Guest Reviews

MesaStila: "Jewel in the heart of Central Java"

"We traveled the world and stayed in some of the most beautiful hotels but we have to say that Mesa Stila is a class of its own. The fantastic combination of Dutch colonial buildings and the most beautiful Javanese historic villas in the middle of a functioning organic coffee plantation surrounded by impressive volcanoes is second to none. We loved the restaurant with its organic vegetables from the resort's own garden. Every meal we had during our 9 days at Mesa Stila was delicious, beautifully presented, well sized and well prized (we usually had two courses each, one or two vegetable side dishes, water, tea, or fresh fruit juice or beer and never paid more than app. 40 US$ which is OK for a 5 star resort even for Java). Breakfast was very good and never boring. A special treat at breakfast was a complimentary health tonic of herbal combinations presented by the Jamu lady. We also enjoyed the complimentary high tea in the afternoon as well as the free yoga classes and all the other activities offered by the resort. The villa we stayed in (Merapi 3) was spacious, beautifully decorated with Javanese antiques had a gorgeous bathroom with a sunken bathtub and a huge deck with stunning views. We loved the magic pool and of course the Hamman Spa for the most relaxing massages. Top of all is the wonderful staff. Always friendly, good English speaking and very helpful. We loved our stay at Mesa Stila and can absolutely recommend this jewel in the heart of Java to everyone."

Nimmu House: "best place to acclimatise and enjoy the natural beauty of Ladakh"

"http://blog.happy-tripping.com/2015/09/06/property-review-nimmu-house-ladakh/ Nimmu house is a beautiful place, replete with apricot and apple trees is just perfect to acclimatise to the high altitude either by traversing the journey to Ladakh on road ( from Srinagar or Manali) or to stay put for couple of days at a quite place, while soaking in the stark beauty of the wonder that is Ladakh. THE SETTING The location is perfect. Conveniently located 30 minutes from Leh (30 min from the airport) , the village of Nimmu is also close to the ,confluence (Sangam) of the Indus and Zanskar rivers and the monasteries of Lamayuru, Likir and Alchi (30 minutes – 1 hour drive). Nimmu is a charming little village where time has stood still, most people are farmers and happy with their simple lives. IMG_0133 Nimmu House is a noble house belonging to the cousin of Ladakh’s King from the early 90s, beautifully restored by a Frenchman Alex . During the property tour , our manager told us about the history and the supposed curse on the house due to which the occupants never bore any children, until the curse was dispelled by buddhist monks. Quite interesting! On offer are 5 spacious tents and 2 rooms in the house , with an open terrace for meals .We stayed in the tent, which had a stunning view of the landscape , comfy bed and modern bathroom . For city dwellers like us the best part is that the property is spread over orchards with hundreds of Apple and apricot trees and the rivulet running through . Lying on the large hammocks ,smelling the sweet scent of apricot and hearing the faint constant gurgling sounds of the stream makes you put all the sightseeing plans on hold. But really who needs to step out when you can experience the nature , warm Ladakhi hospitality in absolute peace and comfort of Nimmu house . IMG_3901_1 THE SERVICE There is no formal reception desk , but the staff is always available to make your stay comfortable. This place is serviced by one chef, one french manager and two local women. We received a very warm welcome by the French manager followed by 2 days of comfort and lot of personal attention. There is so much warmth in people that you forget about demanding any hospitality. We wanted to sample momos at one of the local restaurants on our evening walk and we were not carrying any money. To our pleasant surprise, a plate of steaming momos were served to us during dinner in Nimmu House, courtesy the local restaurant. Even as we were leaving , staff come out to see us off . It was almost like staying with family . THE FOOD Chef Mahesh cooked simple , delicious meals which were served on the open terraces as the weather was lovely. Breakfast had eggs, fruits and bread, as per preference. We loved the fresh apricot jams and juices. Lunch and dinner were 3 course set meals with starter (soup /salad), main course and desert. Sample this :- – Green Salad, Lasagna, Lemon Pie – Tomato Soup, Hakka Noodles, Philadelphia Cheese Cake – Gobi Soup, Paneer Masala/ Mutton Masala, Mud Cake All meals are simple and wholesome, using fresh produce from adjoining farms and stables. The food is largely tailored to suit the western palate as most guests are westerners. But they will keep your food preferences in mind and ensure that you leave the dining table with your tummy satisfied ! Lunch at Nimmu House Lunch at Nimmu House THE FACILITIES and Activities ON OFFER Nimmu House offers the following activities to make most of your stay there . Indoor: A library and game room , Guided tour of the house , stables or cooking classes . Outdoor: village tour , short guided hike , rafting on the Zanskar, guided tour of the monasteries of Basgo, Likir and Alchi. For us it was all soaking up the apple-scented air, lying on a hammock during daytime and hiking upto local gompas in the evening. View from the Gompa View from the Nimmu village Gompa WHAT STOLE THE SHOW? Amazing setting of orchards and Ladakh’s landscape with spacious tents. Best place to acclimatise , relax and learn about Ladakhi culture. It is a far cry from dusty lanes of Leh City and will give you exactly what you came for. IMG_3899 Now that you are convinced, lets bring you up to speed with the practicalities. Know more about Nimmu house Getting there The property is in Nimmu Village and 30 min drive from Leh Airport/ Leh City. Hole in your wallet Expect to pay around Rs 10,000 per night for the tent. Internet / Television There is no TV in the room and Wi-Fi signal is available on the terrace and house. What else – this is a family guesthouse , do not expect 24/7 room service or an elaborate ala carte menu. – Be prepared to relax and enjoy the simple life"

