Guest Reviews

CABOCHON HOTEL & RESIDENCE: "Urban Bangkok feel — Hit it twice this so far."

"For those seeking to experience the vibe of Bangkok as a psuedo-denizen for a couple of days -- that is, to live/to sleep amid that ordinary urban street mix of local food vendors adjacent to gleaming skyscrapers, [and, with some solid benefits such as a being near a handy supermarket, the Skytrain Phrom Phong stop, a hip juice bar, and a small city park] the Cabochon offers this kind of feel in the Thai metropolis. It's not on the famed river, and it's not super luxury. Rather, it's under-the-radar subtle. Hidden down a small alley from that urban mix, the colonial-era building is a sweet spot -- surrounded by lush foliage and filled inside with Asian collectibles. Venture out into the Bangkok chaos, and return back to the chill of the Cabochon, where the genuinely warm staff will greet you with smiles -- more smiles when you order a couple of rounds of mojitos. Relaxed without anyone in your grill. Clean, more than acceptable, not over-priced. And best, it is super understated."

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen: "An incredible, unique experience. Must do for Foodies."

The calibre of food served here was exceptional. I couldn't find much information online at all after reading about it in the Guardian earlier this year before we went so we took a gamble, and I'm so glad we did. Chef Black served us 9 courses, all surprises and chosen by him, throughout the evening, coming out and explaining in detail each one and why he paired ingredients together. Distinctive fine dining food with an asian influence - lots of fish! We paid 1200 Baht for a bottle of wine (which was absolutely delicious) and 1600 Baht each for the food. If you're some who loves fine food and the complexities of pairing, go with an open mind and you won't be disappointed.

Jing’s Residence: "Incredible service and attention to detail"

Pingyao is amazing and so is Jing's residence…a wonderful experience with great care taken by the management and staff to make it a very personal stay. The converted property is something of a rabbit warren but the the rooms are sumptuous with stunning architecture and interior design. To top it off they food and service were simply superb….the dinner was terrific and the breakfast beat anything we had during 2 weeks in China.

Tugu Bali: "Hotel Tugu 11/17"

"What can I say about Hotel Tugu other than it’s the most enchanting friendly and amazing hotel we stayed at while on Bali. From the minute you enter driveway you will be welcomed with a friendly greeting and the first of many incredible historic relics from the island. From the minute we walked in my wife and I felt like family and were always taken well care of…upon leaving we were provided a fruit basket and a gift for staying at the hotel…we stayed at much more costly and higher rated villas during our stay but did not receive any kind of sendoff like we had at Tugu… PROS – You will not stay in another hotel like this in Bali – trust me – we stayed at much higher end hotels and did not have near the experience we had while at Tugu. Free Balinese dance show every Thursday night where dinner is served – can’t miss this if you have the chance. The beach (although a 100 meter walk from the hotel) is filled with plenty of friendly locals and surfers from around the world. If you ever wanted to surf, this is a great place to learn with the easy rolling waves. Finally the town surrounding the hotel is a lot of fun and gives you a chance to get out of the hotel and mingle. CONS – Bed is not very frim – I am used to a really firm mattress so I might just be complaining for no reason – also there is no gym which is quite common in Bali hotels… Honestly there was nothing wrong with this hotel and I promise if you give it a shot, you will not be disappointed. FYI the price for pickup from the airport (246,000) is better than any driver will give you upon arrival…It’s a 45-60 minute ride from Denpasar…"

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "The best"

We stayed here for two nights and it was wonderful. The individual room is beautifully design and has their own little balcony. The food at the restaurant is excellent. The reception has a great library. It is good to know you are supporting the local community as well. One of the drawback is that given it is so ecofriendly, we kept hearing noises from various animal on our roof which disturb our sleep a little bit.

Mie Cafe: "Best Dinner in Siem Reap"

On our final night in Siem Reap we came here and it turned out to be our favorite restaurant. What a lovely dinner in a beautiful setting. We had the prix fix menu which was delicious from start to finish. Highly recommend this lovely gem.

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Magical Shangri-La up in the clouds"

"The views from all around both properties were breath-taking and we enjoyed some of the recommended walks you can do around the grounds, especially being treated to a delicious lunch down at the river. The food was great throughout the 4 days, sitting outside for breakfast and lunches is a treat (as long as the flies are not out in force) and dinners were similarly a great experience where you get to chat with other guests in a relaxed, communial manner, though private dining is always available, which we did take advantage of one night, when we were too fatigued to make small talk. Great variation of food also - with a different food 'theme' given for different nights - i.e. Indian, Tibetan, etc. The room we had (Singuella Suite - spelt incorrectly I'm sure) was huge, had some lovely period furniture and was decorated to a high, if a little mumsy, standard. Great bathroom and loads of hot water too. Sadly our visit to Darjeeling town was not the best due to it being really overcast, so I would suggest anyone stays here at least 3 nights to make the most of their time here. The road is what everyone else has written about it - bumpy and nerve jangling, but it is what it is - certainly we felt it seemed worse on the way down than up....also it seemed to get slightly more tolerable the more you did that journey, but it's no deciding factor over whether you should go to this place - it is really special, the views are simply stunning and the bonus of getting all your laundry done here for free was a great boon for us as we had 4 weeks worth of laundry to give them from our previous travels in India. The manager Jemima was lovely too - friendly, welcoming, easy to talk to with a great convivial manner. The shop was a nice, unexpected visit, but needed a bit more diversity in merchandise....again it got all a bit mumsy and twee after a while. The only other small criticism would be some of the employees English is very, very limited, which resulted in some wrong orders and misunderstandings - nothing major, but this is a pricey place to stay at and some guests might expect the service to be highly sharpened to reflect the fee. Still, if you can do go, I felt 4 nights was just the right amount of time to spend here....had a beautiful time which I will not forget. Room Tip: The newer bunglaow - for sure"

Les Maisons Wat Ko: "Great place to stay in Battambang"

"A great experience! We were welcomed with passion fruit juices . The property is beautiful, quiet , great pool, huge tropical garden ,private room and , very clean .The food at the hotel was also delicious. The staff is very friendly and warmest welcome, Mr. Kim Nou very kind and help full He offers a great experience with natural life overall a very pleasant experience . Highly recommended!"

Tugu Malang: "Excellent deco, service and spa"

"Very nice hotel located close to train station (no need taxi). Many antiques collected by owner make hotel deco look unique with many rooms to discover and nice pieces of furniture. They know how to greet guests and make business: 15mn massage offered, very good local pastries with drink offered at tea time. Nice pool for children, good restaurant and cosy colonial bar. Great location to visit the town and the region. Very good surprise to find this hotel in this small town."

Tugu Bali: "A true gem"

We stayed at this beautiful and unique hotel two nights and enjoyed every moment. There is much to see with it's great collection of art and well curated furniture. General feeling is very welcoming, easy going and effortless luxury. The room was really our kind of taste: eclectic furniture, natural and nice ocean view. Def coming back with better time!