Guest Reviews

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Such an amazing resort !!! In my heart forever"

"Travelling with my husband and friends, my aim was to go to Koh kong island, and I only have chosen the 4 Rivers Lodge to be a good location to reach the island. But when we discovered the island was too far away, we decided to remain in the resort for 3 days. After my disappointment of not going to Koh Kong island, I can say that I spent there one of the best vacations of my life !!! How calm it is ! You feel so cool, you only listen to birds, and the river noise.... The bedroom is fantastic... The visit to the Tatai waterfalls is so great, and the cayac ride around the island in front of the lodge is very fun... A specific award to Luce, the office manager, who was so nice with us... I really appreciated her kindness, so seldom nowadays.... When we left, I felt so bad... I would have liked to stay more.... Don't hesitate to choose this lodge, you will never regret it."

Rachamankha: "Best choice in Chiang Mai"

"Located in the old town, next to the main temples (actually one of the most famous temples, Wat Pra Singh is next door). Very quiet location, perfect to escape after a long day of sightseeing. Very nice decor, very classy. Spread out, small (only 25 rooms), very quiet all over, you can really relax. Nice rooms (I recommend the deluxe rooms as they are much bigger and nicer). Also the library, the pool area, the spa are nice. Very friendly and nice staff. They do their best to accommodate you. For me best option in town - classy and quiet (it used to be a Relais & Chateau before)"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Serenity in India"

"We were privileged to spend 5 nights in the hotel and 2 nights on the Lotus Houseboat during February. Our hotel stay was truly perfect. It is a very relaxing environment and just what was needed after a busy stay in Mumbai. We were in one of the beach facing bungalows, called Virya (strength!). It was spotlessly clean, with a comfortable bed, quiet and efficient air conditioning and an outdoor bathroom. The food was lovely - fresh, colourful, healthy and tasty. Experiencing real Indian food on our trip was quite a revelation, particularly compared to the version we get at home! I also enjoyed the extensive a la carte breakfasts at the beachside restaurant - much nicer than a normal hotel buffet breakfast. The free yoga sessions each morning were enjoyable, and pitched at a beginner's level, so accessible to all. We both had spa sessions every day, leaving it to the on-site doctor to choose and schedule our treatments. I loved the treatment where oil is dripped onto your forehead - it was so incredibly relaxing. The beach is deserted, and great for long walks. The sea was rough while we were there, so not suitable for swimming. The pool area is serene, and the sun beds super comfy. We found the service throughout the hotel to be exemplary. We really couldn't fault it. Just a little thing to be aware of - the hotel does not serve spirits, and there is only a limited selection of wine and beer available with dinner - so do stock up on duty free before you arrive if this is an issue for you. If I were to rate our 2 night stay on the Lotus Houseboat, I would probably give it 4 stars. Overall, it was a unique experience and we are glad that we did it. The service was again, very good, though a little more formal than at the hotel. We had an on board chef, who prepared the most delicious food. Our cabin was spacious and luxurious. Having seen a handful of other houseboats drift past, I would say that the Lotus is one of the nicest on this stretch of the backwaters. Unfortunately, however, we were unlucky during our stay because there was an issue with the generator. As a result at night it was either like a sauna in our cabin, or very noisy. In addition, there were constant loud explosions nearby (from the nearby naval base?) throughout the first night. It proved absolutely impossible to sleep, and not at all the romantic, serene experience it could have been. The write up you are given in advance about the trips onto land should be taken with a pinch of salt. For example you don't visit an ancient sacred snake temple in the middle of a monkey forest - you are no longer allowed near to the temple. The reality is that you wander through some scrub land to the side of the road to feed some monkeys with vegetables. Not a big deal really, but just a case of over promising and under delivering in some areas. In hindsight we would have preferred instead to have spent more time relaxing on the top deck of the boat. If you do decide to overnight on the Lotus, it's probably best to book the boat on an exclusive basis, as we did. Sharing the limited space aboard with a couple of strangers could be a little awkward! Overall we really had a fantastic time, and would love to return one day. It's a perfect spot for some R & R."

Villa Song Saigon: "Perfect Oasis in Saigon"

Saigon can be hectic to say the least, and having Villa Song to come back to every day absolutely made our trip. The rooms, the pool, the outdoor and indoor dining areas are all beautifully appointed. And the staff is some of the friendliest we have encountered. The location is incredibly convenient. The hotel provides a free boat shuttle to get down town which also removes much of the stress of getting to and from the city. Being right on the river, in the comfort of Villa Song was truly wonderful. We didn't want to leave and will never stay anywhere else in Saigon!

