Guest Reviews

MesaStila: "Amazing MesaStila"

Just spent an amazing weekend here for our wedding anniversary. Lovely and peaceful, with views of Mt Merapi, in the middle of a coffee plantation. Beautiful Dutch colonial buildings and traditional Indonesian houses, fantastic food and wonderful staff. Tour of the coffee plantation was fascinating. Only 1 hr drive from Semarang airport (or 2 hrs from Yogya), so great for a weekend away from Jakarta!

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Touching perfection"

From the moment you arrive at Glenburn and greeted by Will Faye and Alex, the wonderful experience of Glenburn begins. The buildings might be old English but the staff and the service is warm and attentive. A morning walk to the river of a little over 2 hours through the Glenburn Tea plantations with a wonderful guide is rewarded with welcome refreshments and a BBQ lunch. Heaven. On another day, Parveez the Plantation Manager, who manages 1000 people, took time out of his busy schedule to take us on a tour of the Tea Factory and educate us on the finer points of making tea, Darjeeling tea. We learn about Silver Needle, First Flush, Green and Oolong tea. Further walks through the local villages and we meet such happy and smiling people. You feel yourself wind down and relax. The meals are wonderful at Glenburn, all prepared with themes each evening around a table with all the guests eating together. Breakfasts and lunches are either taken on the veranda with the other guests, in your room or packed up for you if you are travelling. Nothing is too much trouble and everything is possible at Glenburn. Train tickets were changed, guides provided for private trips and food and drink prepared on request. Heaven! As Arne said famously "We'll be back!"

Dewakan: "Amazing restaurant – GO"

"When we watched John Torode's Malaysia programme back in the UK , he showed this place and so we booked it for our last night in KL. I have to admit as it got closer I got concerned that we had made a mistake. No malaysian we spoke to in KL had heard of the place and it soon became apparent that it was on the outskirts of town, a good hour away from central KL and forms part of the KDU campus. I need not have worried however. The whole experience from start to finish was brilliant. The service was attentive, the team enthusiastic about the food and the food itself was inventive and interesting. We had the 17 course tasting menu and every dish was different and innovative in its use of traditional Malay ingredients. Notable dishes included a perfectly rendered crispy duck skin over succulent rare duck meat, as well as the almost Heston Blumenthal like childish fun of putting together the slow baked red snapper in broth dish. There was only one dish we didn't particularly enjoy, which was the prawn dish and we found the texture of the raw prawns a bit odd, but it was clever cooking nonetheless with the flavour combination. This place is worthy of a Michelin star. My only concern is that being so far out of town and having only 10 tables, it is not getting enough clientele. So please, please if you enjoy inventive and innovative cuisine, go to this restaurant."

THE ISLAND LODGE: "Excellent Hotel perfect for relaxation"

"This gem is located within Mekong delta and offers piece and quiet, beautiful ambiente and very helpful and friendly staff. There are a few rooms which ensure no mass tourism. Slow food and tranquility, perfect hospitality and harmony are the keywords. We stayed there for 3 days and enjoyed a pre-paradise experience. Especially the spa with different types of massages is a soul-supporting experience. The rooms are clean with the option to use an airconditioning. The bathroom and shower is clean and showing lots of litte details which sum up to a very special hotel. At every step one finds another detail which makes this hotel a personal little home. We felt at home instantly and will return as soon as possible. For our little lady of the age of 9 it was a paradise. The pool is clean (which we did not spot everywhere in even more expensive hotels in South East Asia). The Coconut Smoothie became her favourite drink. :-) We enjoyed boat cruises and a visit at the next town's pagoda with impressive statues. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful - even by Asian standards. The transfer from HCMC to the hotel gave us a good possibilty for a first insight to people and country. We recommend this gem for everyone who seeks piece and quiet in a very special atmosphere within a safe and clean environment. We are looking forward to our next stay at the Island Lodge. "

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Fantastic! A must to be here"

This camp is one of my best experience during my journey in Sri Lanka. I can really recommend this place. Everything is very good organized, everyone from staff is very friendly and the food is fantastic! Best food ever in whole Sri Lanka. Price is absolute justified. Safari trip was very nice too, staff is very competent, even on safari are drinks and snacks organised!

Inle Princess Resort: "Magical place"

I have enjoyed every minute of the stay at Inle princess. Not only that it's such a lovely, green place with lots of flowers and greenery but also the services quality is impressive. Staff is always eager to run an extra mile to make your stay unforgettable, and the best part of it is how genuinely and kind are they. Last, I've met Sasha, their adorable Burmese cat and she has just stolen my heart

The River Resort: "A destination in iteself"

I am just back from an extended week-end trip to The River Resort. The resort is so peaceful, the rooms are absolutely beautiful, with large terraces, and the outdoor shower is fabulous! We went to visit the temple and some waterfalls, and I had not realized that so many other attractions are available nearby. That is great: I will come back then :)

Manukan Island Resort: "Absolute paradise."

I have never before, and will probably never again, stay in such a beautiful resort. The rooms were worth 10 stars, as was the location. Yes, there are many tourists during the day, but they did not bother us in the slightest. The serenity of the island after the tourists leave is amazing - very romantic and beautiful. The breakfast, a la carte menu and various buffets were extraordinary. A very, very, very special mention to all of the lovely staff who were so genuinely kind, and made the stay what it was. If you find yourself at the bar, look for Frederick who makes the worlds best Espresso Martini!!!

KHWAN BEACH RESORT: "A secreat retreat"

"Our couple experienced once again a too short but unforgettable week-end stay in Khwan Beach, right by the beach of Maenam Though they added 4 new villas to the 3 ones thay had only for our first visit, it was very much unbelievable to find such high quality of personal service repeated in a larger boutique hotel and such in-villa service, delightful and with exceptional decoration ( no wonder they call themselves the first Gallery resort in Thailand ) We had again all our wishes coming true as they advertised on their web site. Privacy still at its optimum in spite the 4 new villas, with a sensation of being at home with a rare view over a river, beach, ocean and the island of Koh Phangan !!! And no one to look at us in our private garden and amazing swimming pool. The whole staff is super, special thanks to Gaelle and Nittaya We will be back again soon within few months, we highly recommend this secret retreat!!! "

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Elegant hotel on the Saigon River"

"We stayed a couple of nights at this hotel and it is really special. Right on the Saigon River and in District 2 of Ho Chin Minh. The service was really good and the location is perfect. You can catch the hotel boat shuttle directly to the main district 1 if required. The area around the hotel is quiet and we found some really nice restaurants. This hotel is number one on trip advisor for a reason. "