Your Suggestions

As our main website (www.audleytravel.com) is continually developed and updated, we would welcome your views and ideas on any kind of features you would like to see added. For example, perhaps you would like to see more photos or more interactive features such as maps and videos?

We would love to hear from you and although we can’t promise to use all of your ideas, every suggestion will be read by our web design team.

To send us your ideas and suggestions, simply fill in the comments field below.

14 Responses to “Your Suggestions”

  1. Rod Fouracres  on January 11th, 2008

    My Wife and I avoid taking “modern” medicines and will always try use Alternative / Holistic Medicines – we travelled with you to India without injections, ate Indian food everyday and did not suffer any of the normal digestive problems.
    As we will not take the dangerous Malaria treatments we obviously have to consider carefully where we travel.
    Another consideration is flight times and an important factor for holiday enjoyment for us would be sea temperatures.
    There are other factors but apart from a useful list produced by Kuoni it is not an easy task to complete the necessary holiday tick boxes – especially Malaria and Sea Temperatures.
    As more and more people realise that “modern” medicines are not safe I believe Audley could attract even more customers if you were able to provide a comprehensive – printed or a web site list, ( one stop hoilday info centre ), providing the necessary information those Customers require to make a fully informed choice about their holidays.

    Hope this assist.

    Rod Fouracres

  2. Mike Whitaker  on January 14th, 2008

    We have recently returned from an Audley-organised visit to NZ, calling at Fiji, Singapore, and Melbourne as well. Absolutely great – we thoroughly enjoyed it -despite (or maybe even because of) my three days in hospital in Auckland. Someone said that the best holidays are those that do not go exactly to plan. We kept a blog during our tour ( we used getjealous.com because that’s the one our student daughters’ friends use). We saw the blog as an electronic postcard to twenty, perhaps thirty people. It was just as well we did – the actual postcards we sent are still arriving 6 weeks after our return. I would like to compare notes with other Audley bloggers about methods, e.g. do you take a laptop ( as several people we met en route had done) or do you hunt up internet cafes, which is what we did. You encounter some interesting people that way but there can be problems with uploading photos – it’s possible but it’s not always easy. Then there are formatting issues on return home, if you want to have a slide show on your TV set. And so on.

  3. Loic Robertson  on January 15th, 2008

    Dear Rod,

    Thanks for this suggestion – we are planning to add such a search facility on our website which allows you to search by medication, flight times, temperature etc.

    Loic

  4. Loic Robertson  on January 15th, 2008

    Mike,

    Thanks for your interesting question. Here at Audley we tend to use internet cafes or web access which is increasingly found in hotels. For the photos, agreed they can be difficult to upload this way, but we keep them all on memory cards for when we get back. They are so cheap these days. Laptops are too fragile for the rigours of travel.

    What do other people think?

  5. Euan  on February 5th, 2008

    We travelled around Japan in October 2006 through Audley and I actually had a website for my pre-trip research (unfortunately the site got lost on my server).

    I posted a little bit when I was away but I used computers in the hotel or cafes – I agree that a laptop is too big to carry around. I would rather use the space to bring back more purchases.

    As for pictures as I use a DSLR and a card very quickly fills up I have a portable storage device for my memory cards.

    PDFs of your sample itinerary’s would be good with some detailed information about hotels you use, etc. Also more information about potential sub-trips within a holiday.

    For example, myself and my g/f and looking into going to Brazil in 2009 (have emailed Audley don’t worry!) but I have found other sites which have good information about trips to the falls, Amazon, etc – makes life a bit easier planning, etc.

    Also you might want to introduce links to airlines in particular their route maps – makes it handy when trying to find out how to fly from one city to another and whether it’s possible to go direct, etc.

  6. Jim Collins  on May 31st, 2008

    As one who has visited Burma in an official capacity several times I can only wonder at your willingness to support a regime thar routinely uses murder rape and torture as a means of maintaining its rule. Every tourist that arrives there is welcomed by the military as a justification of its rule, not to mention their accumulation the profits made in hotels they own either personally or by proxy.

    Having heard first hand accounts of the crimes commited by tthe military and the rationalisations given by them in offficial meetings I stopped going there many years ago as a matter of principle. I speak as someone who, in a professional career spanning 3 decades delivering development assistance, has yet to see worse abuses even though I have also worked in Sudan, Somalia and Lebanon.

