Guest Reviews

Amata Lanna: "So happy we stayed here!"

"We were two couples visiting Chiang Mai for a weekend. Two of us were visiting from NYC and Philadelphia, and two were joining us from Bangkok. I chose Amata Lanna after reading the great reveiws on TA but it surpassed my expectations. It is a small boutique hotel with great charm. Who wants to stay and a standard big chain hotel when you can get a great flavor for the area and the people by staying at a place where they know you by name and offer you really personal care? We had two double deluxe rooms on the second floor, each with a King bed and four poster with mosquito netting. The decor of the hotel is old and traditional, but there is thoroughly modern plumbing and air-conditioning. An overhead rain shower stall with good hot water and pressure, as well as a separate beautiful bathtub (which we did not use). The room is spacious and the A/C is excellent. An in room safe was large enough to keep a laptop. Breakfasts were served in the courtyard (there are many fans scattered around so it is comfortable). There was a cooked-to-order menu with Western selections and Eastern selections (delicious congee with pork or shrimp!) as well as a beautiful buffet of fresh peeled and cut fruits AND the most delicious mango sticky rice I've had. And I have tried a lot! This alone gave me so much joy! Yumi especially took great care of us, helping us arrange transportation and suggesting wonderful spas where we indulged in lovely massages. When one of our party became ill and required hospitalization, the entire staff mobilized to help us. They were understnding and gracious and allowed us to adjust our stay to accommodate our needs. Everyone always had a smile on their face for us and I genuinely felt very cared for there. I have neglected to name some of the other staff- Alan, a young woman who recommended the nearby spa, another woman who had an injured eye during our stay - all of them looked out for our every need. I hope we made it clear to them how much we appreciated all their efforts. I highly recommend this place for anyone seeking a boutique-type of hotel which melds charm and modern conveniences. But overall, it is the staff that make this a wonderful place to stay!!"

Amata Lanna: "Charming oasis in busy area"

"Already fell in love with this historical building and courtyard at the time I arrived. Very lovely architecture with extremely welcoming staff assisting upon checkin. This boutique hotel has 12 rooms and everyone in the hotel tries to make you feel like home. Rooms and hotel area are spacious, very comfortable and clean. Location is perfect as it is just block away from the Big C supermarket, The night Bazaar, Saturday market and also very convenient access to major spots of Chiang Mai. And yet you don’t feel like being in such a busy area once you walk into the hotel - a great escape from the busy town. If you’re looking for an unique stay in good location, this is a place you would love"

Villa Idanna: "A tranquil place at the foot of Mount Agusng"

"I stayed at this villa for 3 days and it was awesome for someone who wants to have a quiet village experience. You wake up and saw the holy Mount Agung in front of the villa. There is no TV or other electronic media in the villa so you just enjoy the experience without disruption. The villa is served by 4 local staff from the area, in fact one staff lives in front of the villa. For the entire 3 days we were served with local Sidemen dishes and they were fantastic. During the day, a lot of tourists mostly expatriates were seen cycling or walking around the village. At the top of the hill, I went to visit ibu Dayu a friend of many celebrities like Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Walter Spies. Her house is also facing Mount Agung, we had lunch and enjoyed her company."

Samanea Beach Resort: "One of our best stays at Cambodia"

Out of the seven properties we sampled in our eight nights in Cambodia, this was one of the best! And I really wish we could've stayed longer. We rented a junior villa for the night and was extremely pleased with our choice because the room was beautiful and spacious and the washroom came with an outdoor shower and bath. [See pictures] The resort has lush lawns and its own strip of beach with a pier - overall an extremely picturesque property. So much so that we ended up spending most of the day chilling at the property in stead of exploring Kep. Service at the restaurant and the bar is good - food is pretty good but the cocktails are average. Overall, a very comfortable stay and would definitely visit the property again if I am going back to Cambodia.

