Guest Reviews

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Southern Thailand Island Beauty"

"We arrived in a monsoon to Koh Samui - an island with a harmonious blend of lush tropical nature, pristine beaches and friendly people. We stayed for four nights at Sea Dance Resort - an intimate boutique resort featuring thatched roof bungalows with private pools and garden cottages located at Hanuman Bay, one of Koh Samui’s most tranquil locations. Our ocean front villa with private (!) plunge pool was an oasis of luxury and calm.The main pool was also lovely - we arrived just at the end of the rainy season so the resort only had a handful of people staying there so more often than not the we had the pool and loungers to ourselves. The food from the Sea Salt Restaurant was fresh, local and delicious. We loved putting our palates in the hands of the chef and having him cook his favorites - each meal was better than the last! Same goes for the bartender - cocktails were unique, refreshing and a perfect way to cap off days spent exploring the island. A swim up bar with a passion fruit mojito never disappoints! The physical beauty of the place was only surpassed by the friendliness, hospitality and service of Poy and the team of staff who ensured every moment we spent at Sea Dance Resort was bliss. And it was. Room Tip: Sea Shore Pool Villa is secluded and perfect"

The Samar: "Perfect gateway to the temples, with the personal touch"

"I came to Siem Reap for a mix between work and leisure and Samar Villa was the perfect fit. First, as I saw in many reviews, Bertrand and his team are always very attentive to our every need. They helped us organize various functions: from meals in unique restaurants, to temples visits and surprising platform rental with full service on Tonle Sap. We and our clients left absolutely delighted by our stay. Apart from this wonderful service, the villa itself is remarkable. The owners have impeccable taste and a beautiful collection of antiques throughout the public areas and rooms. My suite was spacious and homey and spotless, like I've rarely seen. Breakfast and the food in general were very good and generous. All in all, I highly recommend it and look forward to a 2nd visit."

Jing’s Residence: "Fantastic Hotel! Fantastic Service!"

"We decided to visit Pingyao based on Lonely Planet recommendations (Pingyao is famous as a walled city and well-known for its local goods). So glad we did! This hotel was the best during our China/HK holiday. It is an oasis in an otherwise dusty and remote location. The room and facilities is top notch although don't expect to watch TV as there is none except in the guest lounge. You won't miss it though as the hotel offers spa treatments; noodle making and paper cutting classes. We were able to relax in the guest lounge with complimentary afternoon tea. All tea and delicacies (we had eight bean treasure one day and a type of porridge the next) are locally produced and were delicious. The restaurant is great for both breakfast and dinner with a wide selection available. Loved the scrambled eggs Chinese style on a bed of steamed rice for breakfast. Personal service and attention from all the staff is second to none but especially from the resident manager, Imam, who is outstanding. He was always available to assist or ensure our needs were being met and popped up magically as we would pass through the lobby area. On our final morning of our stay he took us on a personal tour of a ruined courtyard giving us a tremendous insight into how the locals lived many years ago as well as escorting us to a local shoe manufacturer. We would definitely stay here again and the hotel and friendliness make this place worth the detour to Pingyao itself! "

Labyrinth: "Substantial improvement and deserving of a star"

This is our second visit and our 125th starred fine dining restaurant. The innovation of the food, presentation and quantity has improved(you now get an umbrella with the crab!) and it is truly deserving of it's star

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Amazing Location"

"We stayed in 'the bungalow' which was beautifully decorated and extremely comfortable with the added bonus of wonderful scenery. The food and service in our own delightful dining room in front of a roaring log fire was perfect. The only major downside is the TERRIBLE access to Glenburn. I live in the country down an unmade up track and have a 4 X 4 to cope with our own tracks and lanes however, the 10 kilometre track that takes an hour each way (I was highly amused to see another review claiming it takes 30 minutes, this would only be possible if they flew!) to Glenburn is worse than 'challenging', it can only be likened to a steep dried up ancient river bed! My husband and I both suffer with arthritis and this journey very nearly killed us off. Such a pity as otherwise everything else was perfect!"

The River Resort: "An Amazing Resort…we will definitely return!"

My husband, son and I stayed at the River Resort and the hotel and their staff went above and beyond to accommodate us! It was quiet and serene! The food was great! The internet was strong and fast. They have two pools, spa, and rooms overlooking the Mekong. And to top it off they gave us complimentary spa treatments, a sunset cruise, a bottle of wine and provided us with free transport to Wat Temple. Lastly, the service and staff were exceptional! This place is great for singles, couples, or families. We can't wait to return!

