometres north of Sandakan’s coasts in the Sulu Sea, the island is a designated National Park and turtle conservation area, which you can visit and stay at to witness the amazing scene of turtle landings themselves!

Turtle landings happen throughout the year and the turtles normally go to shore after dusk to lay their eggs.

Besides witnessing the turtles laying eggs, you will also be able to see how the collection of eggs and tagging of the mother turtles is done. Another highlight of your visit would be witnessing the release of cute baby turtles back to the sea! Other activities that you can enjoy during your time at the island is swimming and snorkelling.

– $550 per person

Subject to availability (not available in August 2024)

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Return speedboat transfers to Turtle ‘Selingan’ Island

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the island

1 Night accommodation on Turtle island

1 Night Sabah Hotel, Sandakan including breakfast

Educational talks and presentations with experience Ranger

Witness mother turtles come to shore at night to lay eggs and have the opportunity to release baby hatchlings back to the ocean

Airport transfer

*NOTE: Customers may be required to stay an extra night at their own cost due to flight scheduling

The package includes return international flights from SYD/MEL/BNE/PER.

Surcharges may apply for select cities. Refer to the INCLUSIONS tab for details.

Airlines used include, but are not limited to, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Batik Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, QANTAS, Virgin Australia, LATAM, United Airlines, Jetstar, Scandinavian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and other airlines and their codeshare partners.

Airlines are selected based on multiple factors. If a specific airline is required, notify MyHoliday2. Surcharges may apply.

The flight portion of the package is non-refundable. The 7 Day Money Back Guarantee does NOT apply.

MyHoliday2 is not notified of any flight schedule changes. Any changes will be directly communicated to the passenger by the airline.

MyHoliday2 recommends reconfirming flight schedules 24 hours prior to departure directly with the airline. MyHoliday2 is not responsible for missed flights.

Name changes are not permitted. All flight tickets are subject to the airline’s terms and conditions.

Flight extensions must be arranged prior to ticketing. Refer to Options and Upgrades for more information.

Flight upgrades can be requested once airline schedules are released. Fare differences will be invoiced to the customer prior to ticketing.

Layover times are subject to airline schedules and may exceed 7 hours.

E-tickets will be uploaded to online accounts, and notification will be sent via email.

Seat selection, Frequent Flyer, and meal requests can be made directly by the passenger on the airline’s website. Fees may apply.

Refer to E-tickets for baggage allowances. Note that if the tour includes internal flights, allowances may differ.

By purchasing this package, you agree to MyHoliday2’s Terms and Conditions and the specific terms detailed in each information tab of the package.

The package is valid for one person based on twin share.

Bookings are subject to availability.

GROUP SIZE:

Minimum of 4 people

Maximum 16 people

If minimum numbers are not met, you will be requested to change to a different date.

Some tours can be guaranteed with fewer participants; however, surcharges will apply.

If you are unable to change dates, a credit or refund will be offered in accordance with MyHoliday2’s refund policy.

CHILDREN POLICY:

Children under the age of 2 travel free of charge except airline taxes

Children aged 2-10 at time of travel will require a child voucher:

• contact us for rates.

Children aged 11+ require an adult voucher

Child vouchers only apply if in addition to two full paying adults

Maximum room capacity is 2 adults and 2 children (1 in existing bedding, 1 in extra bed)

AMENDMENTS:

Any amendments are subject to the supplier’s terms and conditions.

Any changes will incur a $100 per person amendment fee PLUS any additional fees applied by the supplier.

All changes must be requested in writing.

No changes can be made within 90 days of departure. The standard cancellation policy will apply.

If unable to select new dates, a credit valid for 12 months may be offered.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Cancellations are subject to MyHoliday2’s Terms and Conditions.

Refunds and credits will be offered in accordance with MyHoliday2’s Refund Policy.

PAYMENT PLANS:

MyHoliday2 offers a variety of payment plans based on your tour departure date. Refer to our Terms and Conditions for details.

All payment plans incur a 2% surcharge, paid with the deposit.

If the wrong plan is selected, a $25 fee will be charged to manually amend all invoices.

TOURS, DRIVERS & GUIDES:

Day tours included may involve joining larger groups.

Drivers do not provide information on tours.

Drivers may assist in organizing expert guides at certain locations.

Refer to INCLUSIONS for the type of guides included in this package.

For more information on guides, refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Refer to INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS to determine if a transfer is applicable and the type of transfer included.

If you have booked your own flights, send flight details to [email protected] to confirm transfers.

Contact details for our local tour operator can be found on your voucher in your online account.

Group Transfer

The timing of group transfers will be set to accommodate the majority of arrival and departure flights.

If you arrive early or depart late, you may need to wait or make your own way to the hotel or airport at your own expense.

As you clear immigration, look for a MyHoliday2 sign with your name.

Private Transfer:

OTHER INFORMATION:

A 25% deposit is non-refundable.

Prices are in AUD$.

Travel insurance is highly recommended; MyHoliday2 takes no responsibility for any travel issues that may arise.

MyHoliday2 pricing reflects current market rates which may fluctuate from day to day.

MyHoliday2 is not obliged to refund or match any subsequent price reductions after purchase.

Customers must obtain the correct visa for their destination and cover associated fees. Please check visa and travel requirements via the Smartraveller website.

For any medical-related information, refer to Smartraveller or contact a travel medical specialist.

Customers must ensure their passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.

MyHoliday2 pricing reflects market rates, so package prices may fluctuate, and refunds to match subsequent price reductions are not guaranteed.

Departures are not guaranteed until confirmation.

If advertised availability is not present post-purchase, another date selection is necessary.

OTHER TOURS

12 Day Treasures of Türkiye Small Group Tour W/Flights

2FOR1: 10 Day Sri Lanka Small Group Tour W/Flights

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