Not In The Guidebooks Bewertungen 161

We’ve just returned from what can only be described as the trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka.
Travelling as a family of four with two teenagers can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to finding a holiday that genuinely appeals to everyone, but this exceeded all of our expectations.
What really made the trip special was our guide, who was with us from start to finish. He was incredibly knowledgeable and taught us so much about the country, its culture and wildlife, but always in a natural way. He struck the perfect balance of being there when we needed him whilst giving us the space to enjoy time together as a family.
We visited some amazing national parks, away from the more commercial tourist crowds, and were lucky enough to see elephants, leopards and so much other wildlife. We ticked off some of the iconic experiences too, including the stunning train journey through tea country, but what made the trip stand out was being taken beyond the usual tourist trail.
Some of our favourite memories came from the unexpected moments - meeting local people, visiting places we would never have found on our own and getting a real insight into everyday life in Sri Lanka. Those authentic experiences are what transformed this from a great holiday into something truly unforgettable.
Sri Lanka completely captured our hearts and has given our family memories we'll be talking about for many years to come.

Just returned from 2 weeks in Costa Rica with Not in the Guidebooks. The whole experience from start to finish was second to none.

Costa Rica has so much to offer, I had a tailor made itinerary made and we visited lots of great destinations.

All of our accommodations were of a high standard and there was nothing to fault with any of them. From the location, to the staff to the food and the way the accommodations looked- they were exactly what Not in the Guidebooks say they are about.

We took part in plenty of activities, which were all sustainable experiences, many of which were locally owned and we were able to meet the owners of these amazing experiences. We did a range of activities such as white water rafting, snorkelling, hiking, spotting wildlife and plenty of birds species, learning with locals how sugar cane is processed, making corn tortillas at a local family home and a tour of a locally owned cheese farm. Most of our activities were private, with the exception of a few tours where we were part of a small group of no more than 10 people- it was great to meet new people and bond over the experiences. The small and private groups created a really personal experience and allowed us to really immerse our selves into the amazing country.

All of the guides, from the airport pick up to the airport drop off were professional, friendly and punctual. The guides for the tours had were incredibly knowledgeable about the local areas and the wildlife, spotting animals most people would walk straight past.

Thank you for such an amazing experience- a trip of a lifetime! If you are thinking of booking with Not in the Guidebooks, go for it, you will not be disappointed!

An Incredible Sri Lanka Experience with Not In The Guidebooks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve just returned from an unforgettable trip to Sri Lanka with Not In The Guidebooks, and the whole experience exceeded every expectation.

What really sets them apart is the focus on authentic, meaningful travel experiences that genuinely connect you with the destination and local communities. From visiting local schools and family homes to learning traditional coconut tapping, cooking authentic Sri Lankan dishes, and exploring ancient cultural sites, every part of the itinerary felt immersive and thoughtfully designed.

The accommodation throughout was fantastic, ranging from beautiful boutique stays to eco-conscious luxury resorts and safari camps. Highlights included incredible wildlife experiences in Wilpattu National Park, wellness retreats on the east coast, and unique cultural moments you simply wouldn’t find on a standard package holiday.

Everything was extremely well organised, with a great balance of adventure, relaxation, culture, and luxury. The local guides and hosts were warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about showcasing the real Sri Lanka.

A special mention also goes to our driver, Himli, and the team, who made the trip run so smoothly from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a holiday that goes beyond the typical tourist experience and want something authentic, sustainable, and unforgettable, I couldn’t recommend Not In The Guidebooks highly enough.

Figs on the Funcho was one of the most enjoyable holidays I’ve ever had. Great hospitality from Cheryl and Graham. A lovely place to visit. Wonderful communal cooking experiences and fabulous food as the result. A fun and relaxing break!

