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Tipping is not common practice in Malaysian Borneo and most won’t expect it. In some tourist hot spots you may notice 10% service charge added to your restaurant bill. Otherwise tipping will be discretionary. Here’s our suggested guidelines for you holiday.
In The Maldives, a 10% service charge is normally added to your purchases in a resort, so tipping on top of that is not necessary. If you really want to show your appreciation for great service of course, it will be gratefully received. Here’s our guidelines on appropriate amounts to tip in The Maldives.
Tipping is fairly common practice in tourist hotspots in Indonesia, particularly Bali. Base salaries are often quite low so any tokens of appreciation for service will be gratefully received. You’ll notice tipping is not common amongst local people and is very much an import from western culture. If you feel though people should be rewarded for good service, it’s a nice token of appreciation.
Tipping isn’t common practise in Thailand. If you notice a group of locals, you’ll rather rarely see them tip at a restaurant for example. On the other hand, small tokens of appreciation for top notch service will be much appreciated. You’ll also notice in touristy places that tips are a given and 10% is added to your overall bill, so don’t be too surprised by this.
In order to help you prepare for your holiday in Bali and Indonesia we have compiled advice on travel safety.
Tourism is a major economic factor in Thailand and has been continuously on the increase since the 1960s. Nevertheless, as with any country, there are specifics to look out for and be informed about. In order to help you prepare for your holiday we have compiled advice on travel safety to ensure you have a stress free visit.
Considering Aung San Suu Kyi assumed the position of State Counsellor of Myanmar (de facto Prime Minister, position specifically created for her), we thought it timely to mirror those changes and update our traveller safety information on the mysterious land that is Myanmar.
The Foreign Office (FCO) travel advice states that all but essential travel to the islands off the coast of eastern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, should be avoided. While taking this information into account, we have also explored general safety standards in Borneo for the benefit of our customers.
An enchanting country, Vietnam is renowned for its exceptional cuisine, captivating culture and dazzling natural landscapes. Although Vietnam has become a major tourist destination since the late 1990s, there is still a prominent sense of the unknown, which is why we consider it useful to share our intimate knowledge with you and help you stay safe while travelling.
In order to help you prepare for your holiday in Sri Lanka our travel experts have compiled the latest advice on safety.
Renowned travel photographer and writer Damon Wilder was this year’s judge of our photo competition. It was a tough job to whittle the entrants down to just one winner, but the best has been chosen. Here, we’re incredibly excited to announce the results.
Nigel Tisdall, renowned travel writer and photographer, recently visited Kuching with Experience Travel Group. From exploring the riches of nearby Bako National Park, to discovering the English Brooke family’s legacy in Kuching itself, to climbing the lush (albeit steep!) Mt Serumbu, here he recounts his best experiences.
Co-founder of Experience Travel Group, Tom Armstrong, discovered the hidden riches of Malaysia. On an in-depth research trip, he found some fantastic experiences you could include in your holiday, the Suka Suka Homestay is but one example. Here he reviews his time with Aziz and family, the hosts – I hope you’ll feel inspired.
Business class is the sensible way to travel – if we disregard the cost. The leg space, ability to sleep in a horizontal position, delicious food and champagne on tap all make for a very civilised experience. Unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees. But fear not, you can sometimes swindle a fantastic deal on business class seats. Here is how:
Tipping is very much a western import and some guides may say it’s not customary. That being said it’s an important form of secondary income for Cambodians and does incentive good service. Here, we share on our thoughts on what is an appropriate amount to tip.
Tipping in Vietnam is very much a western import. In certain places however, it’s becoming an important supplementary form of income. You might find a difference between the North and South of the country: Saigon’s exposure to US culture has made tipping more of a thing although, to be honest, exposure to the tourist industry has meant the practice is now countrywide. Although tips are not expected, they are very much appreciated but it can sometimes be challenging working out how much to tip and when it’s appropriate to do so. Here we provide an insider’s guide:
Travel expert Sara recently went on her own personal holiday to Sri Lanka with 12 members of her family. As an avid wildlife enthusiast, her father suggested an early morning whale watching experience. He made the arrangements himself during our holiday but the experience was less than dreamy. Here Sara reports back on how NOT to do whale watching.
Indian food enthusiast and travel expert James shares his top 5 recommended food experiences in India. The restaurant curries in the UK are totally different to authentic Indian cuisine and tasting the real dishes is an enlightening experience. From mouth-watering, juicy chicken and beef kebabs – seasoned with spices – to tapas style potato and chickpea dishes, and lightly fried pakora, there’ll be something for everyone.
Product Director, Melissa, recently inspected several exciting island resorts in The Maldives. As part of her visit, she flew for the first time in a seaplane. More spectacular than a speedboat, flying low enough to give fantastic views over the white sandy islands in the turquoise ocean, she provides her account of the experience.
If you look at a map of Sri Lanka (earth view) you’ll see the number of beaches it has is pretty spectacular. But, then again, just one hour away by plane is The Maldives – with picture-perfect white-sand shores. You’ve got a dilemma: which one should you experience? Here, I weigh up all your options, and discover that it really depends on what you want from your relaxation time.
