Guest Reviews

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Didn’t know what to expect and had a memorable evening"

A relaxed environment, not at all pretentious. You can eat inside or out. This was booked way ahead, which we understand is necessary. Wonderful, imaginative food, served without fuss, but just attentive enough.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise does exist! And it is golden."

"Your jet lag and tiredness begin to melt away the moment you board the boat at Kuraburi (about a couple of hours by road from Phuket) but as you glide into the palm-fringed bay beach of the resort itself you really do have to pinch yourself that you have not just fallen asleep and are dreaming. Simply imagine the most beautiful beach you can and you'll probably still not match the reality! You can see why some call this place 'undiscovered'. If you are looking for complete relaxation - away from the constant communication of modern life this place is for you. Chill and relax with a lime soda! But the resort while maintaining an authentic air (the open air bathrooms and wide stilted verandas of the various houses (Baans) being just a couple) also manages to exude luxury and the clubhouse does have internet for those that need some contact with the outside world. The perfect mix! There are also plenty of trips (safari to the interior of the island, fishing and batik making) if lying on a beach is not 100% your thing. The food is brilliant and I'd challenge anyone not be able to construct a menu to their taste from the wide range on offer. The cocktails are also excellent - especially when bought at happy hour (6-7 pm) to watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea from the clubhouse balcony. The resort is super well-managed with Massi and Theresa (who speak about ten languages between them) to the fore and the owner, Valerie, also about to help answer questions. Nothing is too much trouble and standards are very high. The Thai staff are wonderful too and you sense have bought into the ethos of the place. If you visit the Golden Buddha Beach Resort you'll not just have a great holiday you'll make friends I am sure. 5 stars is almost not enough . . .I have high standards and the Golden Buddha Beach Resort exceeded them all. This is a must go see place - you'll not be disappointed."

Rachamankha: "magical"

Wonderful hotel organised by the superb Secret-retreats - wow ....amazing service, phenomenal hotel and felt like royalty - cant wait to get back !! The pool , the food , the staff nothing went wrong and so helpful !

Tugu Bali: "As Great As They Say It Is"

"Thanks to TA reviews we spent a day here that was unforgettable. Surrounded by the din of this busy area, it is an oasis of serenity and extraordinary hospitality of the staff. Get up at dawn and hear the birds on the property. It is a museum of artifacts- you need go nowhere else on Bali. We stayed in Rejang Suite with outdoor tin tub, view of water. A long way from USA but nothing like this in North America. We were given gifts when we left that were handmade. Amazing. "

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "A unique experience, best service you can find"

"We have traveled a lot around the world in both high luxury hotels and small guesthouses, but we must admit that I have rarely had such a nice experience as the one we got at Thahara Inle Heritage. To us, this hotel has it all : the luxury bungalows with quiet private terrace right in the middle of Inle lake (that you would expect to find in a a 5* hotel) and the adorable welcoming service that you can only find in small intimate guesthouses. Plus, the food is divine (and the breakfast, Oh My !) and very much affordable for the location, so what more can we ask for ? Well, you could wish that your money goes to a good cause, and it does. Thahara Inle Heritage is part of the not-for-profit training center that prepare local young people for careers in restaurants and hotels. That explains the amazing and welcoming service ! It also had its own amazing garden full of delicious vegetables, which explains the amazing local cuisine of their restaurant, and works towards full sustainability, so you are assured to contribute to a green stay. You can also take part in one of their cooking class if you have time, surely the best one you can find in the country ! Or you can just wander around the Thahara, pay a visit to their Burmese cat center or check out their local Aquarium. Or you can hop on a boat and head to Nampan market, 5 minutes away, or leave for a memorable boat drive to the Sankar, on the very southern shores of the lake. Endless possibilities, total freedom, breathtaking views. Definitely the highlight of our trip to Myanmar. PS: as for the previous comment, fear nothing if you are a light sleeper, Thahara provides you with earplugs in your room, though we did not need them. And if you are afraid to be cold at night on the lake, you will be happily surprised to find hot water bottles in your bed to warm you up when you come back to your bungalow at night. Brilliant. Stayed January 2016"

MesaStila: "Best Start to 2017"

"MesaStila really IS a wonderful place to stay in. My husband and I came for a short 2 nights 3 days break on the Escapism package and it was just heavenly. We live in Jakarta and coming here for a break from the city was just magical. A quick flight to Semarang from the new terminal 3 and we were met by the MesaStila car and driver at the airport. We were soon at the Resort and what a change from what we had left in in Jakarta. The air is clean, the scenery beautiful (constantly changing landscape on the days we were there with blue sky and white clouds, sometimes early mist, a brief lightning storm) and the grounds of the resort are so peaceful. We felt close to nature and yet pampered by the staff and the facilities. The Spa treatments were the best we have ever had and the attention to detail to the decor and the therapy rooms ensures a thoroughly relaxing experience. We stayed in room 204 which was a quaint villa. Styled perfectly, with a fourposter bed, plenty of seating options, a verandah to relax outside with a book, stained glass windows, old fashioned bathroom yet all the modern needs you would expect in a hotel room. We ate all our meals at MesaStila and the selection is amazing. The food was fresh, presented beautifully and so tasty. The quality was 5 star! We even managed to squeeze in a sunrise tour to Borobudur arranged by the staff. There is a long list of options of tours you can take which the reception staff will arrange for you. Thank you to the staff and management for ensuring we had a great mini vacation. We will be planning a return trip before the end of the year. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Manukan Island Resort: "Paradise"