Fantastic and unique experience that was good value for money. The food and the cooking experience was great and there was a nice mixture of activities and leisure time. The hosts were great and ensured I had a great experience

We went to Vietnam in October for a trip of a lifetime to celebrate my husbands 50th and boy, was it that! Incredible from start to finish and memories made to last. I’m a bit of a control freak and so felt a little uncomfortable leaving such important trip arrangements to someone else, but everything was perfect. A whattsapp chat was started so straight away we could be in contact with our guides and as we moved through Vietnam, we always had someone to message for any enquiries. Every morning or evening before, we’d have a message to say what time and what car registration would be collecting us with the drivers name. The experience and knowledge the guides had in each place was amazing and they were absolutely brilliant- cannot rate them high enough. We also went to places that weren’t used by the tourists, so we went swimming in a waterfall which was incredible, had tea and local food at a lovely ladies house which was lovely, stopping off on the Mekong River, we ended up at a wedding where they took photos of us haha! So many wonderful experiences including spa retreat stay, Vietnamese cooking class, food tasting tour, riding bikes, the most incredible cruise to Ha Long Bay..Another note also, the hotels were always exceptional- clean, really comfortable and to a high standard - with great food. Would thoroughly and highly recommend Not in the Guide Books and wish we could do it all over again - not one thing would I change and definitely recommend the Vietnam 2 week trip from top to bottom of the country. Thank you ☺️

My first trip with Not In The Guidebooks was truly the trip of a lifetime!

The itinerary was perfectly thought out, we saw all the highlights of Sri Lanka, but still had the flexibility to adapt our plans along the way, which made the experience feel incredibly personal and relaxed.

Our private driver‑guide absolutely made the trip. His knowledge, passion, and genuine care turned every day into something special. From sharing local stories to helping us discover hidden gems, he brought the country to life in a way we’ll never forget.

I couldn’t recommend Not In The Guidebooks more highly. It was authentic and unforgettable! Cant wait for my next one!

Just back from my first trip with Not In The Guidebooks and it won't be my last.
11 wonderful days in Sri Lanka with so many wonderful experiences that will stay with me for life. Our guide was incredible with lots of insider information. I especially loved the authentic cooking class and Sigiriya sunrise hike. We felt very well looked after from beginning to end Thank you

We did so much in the time we were there and we felt we saw the real Sri Lanka. All the staff in the hotels went out of their way to give us a really wonderful experience.
We enjoyed all the tours - the jeep safaris were fantastic as well as the kayaking, the boat tour at Wild Wadi Wilpattu and the tuk tuk tour in Colombo. The village experience was a real highlight and the Cave Temple at Dambulla. We felt we really saw so much and experienced such a lot in our trip.
The hotels were all amazing, the Wild Wadi Wilpattu staff did so much for us and the food was fantastic. Our favourite was Jim's Farm Villas as it was a very luxurious and beautiful hotel in the most incredible setting. The Galle Face hotel was also beautiful. All the hotels made our stays so memorable and all helped us celebrate Kevin's birthday!
Our driver and guide looked after us so well for the whole trip. He was always very helpful and attentive to all our requirements, dedicated to making our holiday as enjoyable as possible.

I am a travel agent and booked my customers a 5 night trip to Nangu, Lapland. I have used Not in The Guidebooks before but this was my fist booking with them to Lapland. My lovely customers emailed me on their return to the UK to say what an incredible time they had. They did ice-fishing, reindeer visits, husky-sledding, snow-shoe walking, snowmobiling adventures etc. They stayed at Nangu which was adults only - a huge plus for Lapland. They even managed to see the Aurora Borealis or northern lights and sent me some photos. One of them made me laugh as they said they were not looking forward to the ice fishing as they thought it would be boring - turns out it was just one of the real highlights for them!

In their words 'it was completely magical and unforgettable. It was special, authentic and has left us with the most incredible memories. It had a real effect on us in a very positive way'.

I would book again with Not in The Guidebooks in a heartbeat and their prices compared to other tour operators offering Lapland is extremely competitive. Not just that, but the care in booking was world class.

I went to Mezzaluna in Tuscany on the cooking retreat and it was amazing. Rita was so welcoming and I came away feeling part of the family. I was on my own for the trip but that just meant I got more attention and we got to go on many excursions. My highlight was the cooking courses, I especially loved making the pasta from scratch and I cannot wait to make the recipes again! Thank you to Rita and her family who were the best hosts xx

Vicky was amazing and has the patience of a saint in helping me sort a booking out.

As a luxury travel specialist, attention to detail is absolutely paramount in my business. My clients expect expert advice, flawless planning, and truly bespoke experiences, and that’s exactly what Vicky Lawrence at NITGB delivered.

