Guest Reviews

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Heavenly"

"This gem of a place in northern Kerala was like heaven on earth. Very elegant and huge rooms with an even more gorgeous bathroom. The beach (Arabian sea) was just perfect and very clean. The food served was really delicious and fresh. We did not take any of the guided tours offered, but I presume that is good as well. Overall, we had a perfect and peaceful holiday at Neeleshwar! "

Rachamankha: "Best of Chiang Mai"

I've stayed frequently in Chiang Mai, and this place is gem. Peaceful, quaint, friendly. A real oasis of calm and serenity. Great restaurant - for breakfast and for dinner. Lovely pool. Old world charm. Excellent service. No drama, and an escape from the hustle and bustle.

Rak Ko Jae Seoul: "Keeping it a Secret"

"Rak Ko Jae is absolutely beautiful, it breathes serenity, it's something that comes with time. It is also well situated in Bukchon Village, literally walking distance or a short subway ride to many attractions. We were there for 4 nights and were able to stay in all 3 suites. Each one of them is special in its own way. My favourite was definitely the Patio Room even though it's the smallest out of the three. Some might find the rooms a little more worn out than the photos shown but this is precisely why we found them charming. We didn't have a chance to have dinner there but the traditional breakfasts were so delicious we were set up for the day. The dry sauna was relaxing after a full day of tour. What we also enjoyed the most was the nice balance of hospitality and privacy. We are definitely coming back next year! Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys traditional Korean architecture and history, Rak Ko Jae is a small oasis in the middle of bustling Seoul. Stayed January 2017, traveled with family"

MesaStila: "Lovely resort set amidst Central Java Highlands"

This exclusive resort sits on a 22ha site with its own coffee plantation, organic farm and two dozen unique villas of various styles sourced from all over Central Java and Yogjakarta. Nicely tended gardens and walking path complement the daily activities to occupy guests for two or more days.

Cuca: "Gastronomic delight"

A womderful find in Bali nestled in a beautiful setting. The food is brilliant and service is excellent. Its mostly sharing/tapas styled food with a twist. Sophisticated dining in a relaxed environment!

jing: "Not to be missed"

"If you wish to visit Ping Yao while in China, this hotel is THE place to stay. It is, in fact, worth the trip, all by itself. The classic beauty of the old town and a stay at Jing's Residence combines for an unforgettable experience. Aline Wilson "

The Island Lodge: "Absolute gem only 2 hours from Saigon airport"