  7. Craig Burkinshaw  on June 11th, 2008

    Jim,

    I am totally opposed to the regime in Burma and agree that the record of human rights abuse is terrible. However, while tourism does produce some revenue for the regime, I believe that the positive aspects of tourism more than compensate for this.

    I know for a fact that Audley clients have a genuine and deep interest in the destinations that they visit which extends well beyond the superficial scenery and sights into areas like poverty, development, politics, human rights and all other facets of life in the country. One cannot reasonably argue that tourism revenue is a significant factor in keeping the regime in power. It simply pales into insignificance when you weigh it up against the earnings from forestry, oil, gas, fishing, etc. India and China effectively support the regime and, like it or not, while this remains the case, no amount of pressure or sanctions from Western governments will have a significant effect. We simply do not have the influence that we may have had in the past and need to accept this fact and look for ways forward that face up to this reality.

    Tourist arrivals are possibly seen by the regime as providing them with a token amount of legitimacy but this is a very small factor and it should be realistically weighed against the real pillars that underpin the regime – regional trade and relationships with India, China and the South East Asian nations and closely tied to that the massive economic value and revenue from the country’s natural resources.

    The arguments for and against tourism to Burma are wide ranging and quite complex. I have only touched on the issues here, but I have provided more detailed views on these issues on our website. It is essential to read this detail to understand my views properly, please see the following link:

    Burma – to go or not to go?

    I would encourage everybody concerned about the situation in Burma to read these points and also to do research of their own on sites such as http://www.irrawaddy.org (this site does not have a one-sided agenda, both sides of the argument receive extensive coverage) before forming their own views on the situation. As people delve deeper into the issues, one thing that they almost invariably agree on is that it is a very complicated problem and there are no easy answers.

    Craig Burkinshaw
    Managing Director
    Audley Travel

  8. Bobby  on June 19th, 2008

    Hi there Craig,

    I don’t quite agree with your comments nor understand your desire to continue to operate tours to Burma despite the negative press it brings your company. It sounds like you are perhaps just stubborn and feel to back down now would be somehow accepting defeat, but you should put aside that vanity for a second because we are talking about people’s lives here.

    You say “One cannot reasonably argue that tourism revenue is a significant factor in keeping the regime in power.” because “It simply pales into insignificance when you weigh it up against the earnings from forestry, oil, gas, fishing, etc.” That’s like leaving your oven on all day and saying it barely makes a difference when compared to the damage big industry doe to the environment. Surely every single penny that passes into the hands of this regime via Audley’s tours is a penny too much?

    You continue to argue that Audley offering tours to Burma is a force for good, so are you saying that you have a better understanding of the siutation than the leader of the elected government of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has urged boycotts? Even Pepsi has withdrawn all dealings with Burma! You are directly or indirectly financing one of the worst regimes in the world and will continue to receive bad press until you do the decent thing.

    Robert

  9. Craig Burkinshaw  on July 29th, 2008

    Dear Robert,

    In your comments below you state that you do not understand why we operate to Burma in view of the negative publicity that it brings. You then propose an answer to this conundrum: that I am stubborn and vain. You then assume that your explanation (stubborn and vain) is correct and go on to argue that I should put aside my stubbornness and vanity because people lives are at stake. This argument does not make sense unless your explanation is correct. It isn’t.

    I accept that operating to Burma loses Audley customers. However, I also know for a fact that the majority of clients who question our policy on Burma either agree with our approach or take a neutral position on the issue once they have read our policy on travel to the country. Most take a pro-travel position. I firmly believe that tourism is positive for Burma. My reasons for this are set out in detail on the Audley website Burma section so I will not repeat them here as I cannot make the points effectively in just a few sentences.

    The issue of tourism generating income for the regime is also answered fully on the website. Tourism does generate some revenue for the regime but I believe the positive effects of tourism outweigh the negative effects. I want to see a free, democratic Burma as much as you do. In order to achieve this you have to look at the big factors that keep the regime in power and tourism simply isn’t one of them. Somehow influencing China, India and ASEAN to apply their massive influence to create change is the only option that is likely to work. Like it or not this is the harsh reality of the situation. If a tourism boycott could make an effective contribution to facilitating change then I would support a boycott. It is clear that in terms of this aim it is insignificant. If Burma relied on tourism and did not have such massive resources to sell and customers willing to buy them (India, China, ASEAN, etc) then a tourism boycott would be the right policy to pursue democracy. Unfortunately this is simply not the case.

