Guest Reviews

Poring Hot Spring Nature Reserve: "Gorgeous Lodge"

"We stayed in the River lodge. OK, so the small water tank doesn't enable you to have a deep bath, but that didn't bother us. 2 great bedrooms, 2 enormous bathrooms, 3 sitting decks, 2 separate sittings areas, good air con and cable TV. Right next to river and entrance to the nature reserve. No internet but there is some at the resort restaurant (although not fast). Better wifi at Round Inn cafe near the car park (2min walk away). Staff were very professional and friendly. Additional service offered to see Rafflesia flower if one is blooming nearby. A guide drove us less than 10 mins to see one on a local fruit farm. RM30 each is a bit steep but it's a rare opportunity and hopefully it encourages the locals to nurture these amazing flowers."

Sanak Retreat Bali: "No shopping, no need to go out to eat, just stay here and relax"

"We were so happy with our time here - five nights in such a remote location might not appeal to all, but we loved it. After a long drive from the airport (unfortunately on a holiday Sunday which extended the time), we were charmed by our greeting. Although we'd booked a one bedroom villa, we were delighted to be given a two bedroom with a choice of a king size bed both upstairs and downstairs - or we could pick and choose! We also had a choice of three balconies to sit on - to watch the sunrise or sunset if we wished. The rooms are very comfortable - deliberately not with every 5 star inclusion - but we found out that if we lacked something we could request it and it was willingly provided. All rooms are furnished with Balinese art and objects and most are available for purchase (good if you miss the shops!). The spa also has a great range of desirable objects for purchase. Talking of the spa, I managed to fit in 4 treatments and was lucky enough to find Wayan for my first and then book In with him again. He is a wonderful intuitive masseur and had a good insight into the treatment that was best for me and also gave me some practical advice. In fact, I enjoyed my treatments in Sanak so much (this included a facial on my last day), that I cancelled the massage I'd booked in Ubud and don't feel the need for any more at the moment. Maybe I'll change when we move to Seminyak later this week! We took two of the tours offered by Sanak - one was a trek with a local guide - around the nearby village and then down to the waterfall for a swim. If I'd realized this involved hundreds of steps down a steep path (my husband tells me I'm exaggerating), I probably wouldn't have done it! However, our guide, Arca, constantly helped me down stony steps and across streams patiently holding my hand tightly. It is a beautiful waterfall and refreshing, unfortunately there had been a lot of rain the previous night, so the climb was a bit slippery too, and also the rocks around the waterfall were still wet so there was nowhere to sit and difficult to change in and out of our costumes on such rocky ground. Arca carried towels and water for us, which was great. We also took a tour with Giusti - very knowledgeable and personable - we chose to visit the hot springs ((public baths), the Buddhist temple and then Lovina beach. We bought delicious fish & chips from the Buda Bakery at Lovina and sat with Giusti on the black sand to watch the sunset and the full moon come out. The food at Sanak was excellent and well priced, and we didn't mind at all that we couldn't visit a different restaurant every night. There are a few dishes you need to order 24 hours in advance and we can particularly recommend them - the Balinese duck and another chicken dish - they were both excellent. Breakfast is generous although the service could be a little more leisurely in such a tranquil setting. Sebastian, ably helped by Neni, heads up a great team and all the staff are charming and extremely helpful including purchasing some local goods on our behalf. Our farewell was as warm as our welcome and we do hope to return there one day."

Tugu Bali: "Quiet and Quixotic"

Happy greeting at the airport and then in true Bali fashion a journey of faith to get to your hotel, through by roads and back roads but was that faith rewarded!! Entering the Tugu you enter old magical Bali and it remains that way for your whole stay. Our suite, while expensive was somewhere we could hang out most of the day if we chose with our own little garden and swimming pool. The hotel gardens are beautiful during the day and enchantingl at night. The staff were, without exception, charming and helpful and yoga and the spa a real treat. Loved the food and had the majority of our meals in the hotel. Don't all rush as we want to go back when we can!!

Tugu Lombok: "Fantastic stay"

"My wife and I had a wonderful honeymoon at Hotel Tugu Lombok. The environment was quiet and serene, the beach was clean and the water was clear. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. They remembered our names and greeted us by our names. For the meals, they also prepared well wishes written on leaves which made the ambience nice. During the trip, as there were heavy rains, the original suite that we were staying in experienced some water leaking issue from the roof. However, the staff was quick to settle it and provided us a free upgrade to the honeymoon suite. We also had fun visiting the Gili islands. The private dragon boat and private guides gave us the flexibility on when and what we would like to do during the island hopping. The bendi ride (horse cart ride) was also a new experience for us. On the last night of our stay, the staff also prepared us a surprise with nice towel foldings of different animals, like monkey, elephants and bears. Coupled with the candles, the room gave a different ambience altogether. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Tugu Lombok and we recommend it for those who wish to have a quiet and serene stay. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

The Cabochon Hotel: "charming and intimate"

My room was very private, comfortable and everything worked well. No fuss and elegant, yet quite different form larger hotels. Very individual. the pool was very nice for a dip at the end of the day. the breakfast in the library is great as is the restaurant. Everything is well done.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "lazy days"

a superb resort on the Arabian sea with a private and pristine beach. Fantastic infinity pool and food to match. Staff friendly, accommodation spacious and clean, an ideal spot to wind down whilst travelling in Kerala. The Lotus houseboat "the best". Dining on the beach a highlight. Well done staff for making our stay perfect.