"We just spent 3 fantastic nights at this hotel, relaxing, exploring the island, and eating fresh, delicious food. Can't rate this highly enough, and it's easily accessible from Saigon and the airport. Having said that, we were a bit disappointed as we passed over the huge bridge to Thoi Son island. In my mind, we were heading to a rural idyll, and I didn't see how the island could be rural when it has a motorway passing through one end of it! But 10kms later, after driving through the fruit trees down the one road suitable for cars, we arrived at the Lodge. And the setting is beautiful and quiet, surrounded by lanes through the fruit plantations and houses, and with a view of the ever-changing Mekong. Everybody we interacted with at the Lodge was friendly and helpful, and service was always with a smile. Some of the staff didn't have great English, but there was always someone around who did. The staff make the place, and we were really charmed by them! A special thank you to Giao, one of the waitresses, who remembered our orders from previous days and was always kind and friendly. The Lodge itself is wonderfully designed, with a huge open communal area which is subtly divided into bar and dining areas. The whole place is beautifully furnished and oozes style - I would like to transplant everything from the bar area into my house! We loved that there were so many different seating areas around the grounds, including a couple of pagodas, sofas, riverfront tables and a table right out on the pier for watching the sunset. The pool is warm, long, and spotlessly clean, with plenty of loungers and huge fresh towels. Bedrooms are clean and comfortable, and as stylish as the downstairs area. There were so many other places to sit and enjoy the view that we didn't really use the balcony, but it is a relaxing place to be. The food was unexpectedly good. There is a French and a Vietnamese menu, and food is fresh and well presented. They bake their own bread and croissants on site, and the smell of it in the morning and before dinner was a treat. It's an odd thing to recommend when you're in Vietnam, but the quiche lorraine was one of the most delicious things we ate on the whole trip! It's on the starter menu, but is big enough and rich enough to enjoy for lunch with some of the fresh bread. We also enjoyed the duck, and the tuna. And breakfasts were sublime, with everything made to order. There is a comprehensive wine list, and we also appreciated the fact that the house wine was very reasonably priced and very drinkable - thanks Michel! The Lodge offers tours, which we didn't do, but instead we took bikes out on two afternoons and explored the lanes and bridges of the island on our own. It's hard to believe that the big city of My Tho is only a few kms away when you're cycling around under the shade of the trees, over bridges that are 2 feet wide. At the very far end of the island, as far as the road goes, we stopped and had a drink at Mr Thanh's little waterfront bar and chatted to him about tourism on the island. He was an interesting man with superb English, and his wife makes a delicious cold lemon juice on a hot day. The only negatives: At a Lodge with eco credentials, I would have liked to see drinking water available as refills, rather than endless 500ml plastic bottles. And just be aware that the Mekong view is of a busy waterway full of commercial and industrial traffic, with industrial buildings across the water. In actual fact we really enjoyed watching the traffic and the change of the tides so this wasn't a problem at all, but we hadn't realised it wasn't looking out on to countryside. Thanks to all the staff at the Island Lodge. This really is a gem, and we were so pleased that we stayed for 3 nights rather than rushing through."

Muang La Resort: "Relaxing setting, great food and lovely staff"

We spent three days at Muang La resort. We went in the low season so had the resort (10 room resort) to ourselves. We had a river view room (highly recommend) and we could hear the relaxing sounds of the river flowing outside our room. The resort has two elevated hot tubs, using water from the hot natural springs. We enjoyed a Lao massage too.  The resort is set on the river, which is constantly used by the local villagers to fish and bathe.  We organised a couple of excursions once we had arrived. This was probably easy for us to do as we were the only residents.  The food was great. Every night there was a five course set menu based on local Laos cuisine. Breakfasts were great, with tropical fruits, divine home made yoghurt, croissants and scrolls, as well as eggs as you like them. Nothing is too much trouble. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.  The village of Muang La is a little difficult to get to but worth the effort. I am happy to recommend Muang La.

Satri House: "Beautiful rambling villa; separate colonial-style buildings; beautiful decor; attentive staff; lovely manicured grounds"

We visited this hotel and were favorably impressed. The public areas and spacious, airy rooms were beautifully and characteristically appointed with furniture, furnishings and artifacts from Laos and surrounding countries. The hotel is situated at the edge of town but an easy walk into the center for sightseeing and dining. The staff we encountered were pleasant and cooperative. Relatively recent modernization means up-to-date facilities which make for an enjoyable stay. The photos on the TripAdvisor website provide a very good visual tour of the establishment.

Villa Mathis: "la maison rouge de l’hôtel villa Mathis privatisée : le top !"

Nous étions 7 et avions privatisé la maison rouge (villa de 4 chambres avec piscine privatisée) : c'était le top en termes de décoration de chaque chambre et de beauté (végétation luxuriante dans le jardin, piscine à une température idéale de 27° assez grande pour faire mes 40 mn de longueurs quotidienne ;)). Nous avons choisi un dîner privatisé dans le jardin 2 soirées, c'était vraiment "luxe (à prix raisonnable), calme et volupté". En résumé, une très très belle adresse qui vaut le coup pour 3 ou 4 nuits maximum. Peu de choix de resto accessibles à pied en dehors de l'hôtel : la Casetta, un resto italien très bien juste en face sur la route, et c'est tout.