Guest Reviews

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "THE BEST"

"Just returned from my sixth visit and again it was just perfect. This probably explains why 10 out of 15 bungalows were occupied by repeat visitors. The surroundings are beautiful. The rooms are well appointed. The housekeeping is first class. The Spa experience is focussed on you. The complimentary yoga is a great start to any day. The food is memorable. But it's the people who really make it just perfect. They are friendly, caring, pleased that you have chosen to visit them and totally focused on making everyone's visit perfect. Thank you."

Slow Villas and Spa: "Wonderful 10 days at Slow Villas"

"We had a two week holiday from work mid January 2017 and despite it being the rainy season decided to book 10 days on Gili Air - mainly because we got such great rates on flights from London to KL with Malaysian Airways. We stayed in KL for a night and then took budget airline Air Asia (highly recommended also!!) out to Indonesia. We'd been to Bali before but not ventured out to the Gilis. We flew from KL to Lombok and had a private taxi transfer from the airport to the 'port' (the journey in a taxi is about an hour and half). We then had a private speed boat take us to the port on Gili Air, which took about 10 mins. Then it's a ride in a cidone (horse and trap) to Slow Villas. So all in all a trip with lots of modes of transport but we thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Glad for the stop over in KL though. We did the same on the way back and not only do you need this for the flight times but we did appreciate the rest and we're generally people who are pretty comfortable with long haul. So, on to Slow Villas... it's a beautiful setting and the architecture/layout/design has been done perfectly. It's perfect tranquil yet everywhere on Gili Air is within walking distance. The nearest beach was about a 10 minute walk and then there are three beach bars/restaurants immediately on from there. Lots of people cycle and there are bikes to hire from reception. To be honest through we only used them once and were more than happy to walk everywhere - it compensated for the holiday (over) eating!! We love exploring and heading off for a wander around the island was all part of the experience. It's a fabulous island with loads of cool places to eat and drink. The villa and our garden was lovely. We were in villa 3. We would often spend the morning in the pool and sunbathing in our private garden and then headed off to the beach for to find somewhere new for lunch. Our favourite food wise was the Italian Dolce Mare (we went twice) but the best for lunch on the beach and cocktails at sunset was Island View Beach Bar and Bungalows, which is the closest to Slow. Breakfast at Slow is wonderful, just how the pictures show it to be. I fell in love with their dragon fruit juices (go to Pachamama for their legendary dragon fruit and peanut butter smoothie!) and muesli with yogurt. Avocados weren't always available which was a tiny downer as their Aussie breakfast with toast and avocado was yummy but hey you're on holiday on a tiny island in Indonesia and you have a day of sun and sand ahead of you, nothing is really a big problem! Don't expect a proper cooked English breakfast but their cooked tomato mix, like a ratatouille is delicious. We also had the Indonesian BBQ one evening. My word this was absolutely delicious. So much food between us and just stunning. Seriously worth staying in one evening for. The staff at Slow are all really kind and respectful. Some have brilliant English, others not so but unless your Indonesian is up to scratch then a level of patience shouldn't be too much of a hardship. It's so true that a smile goes a long way. We also went to the Slow Spa which has been done so nicely, it's tranquil and beautifully designed. We didn't visit any of the others on the island but it's easy to tell just by looking from the outside that Slow Spa is the most professional and up to the standards you'd expect at home. The room had everything we needed. We loved the outdoor bathroom. And as for that 'rainy' season - it didn't bother us at all. Yes it did rain and there were two or three days that we didn't sunbathe but we went off exploring and sitting in some really cool bars drinking green tea, exotic fruit juices and smoothies and watching the world go by. The sun is very intense so a few days respite was valuable. We still had lots of days joining nothing but laying on the beach and came back with a brilliant suntan! Plus there's nothing like watching a tropical storm roll in whilst you're on the beach with a Bintag in hand. We actually preferred that to the sunsets sometimes. Amazing sunsets here are just so common place!!!! We booked a snorkelling trip through Slow - just the two of us and two boatmen/guides. We saw turtles off Gili Meno and Gili T within minutes of jumping in the water. We've been lucky enough to see turtles before but never this many or this easily. The snorkelling trip was the highlight of our time. We had lunch on Gili Meno and had another two snorkelling stops on the way back. The sunken boat and metal structures off Meno (not sure exactly what it was) was the BEST snorkelling I've ever done in terms of seeing tropical fish. It was like a fish super highway. I could have stayed in the water there for hours and hours. So in summary Slow Villas is without a doubt the best accommodation on Gili Air. We're not backpackers and wanted some luxury. It's in a great, quiet location but still easy to get everywhere (really - no where is far on Gili Air). The staff and management are really helpful. There is so much choice in terms of eating out and at different budgets that you never get bored and there are lots of people to meet when you're out and about. We loved every moment. Terima kasih Julie, Kara and Martin. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

The Village House: "Lovely place"

"A wonderful experience which I can't get elsewhere in Kuching. Five stars services, clean and comfortable room, romantic ambience. This is a place where you can truly relax and have a peace of mind. We spent about half an hour looking for the place because there is no sign saying 'the village house' and the gate is closed. Once entered there is a small sign written 'secret inn' at which the place actually live up to its name. We were greeted by Flora and welcome drinks. A few rules have to be kept in mind for example no shoes in certain areas, have to order our dinner earlier and main gate is closed by 10pm. By the way, the dinner is very nice though its bit expensive (costs us rm76 for fish&chip, grilled chicken sandwiches and a dessert) There is free wifi but the signal is weak in our room. With no tv and wifi in the room, you can truly be close to the nature and your loved ones. Dont worry, there is an entertainment room full of books, board games and also an astro tv. "