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Perfect for relaxing break"

Stayed two nights at the floating lodge 25-27th August. The staff are very helpful and the tents are luxurious. There is nothing better than to wake up in the morning to the sunshine and the river just outside. Great after the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh.

TIGER MOUNTAIN POKHARA LODGE: "Heaven on earth"

"Having trekked for six days in the hills, Tiger Mountain Lodge was exactly what we needed. We arrived and were immediately offered refreshing drinks whilst sitting on the veranda looking at the stunning scenery.The view was incredible every single day and it was magical to sit out over breakfast and just see the mountains in the distance. The staff were on another level. They were so attentive, willing to do anything (which included making endless amounts of popcorn) and really professional. They knew exactly when we needed something and were polite and chatty. The rooms themselves were fantastic, the beds really comfy and the views stunning. The bathrooms too were much appreciated and the showers were very welcome after the hills! The food was five star: every day was something different and the breakfast especially wonderful. As a vegetarian, they were very accommodating. (...)It really is a place like nowhere else."

Sukoon Houseboat: "Amazing View"

The rooms are clean and the well maintained. The bathrooms are very clean and don't even realise that you are on a house boat. The staff are very warm and welcoming . The food was good with variety. A must stay for a night !

Villa Song Saigon: "Part of my 60th birthday trip to Thailand and Vietnam"

"I have never been to Vietnam before and after spending a week in Thailand we flew to Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh) I had booked the Villa Song hotel whilst in the UK. I like staying near a river or the sea and the hotel looked ideal for us. There were 7 of us incl my wife, her cousin, our 3 children and my eldest sons girlfriend. The hotel was perfect! We arrived and as a surprise some friends of ours who live in Hong Kong had flown in and were at the bar as we arrived. The setting was so good we decided to stay at the hotel for dinner and it was excellent. Great French wines at great prices The chef who also came out to see us was really nice. He was born in Luxembourg and was very helpful. The whole place was excellent - a real original Colonial house that had been renovated into a fabulous boutique hotel. The food, the breakfasts, the cocktails were all superb Great spacious rooms with satellite TV and all the staff could not have been nicer. Above all the prices were sensible and affordable I could not recommend this hotel highly enough - right on the river and just 20 minutes into the centre on a free shuttle bus provided by the hotel You must go!!"

Villa Song Saigon: "Must stay"

"I had a chance to come across this hotel as I was sourcing an outdoor venue for a corporate event. Everyone at Villa Song was very helpful with our event. For those looking for a place to have an outdoor wedding, look no further - Villa Song is the place to go to! I had the chance to stay there for a night and I regretted as it's too short!!! I will definitely be back! The room is huge and the bed is very comfortable. They have a great restaurant that is just by the Saigon river that offers 2 completely different views for day and night. Food is awesome as well and you have the choice of either Vietnamese or Western - both are great. They have a great pool as well - though they don't offer any view but they have make the pool very cosy. Just a look at the pool and you will want to stay there. Spa was great too! I had a 75min massage - price is cheaper than the 5-star hotels in District 1. Although the location is at District 2, it is not far from other places. I would recommend staying here for 1-2N for some quiet moments before staying at the downtown area. Just a note that I don't think there is any elevator. Thus if you have problems walking up the stairs, you can request for rooms that are at the ground level."

Rahai’i Pangun: "Easily the best escape from Jakarta"

"Out of the city - straight into the jungle ! I just finished my third trip with Wow Borneo. Its so great to have a guarenteed chance to see the Orangutans. The service was excellent and it was a breeze to communicate with Gaye and her crew. This is the kind of professional service I expect from Holiday destinations here in Indonesia."

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Sublime"

"Grandes chambres de luxe au milieu des rizières. Très bon restaurant et prix très abordable. Il est aussi possible de manger dans la chambre. Comme partout a Bali,personnel aux petits soins. Le cadre est merveilleux,superbe piscine."

Mathis Retreat: "Big nice room and pool by rice fields"

Very nice boutique hotel in Ubud. The room is very nice, clean, and the bed very comfortable. The swimming pool by the rice field is a superb way to chill in the afternoon. Free shuttle to Ubud center is a plus:)