Guest Reviews

Rachamankha: "Attentive service, beautiful scenery, great restaurant"

"We were thrilled with our stay at Rachamankha. My wife and I were here for our honeymoon, and it was a wonderful venue for such an occasion. Somewhat hard to find among the back roads inside the old town in Chiang Mai (the tuk tuk's will know where to go), it provides a great escape from the bustle of the town. The grounds are immaculately manicured. There is a great little seating area to lounge and relax. The pool is large and well maintained. Our room was very quiet, had a great large bed. The AC worked well enough in the room. The thing is don't miss the restaurant. We ate at several restaurants around town, but kept coming back to the hotel restaurant for the green curry, stir fried noodles, and several other dishes. Staying at the hotel, breakfast was fantastic every day. Our only issue was that the Internet connection was not super reliable."

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."

Villa Song: "Tranquil and luxurious"

We ended our Vietnam visit at the Villa Song Hotel. It was the perfect ending to a fascinating holiday. Saigon is an exhilarating, bustling city with challenges at every corner: motorbikes in swarms which do not respect pedestrian crossings. How wonderful, therefore, to be able to whisk into the very heart of District 1 by speedboat and to return the same way and thereafter relax by the river, sip a sunset cocktail and be pampered by the hotel staff who are so anxious to please. We were impressed with every aspect of this elegant hotel, particularly the salt-water swimming pool which is large and inviting. A big breakfast is served from 6am until 10pm! Such a brilliant idea. The rooms (we stayed in the Arts suite) are tastefully appointed with a complimentary mini-bar, fruit every day and a surprise sweet delight in the early evening. A stunningly beautiful hotel with stunningly beautiful and attentive staff.

Bassac Mekong Delta Cruises by Secret Retreats: "Wonderful experience"

Seeing the sunrise over the Mekong was an unforgettable experience. The food on board the boat is superb and we enjoyed the visit to local villages and seeing the floating market. Our guide, Annie, was excellent too.

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Gorgeous place"

We absolutely loved this place. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Rooms very clean and had great designs. Location was good as all sights in Georgetown were within walking distance. We definitely recommend this to anyone who doesn't mind spending a bit more to enhance their experience in Penang :)

Tugu Bali: "Hidden gem"

Absolutely beautiful property full of Balinese culture and Indonesian history; you could spend a day itself properly exploring, learning about, and enjoying the hotel itself. Staff were impeccable and went out of their way to meet my very need; super friendly. Easy walk (less than 2min) to the beach where there are excellent waves for surfing right there at Batu Bolong beach (with other excellent breaks nearby). Plenty of excellent and hipster restaurant/Cafe options; Canggu way more laid back and less chaotic than Kuta or Seminyak. Can sometimes be noisy at night given proximity to the some of the most happening bars in Canggu, but if you’re looking for intimate luxury in a super-cool part of Bali, Tugu is your place. Rooftop bar had outstanding views, where I also ate my breakfast every morning to watch surfers catch the morning swell. While I came solo, I would bring my family back here in a heartbeat. Thanks Tugu!

Tugu Lombok: "I found a place I want to get married"

"My first stay at Tugu-Lombok and it was remarkable. The ground was very beautiful with its own private beach. I stayed for 4 night, travelling solo, and I had a blast. I had a driver and travel guide to take me around South Lombok beaches, gilis (further south, not the crowded 3 gilis off Senggigi), and water fall which I booked separately. So, I didn't experience the overpriced excursions from the hotel. However, my stay had everything I expected and beyond. The service and staff were awesome. They would go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. My room is in one of the Kampong Villas, in the corner, away from the main area. It has outdoor (private) bathroom, which was nice, however, you'll have to deal with mosquitoes and humidity whenever you went to the bathroom. I brought my own mosquitos spray, fortunately. The hotel is secluded from everything else. So, its restaurant was the only one nearby. I had dinner twice. The food was really good, but so pricey. One night I had dinner on the beach, and for that I needed to reserve my place a day before. But since I was out and about the whole day, I usually stopped by at local food places (traditional Lombok cuisine) and brought them to my room for dinner (and sometimes breakfast). And 2 swimming pools with have more than 25 m in length ! Yes! This triathlete was very grateful for that. I swam laps daily at 5 am, before the sunrise. The pool near the restaurants was never crowded. However, the other pool was hardly had anyone in it except me during my stay. The only regret I had during my stay was it was too short. I'll definitely be back."

