Guest Reviews

The River Resort: "Magical spot on the mighty Mekong"

This is a peaceful and tranquil spot, views of the river and surrounding mountains are stunning. Sunrise over the water was mesmerising. Chamapasak is a sweet little town and Wat Phou, an enchanting temple complex, is a short moped ride away. The staff were charming and attentive and helpful.

Arumdalu: "A Treasure wrapped in natural beauty"

"My business partner and I were on our third trip to Belitung and wanted to travel down to the south side to experience the Arumdalu resort that we kept hearing about. We were greeted by Hendrik in the morning,their driver, who was prompt and very helpful in getting us down to the resort in just over an hour. My highlights of the trip was experiencing the Beach, Food, and Culture. The beach is expansive, white, and calming. The private cove allows you to truly relax and enjoy the cooler ocean breezes. You don't want to miss climbing the large granite rock on the right side of the beach to experience some great views, snap some selfies, and just be amazed at the beauty. The food was a gastronomical delight. We had the privilege of staying at the resort when the owners were present and Albert took special care in sharing with us the story of how they created each menu item, along with the specially crafted plates that are unique to each main dish. Finally, we enjoyed learning more about the culture...from hearing stories of how Belitong got it's name (Bali yang dipotong), seeing Batik be made, to the diverse flowers, fruits, and vegetables they are growing in the area. The rooms were well constructed and furnished charmingly. The plunge pool was refreshing and make sure you check out their short nature hike through the jungle on their property. The staff were always willing to help, but were never overbearing. We look forward to returning when the cultural village is up and running."

Satri House: "Beautiful"

"When planning a visit to Luang Prabang you can get a little blown away by the accommodation on offer, there are many beautiful properties to consider all offering their own style. After much thought we plumped for here and stayed in a Satri House Suite. The original historic house in which we stayed was delightful. A lovely bathroom, huge bedroom with a very comfortable mattress and a separate sitting room area. The rest of the little complex of rooms are well set out in the grounds and not at all crowded, everything has been very tastefully done and to a ver high standard. The location is away from the main centre a little, a normal paced walk probably not more than 30mins to the far end of the town, we enjoyed walking into the centre, traffic is not a problem at all, and to be honest we appreciated the little district where the hotel is located, very pleasant streets around. We also used the complimentary bikes to have a little venture further to edges of town. A little Lao whiskey nightcap with a quick read of the local paper became a pleasant regular evening stop. Walking around town with a keen eye on the other places we considered, Villa Santi, Busari, 3 Nagas etc amongst many more we firmly decided we had made the right choice and not once did I have a regret of our choice. We did not eat a main meal here, but breakfast was more than adequate, the home jams delicious. If I had a tiny gripe it would be that the staff, which in every other way were delightful and really attentive could pay a little more attention to used towels around the pool, thats not much as the only grumble of any kind though. Beautiful place, I understand this is pretty much the main heritage hotel in the city, I am not surprised."

Tugu Malang: "Fijn"

"Het is een groot hotel. Een groot deel wordt enkel gebruikt bij feestjes/evenementen. Leuk en mooi om eens door te lopen. Het hotel heeft een zwembad om even kort af te koelen. Geen zwembad om heel de dag aan te liggen. Eten is er prima. Zeer uitgebreide keuze menu's voor het ontbijt! Stayed March 2017, traveled solo"

The Village House: "Vacation"

Very beautiful, warm and pleasant ambience. Very friendly staffs especially ALIFAH - thank you so much for your great service! The only thing that I wld like to suggest is the Food of you could provide Halal Food for the Muslim guests☺ Thank you v much

CHAKRABONGSE VILLAS: "Beautiful stay! Highly recommend"