Amata Lanna: "Beautiful small hotel"

"I visited Thailand September 2016. I am behind finishing my reviews, but I enjoyed this hotel so much I wanted to make sure I shared my experience with others. The hotel is small, yet beautifully decorated, clean and vey comfortable. The staff was awesome- very friendly and accommodating, making good suggestions and helping arrange local travel when needed. Enjoyed breakfast in the atrium and the small dining area upstairs. We stayed here for 3 nights, and it was easy to get around the town either on foot or via taxi. There were restaurants within walking distance, and we were able to walk to one of the night markets. Great visit and would definitely stay here again. Stayed September 2016, traveled with family"

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Fantastic place & staff"

"French word : ""Le meilleur endroit pour dormir SUR le lac, et le meilleur restaurant de la région"" We were originally staying 2 nights, but ended but cancelling a night in Nyaung Shwe to spend an additional one at Inle Heritage. This is hands-down the best hotel (& restaurant) I've experienced in Myanmar. It is not the most luxurious, but it's not the point here. The rooms are beautiful, decorated with taste, eco-friendly. Only 6 bungalows, perfectly maintained, making the place a haven of peace in the evening. It might get busy at lunch and in the afternoon as tourists come to eat and visit the place. They probably have the best restaurant in lake area, and they also have burmese cats, endemic fish aquariums, cooking classes, homegrown vegetables etc. Basically the place is also a foundation : eco-friendly hotel, burmese cat sanctuary, and a school training students for hotels and restaurants. A portion of everything you pay here (hotel, restaurant, not sure for the souvenir shop) will go to the foundation. Breakfast is fantastic : real bread, real croissants, no wonder why all the customers were French :). Restaurant is great as well and serves fine cuisine (Myanmar/Thai style, homemade recipes, and a couple western dishes). Had one of their specialties, some simple fried rice and a so-classic Chicken Sandwich, all 3 were just perfect. Their ""pancakes"" are more like French crepes rather than US pancakes, taste great ! Girlfriend got sick on first day here, and stayed in bed the whole day while I left to visit Indein. The whole staff took care of her, from the cleaning ladies to the Chef preparing a special meal, and the manager checking on her every couple hours. Staff has been fabulous. The souvenir shop is nice as well, they seem to have superior quality stuff and pretty much everything you'd need. Consider checking it as you might find better stuff than on Inle markets / temple shops. You may find more luxurious places on Inle, but you will end up in resorts. It will cost more, and there will be 30 or more bungalows which won't always be in good shape. Honestly, if you want to be ON LAKE, go straight for Inle Heritage, forget about the lake ""resorts"". It is true there is some noise because of the boats going around (can start early in the morning), but keep in mind this will happen anywhere as long as you're staying on the lake. Okay, maybe a swimming-pool would be cool, but that sounds kind of stupid when you're actually on a lake (would not recommend swimming in the lake though). Maybe if they can make some eco-friendly pool, idea for the future :) We were kind of sad to leave Inle Heritage, I'd honestly would have stayed there for a whole week. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Sukoon Houseboat: "Surely this is the best"

"Sukoon means Peace, and this beautiful houseboat stands serene in a quiet part of Dal Lake. Hospitality begins at the jetty, with a transfer on Sukoon's big motor-powered shikara. Furnishings and beds are comfortable, bathrooms have a large tub and a large shower-stall, maintenance and cleanliness are immaculate, service is warm, discreet and highly professional. The sundeck on the roof is perfect for al fesco breakfast and lunch. What more could one want?"

Muang La Lodge: "Most charming Xmas Eve ever"

We stayed in this absolutely beautiful small resort for two nights. We were fortunate that we had a short journey, having flown to the nearest town and been picked up by the resort's car and our guide. We thought the location absolutely stunning and the staff even more fabulous. Our trek into the hills on Christmas Eve could not have been better (even down to the picnic lunch we carried with us from the resort) and the Christmas Eve entertainment which ended with us lighting Chinese lanterns was just magic. Thanks to everyone at the resort who made our stay so very special.

Tugu Lombok: "Amazing Family retreat"

"We had the pleasure of visiting Tugu Lombok in December with our 17 month old. It was such an easy place to stay with a toddler - beautiful beach out front, two very quiet pools, grass throughout the resort, daybeds (as well as high chairs) in the restaurant, and amazing staff that our baby adored. the resort is spread over enough of an area that if our little girl was in a boisterous mood we could take her to burn off her energy somewhere out of the way of other guests. We enjoyed breakfast on the resort dragon boat to watch the sunrise, and a horse and cart ride through local villages to watch the sun set. My husband snorkelled out the front of the resort while my daughter and i played on the beach and my daughter learned to moo from the cows next door!. The breakfasts were amazing, architecture and decoration really gorgeous and experiences on offer really interesting. Although it was perfect for a family with a toddler, we'd have enjoyed it even more if travelling as a couple as we'd have been able to do so much more! We visited the groups restaurant in Jakarta as well, based on how good our experience was at this resort. We look forward to visiting more of their properties when next in Indonesia and couldn't recommend them more highly to anyone."

Manda De Laos: "Be cautious"

"First of all the place is lovely, set around 3 Lilly ponds. At night the lights are magical.try and book a pond side booth or table. The food: the portions are very large, the menu tempting but try not to over order. Food highlights: the Luang Prabang salad with Scott egg( a perfect one plate lunch in itself.the tanguy duck was perfectly cooked but the tarmarind sauce could have been richer. The pork and watercress soup was devine. Service was spot on and the new French manager was delightful. Budget on 850,000 for 2 with wine water and service Perfect for a romantic dinner/ celebration"