Guest Reviews

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen: "Great evening! great dinner"

"David takes pride in his small restaurant, making everything from scratch, you can see a lot of what he is working on on shelves next to the walls. Not only did we have an excellent 10 course meal - which was fairly priced considering the care and dedication that he put in, but he made sure to call us a cab (himself!) and make sure we got off in the direction of our hotel...."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Once in a lifetime experience"

We only had one night at the camp but the experience will never be forgotten. The entire family loved it. The tents are basic enough to feel like you are properly camping but very comfortable (lighting, proper beds, camp shower, proper loos etc.). The staff are absolutely amazing - they really understand service and are completely focused on ensuring you have a good time from the moment you arrive. We did two game drives, 3 hours each, one in the evening and one (very) early in the morning. Both were fun and informative (enough to keep a 10 year old and 13 year old engaged) but the morning one was the highlight. We spotted a leopard and sat and watched it for 5 minutes as it walked right past our car. The food at the cap is truly fantastic. eating outside under the stars with other guests and telling tales of our safari was a real highlight. Danu was out guide and a complete professional. He knew every plant, bird and animal and was full of interesting information. The kids loved him. They run a really good operation, leopards cant be guaranteed but you will not be disappointed

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Wonderful safari"

"My husband and I had the most magical 2 nights here and absolutely loved everything about it! We had been warned that the Sri Lankan safaris were very different to African ones and so had tempered our expectations, but there was no need as we had the most amazing time and saw so much wildlife. Sajeet, Praneeth and the whole team were exceptionally knowledgeable and a font of fascinating information and we learnt so much. My husband is the bird enthusiast but after 4 drives spotting the most beautiful birds, I felt the start of a new passion! We were incredibly lucky to see some wonderful leopard sitings, made more special and exciting by the fact that we had two drives without seeing any. However those two drives were just as thrilling because of all the other wildlife that we saw - elephants, land monitors, crocodiles, star tortoise, mongoose, monkeys and the most stunning kingfishers, wood peckers, fish owl, fly catchers to name but a few. The tents were surprisingly comfortable and an evening open shower by moonlight was very special. The food was absolutely delicious with good wines and very atmospheric drinks before dinner and the most charming and friendly staff. Couldn't fault it and highly recommend this camp! Huge thanks as well for the wonderful photos taken by Praneeth that Sophie forwarded! Such great photos and so thrilled to have them as iPhones really don't cut with wildlife photography.... Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Satri House: "Marvellous holidays"

"Satri House, a Prince's house with style, elegance and charm. Delightful garden. Spacious room with private terrace and garden. The fresh mandarine juice, the croissants and the jams made by the "" Satri's Mother "" are unforgettable. The service is irreproachable. Simply marvellous. Simply Lao. Philippe from belgium"

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Vraiment excellent"

"L'hôtel sur pilotis le plus charmant du lac Inle, honnêtement tout est vraiment très bien. Le seul défaut serait peut être l'eau chaude qui met un peu de temps à arriver le matin ? Pour tout le reste c'est parfait, petit-déjeuner à tomber au lever de soleil avec une vue magnifique sur la région, staff très sympathique et courtois, établissement eco-responsable, des chats birmans, bref parfait ! Stayed January 2017, traveled with friends"

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Expertly guided & amazing hospitality at Yala"

"Wonderful! Look no further if you’re planning a safari to see the leopards of Sri Lanka. Noel and Celine + their crew have years of experience and the depth of knowledge about the park and its wildlife and flora. They have an extraordinary ability to locate and spot animals. We saw leopards 3 days in a row thanks to Sajith’s eagle eyes. Aside from the actual safaris, the accommodation and the food are truly first class. We feel very fortunate to have been introduced to high end Sri Lankan cuisine by Noel and his team - a wonderful variety of curries, sambols, breads and rice dishes. Sri Lankan cuisine is uniquely delicious and varied with an emphasis on freshness and fine spices. Noel’s on-site kitchen is top notch. There are many other safari operators that we considered but Noel’s team takes a very principled approach to the experience that they want to offer their guests. While on safari, we had observed other tour operators acting in cavalier and reckless ways. Noel and his team take a very long term view on conservation and encourages responsible tourism - this is evident in all their practices. We feel extremely privileged to have experienced Yala National Park up close and personal with Noel and his team. We would happily recommend this experience to anyone! 5⭐️"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "The place to ‘be"

My husband and I have just spent a week at Neeleshwar and had a VERY relaxing time. The accommodation is fab-u-lous (the bathroom being semi-outdoors with tropical planting - thank goodness for the fan as it felt much hotter out there than in our air conditioned room). We had an Ayurvedic massage each day. I could get used to having a daily massage! It was wonderful! Mr Jayan and his staff were very respectful and couldn't do enough for you. Credit must go to the designer of Neeleshwar Hermitage who has landscaped the resort impeccably, with great accommodation and exotic planting. There are lots of resident birds. Breakfast and lunch were taken at their beach cafe, and dinner in the restaurant. The food was fresh and flavoursome. We even had a traditional Keralan meal one evening which was served on a banana leaf and eaten with your hands. There is an infinity pool where you can order drinks and snacks. I loved the trip on the houseboat. If I'm ever lucky enough to return, I would like to spend a night (or two) on it.

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".

Nimmu House: "beautiful home stay"

"beautiful heritage property with all modern amenities. The tiny entrance itself speaks about its character. French touch to Ladhki house was pretty fusion. Tents were also beautiful. Our Hostess Sonam was also very hospitable. A lovely feel over all."

Reverie Siam Pai: "Tropical idyll"

"We stayed here for 3 nights during a bit of a tour of Thailand. The hotel was absolute perfection. Arriving following the 3 hour bus trip from Chiang Mai, we were greeted with a lovely cold juice and shown to our room, which was beautiful. Overlooking the natural looking swimming pool and mountains beyond, the room had a tranquil feel to it with high end furnishings and a roll top bath. Food was fantastic and served in the small restaurant overlooking the gardens. A special mention has to go to the staff; service was second to none, while still relaxed. Being on the outskirts of Pai meant that it was nice and quiet, but the hotel ran a shuttle when you needed it, so it was easy to get in and out. A secluded paradise that we'd happily return to."