Guest Reviews

Tugu Bali: "Boutique hotel with fine food"

"We dined at the Hotel Tugu twice within one week while we were staying at a nearby villa with friends. The first meal was lunch on Valentines Day which also coincided with our friend's anniversary. The hotel is stunning, with many historic artifacts scattered throughout the public areas of the hotel. Cocktails in the bar before lunch were delicious, I particularly enjoyed the Tugu Gin Tea! We were seated in a private dining room for four (just off the main seating area) overlooking the pool and gardens. We all enjoyed a delicious lunch of Indonesian and other Asian dishes which were fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. Desserts were also spectacular, in particular Black sticky rice pudding with Mango. A complimentary dessert was presented to our friends to celebrate their anniversary, a lovely touch. We were all so impressed we rebooked for dinner later in the week! Before dinner we had cocktails again but this time on the rooftop of of the hotel while overlooking the beach and a spectacular sunset and then again dined in the small private dining room. We preordered Babi Guling, the Indonesian roast pork specialty which was plated beautifully and was absolutely mouth watering. We indulged in an Italian Pino Griggo which was good value for money and a terrific wine. Special mention must be made of the incredible staff at Hotel Tugu, friendly, knowledgeable - just delightful really! We also requested to inspect the rooms at the hotel and were shown two different types of rooms, both very Balinese and very well appointed. We would love to return to the Hotel Tugu to experience staying at this boutique hotel and also to feast upon the fine food available there. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Tugu Lombok: "One of the best resorts I have stayed in"

"If there is nothing negative to say about a place it must have been a great stay. Absolutely everything was perfect! The way we were welcomed, the amazing room, the privacy, the open air bathroom, the postcard white sand beach, the fantastic staff, the good food, the organized waterfall tour, our private driver, the Spa treatment and all the other hotel facilities. Our room number was 107 and it was the first room next to the main swimming pool. Only a green lawn separates the beach from the back garden where we had our own private swimming pool. The room was so big it feels like staying in an old castle and had one of the biggest beds I have ever slept in. The 6m high ceiling, some great pieces of art, a sofa, a huge desk, a seating area and a majestic 3m high mirror where some other interior highlights. The bathroom is integrated in the garden where there was a big fishpond. Shower and bathtub our outside surrounded by nature. The Wi-Fi throughout the resort is surprisingly really good. Signal and speed were but fantastic and one of the best I have experienced in Indonesia. The hotel complex is huge and it is lovely to wander around. Everywhere you will find pieces of art and other things of interest. Every time you go around you will discover another lovely spot. There is another massive pool, unfortunately I only had time to take a look at it the morning we left. Seriously this is one of the best resorts I have ever stayed in! The hotel organised a perfect private tour for us to the best waterfalls in Lombok. Our driver was lovely and let the us free in wherever we wanted to go. It was completely tailored to our wishes. We scheduled a massage at the resort, but because we loved the tour so much we were 3h late. That was no issue and as soon as we arrived the staff organized the massage for us. The spa treatment was absolutely lovely and definitely I would definitely recommend it. All perfectly planned! For sunset we walked around in low tide and search for tiny marine life. There is so much you can find in the 20cm deep water: nudiebranch, starfish, spanish dancer, crabs, little shrimps, etc. The staff brought us water shoes and helped us finding funny marine life. There is a raft out in the sea, it seems far, but is pretty close and snorkelling around is fun. The hotel also offers a canoe and a SUP board free of charge. Absolutely great experiences, thank you all! I wish I remembered the names of the staff to thank them personally. Our boat from Bali arrived at a pier only 9km from the resort and a normal meter taxi was only $2. The hotel did not have a complimentary pick up/drop off. For such a low-fare it would have been a nice service if this would be complimentary. Would have saved a lot of hassle. The only thing I can come up with is that the prices of food and beverages in the resort are somehow a bit outrageous compared to the standard prices in Indonesia, but luxury has its price so somehow it’s understandable. It seems that there is not much around the resort but I did not really do an effort finding something else as we were treated like royals by the fabulous staff."

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Stylish camping amidst the rice field and tropical jungle"

"We stayed 5 nights over the Christmas period with our 8 yo boy. A beautiful location amidst the rice fields and jungle. Our tent has a amazing infinity pool facing the jungle. The tent from South Africa was very well designed . If you stay in the suite tents , they are air conditioning but over our stay we never has to turn it on as we much prefer the naturally cool breeze of the jungle and it was never too hot and can even get a little chilly in the early morning if it rained over the night. There is no TV and the only other electrical appliances in the tent are the fans and lightings which was perfect for us as we are looking for natural living experience away from the city. We never have any issues with bugs or mosquitoes during our stay , in fact we got more mosquitoes at a luxury villa we stayed after sandat in Sanur. The team at sandat did a good job in keeping the compound clean , although you do get ants , other insects and geko but then this is part of the charm of the camping experience albeit a glamorous one. So if you are looking for a urban 5 stars hotel experience this is not for you. All the staffs are friendly and helpful and always ready to do their best to make your stay a happy one. The breakfast is adequate but could be improved with more choices although I understand it is never easy with a small property of only 8 tents to do a interesting buffet. Perhaps it's better if they could offer by order ala carte menu breakfast. Free shuttle to and back from ubud centre is offered by request, and we never have to wait too long and the drivers are always happy to do their best to drop you off anywhere in ubud when they are not busy. Overall, I feel this is a property run with heart to do their best for their guests and given the tent settings and location they are doing a good job. I have stayed at other similar accommodation like Soneva Kiri that are more luxurious but then again it's not fair to compare given the price differential. I would highly recommend sandat if you are looking for a experience to live close to nature and a peaceful break from urban life. I truly missed the sound and smell of the jungle sleeping in the tent. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5."