Tugu Lombok: "Quirky and awesome"

We spent four nights in two Bhagavat Gita ocean front suites at the end of a three week trip through Indonesia. We did not spend much time outside the Hotel Tugu, there is not much to do around. However that was just fine with us. Hotel Tugu was wonderful. It is very, very nice, luxurious in many ways but not in a polished way like a Four Seasons. It is a huge place and the grounds are beautiful, as are the many structures. We loved the restaurants and bars, the food was fantastic, as was all of the service. The staff is warm and we felt special but not like the Ritz Carlton where everyone knows your name because they whisper it in their lapel microphones. The wait staff came to know our names and preferences. The manager of the property is fantastic. The rooms are some what rustic in a very nice way. The outdoor baths were a delight to us. The beach was nice but not good for swimming due to rocks. They have an amazing pool and we had private plunge pools. I was disappointed in the workout room. We were there during Ramadan, there are several mosques nearby, and different from anywhere else where we've experience Ramadan and the call to prayer, they sang all night long. We had to wear earplugs to sleep, but that made it fine. We highly recommend the Hotel Tugu. It is one of the favorite places we have stayed.

Satri House: "Escape into a world of tranquility!"

"Traveling in Asia can be stressful, so I was grateful for this all too short escape from reality at The Satri House. What a treat to be greeted with a welcome drink upon arrival! The staff really make an effort to make you feel at home. I chose economize by taking the local transportation from the Luang Prabang airport rather than the hotel pickup.This proved to be the right choice, as the airport is very organized for tourists with a set price and individual drop off at your hotel. My room was very comfortable, with fresh fruit and plenty of bottled water. Although the mini fridge was'nt stocked but you can order drinks.. As others have noteted, the walk into town was easy and enjoyable, taking you past many interesting sights. I would recommend to travelers who like to explore that you take your time and wander some of the side streets along the way... There is a fantastic 'hidden' restaurant just across the street. 'Manda de Laos'. Highly recommended for that romantic get away or restful retreat. My only regret was that I only had 2 nights to enjoy this wonderful place!"

Kinabalu Park: "Some tips for noobs (like me)!"

"Do not rush it. Take some time to enjoy the places in ranau and kundasang as well. We stayed at LODGE 37 for 2 days and its still not enough. Lodge 37 is located at ranau in between kinabalu park and ranau hot spring. Theres few trails inside the foot of mt kinabalu itself (dont need any ticket), so if u guys are up for it spend one whole day there. (Wont still be enough) For RANAU HOT SPRING, spend a day there as well. Theres more to it then just the hot spring, If u continue walking, u'll come across - 1) CANOPY WALK (few metres away) 2) KIPUNGIT waterfall (700m away) 3) BAT cave 4) and another waterfall (3km away) If u plan to go both ranau and foot of mt kinabalu on the same day, keep ur ticket with you. U wont have to pay for entrance of the latter if u show them ur tickets. On the last day, otw back to KK, Go for KIULU WATER RAFTING. Worth it for first timer. Maybe not so much for advanced rafters. And later, hav a lunch at SULAMAN. Where u can get fresh 'lokan' (shells), fried food (rice), and some coconut pudding for ur empty stomach. Then head back to KK. Sunset viewing at KOKOL HILL can be done either otw to ranau, or otw back from ranau. Choose which suits u best. We did it otw to ranau. Hope this helps. Even with few days research i didnt really get to know these facts, only when we are there and try it ourselves that we found out abt all this. Last but not least, just enjoy urselves! Stop worrying abt the time that u cant regain. Live the life, travelers! InsyaAllah."

Jing’s Residence: "A truly unique experience."

The hotel is made of a beautiful set of buildings in the style of old courtyard architecture. The rooms are extremely comfortable and you do not hear a sound. The common areas, dining room, bar, library, are decorated with remarkable taste. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. A unique experience!

Satri House: "Super hôtel"

Great charm and romantic place to stay and visit the beautiful city of Luang Prabang.Personnel very attentive, very good restaurant and intimate well situé.Velo free, but you can also visit any walk

Rachamankha: "Lovely and serene"

This hotel is a lovely and serene property in the bustle of Chiang Mai, very traditional in style. The pool facility is excellent. Breakfast is excellent. The room was spacious and comfortable. However, the door is made of very heavy wood, and the only window fin the room faced a wall, so the room felt a bit like a cell. Service was gracious, if a bit impersonal. The hotel is located on the eastern edge of the Old City. It is a long walk to the daily morning and night markets, but very convenient to the Sunday night walking street.