Guest Reviews

The Village House: "Amazing retreat"

"We stayed at the Village House on 9th July for 3 nights. What can I say about this place, everything was great. The layout and decor is first grade and has the real feel of a relaxing yoga retreat. If you want 2 or 3 days simply to unwind and kick back in a rural setting with the soothing sounds of running water lapping over the pool then this is the place for you. We both fell asleep within minutes of arriving due to the relaxing ambience of the place. The food was excellent. Every one of our meals was delicious. The staff were very attentive and helpful in booking excursions or transport. There are a few good places to visit nearby. The Wetlands national park and Sarawak Cultural Village are on the doorstep and both well worth a visit. One thing to note though is that the hotel stands very much on its own without any restaurants or shops nearby (not that it matters with the good food on offer) so this is definitely a short stay place to recharge the batteries."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "A Truly Unique And Special Place To Stay"

"The Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion is an incredibly unique hotel. Built in the late 1800’s, the mansion was the family home of Chinese businessman and politician Cheong Fatt Tze. The mansion symbolized his wealth and prosperity, with extraordinary detail given to the original building and restoration. In modern terms, it’s one of the most “Instagrammable” buildings I’ve ever seen! Keep reading to find out why I highly recommend staying at the famous Blue Mansion. THE HISTORY The original version of the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion was built with 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, and 7 staircases, and is one of the largest buildings of its kind outside of China. Feng Shui played an important role in the design of the mansion, and each part of the layout had a specific a purpose. For example, the number of open air courtyards is because water is seen as wealth, so the more rain you have naturally coming into the house the better. Once that water was inside, there are winding drainage pipes to keep the water underneath the house as long as possible before flowing outside. There is so much history behind the building that the Mansion runs daily tours several times a dat so you can learn about the Mansion even if you are not staying there. However, I would still highly recommend booking a room because the tours only cover the common areas and not the guest rooms to maintain guests’ privacy. While the tour is still worth it if that’s your only option, staying in the hotel itself allows you to have the full experience and get better pictures! THE ROOMS The Blue Mansion has 18 rooms, each with its own name and backstory. I was in the Escoy room, named after an old smelting company in Penang. Located on the ground floor, the room had beautiful tall ceilings, detailed gold carvings, and plenty of space to spread out. In addition, there are little heirlooms and authentic 19th century furniture scattered throughout to give it even more personality. The rooms all have amenities that would have made Cheong Fatt Tze himself jealous, including a large HDTV, speedy wi-fi and a heavenly rainfall shower. It was truly a unique experience to stay in a place with such history, while still having full access to luxury amenities! THE FOOD Breakfast is served each day in the central courtyard, which is where the “Feng Shui” is strongest. The staff does a great job transforming the beautiful open air courtyard into a wonderful breakfast spread. There is a self-served area for pastries, toast and fruit, as well as made to order hot dishes from the waiter. You can also choose local flavors to be ready for your day! There is also a wonderful on-site restaurant called Indigo which was also great. Located upstairs above the central courtyard, Indigo fuses Eastern and Western culture in both the food and the ambiance. The in-house chef creates wonderful dishes each night, with each dish looking like a piece of artwork itself. The lamb and fish were especially good, so be sure to make a reservation during your stay! THE LOCATION Once you are well fed, you’ll see the Blue Mansion is perfectly located to many walkable sites. Given that Penang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are countless beautiful buildings and little areas to visit. These include the Clan Jetties, Little India, and Red Garden, a great night food market which is literally next door! One of my favorite parts of the location was is the short walk to many of the famous works of street art dotting the alleyways of Penang. Be sure to grab a map and ask the concierge for the locations of the art because some of them can be tricky to find but worth the effort! CONCLUSION Staying at the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion was one of the highlights of my entire trip to Malaysia. The history behind the building itself is extremely interesting and the hotel itself was beautiful. Be sure to bring a spare memory card when you visit because you will take countless pictures of both the Mansion itself and all the amazing sites nearby. The Blue Mansion is a very special experience and I highly recommend staying with them next time you are in Penang! Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Villa Song Saigon: "Perfection"

"This hotel is wonderful. You may hesitate to stay somewhere a bit outside of the main HCMC hustle and bustle, but once you're here you won't regret the decision. I didn't care much for HCMC, so after a few hours down there, it was nice to escape across the river (like fleeing back to the CT suburbs after an afternoon in NYC). Breakfast is fabulous and served to you riverside - full menu of choices. There are pretty regular boat shuttles into HCMC but if you don't want to wait for one or miss one, a cab ride is like $7 USD (which, if you can afford to stay here...shouldn't really be an issue). Beds are comfortable. Turndown service included yummy pastry - cream puffs, madeleines. Because it's a small hotel, the pool is quiet and never crowded. They also exchange cash at spot! Would return. Stayed March 2017, traveled with friends"

Satri House: "Perfect. bliss"

"Nothing to add really to the other reviewers. This place is splendid with style and characters, quiet because a bit away from the main road. Will absolutely return. Would only say that breakfast service is a bit difficult - you have to order piecemeal (or anyway, that's what our waitress did). Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"

tugu lombok: "A slice of tropical paradise"

