Guest Reviews

Glenburn Tea Estate: "A hidden gem not to be missed"

A stay at the Glenburn tea estate is a truly unforgettable experience and we loved every minute of it. Whichever way you look from the delightful gardens or from either of the beautiful bungalows there is a wonderful vista, even when the mountains are shrouded in mist. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not at its best when we stayed in late March/early April, but we were lucky enough to be there for 5 nights and so we at least had 2 fabulous mornings when we were treated to the breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga mountain range from the comfort of our room. Our room (Camelia) was fabulously spacious and beautifully decorated in English country house style with a lovely seating area, and French doors onto a small balcony with magnificent views. The bathroom was enormous with roll top bath and huge walk in shower. We did not see any of the other rooms but all other guests seemed just as impressed with theirs, and we gather the views are wonderful from each and every room. The food was delicious with an imaginative and varied menu and, despite initial reservations, we really rather enjoyed the communal dining in the evening. It was very interesting to meet such a variety of people from all over the world. I think perhaps my husband was a little bored on the last evening being the only man at a dining table full of rather verbose women! There was plenty to keep us amused during our 5 night stay with a visit to the tea factory, walks around the estate looking at the flowers, birds and butterflies, a lovely (though quite tiring) hike to the river camp with a tasty meal when we arrived, and a day trip into Darjeeling. We could have done a lot more but, after the hustle and bustle of Kolkata, and because the gardens were so idyllic, we relished in the opportunity to relax, reading, chatting, playing cards and drinking plenty of Glenburn First Flush tea! All of the staff were friendly, helpful and efficient, and hats off to the multi-talented Nilima and Luna for being such lovely and well-informed guides, but also for running the shop and helping with the organisation of the staff welfare programme, amongst a multitude of other skills. A very big thank you to Jemima, Holly and all the staff for a truly memorable and delightful stay........ We hope we will return one day.

Mathis Retreat: "Great stay"

"We spent four nights at Ubud in Kenanga Hotel during our August visit to Bali & Lombok. This has been our preferred location of our full holiday. Ubud is brilliant and Kenanga absolutely perfect. Once you are in the hotel you are out of the Ubud chaos and you can really relax. Wonderful view and extreme kindness the two top factors. My son (5 years old) enjoyed so much beeing free and look at ducks or walk on the small tracks through the rice fields. Karine, the hotel manager, has been very helpful with a lot of suggestions on how to use at the best our available days. We also tried a cooking lesson organized in the hotel just for us and we really enjoyed it too. The hotel restaurant is very good also for the demanding Italian tastes. Go there !!!"

Tugu Lombok: "Beautiful location, excellent service"

"Spent six nights at Tugu Lombok and can thoroughly recommend it. The beach location is fantastic and the staff at the hotel couldn't do enough for us. If you want a real get-away-from-it-all holiday it would be hard to beat, you can just enjoy the views, swim and laze. But if you want more activity you can go on excursions - the snorkelling trip to the Gilis is probably essential for most, but we did decide against the trekking! The rooms are amazing, we had our own 'bungalow' with a huge double bed, veranda for sitting outside and a small private courtyard if required. But best of all was the bathroom open to the outdoors! The restaurants offer great food and plenty of variety, and we must thank the staff for their friendliness, and helpful service, they made us feel very welcome. The last night send-off was most unexpected and touching. We've stayed in some lovely places but this is hard to beat. "

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Recently rewarded with the title “best coastal Resort in Asia” , the Neeeshwar hermitage"

"This 16 bungalows counting hermitage , amidst a brilliant southern flowering garden, Looking to the Arabian sea, is really a shining jewel on Malabar's coast. Very friendly competent staff, excellent food an very quiet surrounding. Healthy walks Along a sandy beach. Neeleswar hermitage ""for ever""!"

Villa Song: "Bliss"

Beautiful boutique hotel on the bank of the Saigon river. Wonderful friendly helpful staff. A stunning oasis of peace and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city yet the city is easily accessible via the hotels speedboat. Immaculate clean decor plus the breakfast was first class. Wouldn't hesitate to return.

Kinabalu Park: "good"

I'd like to think outside the hostel is very clean and convenient meals are good, but I see a moderate caustic ratio recommended

Mume: "Nice restaurant and fantastic food"

Really like the food here! Amazing and surprising for ingredients. I visited twice this year and dessert changed impressing me again!

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!"

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Outstanding"

"We stayed 3 nights for a family birthday celebration. We were 5 adults. It was a wonderful respite after travelling the rough roads of Sikkim. I agree with the earlier reviews and experiences and won't repeat the wonderful activities available. We did the walk to the river which we really enjoyed. On arrival (after being met with cool refreshing flannels and homemade lemonade) I lay down on a wooden bench by river and within seconds a lovely man appeared with pillow and large cushion for bench. I enjoyed a snooze while lunch on the barbecue. Wonderful care and our needs were met before we realised we had a need. Lovely lovely people. We chose not to dine communally but enjoyed wonderful candlelit family dinners on the terrace of our bungalow, served by a lovely gentle caring man. The drive into Darjeeling is long, bumpy and slow. I would recommend you don't waste a day of your precious time in Glenburn. Rather spend two nights in Darjeeling before or after Glenburn. We would have liked at least another night in Glenburn. It really is worth the journey in."

Rachamankha: "Amazing Stay"

"My mom and I stayed at the Rachamankha hotel this fall following a study abroad program I took part in for my graduate studies. What a beautiful place!! The restaurant on the resort is beautiful, provides a huge breakfast, and the dinners there are delicious as well. If it's in season, definitely order mango sticky rice for dessert- you will not be disappointed. We stayed for 4 days to begin and were very pleased. We then left for Phuket for a week and returned to Chiang Mai and the Rachamankha. Our stay the second time was not as pleasant. We had trouble with our overhead light flashing when it was turned off and the air conditioner did not work well. The staff were as helpful as they could be regarding these issues, but because of the language barrier it was sometimes difficult to maneuver more than simple questions. Their recommendations for restaurants were amazing. Definitely make your way to David's kitchen at least once, and also The Whole Earth. You'll need to take a taxi, songthaew or tuk tuk there, but the staff is helpful in arranging them. It's on the opposite side of the old city as all of the markets, but travel is easy to get there. The grounds are beautiful there as well, and very well kept. The pool and library are both impressive. We would definitely stay there again!"