Guest Reviews

Samuay & Sons: "Great and unexpected gem"

"I'm really glad that we stopped in here to get some food. The food is phenomenal, and the preparation and presentation is quite unique. It's a different take on Thai food, and the folks who work there had time to talk to us, and give us an education on how they source the food, from farm-to-table, and have relationships with actual farmers. The head chef even brought us different types of brown rice to show differences. I enjoyed their take on Tom Yam. I think one of the wonderful things they understand is that food IS medicine and it can heal you. I also like that they travel quite a bit, so they have a sophisticated palate, and introduce you to food you've already had, and make it in a new, and creative way. The dessert was also great. It wasn't overwhelming, like it sometimes can be. I ended up taking a lot of photos because they have some of the best presentation around. Thank you, Samuay & Sons!!!!"

Mrauk U Princess Resort: "Great Place to Stay"

"We stayed at the Mrauk Oo Princess resort, a sister property of the Inle Princess of Inle Lake. The grounds here are beautiful and the rooms are individual villas that are spacious. The staff here were very friendly and accommodating. The massage was delightful. We had the pleasure of staying here over Christmas, and the staff provided a superb performance of traditional Burmese dances during the Christmas Eve dinner. We thought they were professionals until we were told that they were our staff. It was a WOW moment. The food at this resort was very tasty. Our tour guide had arranged for us to take the two deck boat directly from their dock down the river for 3.5 hours to Sittwe, which was a lot smoother than the pot-hole ridden road for 4.5 hours that we took from Sittwe to Mrauk U. We will definitely be back to stay the next time we visit Mrauk U, Myanmar."

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"

4 rivers: "Beautiful place to stay!"

"A very nice place to relax and do some tours, extremely friendly and helpful staff. The tents are great, they offer good facilities, and all come with an awesome view of the river and the most amazing sunset. It's definitely not cheap but well worth the money! "

Tugu Lombok: "Beautiful Hotel Tugu Lombok where you can relax, destress and be pampered"

Hotel Tugu Lombok's hotel rooms are filled with amazing antiques, yet modern with a huge TV and free wifi. Our bathroom was indoor/outdoor and I must say it was a uniquely wonderful experience to take a shower outdoors in a mosaic tub. The open air restaurant serves delicious meals and overlooks the common pool and a view of the ocean. The 15 minute welcome massage was so wonderful that I booked a one hour massage. Along their beach Hotel Tugu has strategically placed double beds (yes beds) complete with sheets, thrown pillows and a food tray. The perfect spot to relax, have drinks, snacks, dinner and when it becomes dusk, candles are lit around the beds. It was so relaxing to lie back and hear the crash of the waves and enjoy star gazing. During my stay I booked a car tour of Lombok and I saw people and places that most tourists did not. If you are looking for a more in depth look of Lombok and its people you will not be disappointed in this tour. I was fortunate to have had my tour with Budi. His English is extremely good and he is a courteous and gracious guide. Hotel Tugu Lombok is what every vacation live up to.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Breathtaking views & impeccable service"

"Walking up the stairs, with Fishtail right in front of you is a great introduction to your stay. The service is exceptional, matched by the quality of the rooms and the views! We did a walk through the village, with out great guide, who was able to give us very interesting insights. An all round amazing experience, would highly recommend."

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!"

Locavore: "Amazing Culinary Experience"

Your taste buds will be surprised and delighted with every bite and you'll feast your eyes on truly beautiful pieces of culinary art. Highly recommend for adventurous foodies. Be sure to book several weeks if not months in advance to be sure to secure a spot!

Tugu Bali: "An amazing experience"

A few days ago my wife and I were fortunate enough to have the absolute pleasure of staying at the amazingly beautiful TUGU HOTEL. We cannot be more complimentary about the facilities, the ambiance and the staff, who themselves left us in awe at their willingness to please us at every opportunity. We dined at the adjoining Ji Restaurant which should be placed on everyone's 'TO DO' list, as dining there is remarkable....the food, the staff, and the cocktails are beyond compare. A truly exhilarating experience and the Balinese Dancers were a cultural 'plus' and one that we are very keen to repeat!

Inle Princess Resort: "As before, just excellent"

"My most recent stay at Inle Princess Resort was, like all my previous ones, wonderful. I find everything at the resort just excellent, the chalets, restaurant, spa, bar, gift shop and again, above all, the people. Several staff members speak some basic German and Spanish and I encourage guests to give them a chance to practice their language skills. The resort is beautiful (a swimming pool was almost completed when I was there), but I find it a very good experience to take a bicycle and to explore the countryside, nearby villages, markets, or the winery, just ask at the front desk. The food, whether Burmese (e.g., curries, Mohinga, home made ice cream) or Western (e.g., BBQ Chicken on Steamed Pumpkin), was always delicious. My secret, I simply followed the recommendations of the chef (Nwe Oo) or of one of her assistants (Mo Kham). Very impressive is the social responsibility of the resort owner family, supporting the local population in many ways (e.g., health, orphanages, schools, education and more)."