Guest Reviews

Villa Song Saigon: "The best hotel I have stayed at"

"I know that sounds like a big wrap but this was a seriously good experience. The hotel is a refurbished mansion (or facsimile of), it's right on the river and has all the charm of old Saigon. The staff are delightful. We were welcomed with a fresh watermelon juice and a smile. We stayed for four nights and had a river view room on the top floor. There are no lifts so if you are not good with stairs make sure you request a lower floor. The room was well appointed to a luxury standard with wide wooden floor boards, a king sized bed and a spacious bathroom. The mini-bar is complementary and there is free wifi. I really appreciated both these features. The pool is about 25 metres and surrounded by comfortable loungers. There is a small gym (but I found it a bit hot for working out). Breakfast everyday is also included and there is a wide selection of European and Vietnamese options to choose from. The staff always greeted you warmly and were very helpful. Villa Song is in District 2 and some way out of the main tourism precinct (District 1) however they provide a free ferry service which takes about 20 minutes several times a day to and from the city centre. It is a terrific way to enjoy the city and means you get to sleep at night! District 1 is so busy all the time it is nice to get away from it and chill near the pool or in the bar. We tried the restaurant for dinner as well and it has a pleasant fusian menu to choose from. There is a spa downstairs which has the usual array of treatments. We had the aromatherapy massage which was very good and set us up nicely for the week. You can book any of the popular tours and they will charge it to your room making organisation a breeze. We were very happy with our choice of hotel. You really do feel at home away from home and that is mostly because of the charming service. We would definitely stay here again."

Satri House: "Perfection"

"We loved this small hotel only a ten minute walk in to town to reach the start of the night market. It is full of wonderful artefacts and curios and lovely nooks with comfy seating to curl up with a book. The junior suite we occupied was wonderful with a fabulous shower and bath and separate w.c.. The two swimming pools were lovely each with its own character. Sweet and comfy bar available and we thought the restaurant was good although we mostly ate in town. Delicious breakfasts. Charming service. The hotel was very helpful organising reservations in local restaurants too. Could have stayed much longer and definitely will return to this haven if we come back to Laos."

Dewakan: "An Absolute Must Visit"

"If there is only one restaurant you can go to while you are in KL, then make it this one! I don't usually gush lyrical, but here is a young chef who combines well rehearsed classical technique with inventiveness and an open mind. Added to this is a philosophy that is not floridly wordy, but very much bound to the earth and to his own family traditions. Chef Darren sources his ingredients locally and lets his family recipes be part of his inspiration. So what should you expect? Beautifully prepared dishes with a distinct, sometimes subtle, sometimes strong local flavour, lots of freshness and a little playful fun. Overall, great, great food that you definitely must not miss out on."

Satri House: "A gem of Laos"

My wife picked this hotel. I was very impressed with this choice. It was unbelievably comfortable. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Since we stayed more than a week here, we changed room twice to get different feel. Money was well spent.

Supanniga Eating Room: "Supanniga Eating Room"

The restaurant is located in the Sukhumvit district of Bangkok. Despite being on a main street, and having the address written in Thai, our taxi-driver still didn't find it easily (not unusual in Bangkok) so best to get information about the location before you set out, preferably a map. The place is relatively small and fashionably designed, the food is gourmet Thai seafood (apparently from Eastern Thailand). There's a nice cocktail list (and wines, although we didn't try those). In other words, it's at the other end of the scale to the average Thai eatery. Prices were reasonable considering all factors. Between two of us we had a crab curry, crispy stir-fried fish (a kind of Thai version of whitebait), a prawn and bean stir-fry, white rice and black rice. Our waitress was quite a character and spoke very good English. All very good. All in all, a pleasant experience.