On return from a travel writing trip to Vietnam with Experience Travel Group, Andy Mossack kindly shared his favourite moments from his time in the country. In our first ever travel podcast, exclusive insights are shared on experiences you could have on your own tailor-made holiday.
Having only opened up to tourists relatively recently, there’s a nascent culture of tipping in Myanmar. We’d encourage tipping for particularly good service; wages are low so they’ll certainly be appreciated. That being said, do only tip on a merit basis and don’t feel obliged to do it. Here are our guidelines for tipping in Myanmar.
It is customary to tip in India. Staff will happily to accept and appreciate it. Small tips (anything between 20 and 100 rupees) for small services, such as looking after shoes, carrying bags etc… are appreciated and bar staff also expect small tips. However, please do not feel obliged to tip every time, or to give more than a small note.
Matt recently visited Soneva Fushi and Jani, two luxurious resorts in The Maldives. On returning to the office, we found it interesting to think about the various kinds of ‘luxury’ available, and also what the word actually means.
It’s really tough to capture what ‘luxury’ actually is; we all talk about it quite a lot, especially in the travel sphere and I’ve often wondered how to quantify and explain it, especially when talking to other travellers.
As my experience has grown over the years, and I’ve been lucky enough to stay in many “luxury” hotels, I’ve realised how difficult it is to define a luxury hotel, let alone categorise it. Ultimately it’s all about the individual experience you have and how it fits with you as a person. This is when hotels like Soneva Fushi and Jani come into their element; here, the accommodation and service blend to provide an incredibly personal, relaxing and awe-inspiring experience.
If I can’t get to sleep at night, sometimes I just think of my time in The Maldives. It is one of the most relaxing places I have been on this earth and, for me, no other place can quite compare with it. Everyone in the office knows this all too well, and when I was planning my most recent trip to Sri Lanka I just couldn’t resist adding on 5 nights in The Maldives, only this time I was staying at a particularly special place.
The Maldives has over 250 resorts, nearly all of them on private islands, and it just seems to be an unstoppable force in terms of growth; about 10 resorts have opened this year alone, many of them 5* or above. It’s becoming more difficult to choose between the options and ever more important to be able to discern between the different types of luxury on offer.
I’ve been a fan of the Soneva luxury concept from the beginning. Co-founders Sonu and Eva opened their first hotel in 1995 in The Maldives and have honed their unique philosophy over the past 20 years. They have a brand that values understated touches of luxury, stunning architectural design, barefoot living, making the most of the beautiful natural world surrounding their properties and placing environmental protection at the forefront.
I have to say that I keep my finger on the pulse with travel news and about two years ago I first heard about Soneva Jani being built – this was something on a new scale, even for TMaldives (which is already mind-blowing in what it has to offer): 5 islands with 25 water villas and the biggest overwater structure, plus a 5.8km beyond-imaginable lagoon. Just outrageous even on paper, I dreamed about going.
It all starts with the ‘no shoes, no news’ concept. As soon as you step onto the resort your shoes are taken from you and, for however long you stay, you go around the resort barefoot. Does it sound gimmicky? A little, but all you can do is relax with soft sand between your feet, glorious sunshine and turquoise ocean everywhere on the horizon – with no worldly worries to distract you.
There’s no plastic on the island; a special glass blowing factory recycles glasses and the resort grows as much food on the island as it can to cater for the guests. The retractable rooves in over-water villas are incredible and the slide down into the ocean from your bedroom is the stuff of childhood dreams.
Luxury is so much more than just a picture-postcard image of a stunning resort and Soneva resorts prove this. It’s about attention to detail, personalisation, and providing an experience of dreams. For those looking for a particularly special place to stay, I’d certainly recommend either Soneva Fushi or the newly opened Soneva Jani – both would make for a spectacular experience.
We’re incredibly excited to share a sneak peek of Koyao Island Resort’s new luxury tented accommodation. Perched on a hill overlooking the stunning, island-dotted Andaman sea, it’s an awe-inspiring place to relax. The tents will be opening later this year; a potential place to stay for Christmas 2017 at the latest.
There is a strong tipping culture in Sri Lanka; wages are low so it’s an important additional way of making money. Of course, tips should be earned for good service rather than simply expected. Here are our guidelines for good tipping practise.
Like the elixir of life, air miles always seem out of reach despite so many anecdotal legends told of their power. Understanding how to get them and spend them can feel like embarking on a journey to Mordor, to cast an evil ring into the lava-filled pit of Mount Doom. But if achieved, the bounties reaped are infinite and heavenly. Here, we provide a realistic guide on how to accrue and spend air miles.
Some people may be surprised to discover that one of the most famous films of all time, The Bridge On the River Kwai was filmed almost entirely in Sri Lanka, and not in the bridge’s actual location in Thailand. And now, with the opening of the Sir David Lean Bungalow (named after the Director of the film) by the boutique hotel group, Elephant Stables, it’s possible to stay in one of the beautiful spots that feature in this classic film.
Many people planning a trip to Asia find the budgeting process tricky. There’s a big misconception that everything is priced low when really it’s just very good value compared to a European holiday equivalent, but not necessarily ‘cheap.’ Here, we share our top suggestions on planning a luxury family holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia.