Guest Reviews

The Apsara Rive Droite: "The Apsara Queen"

"We stayed at the Apsara Rive Droite so that we had a swimming pool as in the old part of Luang Prabang the boutique hotels don't have the space for a pool. We were not disappointed - this is a small boutique hotel with only about 12 rooms. The service from the staff was fantastic and they were very helpful in recommending things to do even though this is not our first visit to Luang Prabang. The rooms are spacious with big balconies looking over the river to the old part of Luang Prabang. The hotel has a little 'punt' called the Apsara Queen to take you back and forth across the river to the old part of the city where you can wander around. This is walking distance of all the restaurants, bars and shopping so it is a great location. The punt operates 24 hours a day so there is no worry about getting home late or leaving early in the morning to see the monk walking around collecting their alms for the day. We used their bicycles to ride around the weaving villages and then to ride into and around the old part. It was very easy as it is mostly flat and an easy cycle with little of no traffic. Worth doing to explore the side of the river that the hotel is situated on. Very interesting riding past the homes with woman weaving or doing other crafts. Excellent opportunity to buy direct from the person that makes them. When we go back this is the place we will be staying at ....... highly recommended."

Locavore: "Don’t go home without a visit"

This was our third visit to Locavore and once again we went away fully impressed by the menu, the quality and presentation of the food, the skilled pairing of the drinks, the efficient service and the art and professionalism of the chefs as we sat at the kitchen table. You never fail to take away at least 3 ideas for un-thought of combinations of ingredients to try in your own kitchen. Bravo Locavore !

Cuca: "Great food"

We visited Cuca in Jimbaran, after an event at Polperro winery (Red Hill), hosted by the head chef from Cuca. The food at Polperro was amazing and I was really excited to see the restaurant for the first time. I was not disappointed, the textures, presentation and flavours are fantastic and the staff are warm and friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed, it's dimly lit and moody, but if you have a preference for more light, you can always sit at the bar over the kitchen and watch the precision of the team. The outside seating area is in a garden, complete with water features and lanterns. The grounds are generous. Price wise it's not over the top, I loved everything this place, so much so, I have booked again for tomorrow night!!

The Island Lodge: "Unexpected gem"

I signed up for a two day tour of Mekong delta and the itinerary simply stated that we will stay in a boutique hotel in the delta. Well, this place is special. We arrived by boat and was immediately immersed in a paradise environment. It is located on the banks on Mekong (one of the rivers of the delta) and it is surrounded by lush landscaping. I took advantage of many bikes they provide and biked around the island, which was very easy trip because of the flat profile. The hotel itself is superb in their services, perfect pool, excellent restaurant and very helpful staff. I felt like in Marguerite Duras' novel for fantastic 16 hours. The only drawback was that I could stay only for less than one day but it was worth it. I need to come back and stay longer, I simply loved it.

Tandjung Sari: "best place in Sanur"

"All the positive reviews are true. This is a very nice hotel. We had two large connecting rooms. Lots of privacy. The pool and the dining area is beautiful. The breakfast is amazing (beware for additional kilograms). OK, it is rather expensive, but comparing with other hotels next door (we stayed earlier in Respari and Taverna as well), it is worth it. The spot on the beach is great. Lots of restaurants and activity, while remaining the relaxed Sanur."

Maduzi Hotel: "Favorite hotel in Bangkok"

What surprised me about this hotel was how spacious the rooms are, especially compared to others in the area. It was also conveniently located not far from the BTS station. But far and away what set it apart from other hotels was the customer service. Highly recommend!

Chakrabongse Villas: "Oasis of calm in busy Bangkok"

Surreal and beautiful place to stay, tucked away behind some unassuming gates this hidden gem of a boutique hotel lends a completely different perspective to Bangkok. Admittedly it is not for everyone, it is not large and corporate, there isn’t 24 hour room service etc. However, the staff are incredibly helpful, the rooms and grounds are breathtaking and the food is excellent, its is somewhere I would like to return to again and again.

Locavore: "Still surprised after reading all the reviews about Locavore"

"It doesn't happen to me very often, but in this case the atmosphere and expectations raised by the reviews of hundreds of Tripadvisor members did not reflect the genuine experience we had by dining at Locavore. This kind of intro-paragraph will mostly precede a rather negative and contrary viewpoint but in this case I must say the evening we spend here was truly mesmerising. The amuse-bouches were drenched in local flavours even though some fitted on my fingernails. Imagine with that the 'Ashes' cocktail (you will indeed put a burning stick into the concoction, thus releasing a fair bit of ashes in your drink) and culinaire paradise in coming into wide view. The mains - we went for the 7 courses menu - were a mixed bag with caffeinated fish as a weird but surprisingly good part of it. Overall it is the combination of the nouvelle-cuisine presentation on the dishes combined with the exotic, original and authentic taste of local ingredients (chili pepper flowers, anyone?) that made this a very special evening for the both of us. Do try the Balinese coffee at the end. With a total bill of around 2.700.000, including two glasses of excellent Sangiovese, we probably spent more than half the average salary of the people working there, but as this works out at 160 Euro it was money more than well spend."

Mathis Retreat: "A lush oasis"

"Loved my stay at Mathis Retreat. A little bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Ubud town centre, it was the perfect place to relax after days spent travelling and exploring. From the leisurely breakfasts over looking the verdant rice fields, to the spacious room (Garden Bungalow) and of course the friendly staff, it ticked all the boxes. The room itself was airy and spacious, the bed comfortable and the bathroom reasonably large. Only complaint was the positioning of the power points, which meant devices could be charged or used, but not both at the same time. It would be helpful to have accessible power points near the bedside tables. The breakfast food options were plentiful, and I appreciated the fresh fruit juices and homemade jams. Recommend the pineapple pancakes, if you choose the Western breakfast option, but even better was the vegetarian nasi goreng. The vegetarian dinner options were a bit limited which was a bit disappointing. The staff were really lovely and it was nice to be welcomed by the owner, made the experience a little more personal than the usual hotel stay. The wifi connection was good and the free shuttle service was easy to use, making short work of the trip to and from the town centre. It may be a bit pricier than some of the hotels closer to the town centre, but it was definitely worth! Would definitely stay here again if ever in Ubud."

Glenburn Tea Estate: "It is a beautifully located property on the crest of a hill giving you a 360 degree view of all the hills around"

"This boutique hotel gives you the experience of complete tranquility, as it is situated in the middle of a tea estate surrounded by luxuriant greenery. The bird life, the changing cloud patterns and occasional rain immerses you in nature and your inner self. The staff is very obliging and attentive and the cuisine is delectable. A total experience."