Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Enchantingly Memorable"

"We (family of 4 with kids 8 and 11) spent 2 nights at Noel's camp. This included 4 Safaris. Both Noel and Cecile were our hosts, a lucky thing as they are not always present at the camp. Tent - we are not campers and had just come from several days in Amanwella, so ""glamping"" was the intention. We got the aircon tent, a semi-permanent structure that runs on solar power. Very comfortable, and the AC was a key feature during the stifling dry heat of the day, and also made it a lot easier to fall asleep at night. There were a few quirks here and there but when glamping, you factor that into the mix. Overall the tent delivered beyond expectations. The one observation I will make is on security - nothing happened and there is a safe in the room, but the tents are zipper operated (no locks). The camp site is not that far from village areas. I would advise to bring 2 padlocks to lock the zipper clasps together at the 2 entrances (front flap and back flap leading to the bathroom). Your valuables will be secure enough in the safe but I didn't like the idea that someone could unzip and enter while we are asleep at night. To be clear, none of the camp staff are an issue, but it's outsiders who know the price of staying at this camp who could get ideas. Food - spectacular. They source organic and fresh from the farmers in the area, and their talented chef put together very flavorful breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It was all local cuisine, and there was always spicy plus non spicy varieties to ensure the kids would be fine. Your taste buds will be in for a real treat. Camp ambience - charming. The volunteers (especially Christina from Spain) entertained the kids with games. They also organized the building of an insect hotel which the kids loved, and also had them participate in tree planting to show the importance of giving back to nature when you leave a carbon footprint. Both entertaining and educational. Meals were communal style and made for enjoyable conversation. Breakfast and lunch under a thatched roof, dinner under the stars. Yes you will now and then see a small lizard or mantis or other creature on your armrest or the table... to be expected in a wildlife park. Safaris - prime time to see stuff is at dusk and dawn, so the AM departure is before 6AM and the PM outing is from 3pm to 6:30pm. On our first two outings, we saw numerous spotted and barking deer; eagles, kingfishers, peacocks, many other birds; mongoose; crocs; elephants. Watching 2 alpha deer bucks clash was neat but we still had not seen what we came for - leopards. The third outing was the charm, and we watched a large leopard lounging in the grass. I don't quite know how to describe the feeling of watching a beautiful and free animal in its natural habitat. All I can say is: a zoo ain't the same. My iphone camera shots won't do it justice. Fortunately, Noel was our guide and when you combine a passion for wildlife with an 8kg-supersonic-Nat Geo-caliber camera lens, the results are amazing. Attached are 2 of his pics of our leopard. As a bonus, we also spotted a young sloth bear. Noel is very knowledgeable and gave us valuable insight and commentary during the rides. His Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were properly decked out, and I noticed in the park many other outfits carrying tourists in rickety vehicles (one was even lopsided due to different sized tires). Also must credit Noel for truly trying hard on safari #3 to spot a leopard. He badly wanted for us to spot one before we depart, and made it his mission. There are no guarantees but it helps when your guide badly wants you to leave happy. We did the 2 night package and I highly recommend it. Had we done 1 night, we would have missed out on safari #3 which was the highlight. After safari #4, we had our fill and were ready to head off so the format was just right. I guess you could get lucky on a 1 night stay but your chances go up much more on the 2 nighter. There are some who do a day excursion from their beach resort, and this would be a mistake as you would arrive past dawn and leave before dusk, i.e. be on safari while the animals are asleep in a hidden shade. This is an eco-minded camp run by owners who are passionate about wildlife and conservation, and keen to impassion others by delivering on client experience. If you visit a big city like London or Manhattan, the hotel you choose plays a part but the city itself largely makes the experience. At a wildlife park, the hosts who run your camp and guide your safaris largely make for good vs bad experience. Is this value for money? I will answer same as when someone asks me that about my Porsche: I won't describe it as value for money but will just say, it's worth every penny."