"My friend and I stayed here for a few nights at the beginning of March. The villas are absolutely stunning with a beautiful pool and lovely dining area on the river. All the staff are polite, friendly and super helpful. Mr Ohm and Ms Atom were always there when we needed them, we especially appreciated the late check in and taxi from the airport organised for us. Room was gorgeous and very clean too! The hotel is right in the heart of old BKK so you can escape the hustle and bustle whilst also being able to see all the temples on your doorstep. This place is a hidden gem, highly recommend for anyone wanting a chilled space in BKK or for couples wanting a romantic getaway! "

Manda De Laos: "Delicious food in romantic setting"

This is a rather special place with a unique atmosphere. Where else would you find yourself sitting by a moonlit lotus pond listening to frogs croaking while enjoying a superb meal? The service was excellent and the food delicious. It's not the cheapest meal you will have in Laos, but an experience definitely well worth paying for and you would pay a great deal more for this quality of food and ambience in the UK.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "“Relax and revive – the perfect place.”"

"We arrived in the dark after a tiring ten-hour car drive from Kochi and I thought I heard thunder. In fact it was the Arabian Sea pounding the extensive beach and in the morning we could see this magical place. A healthy breakfast on the beach and we were ready to relax. Many have given full positive descriptions so I don’t need to repeat those and the web site is accurate. Instead I will highlight just a few things that impressed me. I now have to watch my diet carefully and the wholemeal breads, fresh fruits, variety of fish are perfect. The menu includes various juices and I went for spinach but asked for some ginger too; I bet that will be on the list next time. All the food is superb, healthy and interesting. The aerial sketch on the website does not do it justice; there are many palm trees and the gardens are quite beautiful, spacious and well maintained. Contrary to some other comments I would recommend a sea view cottage without hesitation. There are only 18 cottages and they are carefully arranged; the peace is almost tangible. In fact the whole place has been designed by a skilful hand with great attention to detail and that includes the cottage interiors. Anyone who reads my reviews will know that I look at issues that might be relevant to those with mobility problems. There are a few steps to each cottage but the pathways should be OK. Internally the doors have very strong springs and help would be needed. For those with weak knees or limited use of limbs may find the bathroom a bit difficult. As a retired architect I know how it grates to put in grab handles. I hope the owners will consider seriously putting one close to the WC and another in the wonderful non-slip shower area. These things are important for those in need but I must emphasise that standard of design is very high. I wanted a full Ayurvedic body massage and had three; all were excellent. All that others have said about the atmosphere, management, welcoming and helpful staff etc. I endorse. No one could want for anything more. My wife and I seriously considered extending our week-long stay which is a testament in itself. Room Tip: Sea view cottage but all seemed very good."

The Cabochon Hotel: "Authentic, personal, stylish 5 star service"

"This hotel is perfect for those who prefer luxury in a classic and intimate setting. The hotel feels like a grand colonial home. Everything is perfect. Beds are great. Lovely balcony and verranda. The downside: the fantastic roof top pool is not illuminated in the evening and closes at 7pm for no obvious reason. But this remains a hotel where we will definitely return."

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "A highlight of our trip"

"This is definitely a highlight of our trip! Upon arrival, reception greets you by name and it just gets better from there. There are only six cottages on property which allows them to make each stay an amazing experience. Each cottage has a terrace. The rooms are spacious and nicely appointed. You can (and we did) end up spending most of our time in ours. Beds are comfortable and rooms make you feel that you are staying somewhere special. The hotel is also a teaching school for aspiring hospitality students and they go over the top to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Part of the money you spend goes to supporting the students and local community. In Feb, it does get cold at night so in addition to bringing warm PJs, the staff leaves bed warmers during the turn down service. Nice touch. It can get a bit noisy - during the day, you hear motorboats going back and forth along the water highway and at night, there are chanting monks (at least during Feb for some festival). It didn't bother us but that seems to be the only thing people complained about on TA. There are ear plugs available if it does bother you. Internet is barely working and best time to try is early morning however this appears to be the norm for this area. All in all, a really enjoyable experience and absolutely recommended. Room Tip: Book the cooking class!"