Guest Reviews

Sukoon Houseboat: "Watch the world float by"

We stayed at Sukoon for one night based on the recommendation of our host at the Cottage, Nigeen and can't thank him enough for making the arrangement for our stay at Sukoon. The hospitality is great,right from the time they pick you from the shore of Dal lake in their own boat. The houseboat is fabulous with great wooden furniture along with all modern comforts.the staff was very helpful and courteous The food was delicious , especially the Tea (kahwa) and coconut dessert with chocolate sauce . The upper deck was the perfect place to spend our mornings and evenings and the lower decks was the best place sit and shop and also eat the pakodas and tea from the nearby floating shop. The rooms were comfortable and finely built and well maintained.Sunrise and sunsets were beautiful. While leaving white threads were tied to our wrists for our safe journey. We were really touched by this gesture.We will defiantly come back and stay for a longer time.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "First-class"

Our wonderful experience here was probably some function of us being the only guests for 3 days, since we arrived in the low season when the skies were pouring. However my sense is that the service here is generally very good. The cottage (sea-view) was a little smaller than I expected but extremely comfy and clean. The open-to-sky bath was a delight. This small resort has a fantastic private beach, a nice pool fronting the beach, great food (especially if you like the local Malabar specialties), attentive staff, an experienced spa and ayurveda team, and basically everything else you need for a memorable luxurious vacation. Highly recommend. WE visited the Bekal Fort and the Valiyaparamba backwaters (houseboat cruise) - both stunning.

The Village House: "Gorgeous Boutique Hotel"

This is the perfect place to unwind for a few days. It's an easy 40 min drive from Kuching, and it's incredibly relaxing and peaceful. It's a simple hotel but a lot of care and love has gone into its set up and decoration, and it was full of beautiful artwork from local artists. The rooms were lovely (we stayed in the Raj room), the food was delicious and the service wonderful and attentive. 

Talabgaon Castle: "Iconic India"

"Beautiful heritage hotel. Extremely peaceful with helpful friendly staff. Nothing was too much bother. The hotel has recently been refurbished, but retains it's original features. Bedrooms are all en-suite with his and her washbasins and all modern conveniences.On arrival we were met by the owner who was extremely welcoming. There is a substantial pool. Food was well prepared and staff most attentive during a buffet dinner. Room Tip: Rooms are all quiet due to village location.Many first floor rooms look down on a fountained courtya..."

Tugu Bali: "Our new favourite hotel in Bali"

If you're looking for something special, unique and authentic then Tugu is it! A truly wonderful experience all round. Our accommodation was lovely. We stayed in the Dedari Suite and we're lucky to have not just a plunge pool , but an extended view through reeds across a pond and beyond to a nearby temple. We could even get glimpses of the surf! The staff were amazing, the gardens and buildings incredible. A wonderful way to immerse yourself in Balinese history. The attention to detail is everywhere, right down to the metal elephant door knobs in the public restrooms. Trying one of Tugu's cultural banquets is highly recommended. The recently opened Ji restaurant and bar is also destined to be a winner. Good food and drinks in a very quirkily exotic bar.

MesaStila: "Pampered stay"

We have no negative comments about the Mesa Stila. We rarely return to a hotel which is not a beach location, as we vary our travel destinations, but we are considering where we can link with here as there was so much more to do than we managed in 3 days! We really appreciated seeing both ancient and contemporary Javanese culture. It would be unfair to praise an individual member of staff since everyone we encountered (including those around the grounds) provided wonderful service and a smiling greeting. The hamman experience is not to be missed. Thank you to everyone involved.

Tugu Malang: "An utterly awesome delight!"

"I spent 2 nights at the Hotel Tugu Malang in late May. I readily admit that I am not accustomed to luxury, and I won’t say whether any of you who are would find the Hotel Tugu Malang to be so, but I was delighted by my experience at this hotel, which I found utterly awesome! The bowl of fresh, peelable fruit – replenished each day and complete with a finger bowl holding water and a freshly cut blossom -- was just one sign that I was in a very, very nice hotel. ☺ My room was lovely and was delightfully furnished. Hot water was plentiful and the water pressure was excellent; my mini-fridge was nicely stocked, as was the tray with an electric kettle and French press; there were even washclothes among the many toiletries in the bathroom, which had lots of counter space, a bath with shower, and a window (with blind and drapes) into the bedroom. And if my balcony was tiny, it was still large enough to offer a small seating area and lovely view over the hotel’s pool area. It wasn’t just the room that wowwed me: The daily high tea held an impressive range of treats served in a delightful setting. The hotel’s spa offered a free 15-minute introductory massage. The breakfast (included in my rate) was generous and delicious. The restaurant offered dinners in several different cuisines and even had a decent selection of wines (if at prices reflecting the rareness of wine in Java). The hotel holds some remarkable artifacts, which can be seen on a tour of the property. And last, but certainly not least, the staff provided exceptional service – kudos one and all! My only very small niggle: The pool is not well separated from the restaurant, so I felt simultaneously “on display” and disruptive when I took a dip while diners were enjoying their meals. Just a small thing...."

Tugu Bali: "Hotel of our dreams"

Hotel Tugu is truly magical. From the moment you walk in, you feel as though you have been transported into an antique oasis. We were escorted by the friendliest staff to our Dedari Villa, which includes a private plunge pool, and a beautiful outdoor shower and bath that opened up to our own private koi pond. The room alone is like a fantasy, but the rest of the grounds are just as stunning. The location is perfect - right across the street from the ocean, and Old Man's and The Lawn (which are two fun, young bars/places to hang out.) I would 10/10 recommend this hotel to all, especially a couple looking for a romantic retreat.

Misool Eco Resort: "snorkel in paradise"

second trip to misool eco resort, and it just keeps getting better. getting to this place was quite a hassle a few years ago, but is now a breeze. better transfers, better boats, better hotel. same wonderful resort experience--world's best snorkeling, super guides, delightful accommodations, good food, friendliness all around. I saw new and wonderful creatures underwater, and every snorkel was a delight. an added dimension is learning about the work that this group is doing to conserve the natural treasures of this area, and to fight for the endangered sharks and manta rays.

Tugu Lombok: "Tugu to be true…..not in this case"

"Well esteemed reader I have to say this is an exceptional and unique hotel. This isn't a 5 star in the traditional sense of the more developed regions of the world. The rooms are pretty basic (but massive), the drains can smell and the wifi is unreliable (which his a blessing on holiday!!!). The building is eclectic - bits are approaching 150 years old - and this hotchpotch approach is the real charm of the hotel. It doesn't try to make a statement - it doesn't have to - it just works and create a lovely relaxing environment. The location is amazing. Set on the pretty unspoilt Sire beach with views to the Gili Islands and the volcanos of Lombok beyond it really is an idyllic setting. The staff are lovely and cant do enough to please. The food is good - the Indonesian dishes being especially excellent. For dinner food can be served on tables set up on the beach - this is a must, but needs booking daily. Breakfasts not the high point - but adequate. The gym facilities are essentially non existent - a few broken weights machines, a tiny number of free weights, a few cardio machines - including a non-functioning treadmill - soon to be replaced apparently! The lap pool is great - big thumbs up from the piscatorial Mrs Foodi8 for this. The lack of gym forces you to enjoy a run on the beach - which is magical. A 5 mile run is easy to do along the largely deserted beach. You need to wear trainers though as there are lots of sharp bits of old coral and shells lurking in the sand. I have the feeling in 10 years time Lombok will be much more like Bali - more tourist oriented and developed. So go soon if you are going."