Guest Reviews

The Island Lodge: "Superb"

"I stayed at the Island Lodge with my wife and two young kids as my first hotel upon arrival in Vietnam, with the idea of using its relaxing environment to acclimatise to the weather and time zone. It fulfilled this brief perfectly. We were picked up at the airport in HCMC and transferred to the hotel which was just under 2 hours drive away. On arrival at the hotel we were treated with a refreshing drink and delicious canapés while we checked in. Michel had previously suggested pre-ordering a meal as we arrived around 9pm after travelling all day. This was a great idea and was a lovely start to our 3 night stay at this hotel, and was our first insight as to the thoughtfulness, service and high quality that was typical at this hotel. The food here was consistently excellent (as to be expected from Michel and Françoise who hail from France's gastronomy capital - Lyon) and was a highlight of our stay. The wine selection was also excellent and on reflection was great value for Vietnam. Breakfast was a treat to look forward to every morning, with the Eggs Benedict a particular favourite. Also, I was delighted to find that good european style coffee is served! The hotel itself is beautiful, and decorated with an Indochine theme. We stayed in a River View room, which was lovely with a nice comfortable balcony to sit on and watch the activity on the river, however the garden rooms also looked very nice and I would have been happy in either room type (FYI river room views are on first floor and so persons with mobility issues may prefer garden view room). The staff at the hotel are excellent - friendly, attentive and obviously well trained and professional in their service. The overall highly positive experience of our stay here allowed us to relax, get over our jet lag and energise us for a great holiday in Vietnam. The only negative about staying here as our first hotel in Vietnam is that we found ourselves comparing all subsequent hotel stays against this one, and they all fell short! For a stay in the Mekong Delta area I would absolutely recommend that you don't look any further than The Island Lodge."

The Cabochon Hotel and Residence: "Luxurious Cabochon Hotel"

"My husband and I stayed at the Cabochon Hotel for a week and we enjoyed every moment. The hotel itself is beautiful - well appointed guest rooms with a lot of space, a soft bed, and a living room you can move around in. The hotel is wonderfully filled with curiosities, mementos and art that delighted us at every turn. We made use of the fabulous library, happy hour cocktails, the lounge area, the restaurant, and the roof top pool. All were exemplary. But the most special mention must go to the staff. Each and every person we had the pleasure to talk with was helpful, polite, courteous and went out of their way to assist us. The Cabochon is a special hotel. If you want to be in the heart of Bangkok, but in a quiet street close to excellent shops, restaurants and the BTS, and you are looking for a luxurious, relaxed and quiet stay, then this is the place for you. We recommended this boutique hotel and are already planning our return trip. Special added mention to the Quince restaurant on the same street and the Thann day spa one street over."

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Six-star service"

"I've stayed at a lot of hotels, and have never experienced service at the level of what I experienced at the Apsara River Droit. Mr. Han and the rest of the staff will go above and beyond - and even further - to ensure that you have an amazing time in Luang Prabang. I stayed at the hotel from 28 April to 2 May, and was a solo traveler. An example: when I wanted to go to fabric village Ban Xieng Man at 1 pm in sweltering 37 degree weather, and the hotel couldn't find a tuk tuk, they dispatched one of the hotel workers to take me for a 10-minute motorbike ride there. Another example: I left my chargers in my hotel room, and the receptionist drove to the airport terminal so that I could have them before my flight. The rooms are spacious and have every expected amenity (coffee, tea, hair dryer), but the real standout is the balcony. It has both two chairs and a daybed; it was great to sit on the daybed during the extremely hot afternoons. I would highly recommend the second-floor river view rooms; I stayed in room three. I had great views of the garden, the pool and the Nam Khan river. The breakfast was also very generous; the highlight was the three fresh jams (papaya, pineapple and mango). As for the river, it's very easy to call the boat back and forth across the river. It's a 1 minute ride, and I never had to wait. Just as a warning - the stairs on the Luang Prabang side can be quite steep. And be prepared to climb stairs! (Not just at this hotel, but throughout the city). If I had to suggest anything for this hotel - and it would be minor - it would be to have mosquito spray available in rooms! The mosquitos throughout Luang Prabang are vicious, and I would have spent a lot more time on the balcony if it had been readily available. Although, on second thought, I'm sure it would have been readily available had I asked."