Bali Jiwa Villa: "Amazing Experience"

"Wow !! From the minute you arrive at a little carved wooden door set in the middle of a rice field you realise this is like no where else. We rented the two Villas here so had the whole place to ourselves total privacy, peace and seclusion. The Villas and Lounge/Dining area are beautifully constructed and furnished to blend into the landscape lovely comfy beds, large bathrooms plus outdoor bath and shower. Each area has a collection of books about Indonesia lovely local carvings and traditional furniture make you feel like you are staying in someone's home the attention to detail is fantastic. And now the Staff !! You have your own Staff team who look after your every need cooking and serving beautiful Indonesian. There is a small choice at Breakfast and lunch and a lovely home cooked Indonesian Feast in the Evening. This was an unforgettable Balinese experience - hope to return one day. "

The Governor’s House: "Warm"

This hotel was amazing. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The food was some of the best I had while on my vacation. There is a cozy feeling to this place that made me feel like I was right at home.

The Cabochon Hotel: "Lovely small hotel"

"Old colonial style boutique hotel with friendly staff. Quiet location on side street. Lovely rooms with interesting furniture and artefacts. Small pool on roof. Lovely smell of burning candles throughout. Cute little restaurant if you don't feel like walking out. Good Thai food plus western options available. Breakfast was good too. Good wifi connection. "

The Governor’s House: "Colonial charm"

The Governor's House is perfect for travelers looking for something beyond main stream. This colonial house has a great deal of character and charm. Each room has it's own style with an interesting mix of antiques and contemporary touches whilst the communal areas evoke a bygone era. We enjoyed breakfast in the tranquil garden... I can highly recommend the Eggs Benedict. The garden also has a small pool and relaxing chill area. All the staff are friendly and helpful, especially Yin Yin, who does a great job as GM.

Maison Polanka: "A huge slice of heaven"

"This is the most gorgeous place you could ever stay in your travels. Cathy, Francis and all of the staff are incredible and make you feel like this is your home. From the moment you arrive everything is perfect - the immaculate grounds, the stunning pool, the delicious food, the beautiful rooms, every detail is considered. It's only a 5 minute tuk tuk ride from the town centre but it's far enough away that you're in peace. The staff will help to organise trips, buses, tuk Tuks when you need. Although to be honest you may well want to just stay here! That way you can indulge in as many massages as possible. There's no more building work next door so it's back to a quiet haven again. Stay here! Whatever else you do in Cambodia, stay here! As an aside, ask Cathy to put you in touch with Debbie - a fantastic nia instructor who lives nearby and runs retreats."

Tugu Bali: "Memorable Stay"

"We stayed at Tugu for 4 nights early January and absolutely loved this little gem. Our accomodation was spacious, clean and filled with character and quirky design. My husband couldnt get enough of the indoor/outdoor shower overlooking our resident fish! I also really loved the high stone wall giving us complete privacy. The hotel is unique, for those looking for something with character and originality, you will really appreciate what is created in this little paradise. The whole place takes on a totally magical feel at night when the lamps/lanterns and furniture enhances the already rich romantic feel. We felt transported into another world... a special place we didn't want to leave. The swimming pool had lots of charm, we especially loved the frangipanis dotted around us. Location wise it's right next to the beach which is handy if you like to take strolls on the beach to burn all the delicious food offered! Also right next door is a newly opened bar (The Lawn) that has an amazing vibe overlooking the ocean and watching the surfers do their thing. The Japanese restaurant at Tugu is divine!! We loved every dish we tried and really enjoyed the space - They have done a beautiful job with the layout, again it's like being transported into a different world, all the furniture and decor worked really well together. The only dissapointment was my spa treatment, however the staff were very quick to address my concerns and make sure I was happy so in the end it wasn't an issue. We felt really welcome at Tugu and felt that the place had a really positive vibe. Service was definitely 5 star, giving attention to lots of little details, even giving us a little farewell gift! By the end we felt like we were leaving our second home. We will be back one day without a flicker of doubt... although I hear the Tugu Hotel in Lombok is also really special so we might have to visit there first ;) Thank you Tugu, for helping make our holiday a truly memorable experience. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Samanea Beach Resort: "Hidden Paradise in Kep"

We have enjoyed our 4-night stay in this place for starting our trip in Cambodia. It's very calm and the place is superb. The staff and the manager very great and very helpful. You can ask them to organize anything for you (attractions, activities, transfer, tuktuk), they know reliable people and the prices are fair. The food at the hotel was also very good. You'll need a tuktuk to go to crab market or beach, it's a bit too far away to walk there, it's only 3USD however sometime you would prefer being able just to walk to head to a restaurant. Anyway we have enjoyed it and would have stayed a bit longer