Tugu Malang: "We loved this gem of a hotel"

"The hotel is stunning in its beauty. Really one of the most attractive- on- the- inside hotels I have ever been in, with light, rock, water, plantings and museum- quality antiques and artistic pieces which bring the history and culture of Java to life. There are non- Java items too, among them a 3,200 year- old Shang Dynasty sculpture. After a very friendly check- in (there is nothing like an Indonesian smile), we were shown to room 222, a large room with a four- post bed adorned with beautiful wood carvings. There was an in- room safe, mini- fridge with Bintang beers and a large work desk with convenient desk- height power outlets. The room was rich with teak wood and the wood floors were nice underfoot. If you don’t like going barefoot they provide nice batik slippers. Plenty of closet / hanger space and room for luggage too, much appreciated. The room was very quiet, except when the day- long procession of banner- waving motor scooters celebrating the local Arema football heroes went constantly past the hotel! It was great fun watching the procession from the coffee house and sipping on Bintangs.. The toilet was in a separate room from the shower room. The toilet had a built- in bidet feature, not exactly like the Toto Washlet you might be familiar with-- this was rather a simple affair with a curved water tube and a manual faucet handle on the side. It worked just fine. There is also a small hands- washing sink there. The shower / tub was huge, round, and of hammered metal. You could fit more than two adults in the tub (if you wished.) The sink was also hammered metal and had a ringing sound as the water dribbled in, very nice. The bedding was very comfortable and we slept soundly. The breakfast menu featured American, Indonesian, Chinese, Malang Street Food, Healthy and “Romantic” options. I enjoyed the fried egg covered with melted cheese on top of ham / croissant. The oatmeal included fresh fruit and crispy coconut on top, delicious. The coffee comes from their own Java coffee plantation. Service was great. The restaurant was excellent. It was beautiful, with indoor / outdoor seating and separated from the pool by plants. The menu was extensive: 170 regular food items – not counting drinks - plus a special menu with another 12 or so items. Indonesian, Dutch, Italian, Malang Street Food, Chinese, sandwiches, salads, Aussie and local steaks, from Wagyu to basic. Our food was excellent. The restaurant is open 24 hours, so when we needed to have breakfast at 05:30 on our departure day, there was no issue at all. All the early Mt. Bromo hikers can fill up before the climb. The location is very good, a short 450m from the train station (you can take the Malioboro Express from Jogja in comfort), 320m from the Bird Market / Flower Market and 1.4km from the very impressive and beautiful boulevard of Dutch Colonial houses (and many nice ones leading up to it. Malang is at 450m altitude and situated between mountains gets nice breezes channeled through which are cooler and less humid than central Java. We took a hotel- sponsored bike tour. It was on a Sunday, and they close many of the most attractive boulevards to auto traffic, so we had a very pleasant ride through parts of Malang we would never have made it to on our own. The beautiful Dutch Colonial homes were something to see, nestled amongst palm trees and lush plantings. Our tour guide, Sigit, made sure that we were safe at all times (no small thing in Indo city traffic!) and knew the area very well. The bikes were in good condition and they had loaner helmets. The hotel has my highest recommendation."

Anopura: "A lovely escape"

My mother and I had one of the nicest stays of our trip to India here. The food is excellent. The staff are lovely and the location is peaceful.It was a nice break from the frenetic cities of Rajasthan. The accommodation is excellent. The decor is very tasteful. We regretted not being able to stay a second night. The staff are very well trained. They are helpful without being intrusive.

Tugu Bali: "Perfect Style, Excellent Location"

We spent 5 nights at Tugu Bali and just fell in love with the hotel from the minute we arrived. It's rustic elegance, historical decor and art, and exceptional staff make it the perfect place to stay on Bali's southwest coast. Best of all, you're far enough from the crowds of those tourist traps Kuta and Seminyak. Though the food at Tugu Bali is very good, the hotel is right across the street from a very lively beach club (though you won't hear it) and several other beachside cafes. Most of the action in Canggu is 2 kilometers up the road, leaving you in solitude