Sorry for the delay, back home now
It was lovely, the lovely places are very lovely but there are still a LOT of undeveloped places, very poor areas/half built places which looked to just be abandoned
I wouldn't want to venture out under our own steam, we did a couple of Tui tours and even there the places we went to the people would give you a nice tour, you'd think this is nice then you'd get to the shop and they'd really pressure you to buy something, one in particular was a moon stone mine, same at a gem place. I'd be browsing the cabinets and they'd keep picking out necklaces etc so I could "try them on" and putting them round my neck. I was maybe interested in buying something, however it put me right off as to me jewellery is a very personal choice and I like to take my time, pick out a couple of nice pieces to then look at more closely, they were picking items that weren't to my taste. I get they are poor and desperate to make money but it actually did the opposite and put me right off out of the 2 places I just brought a single moonstone, had I felt less obliged to buy that I'd maybe have picked out a bracelet or necklace at the gem place instead
The minute we left the hotel we were for want of a better word accosted by a tuk tuk driver, when we said we were going to check out the supermarket he walked the whole way with us then waited outside to walk back with us!! Again, I know you need money but it felt creepy, especially the waiting outside
The roads are in fantastic condition Vs pothole UK but they don't have the network we do so the tours tend to take the dual carriageway type roads which takes longer, because there isn't the array of options we have here
The stray dogs look like they are a real problem, lots look very mangey, showing signs of worms, wouldn't want to touch. I'm guessing it goes against their beliefs to "deal" with the issue. There are a LOT of them, getting into the roads and all sorts. Doesn't help I'm not a dog person
As said don't get me wrong the lovely bits were truly lovely, probably the best hotel we have stayed in and the staff were amazing, couldn't do enough for you, the hotel had a beach right behind it, again gorgeous beach and sunsets, lovely deep sand, but again you had the issue of people immediately trying to sell stuff the minute you set foot on the beach. I haven't visited loads of places abroad but probably only Rome was similar. The elephant orphanage was nice to see and the elephant safari
If you're doing a resort with organised tours I'd definitely say is the best option I definitely wouldn't want to do it under my own steam. Be prepared to go in with your eyes wide open as very easy to fall for sales pitches after tours, we did more than once before getting more wise to it
I feel 2 weeks was perfectly sufficient to have a large amount of pool time but also see a bit of everything. It was nice and quiet in our hotel, I think it's their winter so wasnt rammed, it was a big hotel so wouldn't want to be there in busy season, the change in how busy it was was noticeable at the weekend as they must have had a deal for locals to use the facilities. We'd booked whale watching but Tui said the sea was too rough so cancelled it (the emetophobic part of me is very grateful although was looking forward to seeing them)