Tugu Lombok: "Perfect honeymoon"

Hotel Tugu is the most perfect location for a relaxed honeymoon. The location is incredible. Beautiful white sandy beaches and warm crystal blue sea. The facilities are great and there's an incredible sense of space. The food is extremely good. We came away knowing we had eaten amazing tasty and healthy food. Above all though the staff at Tugu make it really special. Everyone is happy and friendly and they really cant do enough to make you feel welcome.

Rachamankha: "Excellent boutique hotel with great service"

My wife and I stayed for 3 nights in November at this wonderful hotel and felt totally at home throughout. The ambiance of the hotel was perfect, very peaceful and serene. The whole layout of the building was beautiful with lovely antique Asian furniture, a nice outdoor swimming pool and a cosy library. The library was well stacked with books and also had the benefit of having 2 PC's where we were able to plan our trips and look up local restaurants, even printing out the information we needed on the spot. The bedroom was very comfortable with a spacious bathroom and free WiFi was available throughout the building. The hotel was perfectly located, a very close walk from the Old Town. It also had the added benefit (from our perspectives) of being a non-smoking establishment throughout. The service was first class from all the staff and the breakfasts were delicious.The hotel manager Paul Walker was especially helpful and proactive, giving us many useful tips both for our stay in Chiang Mai and also Bangkok. We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone planning to visit Chiang Mai as it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your stay. We will definitely book there again the next time we visit.

Anopura: "A lovely escape"

My mother and I had one of the nicest stays of our trip to India here. The food is excellent. The staff are lovely and the location is peaceful.It was a nice break from the frenetic cities of Rajasthan. The accommodation is excellent. The decor is very tasteful. We regretted not being able to stay a second night. The staff are very well trained. They are helpful without being intrusive.

Manda De Laos: "Not to be missed"

"We were staying nearby and saw that Manda de Laos had a good rating so we decided to try it and what a pleasant surprise it was! Let me start by the service which was superb! The waiter took the time to take us through the different dishes and explaining them to us! The setting is out of this world, i don't think many restaurants can beat such a romantic setting! The food is extremely tasty triggering every single taste bud I have! All in a superb experience not to be missed"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "A very special place"

"We stayed at Neeleshwar only for one night. However it is an experience not to be missed. Every thing about it from the service ,the food , the staff - I do even remember their names,the yoga are amazing . We could have stayed much longer . The ambiance and the relaxation a day that will not be forgotten Hybeen Thomas"

Arumdalu: "Best so far on the island"

"Im giving 5 as this is the best one so far on the island. They have to aware that it is easy to beat them if there is another villa compound opening on the island. The villa is big, toiletries is good, but there is no mirror in the bathroom. The private pool is refreshing, overlooking the forest. The food though is amazing. They took it very seriously. Great job for the chef. But the staffs at the restaurant need to level up their standard, both knowledge and service level. The beach is stunning. They should maintain the complex very well, otherwise it runs down fast."

Bassac Cruises: "Delightful, personal trip down Mekong"

"The boat (Bassac II) was just fabulous. We travelled at Tet, so the activities were slightly different than usual, but Tuch (spelling?) did a fantastic job. The village walk was surprisingly fun - the kids (we travelled with an 8 and 6 year old) loved it - and even ate the fruit at the end - a miracle! The rooms are so sweet. The food was lovely, and plentiful! The staff were all nice -but special shout out to Tuch. Engaged and entertaining, and knowledgeable. The boat has beautiful detail. The pace on the boat is very relaxed. We absolutely loved it. I recommend for people who enjoy relaxed, informal, but engaged service; good honest food; small groups; and who are interested in seeing some of the Mekong."