Chakrabongse Villas: "A small green exotic oasis of calm, beauty and exclusivity"

"Chakrabongse Villas is very different to your everyday boutique hotel. I have been a guest at Chakrabongse for 12 years on at least 40 occasions. Here your privacy is respected and preserved and you do not have to deal with the typical petty tourists that you find in all the large hotels. You will hardly ever see another guest since they all have their own villa and outside area. Strangers are not permitted to enter the grounds and wander around. The staff are invisible until you need or want them. The outside world of hustle and bustle stops at the gate and you enter a small green exotic oasis of calm, beauty and exclusivity. Room Tip: Every villa is beautifully themed and decorated with art and antiques."

Reverie Siam: "Loving it"

"The hotel has a very beautiful ground. Everything were just amazing. Nice restaurant, unique room with jacuzzi, great pools, friendly staffs. Everything was cater to my request. I really feel I was well taken care off. I dare to say that this is probably the best hotel in pai. It's close to town yet far enough to enjoy some quiet moment. The villa 9 I had was located along the pai river. The view is amazing. The rate is high, but surely worth every penny for special occasion. Yes, at night there might be some noises and music from drinking places beyond the bank. But they stop after 10pm. It's not a problem if you close the door. But then you will not enjoy the crisp fresh air during the winter. Some mosquitoes flying in from outside, but strangely, they seem doesn't bite. I am blood type O, and I am doing fine! Haha... not sure if it's because it winter month. For rural area like pai, this is definitely a gem! Stayed February 2017, traveled solo"

Maison Polanka: "Best hotel of our trip!"

"Maison Polanka is an incredible place. On our first evening there, we had a glass of bubbles as we watched the sky slowly turn to dusk and listened to the birds, the cicadas and the nearby monks singing -- total perfection. It was such a treat to be taken care of so well and in such a stunningly beautiful environment. We stayed for five nights in the Khmer house, which was great. Plenty of space, nice amenities, and kept nice and cool by the fans and AC. The staff worked with my husband to plan a fantastic birthday dinner for me, setting up a romantic private dining experience surrounded by candles and even ordering in a special birthday cake. We would recommend Maison Polanka to any traveler who is looking to experience Cambodia in serenity and luxury and in the care of a wonderful staff. Our biggest thanks to Cathy, Julie, Cune, Tuy La, Kong, Da, Som, Osa, Chan, Rithy, Seam, Sam, Sopharin, Thy, Sarin, Sopha, and the rest of the amazing team behind the scenes that make it such a special place."

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Superb must stay"

"This resort has all of its priorities straight. It has an Eco/ community based focus and customers are at the heart of everything that is done. We loved every minute of being here as the staff are so considerate and keen to please. The food at the restaurant is fabulous and the rooms are very nicely decorated and restful. The Burmese cat project is fantastic and the shop supports local development projects which sell their high quality products here. We believe this is a really special place to stay and we will remember it for a long time to come. Highly recommended! Stayed April 2016, traveled as a couple"

Babe: "Breath taking food in an amazing vibe"

"I went to Babe for my last dinner in KL and I couldn't find a better way to end my trip. Everything with this place is magnificent; the atmosphere, the interior, the staff and, of course, the food. I'm a vegetarian so usually it's a little bit harder for me to get that mind blowing experience I know a lot of meat eaters get when they are in places like this. However, this time that wasn't a problem. I tried eight of the vegetarian dishes and each one of them reached above my expectations. I started with the compressed caesar salad which was the best caesar salad I've ever had. Instead of bacon you got a crispy salty coconut flake - such an innovative way of making vegetarian food fun. The dishes kept on rolling in and the majority of them literally exploded in my mouth (when you go there you will understand what i mean). A must try is the watermelon carpaccio, the potato puré with onion jam and the beet root role. And also, if you are a fan of miso soup - it's the best I've ever had. Besides the food I had a couple of drinks and they all kept the level. Try the Malaysian tea - it's so delicious! When leaving this place it came to me that it won't be long until I visit KL again. Thank you Babe for giving me an experience I'll never forget."

sukoon: "Amazing"

"Had a great time at Sukoon. Surpassed all our expectations. Superb service and great food. Staff is friendly and they really look after the guests. Highly recommended. We went as a family and it was very comfortable and luxurious. "

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Heaven on earth"

"Having trekked for six days in the hills, Tiger Mountain Lodge was exactly what we needed. We arrived and were immediately offered refreshing drinks whilst sitting on the veranda looking at the stunning scenery.The view was incredible every single day and it was magical to sit out over breakfast and just see the mountains in the distance. The staff were on another level. They were so attentive, willing to do anything (which included making endless amounts of popcorn) and really professional. They knew exactly when we needed something and were polite and chatty. The rooms themselves were fantastic, the beds really comfy and the views stunning. The bathrooms too were much appreciated and the showers were very welcome after the hills! The food was five star: every day was something different and the breakfast especially wonderful. As a vegetarian, they were very accommodating. (...)It really is a place like nowhere else."