Guest Reviews

Talabgaon Castle: "Unreal Experience"

"My wife and I recently visited this resort on our trip from San Francisco and could not have been happier with our stay. It is a beautiful property and the staff could not have been more hospitable. The grounds were beautifully maintained, the rooms were gorgeous and comfortable, and the food was fantastic. We stopped here for a night in between Agra and Jaipur. It is in the countryside so it is a very tranquil and peaceful setting when compared to the city. We were treated like royalty at this 200+ year old castle that was recently restored to this beautiful resort. The resort sits on 100 acres with expansive lawns, a pool, gardens, and a polo field. It is a perfect place to spend a night or two to unwind and get way from the hustle and bustle of India. 5+ stars across the board. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "A wonderful time"

"My wife and I had the most wonderful stay at the Blue Mansion over Christmas and wanted to pass on our thank you for the hospitality we experienced throughout our stay. Our time at the mansion was that beginning of our honeymoon and we were greeted with flowers on the bed in the shape of a heart. The room was an excellent balance between heritage and modern comfort, and each time we returned to our room after exploring George Town it was an absolute joy to return as we made our way through the beautiful building to our room. The staff were amazing and genuinely happy in their work, and we looked forward to the wonderful breakfast each morning in the courtyard. For me, these breakfasts were very relaxing, the food amazing, the staff friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere just perfect. As we were spending Christmas away from home, it was lovely to receive a small gift on Christmas day. It is these little things which really stand out and remain in the memories of a stay. The cherry on top was being told we could open the back door of our room (which we were unaware existed) and be the first to use the new pool area which had been finished that very afternoon. Again, this is something we will never forget. As my wife and I sit now at a resort in Langkawai, we find ourselves thinking back to our stay and actually miss being back in George Town at the mansion. You have very special accommodation offering which we would recommend to anyone and would love to come and stay again in the future. Stayed December 2016, traveled as a couple"

Tandjung Sari: "Friendly and helpful to our group of eight!"

"We - an extended family group - ended up eating here two nights running. The staff were very accommodating and friendly and provided us a table at short notice. The food was excellent on both occasions and the service charming. The structure of the restaurant is atmospheric and traditional with pipes and piano being played at various stages. We were grateful to the staff who allowed us to have a shower on the second visit before we ate- particularly appreciated as we had been on the beach all day and our next stop was Denpasar Airport for a prolonged flight programme to London Heathrow."

Locavore: "Wonderful Experience, but book ahead or be disappointed"

"Very popular, small, expensive but very very good. We went here for dinner. Thank goodness we had skipped lunch after reading the reviews. We ordered the 5 course Otak-Otak which eventually turned into about 12 dishes as there are delightful little pre/post dinner treats along the way. What a wonderful surprise. The staff are fabulous and explained each dish as each one has it's own quirkiness - a bit fusion east meets west . . . . very tasty. We enjoy the evening very much and after our three hour eating safari we were very full. Would highly recommend for a special dinner or lunch out in Ubud, but do book in advance. No shows and late late comers are fined accordingly."

Le Calao: "Fabulous location, food, wine and service."

"We discovered this new restaurant which has connections with L'Elephant when we wanted a glass of wine prior to the Storytelling. We were made to feel very welcome and had a glass of delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. We returned the next night for dinner and had a excellent Lao meal in beautifully restored building overlook the Mekon. Portions are generous and only the best vegetables and ingredients are used. Another bottle of the SB was enjoyed. Good sevice with just the right amount of attention. Le Calao has only been open for a couple of months so it was only a quarter full but I am sure one will need to reserve once it is better known."

Cuca: "Worth the hype. Great lunch – next time dinner"

"We went here after getting a recommendation from someone staying at our hotel in Nusa Dua. We went for lunch and it was. Wet quiet on the midweek day that we went. I think the place would be buzzing for dinner. We sat inside in the Air-conditioning and we were served by great staff who explore menu very well and gave recommendations on how to get the best out of our experience. Drinks and cocktails were awesome and the food was perfect. My 8 year old was well catered for and we had ample food, cocktails and a couple of beers, kids meal which came to about $130. We will definitely go back but for dinner next time."

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Terrific food and lovely service"

"Cuisine Wat Damnak came highly recommended by friends and it truly didn't disappoint! We were fortunate to be warmly greeted by the proprietor chef, Joannès Rivière; a super nice man - and fantastic chef! We had the 6 course tasting menu (there were 2 options) we were able to mix choices from one menu with the other. All dishes, including the amuse bouche, were a great combination of flavours and textures, unquestionably Cambodian in origin but with some subtle execution. Wine list was good and Joannès made a great recommendation of a William Fevre Sauvignon Blanc from Burgundy - highly unusual but a great match to the food. All dishes were top-notch but the Mekong langoustine grilled in cassava leaves were stand out as was the desert; Mango cashew nut crumble, green mango jelly with vanilla and white chocolate cream! Unbelievably great value at US$31 for the 6 course tasting menu, and total bill including the wine and water came to less than $110 , not including optional tip/service. I think a visit to Siem Reap without dining here would be as incomprehensible as coming and not visiting Angkor Wat!"

Maison Polanka: "Beautiful property with the best staff"

"My boyfriend and I had an amazing stay here during our trip to Siem Reap! Everything surpassed our expectations. When we arrived, we were greeted at the airport by Francis and a car that drove us straight to the hotel to make sure it was a seamless trip. The purple room was perfect for us - very spacious with high ceilings. Francis, Cathy, and the entire staff at Maison Polanka ensured every detail of our stay was perfect - from packing us breakfast for when we left early to watch the sunrise, to giving us recommendations on where to eat in town and which other temples to visit. They patiently answered all our questions and made us feel completely at home. The grounds of Maison Polanka was like its own world, a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of downtown while located just 5min away. Another outstanding feature of the hotel was the kitchen - we loved all our meals there and the dishes were our favorite by far in Siem Reap. We ate basically all our meals and loved everything we had, especially the local Khmer fried rice and beef lok lak. It was so convenient to be able to come home after a long day touring the temples to enjoy a delicious meal in the outdoors dining area, prepared meticulously by such a great chef. We'll definitely be staying here again on our future visits - we can't wait to come back!"

Rachamankha: "A peaceful haven"

My husband and my self visited Chiangmai in 1997 and stayed at the Rachamankha. The feeling of being transported to another world is really true. This hotel is in the midst of the city but the exquisite lay out of the interior and exterior is pretty hard to beat. We spend our winters in Chiangmai since then and visit Rachamankha every week to simply enjoy the tranquility of this wonderful hotel. The staff is very attentive and very well trained. They almost guess and jump to your needs before you can voice them. The kitchen is a very good a mix of Thai and European cuisine. Good wines. We really consider ourselves fortunate to have discovered this gem. I was impressed by the owners astute insight into the the Thai culture which he has presented in his unique style. We are fans of Rachamanka

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Wonderful holiday in a beautiful setting"

hank you to all the staff at Neeleshwar for making it a truly memorable stay. The location/setting is beautiful and the sunset over the sea and lagoon breathtaking. A wonderful place to relax (although not the place to go if you want a lot of activities). We enjoyed the yoga, the spa and a keralan cookery class with the chef and have already managed a very passable chicken curry and poratha at home!! The rooms are very comfortable and worth upgrading to the seaview rooms which are just lovely. There are outside bathrooms with all mod cons which work very well in the heat. Lovely to relax on the balcony or in the hammock with a drink. The food was superb with a choice of curries in the main restaurant or fresh seafood on the beach. Christmas sorted with an excellent selection of gifts in the shop! Cant wait to return ....