Villa Song Saigon: "Relaxing base"

Good spot away from the bustle of city. Shuttle service via boat is a great service. Lovely setting for dining overlooking the river. Pool was relaxing and private. Room was on the small side but beds very comfortable.

The Twelve Hotel: "Pleasant"

Quiet oasis in Bangkok. The hotel is quiet, clean and the owners are friendly. Bedding is excellent and tasteful decoration. This is a small hotel on a human scale. A little far from the subway or foot to BTS but tuk tuk will cost you 50 Bath. In short I would go back because I have spent a great time

Glenburn Tea Estate: "A delight"

"How do I start to describe Glenburn? At the beginning, I guess. The journey up from Bagdogra/Siliguri is a 4/5 hour drive, and, once you get to the hills, the road twists and turns, is two way only, and has enough slow traffic to make overtaking difficult/dangerous, but, except in the couple of places where the tar has broken up and washed away, it’s OK. The last bit, tho’, when you turn down off the road to Darjeeling and Ghum, is very slow and very bumpy, just as they admit on their website. We came down it in the dark, and it was only two days later when we went up it in the daylight that we could see why it was uncomfortable – it is very poor in places. BUT, please don’t let that put you off! Glenburn is delightful. Set in a working tea estate, with its own tea “gardens” for acres and acres all around, the processing factory a short walk down the driveway, and workers villages dotted down and across the slopes, it is surrounded by green, green hills (or it was in Oct 2016). There are tracks and paths and a road or two through the estate, and down to the river, so walking is lovely. The accommodation is essentially split in two. The original estate manager’s bungalow has a long wide veranda on the front, a lovely “old fashioned” communal dining room, with one big dining table (and maybe 12 chairs round it), a lounge and 4 bedrooms, all with staff areas behind. Then the newer bungalow, set a little lower down the point, has 4 big bedrooms, a sitting room, another couple of verandas and another set of kitchens on one level, with the Spa rooms below. We had the Singalila Suite in the new bungalow. It was big, with very large ensuite bathroom, with walk-in shower, 4 poster bed (with a comfortable, new mattress), teak floors, french doors on one side and a lovely little bay window area to sit and drink our morning “bed tea”, looking out to the west towards the Himalayas – sadly, in the 6 nights we were there (in early October) the clouds never lifted enough for us to see Kanchenjunga, but that was our fault for going so soon after the monsoon. The meals were excellent. Breakfasts were served on the lower bungalow’s terrace, and were fruit, juices, toast, and eggs any way you’d like, plus a daily “special”. The lunches we had were certainly “special” – one day we walked down to the river-side, along to Sikkim and then had lunch of soup, quiches, bread and salads, on the lawn by the “fishing bungalow”, and then walked back-up (that was hot!). Another day we walked up towards the main road and had lunch of carrot soup, tuna sandwiches and salad served to us at a picnic table and chairs set up on the empty roadside, looking at the spectacular views. Diners were generally communal in main bungalow, but on two nights we asked to dine on our own, and were happily served on one or other of the terraces. Diners were varied “curries”, one night Tibetan, another South Indian, for example, but one night it was a “roast”. We stayed 6 nights, so five days, at the start of out trip, and had lots to do. A day trip out to Darjeeling for the Darjeeling/Ghum toy train, and a visit to St Paul’s School, walks around the estate, down to the river and Sikkim, and a tour of the tea factory were all fun – though the walking can be pretty steep if you choose for it to be. We loved it all, but above all, the staff were terrific; the local staff were happy, smiling, and keen to do well, and the managers, Fay and Will, were just super – efficient, kind, friendly and very well suited to their roles. Finally, was the bumpy ride down to the Estate worth it? Without a doubt."

Nimmu House: "A really nice change of pace"

Most people spend their first night in Ladakh in Leh (the site of the airport) which is fine, but another- and arguably better- option is to drive one hour west to the village of Nimmu near the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, and stay at the wonderful Nimmu House. I stayed in one of the excellent and comfortable tents, which were both spacious and quiet (unlike Leh). The food was really good, especially the lemon chicken which was absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly, and the only improvements I could suggest would be some better grounds maintenance. I would definitely stay here again!