THE ISLAND LODGE: "Excellent Hotel perfect for relaxation"

"This gem is located within Mekong delta and offers piece and quiet, beautiful ambiente and very helpful and friendly staff. There are a few rooms which ensure no mass tourism. Slow food and tranquility, perfect hospitality and harmony are the keywords. We stayed there for 3 days and enjoyed a pre-paradise experience. Especially the spa with different types of massages is a soul-supporting experience. The rooms are clean with the option to use an airconditioning. The bathroom and shower is clean and showing lots of litte details which sum up to a very special hotel. At every step one finds another detail which makes this hotel a personal little home. We felt at home instantly and will return as soon as possible. For our little lady of the age of 9 it was a paradise. The pool is clean (which we did not spot everywhere in even more expensive hotels in South East Asia). The Coconut Smoothie became her favourite drink. :-) We enjoyed boat cruises and a visit at the next town's pagoda with impressive statues. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful - even by Asian standards. The transfer from HCMC to the hotel gave us a good possibilty for a first insight to people and country. We recommend this gem for everyone who seeks piece and quiet in a very special atmosphere within a safe and clean environment. We are looking forward to our next stay at the Island Lodge. "

JL Studio: "Superb meal and experience"

I really like this restaurant. It doesn't have too many tables, so it's not crowded. The kitchen is open to the customers - always a good sign. The staff are all good. The food, cooking, and experience, all superb. Not too expensive, although it is not cheap. The pork fat candles were excellent. Everything was excellent. Had a glass of very good wine. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. The chef came out to talk to us. We had a lovely time.

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Amazing"

"A huge thank you to Praneeth, Sajith and the rest of the staff in making this one of the most amazing experiences we have ever had in Sri Lanka. We stayed for 2 nights at the beginning of our road trip and saw it all: Leopards, herds of elephants, huge crocodiles and water buffaloes wallowing in the mud, painted storks and large egrets, just for the prettiness and so much more! Last but not least, a young sloth bear eating termites at dusk . We leave with the utmost respect and admiration for the team and the effort they put in to, not only giving you the time of your life but also in creating awareness and conservation of wildlife and habitat. We have lived Sri Lanka for a number of years and this was our first Safari - but definitely not the last Well done!!"

Inle Princess Resort: "Gem of the lake"

"We just returned from a four night stay at the Inle Princess Resort. What a treat! This resort, which sits on the northeast corner of Inle Lake, is locally designed, owned and run. And it shows, from the local crafts that are made on site to the quiet efficiency and welcome of the staff. We arrived via Heho airport by road (about 60-90 minutes and ~$50 US). The road entrance is modest, giving no clue of what lies behind the low key security gate. The grounds are spectacularly but sympathetically landscaped, with stands of bamboo framing lotus filled lagoons. The rooms are absolutely unique in design. You might want to avoid the Mountain rooms only because they are a bit smaller with less spectacular views. Any of the other rooms will exceed your expectations. The dining is lakeside, serving a mix of excellent local and Thai style fare and goreng. The views from the restaurant patio are tranquil, with boats approaching the jetty required to row (almost always Inle leg oar style) with engines off. The pool is otherworldly. We spent a good deal of our time exploring the lake. One of the lessons we learned was that the locally sourced goods in the crafts shop at the Inle Princess are not only superior quality but are priced very fairly. I am lucky to travel widely. The spa is the finest with the kindest and most skillful (Shan) therapists I have encountered. The setting alone will draw you out of your highly strung world. A couple of words of caution to high maintenance travelers. The hot water can run out quickly, so shower efficiently (many rooms have private outdoor showers). And service (e.g. by the pool) can be slower than you will find at Four Seasons. They just don't rush. The food and drinks are wonderful. So relax and enjoy. There is simply nowhere remotely like the Inle Princess. If you are looking for a slice of Myanmarese heaven on earth, this is it. If you are looking for chain resort style service, stay somewhere else."

Sukoon Houseboat: "Sukoon means peace on heaven of"

Kashmir’s beauty can leave you gasping for air, yet amidst such splendor, exists one tiny, wondrous place to stay. Of all things, a houseboat on the Dal Lake would be the most idle place to take in Kashmir’s beauty, with the looming snowcapped peaks -far away yet so near and the lotuses floating at arm’s length on the Dal.