    It is often claimed that Aung San Suu Kyi supports a tourism boycott. I would encourage anybody to question this and to look for themselves at all the statements she has made on the issue so they can make up their own minds on this. Campaigners against tourism to Burma frequently use quotes from her to support their case, if you delve a little deeper you will find that they are very selective in their choice of quote – individual sentences taken from several sentences on the issue and dates of statements often not included i.e. taken out of context. I have a detailed analysis of ASSK’s tourism views – this is ‘attached’ below this text as a pdf document. The document has been produced by Derek Tonkin (former British ambassador to Thailand and Burma expert). It should be noted that Derek Tonkin is personally opposed to a tourism boycott though when reading it. I personally believe her comments show she is positive about visitors who come with a deep interest in the country and people rather than just to stay in beach hotels isolated from the realities of life in Burma. She has not been able to comment since 2004 due to house arrest so nobody can be certain of her current viewpoint. Every reasonable person wants to see the end of the Burmese regime. However, we differ in our beliefs about how this is most likely to come about.

    Craig Burkinshaw

    FURTHER READING THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
    http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=4295
    Myanmar: Sanctions Won’t Work
    Jeffrey Sachs, Financial Times interview, July 2004

    http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=3901
    Burma: Feel-Good US Sanctions Wrongheaded
    David I. Steinberg, YaleGlobal, 19 May 2004

    http://networkmyanmar.org/images//tourism.pdf
    General quotes on tourism to Burma.

    http://www.irrawaddy.org/
    News and information on Burma.

    http://www.voicesforburma.org/
    News and information on Burma.

    http://www.audleytravel.com/resources/burma/assk-and-tourism.pdf (in PDF format)
    A report produced by Derek Tonkin, former British ambassador to Thailand and Burma expert. It should be noted by the reader that Derek’s is personally opposed to a tourism boycott of the country.

  10. Adrian  on October 1st, 2008

    Hi,

    Love the site, loads of really good information.

    Would be really great if you could do some form of Honeymoon wedding list where people can contribute to your honeymoon like Trailfinders do, a gift list where people can buy you specific things such as excursions etc etc.

    Just a suggestions and I know TF do really well from it.

    Adrian

  11. Loic Robertson  on October 3rd, 2008

    Hi Adrian,

    Thanks for the kind comments about the site.

    In fact, we DO have a Honeymoon wedding list service! Just visit http://www.audleytravel.com/honeymoons or click here.

    Our Honeymoon Gift Service allows our clients to collect contributions for their honeymoon from their guests who can either contribute an amount or sponsor selected excursions and activities.

    The honeymoon couple have their own account login where they can see the contributions so far and manage the content on their welcome page.

    Watch this space for a new Honeymoon section on our website which is coming soon to help us promote this free service.

  12. Judy Schneider  on November 14th, 2008

    I have just come across this chat site and would like to put in my two pence worth to the previous debate about Myanmar (Burma). In 2004, I (a non-teacher) was fortunate to be included in a group of Asian Studies teachers from Australia to visit for 3.5 weeks.

    Some points I would like to make:

    1. We had a private audience with a member of the previous Aung San Suu Kyi government, who had been jailed for 19/12. He knew she asked people not to visit, but now he ran a beautiful tourist venture and with the profits had established and supported medical facilities, schools, provided employment, etc. He pointed out, that was the best way he could help his people now.

    2. Our tour did not use any government owned accommodation, transport (except for one internal flight), entertainment, restaurants, etc. I trust that Audley Travel also operates in a similar fashion.

    3. Our tour leaders (their 4th trip), took in 4 computers, paper, etc. to give to a couple of schools they had built up relationships with.

    4. We also visited a monastery, where the abbott had been given some money on a previous visit, with which he had started schooling 75 children. This trip, he was given some more money, with which, he said, he could increase the number to 100 students. These were children, who would have not received any education.

    5. We (tour participants) had been asked to take pens, pencils, computer paper, some easy picture type books, etc. to give as presents.

    This was the most meaningful journey, I have undertaken. A book I have read since, written by Pascal Khoo Thwe, a Padaung hill tribesman’s journey to studying English at Cambridge. It is titled “From the Land of Green Ghosts”, published by Harper Collins in 2002. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the struggles non-militant people face.