"This property is absolutely beautiful and it's the only property on Manukan Island. There's a private beach area for guests and a public beach area for day guests. Once I stepped off of the ferry and walked along the boardwalk towards reception, I immediately felt at ease. I spent a lot of time at the reception area because it was the only place where I could access the wifi. Everyone was absolutely pleasant, extremely kind and helpful. The suite is my favorite part and I couldn't believe how spacious the suite was for little 'ol me. I recorded a walking tour of the room because I was in shock by how beautiful the views were and how much space was allotted. Breakfast was amazing because the options were endless including traditional Malaysian dishes, a juice bar, an omelette and soup station, etc. The food options for lunch and dinner were also great. My only complaint was that I couldn't stay longer but I certainly hope I can come back. Everyone that I met was a gem, the space was beautiful, the food and drinks were also great. <3"

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Start and end your day with a boat ride, what could be better"

Stayed here with friends for a business meeting and leisure trip last September. What a find! Perfectly located a short boat ride (1 minute) across the Nam Khan river from old town Luang Prabang with river views from the rooms, this is a really charming property offering all you need for a great Luang Prabang stay. By the way, it is owned by the owner of The Apsara (a hotel/restaurant) which is on the opposite side of the river and has just the best dining for authentic, and delicious Luang Prabang cuisine...not to be missed! I cannot fault my stay at the Apsara Rive Droite. The room was a highlight - big airy rooms tastefully and purposefully decorated (loved the coffee percolator with local fresh ground coffee), big balcony to sit and enjoy the peaceful river scene below, and super comfortable big bed (a lot of bigs there for a boutique hotel!...who says size isn't everything, you cannot beat a nice spacious room and bathroom). But the top highlight for me at Rive Droite was the staff, from the owner to the boatman (yes the Rive Droite boat is on call at all times and just part of the service for their guests) warm, friendly and always ready with a tip on how to get the best from your stay from recommending me a bicycle ride to sourcing some Luang Prabang sausage for me to take home, it really was like staying amongst friends. I have to say, there really cannot be a better way to start and end any day than a slow boat ride across a lazy river...

Maison Polanka: "Outstanding hotel for those who do not want to be part of the backpacker party scene"

"I stay in a lot of high-end hotels, but this one is right up there among the very best. The location is slightly - but not inconveniently - off the beaten track (literally, the approach road is dust). This turns out to be a blessing when you consider that some of Siem Reap is decidedly too brash. The neighbourhood seems authentic and not at all threatening. The first thing that strikes you when you enter the hotel is the superb garden, which is like a tropical paradise. It is a delightful place to come back after a hot day at the temples. The puppy and two rabbits add a very charming and slightly comic touch. There is a very nice, but small, pool. The rooms are exquisite. Incredibly tasteful, stylish, comfortable, and the staff are willing to customise to individual needs (e.g. twin versus double bed). The restaurant is outside, with very nice food, beautifully presented. We requested local fruits they don't normally serve, and they went out of their way to buy them from the local market. The management is attentive, full of good advice, can arrange local tours however you want to do it, and is very friendly without being at all intrusive. All in all, if you like boutique hotels which are relaxing and authentic, you will absolutely love this place."

Yandabo Home: "Way beyond expectations"

"Yandabo is probably best known for the Treaty signed in 1826 which ended the first Anglo Burmese War as well as its famous clay pottery made in an old traditional way from river clay. Yandabo Home is an excellent stop on the ferry journey from Bagan to Mandalay or vice versa. We stayed two nights into Christmas and had a most enjoyable stay. The ""resort"" consists of 12 spacious rooms with all mod cons. Teak floors, painted grey and cream walls and an excellent bathroom consisting of a large walk in shower, double sinks, a large bed and plenty of space. There is a safe and mini-bar but no TV or WiFi. All the rooms are on the upper decking and the dining area is lower down. Food was surprisingly good and we had the Christmas Eve menu on our second night. This was very good and the kitchen had gone to a lot of trouble to prepare this and with plenty of drinks too! We were very fortunate to meet the owner, Dr Aung Myat Kyaw, a charming man and found out that Yandabo Home is actually part of a number of hotels owned including three in Ngapali Beach as well as one of the cruise boat companies plying the river. The village itself is interesting and there is plenty to see sitting back watching the river and birdlife. Highly recommended."