5 independent reviews for Dominica nature and culture holiday

Reviews for Dominica nature and culture holiday

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review 18 Feb 2025

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Staying at Banana Lama eco lodge, accessible only via 2 zip lines, and swimming in the river there

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

The content of the holiday was excellent and varied and the guides were great. However, the lines of communication between company and the guides was often inadequate so that guides/ourselves did not know what was supposed to be happening so that we were forced to query arrangements.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes - guides were local, we ate in locals houses, we are more informed of efforts to conserve turtles in Dominica.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Wonderful holiday - fabulous place and people

review 3 Feb 2025

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Difficult to say as we did so many different activities. Whale-watching ang hiking segment 13 of the national trail stand out. Generally though, we really enjoyed speaking to guides and accommodation providers to gain local insights into life in Dominica.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Be flexible and be prepared to learn and understand the local way of life. Be ready for some rain and amend plans accordingly - that's why there is so much rainforest! Go to Dominica soon before the massive new airport and other developments open.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Definitely, as we generally stayed in small scale accommodation and used local guides throughout. Meals primarily from locally sourced produce. Not sure about direct conservation benefits but we made a donation to a turtle protection project.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent. The local agent built a varied program for us around our preferences and was in touch daily to advise and check all was OK.

review 19 Nov 2023

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Really surprised about how different each Caribbean islands are. Dominica was by far my favourite. Beautiful and cooler in the hills.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you book with Michael, he will best advise you on what is suitable for you. Trust him to provide what he promises and he has the knowledge and connections to change plans if you find other activities you are interested in.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes, I was happy that we used local folks for activities and food and drinks.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Absolutely excellent. The few days we spent on Dominica we’re the best days of a longer holiday. I wish we could have stayed longer.

review 2 May 2023

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The walk to Victoria Falls was arduous but very spectacular. The trip along the Indian River is particularly good.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Make sure you do not get Roy as your guide in the Portsmouth area. He is useless.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

The holiday was organised by a local and all the guides were local. All the accommodation was locally owned. Thus all the cost of the holiday went into the local community

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The holiday itinerary was varied and interesting and all the accommodation was excellent and characterful. Overall it was an excellent holiday

review 17 Apr 2023

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

There were so many! There were some very enjoyable hikes and the Titou Gorge was an amazing adventure. Staying in a tree house in the jungle and listening to the evening chorus of the frogs is up there too. We went with the goal of experiencing Jungle, Coral Reefs and Whales - we managed to achieve all three on one island.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Do your research. The ferry was unreliable, so have a backup plan if you can. You need a good guide, the Waitukubuli trail is not safe without one and many of the special features of Dominica will be missed without guidance.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Our tour guide from the tour operator always used local guides (particularly when entering the Kalinago territory), they also gave us an opportunity to buy goods/gifts directly from locals (so money went directly into their pockets). In addition, we were given the chance to observe the local turtle conservation project at Rosalie bay (we would have helped with the nest patrols/egg protection but the conditions weren't right on the days we visited). So, I do feel our holiday benefited the island community directly and supported local conservation. Travelling such a distance obviously had an environmental impact, I hope my efforts to offset that work.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The holiday was exceptional, incredible, very much a once in a lifetime experience for my wife, daughter (nine) and me. Dominica is a truly unique island and I'm glad I got the chance to experience it. It really needs the assistance of responsible travellers, otherwise they will have to turn to the big exploitative tourism and cruise ships, which they clearly want to avoid. We were very happy with Michael and Daria Eugene of the tour operator. They were consummate professionals, reliable and very knowledgeable. Without them I don't believe the trip would have been half as good (and possibly wouldn't have happened at all considering the difficulties we had organising the trip before they got involved). I would warmly recommend them to anyone travelling to Dominica. I believe Dominica has a very special place in the Caribbean, as the most undeveloped but still very welcoming island. It truly is the nature island of the area and worth introducing to more travellers with a mind for sustainable, ethical holidays.

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