Raizada World Holidays

We were quoted three times for the Maldives and RWH were the only ones who included the speedboat transfer in the price instead of adding it later. The villa was exactly what was shown, the sandbank picnic was the best hour of the trip, and someone answered our WhatsApp at 11pm the night our flight moved.

Ten days, four countries, two elderly parents and a nine-year-old — I expected chaos. The trains were all pre-booked, the Vatican tickets meant we walked past a two-hour queue, and there was an Indian dinner every night my mother could actually eat. Worth every rupee of the planning fee.

The houseboat was private, not shared with strangers as another operator had tried to sell us, and the cook made karimeen fresh on board. Munnar in the mist was unreal. My only complaint is that five days was not enough.

Very well organised — the desert safari and the Burj Khalifa sunset slot were both spot on, and the visa came through in three days. The hotel in Deira was a bit far from the newer parts of the city, which is my only note. I would book with them again.

The floating breakfast photograph is now our living room wall. What actually made it though was the driver, Wayan, who reorganised an entire day when it rained and took us to a waterfall instead. RWH picked well.

Took my parents in April for the tulip garden. The houseboat on Dal Lake was clean and warm, the driver knew the valley properly, and when the Sonamarg road looked doubtful he called ahead and rearranged the day rather than wasting four hours. That is experience you cannot book online.

Two children under ten and everything was pre-ticketed, so no queuing with a tired seven-year-old. The MRT pass was a small thing that made a big difference — we went at our own pace instead of waiting for a coach.

The ferries being booked in advance saved the trip — we met people at Havelock stuck for two days because they had not reserved. Radhanagar at sunset is as good as advertised. The Port Blair hotel was ordinary but we were barely in it.