  13. Natalie Lewis  on November 17th, 2008

    Thank you for your comments. It sounds like you had a fantastic experience. I would be interested to learn more about the tourist venture you visited. Obviously we have now set up our own school, but if there are projects we can support in other parts of the country we are always keen to hear about them.

    Here at Audley we do everything we can to ensure that nothing we use or recommend to our clients within Burma is government owned. We were also very careful to ensure that private construction firms were used in the building of the school. Any clients we have travelling to Rangoon in the future will have the chance to visit the school and we will provide a regularly updated list of what is required for people who want to take gifts out with them.

    I have read the book that you recommend, and it is on our list of reading recommendations for anyone travelling to Burma. It is a fascinating story, and definitely worth recommending. Thank you.

  14. e d heath  on January 6th, 2009

    I don’t know how long ago Jim Collins stopped visiting Burma but I wold suggest he visits again with an open mind, leaving some of his prejudices behind.
    My own association with Burma goes back some time; I lived there for three years prior to independence, leaving on Independence Day, Jan 4th 1948, but compelled by my love of the people to return many times since then.
    Life in the country has changed dramatically in recent years since the regime embraced capitalism and opened up the economy to private enterprise. Today, the great majority of businesses, including particularly travel agents and the tourist industry in general, are privately owned and they are struggling to succeed against the negative opinions expressed by the anti-Burma lobby.
    Yes, the government imposes taxes on tourism, what government doesn’t? But my estimate is that, if your’re a responsible tourist, that tax amounts to no more than 15-18% of what you spend. That means 82-85% goes directly to the people. I reckon that’s a pretty good deal.
    More recently, my travels in Burma have been with “PANDAW”, a Scottish-owned company which, like Audley, sponsors schools and orphanages and buys all its goods and services directly from local markets. Also, it played a leading role in the relief effort after cyclone Nargis.
    There was much criticism of the junta after Nargis, but international relief was on the ground within days of the disaster. It came in virtually as fast as the limited infrastructure would allow. I think the fact that most of it came – logically – from neighbours such as India, China and Thailand, probably got up the noses of western countries. However, it was western agencies such as Merlin and Save the Children which in the main handled the relief effort. Would anyone suggest that they should cease operations in Burma? It should be remembered also that much of the food, medical and building supplies came from stocks held in the unaffected parts of the country further north.
    I have lived in the Irrawaddy delta (in Pathein, Myaungmya and the stricken town of Pyapon) and have been back since the cyclone. In spite of the devastating death toll, now put at more than 200,000, life for the survivors is virtually back to as near normal as may be expected and I watched the harvest of a bumper crop of rice last November.
    The entire delta region relies almost wholly on its waterways for transport and communications.
    The cyclone however destroyed thousands of boats and there is only one road bridge carrying the one single-carriageway road into the delta from Rangoon. This was the major constraint on the relief effort.
    In recent years I have visited scores of towns and villages, from the delta in the south to Kachin state in the north, and from the Shan states in the east to Rakhine state in the west. Never, ever, have I been followed by so-called “secret police”. (I have served some years with our Intelligence services so I think I would know if I was being followed.) The people I have talked with – and I speak conversational Burmese – have never, to my knowledge, been interrogated afterwards. How do I know? Well, it may surprise many people to learn that the Burmese people now have access to the internet and I can follow up my visits by exchanging emails with some of the people I meet. Every village I have visited has at least one satellite dish and access to hundreds of channels of world-wide TV, the favourite being Sky Sports transmissions of English premier league football. (Children a thousand miles up the Irrawaddy river can recognise every Man U player by sight, and probably are at this moment wearing their ‘Rooney 10′ shirts to school.) They don’t believe the BBC news any more because they feel hurt by its bias and inaccuracy.
    In 1947 I was involved in General Aung San’s election campaign and was privileged to meet him and his family. What a charismatic man! He told me of his vision for his country and his people. I should very much like that vision to be realised, but it won’t be through any boycot.
    Please, Jim Collins and those who feel like you do: I’m sure you have the best intentions, but don’t write off 50 million people out of hand. Governments come and go but the people don’t.
    When Kipling first visited Burma, he wrote home saying “This is a country like no other you will ever know.” It hasn’t changed. It’s an enchanting land and Burmese hospitality is legendary.
    There will be a referendum within a couple of months on a new constitution and an election next year. You can be cynical and say nothing will change. But if you support the people and give them strength and hope, it just could change.
    Des Heath


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