I contacted Vicky to create a tailor-made Marrakech desert tour itinerary with very specific inclusions requested by my clients. From the outset, Vicky listened carefully, understood the brief completely, and then went above and beyond to ensure every single detail was considered and seamlessly incorporated.

Her knowledge, responsiveness, and commitment to excellence made the entire process effortless, and the end result was an itinerary that genuinely felt once in a lifetime.

I absolutely recommend Vicky and look forward to collaborating on many more exceptional travel experiences in the future.

I recently took my family on the most incredible trip to Pyha in Lapland. A place where the air feels so pure it encourages you to slow down, breathe deeper, and truly switch off. As a travel professional myself, I did have quite in depth knowledge of this part of the world - and as such, there was no one else that I would trust more to deliver an authentic stay where we were all truly looked after, than Not In The Guidebooks. Needless to say, I book them a lot for my clients too (see earlier review) but this time I experienced it first hand. Incredible advice and care from start to finish, Caroline and Vicky outstanding as always. I'm so grateful that not only did my family get to experience this, but my lucky clients continue to do so as well. Thank you so much NITGB!

I want to say how amazing the team are at NITGB. I’ve been dealing with Vicky Lawrence and she’s gone way above and beyond to help arrange the most amazing Sri Lanka trip for me. She’s been quick to answer queries, always cheerful on the phone and in emails and messages and created the most amazing bespoke itinerary. Thank you so much Vicky for always being so supportive and making these trips awe inspiring.

From the moment I was in touch with Vicky, she has been amazing. She is so helpful, positive, friendly and really goes out of her way. She even showcased the systems to me and showed me how to request availability. She talked me through the best options and that were suitable for my client. She suggested the best accommodation types based on her own experiences, her customer service is just fab! My clients have taken some time to get back to me and we have been working on this for over a week now, so availability keeps changing but yet Vicky always keeps in touch and follows up. Thank you for your time, patience and knowledge.

Claire and Martin were wonderful hosts throughout the trip - it was such a lovely break to just focus on art for the week and be looked after! The food was amazing - I was excited for every meal and for the care and attention that went into every course. The accomodation was comfy and spotless too.

Caroline and Anthony were incredible tutors and lovely people to be around and learn from - whether that be techniques or their extensive knowledge of the art world in general.

Overall, an unforgettable week!

I gave a last-minute and very specific tick list for my clients’ once-in-a-lifetime family adventure to Lapland, and Vicky at Not in the Guidebooks absolutely smashed it!

She took the time to really understand what my clients wanted and came back with a Lapland package that ticked every single box — then added her own “Vicky magic” to make it even better. It was so perfect that nothing else my clients were considering came close.

This is the difference when you use an independent tour operator who’s a true specialist in their field. They’re as invested as you are in creating something that wows both you and your clients.

Even though she was incredibly busy, Vicky answered every question quickly and kept the whole process smooth and stress-free.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. Thank you, Vicky — you’re a real diamond!

🌟 Shining a Spotlight on Someone Special 🌟

At Boullies Travel, I believe that creating unforgettable holidays isn’t something you do alone — it takes a village (or, in this case, a brilliant partner!).

I want to take a moment to give a huge shoutout and heartfelt thank you to Vicky at Not In The Guide Books. Over many bookings, Vicky has been a constant source of support, positivity, and reliability.

She’s one of those rare people who’s always available, always smiling (even over email!), and always ready to go the extra mile to help make our clients' experiences truly exceptional.

✨ The trips we’ve arranged through Not In The Guide Books have been nothing short of magical — well-crafted, immersive, and full of the kind of special touches that make a holiday unforgettable. Whether it's a family Lapland adventure, a cultural escape, or something a little out of the ordinary, I know I'm in safe hands with the whole team at Not In The Guide Books.

Vicky — thank you for being such a joy to work with. You help me deliver something truly special for my clients every single time.

Here’s to many more adventures together. 🙌

Jason
Boullies Travel

I am a travel agent and love working with NITGB they are fab. I had some very detailed help from Vicky this morning for some lucky clients off to Lapland - she really knew her stuff and went out of her way to help and the clients booked this afternoon. Thank you Vicky!