"In a 3-week adventure around Bali and Lombok, the Tugu Lombok was our absolute favourite place that we stayed, hands down. The resort is stunning, the grounds are impeccable, the rooms are extraordinarily beautiful. The beach is white sand and turquoise waters. Every meal we ate (in both restaurants) was absolutely delicious. The breakfast spread is fantastic (with a particularly amazing fruit plate) and the assortment of snorkelling equipment, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards is a great way to pass afternoons on the water. Things are laid out so that you never feel crowded. But by far the best thing about Tugu Lombok is the staff. Everyone, from Sharon, the GM, and Henry, her right hand man, to the spectacular restaurant staff, spa team, housekeeping staff, and security, were the epitome of hospitality. The staff are professional, knowledgeable, and polite, and everything they do is heartfelt and done with a smile. They anticipated our every need before we even expressed them and made us feel enormously welcome during our entire stay. We can't recommend this spot enough to anyone travelling to Lombok (and even if you're not, you might want to change your plans to include the Tugu). One small note on rooms - we had read through previous TripAdvisor reviews and decided to take the overwhelmingly consistent advice to splurge on a Bhagavat Gita suite and we were completely blown away by the beauty and design of these extraordinary villas. "

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Dreamy"

"High in the clouds perched on a little mountain near Darjeeling sits the most incredible retreat in all of India. I looked forward to my stay for months, but nothing could have prepared me for just how WONDERFUL this place is. It's probably the closest thing I can imagine to being royalty- such a beautiful example of old colonial splendour, and you are treated like a VIP. I enjoyed the communal dining, where I met lovely people from around the world, and it's pretty special to be able to just go for a guided hike anytime you like- there is always a guide on hand. Though it was mostly cloudy when I stayed, in the mornings the clouds parted and I was lucky enough to get an incredible glimpse of Kachechunga (wow!!) Rates seem expensive, but include so much (transfers, laundry, all food, all hikes, all activities!) that I can't really complain about the price. Everything was of perfect quality. On a side note, I stayed as a solo female, and I felt very comfortable, and my privacy was completely respected. Room Tip: They all have their own charm. Can't go wrong."

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Luxury Eco villa"

"We spent 4 nights here in February 2016 , staying in Bougainvillea Baan and absolutely loved it . The house was almost on the beach with well designed open decking areas , comfortable chairs for lounging in , outdoor shower , mosquito nets , dining area etc , plus a great collection of books and magazines to browse. It had a kitchen and dining table which went unused as we ate at the restaurant each evening . The food, service , and cocktails were excellent ; fresh and delicious every time . The club house and bar were great areas for sitting drinking and watching the sunsets and Happy Hour an absoloute must at 6 pm . The staff were always courteous , helpful and unfailingly polite. Loved the shop too , with a range of authentic and beautifully curated range of clothes , jewellery , glasses , textiles etc : we didn't bother going to the markets as everything we wanted to buy was here... And more ! A truly beautiful and magical place , made so by the people who work , run and manage it , and a special mention for Pena ! Very much intend to return"

Tugu Bali: "Boutique hotel with fine food"

"We dined at the Hotel Tugu twice within one week while we were staying at a nearby villa with friends. The first meal was lunch on Valentines Day which also coincided with our friend's anniversary. The hotel is stunning, with many historic artifacts scattered throughout the public areas of the hotel. Cocktails in the bar before lunch were delicious, I particularly enjoyed the Tugu Gin Tea! We were seated in a private dining room for four (just off the main seating area) overlooking the pool and gardens. We all enjoyed a delicious lunch of Indonesian and other Asian dishes which were fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. Desserts were also spectacular, in particular Black sticky rice pudding with Mango. A complimentary dessert was presented to our friends to celebrate their anniversary, a lovely touch. We were all so impressed we rebooked for dinner later in the week! Before dinner we had cocktails again but this time on the rooftop of of the hotel while overlooking the beach and a spectacular sunset and then again dined in the small private dining room. We preordered Babi Guling, the Indonesian roast pork specialty which was plated beautifully and was absolutely mouth watering. We indulged in an Italian Pino Griggo which was good value for money and a terrific wine. Special mention must be made of the incredible staff at Hotel Tugu, friendly, knowledgeable - just delightful really! We also requested to inspect the rooms at the hotel and were shown two different types of rooms, both very Balinese and very well appointed. We would love to return to the Hotel Tugu to experience staying at this boutique hotel and also to feast upon the fine food available there. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Manda De Laos: "Amazing"

It blew my mind! On top of a picturesque setting, food was beyond compare. I would pick it over and over again.

Villa Mathis: "Fantastic stay in a little piece of paradise"

"Stayed in La Villa Mathis for three days and enjoyed every bit of it. Me and my travel companion tremendously enjoyed the quiet ambience of the villa and the villa manager Christian was extremely helpful and attentive to our needs. The villas have several swimming pools secluded from one to another and we felt like it is reserved specially for us! What a treat! The villa is located quite near with Seminyak strip and the villa staffs will assist you in arranging the transportation. The room was designed in a very thoughtful details and we felt like we can really switch off and rejuvenate in this place. Overall it is an absolutely amazing stay and we definitely will come back to Villa Mathis!"