Guest Reviews

Samuay & Sons: "The only truly serious food in Udon Thani"

"My partner and I have dined at Samuay & Sons half a dozen times since we discovered it almost a year ago. After our first visit I waxed lyrical about the food in a review here, so I won't just repeat myself. Suffice it to say that owner/chefs Num and Joe take the idea of food very seriously indeed, from the sourcing of the best available meats, vegetables, herbs and other ingredients either locally or from specialist sources around the country, to the health benefits of those ingredients, to the flavourful combinations that they dream up, to the creative presentation and plating, and -- at the end of the day -- to the sheer sensory enjoyment of discerning customers. If none of the above appeals to you, and you just want to eat stuff you are used to eating, without any delightful surprises, then don't waste Num and Joe's efforts -- or your own time - just go where you normally hang out and give Samuay & Sons a wide berth. But if you love to be surprised by seriously innovative culinary skills then hasten your way to Ponepisai Road in Udon Thani city and have the best food experience for probably many hundreds of kilometers around. It is beyond me why this restaurant is not rated #1 here on TA, but I guess there will always be punters who come expecting a bog-standard duck laab or som tam and when they can't get it feel cheated. Or the others who think paying 1,000 Baht (my bill on Tuesday) for five plates of the most serious food you'll find north-east of Bangkok too expensive because they are used to eating at Tesco food court or UD Town market. What can I say? A big thank you to Num and Joe who have raised the standard of cuisine in this part of Thailand, and who make my visits to Udon so much more enjoyable!"

Inle Princess Resort: "Lake-side retreat"

"From the breath-taking sunrises and sunsets over the lake to the wonderful massages, this is a place to relax and enjoy yourself. Our lakeside cottage was huge and well appointed...couldn't ask for more. Quiet, peaceful grounds. A bit of a hike from our cottage to the restaurant...if you are mobility challenged, you might want to ask for a closer cottage; was not a problem at all for us, however. Would return in a heart-beat. Be sure to allow enough time to explore the lake and its villages by boat...an experience not to be missed! We were there mid-January, and the weather was perfect, and no major mosquito problems. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

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."

Mathis Retreat: "Een prachtige plaats met fantastische service"

What enjoy, good rooms, nice view over the rice fields, excellent service, small, beautiful pool and excellent restaurant. The Belgian manageresse was very helpful, the shuttle service to the city center, 10-15 minutes, very convenient.

Tugu Bali: "Utterly Unreal"

Wow... where to start? Every square inch of this property is stunning and exquisitely cared for. Nothing is out of place. It's like staying in an amazing museum of Balinese art. And just when you are totally zened out you can walk 2 minutes away to a great beach bar (Old Man's). Amazing sunsets right on the beach every night make for perfect sundowner experiences. We stayed in the Puri Le Mayeur suite. It's been described as the most romantic suite in Bali and I couldn't agree more. Every inch, literally every inch of it is museum quality. Words honestly fail. We had romantic dinners set up on our gazebo a few nights and it was beautiful. 2 nights we had the Aphrodisiac Dinner in Bed on the beach. Again, just stunning. One night we had the beach barbecue. It's nice but not as nice as the bed dinner. We booked couples massages, private yoga, private guided meditation and private reiki . All were amazing. Gede Cakrabhawa guided us through mediation and reiki. He was exceptional. We met with him almost every morning to start the day off right. Jenny, in charge of sales, was so friendly, helpful and available. She truly enhanced our stay. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. It's just so much more than a "hotel".

Les Maisons d’Itac: "Worth The Effort"

"I considered whether to score 4 or 5 for a couple of days and despite a couple of criticisms decided it was worthy of a 5 rating. First things first - it is unsignposted and extremely difficult to find. Even locals seem unaware of it and unable to help with directions. The Manager, Bryan, explained that they try and keep it exclusive. I think they are taking this exclusivity too far. There were only two of the beautiful chalets occupied during our stay. This place deserves to be fully booked every day of every week. One nagging question I was left with was whether the (French?) owners wanted to sacrifice custom for this quiet exclusivity or if it was really Bryan who didn't want the place busy! But lets look at the accomodation. Stunning and superb. It was so relaxing. Each chalet / villa had a good-sized private pool with views to die for. The resort would be ideal for two or more familes to get away and spend a great time together. Dinner was effectively take it or leave it with only two choices, however it tasted wonderful. I will definitely go back for a long weekend when I get the chance. Loved the place."

Rachamankha: "wonderful place to stay if the architecture inspires you, but not expect five-star"

The hotel is an architectural masterpiece in my view. If you share this view then you will appreciate your stay here very much. The design of the hotel creates a sense of monastic serenity within its walls. If Serenity is the result, Simplicity and Restraint are the techniques. Five primary materials are used constantly to create unity and simplicity: terra cotta roof tiles, white plaster walls, dark brown wood trim, polished concrete floors and rustic brick paved paths. The exterior spaces are where the hotel really excels: colonnades, antiques, an open-air reading and sitting area, a lovely pool lined with blue porcelain tile, and a sublime library with 12 foot high wood bookcases. Rooms are simple, keeping the inside is in harmony with the outside, and are accented by tasteful antique furniture reproductions. However, the bathroom and shower tile are noticeably below standard for a hotel of this quality. The mattress also would benefit from an upgrade and the anachronistic boom box needs to be immediately removed. Dining al fresco in the courtyard is exquisite. The flavor of my dinner was no better than what might be available at an average place outside for fewer baht, but to enjoy dinner in the calm ambience of the Rachamankha dining courtyard is a special experience. It was presented on the hotel's blue/white china, with crisp white linens. Service while dining is attentive yet unobtrusive. To go outside the perimeter walls means to leave serenity for scooter noise, and if you love the Rachamankha as much as I do then you will not want to leave.

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Perfect in every way"

We loved Cabochon Hotel. From our initial dealings over email to our warm welcome on arrival, the staff looked after our family and ensured our stay was stress free. Suites are beautiful and we had a connecting door through to our sons suite which was very helpful. Breakfast was simple but good quality and tasty, beds are comfy and excellent quality bedlinen. A highlight was the swimming pool which was always quiet. We returned for one more night on our way back home and stayed in the 2 bedroom apartment which was even better - light filled and larger balcony. We have nothing to be negative and we think we are pretty fussy.

Tugu Bali: "Best ever!!!"

"A true oasis in Bali!!! This hotel is amazing!!! Staff was fabulous!!!! They could not have been more accommodating Grounds are beautiful! We stayed here at the end of a long trip. It was truly an amazing end to our trip before the long trek home. "

Tugu Bali: "Wonderful stay"

"My solo trip to Bali was probably the best trip of my life (this says a lot coming from someone who travels to foreign countries quite often) My stay at Tugu is absolutely perfect. I couldn't have asked for better treatment from the staff, they always made me feel like they were looking after me in an unobtrusive sort of way. The facilities were authentic Balinese style, treatments at the spa were delightful. I highly recommend Tugu to anyone! You'll love their afternoon tea. Stayed April 2017, traveled solo"