Talabgaon Castle: "Best of India"

"I can't begin to express how incredibly gracious the manager and staff are and how hard they worked to make sure our stay was nothing short of magical. Do yourself a favor and add this to your itinerary if exploring Northern India. We went to Jaipur right after by car and driver. So this was definitely doable, even if just for one night. Be sure to get cash out before you arrive and come hungry. The chef is fantastic. They have a bar and a beautiful pool on the property as well. Safe travels! Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Cuca: "Deliciosa experiencia"

Fuimos a este restaurante la última noche del viaje en bali y fue la mejor decisión que tomamos.. Se nota que hay mucho trabajo y disciplina en cada uno de lo detalles de este restaurante desde el diseño el personal el concepto......llegamos aqui a las 6 de la tarde para tomar un almuerzo-cena... Cada plato es una experiencia culinaria exquisita. Los cócteles Deliciosos!!! La atención del personal increíble... Recomendadisimo....volvería aquí sin ninguna duda

Satri House: "Great hotel"

"Stayed here for a first time visit to Laos. The arrival is a little underwhelming as the hotel has no frontage to speak of, just an opening with a road down to a doorway very tastefully done. Inside is a revelation- a lovely relaxed layout with 2 pools, bar and restaurant. The room was spacious with 4 poster bed, bathroom, separate toilet and large balcony. The room was clean had all facilities including fruit basket and toiletries in glass bottles. Staff were extremely friendly and attentive. Breakfast east cooked to order with fresh juice, omelettes, croissants etc. Anything asked for was brought without fuss. We did try the restaurant which was very good in the evening. Slight criticisms - there was a cocktail menu at the bar but the barman didn’t really know how to make them. It is about 1 km from the centre so a bit of a walk to get into Luang Prabang town."

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Perfect in every way"

We loved Cabochon Hotel. From our initial dealings over email to our warm welcome on arrival, the staff looked after our family and ensured our stay was stress free. Suites are beautiful and we had a connecting door through to our sons suite which was very helpful. Breakfast was simple but good quality and tasty, beds are comfy and excellent quality bedlinen. A highlight was the swimming pool which was always quiet. We returned for one more night on our way back home and stayed in the 2 bedroom apartment which was even better - light filled and larger balcony. We have nothing to be negative and we think we are pretty fussy.

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Jamais deux sans trois"

"Troisième séjour à Sanak Retreat car on ne change pas une équipe qui gagne. Tout est toujours parfait, la vue sur les rizières toujours aussi belle, le bungalow toujours aussi confortable et bien décoré, la chef toujours aussi talentueux, tout le personnel toujours aussi gentil, chaleureux et aux petits soins, et Wawan et son équipe dispensent toujours les meilleurs massages de Bali. Désolé les gars, vous ne nous avez pas encore lassés et nous reviendrons."

Villa Song Saigon: "Brilliant"

Stayed for two nights at the beginning of a two-week trip through Vietnam, and it couldn't have been a better start. The hotel and its location are spectacular. Nice airy room with a small balcony overlooking the river. Amazing staff, fantastic breakfasts and lovely dinners right by the riverside. The shuttle boat drops you off right downtown and picks you up again. Absolutely perfect!

Supanniga Luxury Bangkok River Cruises: "A must experience in Bangkok!"

The cruise was very intimate unlike the big party boats. Sit down dinner was awesome! One of the best tasting meals we had while in Bangkok. Would definitely recommend Suppaniga to everybody!

The Tiger’s Eye: "Not to be missed!"

This is probably my favourite restaurant in Phnom Penh. The cocktails were sensational and each course was flawless. The staff knew the menu well and were super professional. This place is very much "on trend" and if you're in Phnom Penh, it's not to be missed. Yummmmmm!!

Tugu Lombok: "SPECTACULAR!"

"Upon arrival at Hotel Tugu even though we had never stayed there or met we were treated like old special friends. From that moment on the customer service just kept getting better. We stayed with our 2 children aged 6 & 8 in an 2 room villa with 2 amazing outdoor bathrooms. Hotel staff arranged 3 separate tours - 1 to the Islands snorkelling and exploring, one horse drawn cart through the local streets and also a visit to local schools to experince some Lombok culture. Nothing was too much trouble. Despite only having 1 main restaurant, they offer an exceptional menu that offers different specials every evening. Also with an option to eat anywhere on the resort at anytime - beach, room, roof top, garden setting etc. The photo's do not do the hotel justice - the experience of being immersed in the local artwork, manicured gardens and pristine beach was phenomenal . Offering everything from paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, beach table tennis and swings were all inclusive. The 2 pools were a perfect for swimming all day! It was quiet and allowed us the time to chill and unwind. The staff worked like a real team - knowing everything about us and being there when we needed without feeling like they were on top of you. Having a large selection of board games kept us all entertined and occupied when we were not participating in the many activities mentioned above. This was truly an amazing experience."