JULIE EVANS, UK, THE CLASSIC MEKONG, SEP 2018
We spent an amazing week on the Mekong Pandaw. The crew were all amazing, well trained, polite, helpful, efficient. We couldn't fault them at all. The daily itinerary was announced at the end of Happy Hour and followed up by a written schedule left on our bed when the sheets were turned down. The daily trips were well planned, interesting and gave us an insight into the local life, especially with regard to the schools. The food was, to us, on a par wth 'fine dining'. We could not fault it at all.
Being a vegetarian can sometimes be a bit difficult. However the chef provided a variety of dishes during the week. In addition the staff remembered and I did not have to remind whoever was serving of the fact. Sadly I did not venture to the top deck for an early morning cup of tea. I was not comfortable going there in the 'dressing gown' provided so had to wait for breakfast for that first cuppa! It would have been nice to have had a tea/coffee station on each deck for that early morning drink. Something that could easily have been moved away when breakfast was served. I am sure this facility would be well received by otheres too.
Providing water refillable water bottles was to me a real plus and definitely better than using lots of disposable bottles. We were provide with an insulate bag to carry the bottles but, sadly, these were on loan only when it would have been nice to keep it. Also by providing ear pieces and radio receivers was also a plus on trips, especially when the guide was leading the group which, for logisitic reasons, could only follow in single file. We were all able to hear what he had to say and he did not have to shout !!
From the minute we stepped foot on the boat, the send off on trips, the return to the boat from a trip when we wer greeted with a cold flannel, cold drink and someone to clean our shoes, to the final farewell we were so well looked after, the trip will be remembered for a long time to come.
Thank you Pandaw your trips are awesome.
Julie Evans