Maduzi Hotel: "Luxurious hotel in peaceful, quiet side of Bangkok"

"If you are looking for a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok's city centre like Siam or Chit Lom, then Maduzi is the perfect hotel for you. It is super accessible, as it is a few minutes walk away from Asoke BTS and the hotel totally quiet and exclusive. To access the BTS from Maduzi, you can either walk along the road or take an escalator from inside Exchange Tower, which is about 3 minutes walk away from Maduzi. It is also part of the Small Luxury Hotels group. The biggest pro of this hotel is that it takes away a lot of the normal travel anxiety that one would experience. They have a completely flexible check in and check out timing, which is great if you are checking in really early or checking out really late. I recommend letting the hotel know in advance via email. There is also no deposit required. You also get free wifi at a fast speed! The hotel offerings are unlike any other. The room comes with an espresso machine with free coffee, tea and mini bar. The sheets, which I never considered as a point to review, were the smoothest and most comfortable silk sheets I've ever laid in. The bed is HUGE, I think about king size or larger. The toilet itself is a marvel. There is so much counter space and a large mirror. There is also a rain shower, a small walk-in closet so your luggage is kept out of the way. The hallmark of it all - A JACUZZI TUB. It can be quite tricky to turn on because you have to wait about 15-20minutes for the water to overflow from the tub so that the jacuzzi function can be turned on. It's interesting because the water flows in from the ceiling rather than from a faucet. To be honest, the jacuzzi jet is quite gentle and I typically prefer a stronger jet. However, this jacuzzi feature itself is already a lot to shout about. The TV itself is probably the most underwhelming feature because most channels were slightly fuzzy and off-colour. However, it comes with a Bose surround sound! You do have to operate two remotes for the TV system. If you get overwhelmed by all the amenities in the room, there is a user guide for guests on how to use the safe, espresso machine, tub etc. that comes in English and really easy to understand, so don't worry. There is an office desk and chair, and a super comfy reclining chair in the room as well. The room is pretty huge and comfortable. Breakfast is from 6.30am to 11am with the last order at 10.30am. Instead of a breakfast buffet, you get to choose a breakfast main from a small menu and enjoy a free flow of salad bar which includes salads, fruits, bread and cereal. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary welcome drink either at the lobby or sent up to your room at any time during your stay. I must commend the great service as well. They will help you with anything you need and they explicitly mention that their staff do not accept tips. Also, I emailed the hotel ahead of time to request for a special arrangement as we were checking in on the day of my boyfriend's birthday. The hotel arranged for a free chocolate lava cake sent to our room with a birthday message for him written in chocolate syrup on the plate! The best part of this hotel is how exclusive and quiet it is. There seemed to be a few other guests staying at Maduzi during the time I stayed there, which means you don't have to deal with a crowded and noisy breakfast area. You almost feel like you are the only one staying at the hotel. This is a hotel for people who are looking to escape the business of Bangkok's city centre and want to enjoy a more quiet (and expensive) side. If you are staying here, I recommend popping over to Phrom Phong BTS, one stop away from Asoke BTS, because that is where the new EM district is. The EM District has two high end malls (Emporium and EM Quarter) as well as Artbox night market on the weekend, so there are still some interesting things to see and do in the area. I stayed for one night and everything was really pleasant, the room was amazing and the staff were courteous and helpful. Nothing bad to say about it!"

Manda De Laos: "Very special food"

We spent few days in Laos and we tried to eat typical Laotian food: laap, papaya salad, sticky rice, curry, baguettes, grilled fish stuffed with lemon grass etc. The taste of Laotian food is very good but nothing surprising. Taste is like a mix of Thai, Cambodian or in general South East Asian flavors. Visiting Manda de Laos made me change my opinion. The chef managed to add an interesting twist to typical dishes and create incredible combinations and still using local ingredients. The dessert we tried was western style but what can go wrong with banana, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. We ordered duck with tamarind sauce, Buffalo steak, steamed chicken hormok style, pate laotian. The crunchy rice coconut salad was definitely a highlight of the dinner. Everything was very tasty and well presented in bamboo baskets or wooden trays. The place is beautiful, tables around the pond, romantic lights the whole atmosphere feels very special. It's for sure not a cheap eat, but the price is reasonable for very good quality food and quite generous portions.

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Very memorable stay"

Lovely hotel with a historical character. I am the owners have committed to conserve and preserve this piece of history. Highly recommended! Free guided tour and narration of the hotel's historical significance.

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Simply Beautiful Cambodian Food"

Set menu for $28 or $32 which is ridiculously cheap for the standard of food and service. In Sydney where I w]live it would be $100 more. GO