Guest Reviews

Villa Mathis: "Le paradis"

"Un cadre exceptionnel, un accueil parfait, un calme olympien, un décor merveilleux...tout est parfait. Nous n'aurez plus envie de sortir de l'établissement. Le restaurant est génial. Idéal pour vous faire chouchouter en amoureux."

Maison Polanka: "Maison Polanka: A Sanctuary in a Temple Town"

Maison Polanka is for those who prefer the serenity of a haven, something authentic and real, intimate and independent. The boutique hotel is just as elegant as the Intercontinental in Danang, as carefully and imaginatively conceived, but way, way smaller, just five rooms to the many villas and suites on Intercontinental’s water-front acreage on Monkey Mountain. Down to the smallest detail, the design and style of the hotel is a reflection of the owners’ life, that is to say, intricately linked to Asian and Cambodian crafts for over 20 years: a private collection of paintngs and photographs from Khmer, Asian, and European artists, the Art Deco and 1950s furniture and objects sourced since 1992, all found their natural home and function in the renovated “Maison” and “Khmer House.” The whole hotel is just two those Cambodian-style – read stilted – teak villas set inside spacious, lush, tropical, and best of all, secret gardens that sit behind a tall wall, which shuts out the hullabaloo that marks the start of high season.If what you are after are the temple adventures Siem Reap has to offer, Angkor Wat the crown jewel, then Maison Polanka is just a short drive from that UNESCO World Heritage Center.Upon your return home you will be tired (very, the wake-up call is generally 4 a.m. so your guide can get you there for sunrise) and sweaty (when it’s not pouring frogs, Cambodia is hot and humid), so a restorative dip in the hotel’s cool, crisp infinity pool will feel great. Or a massage.The spa is a temple within this temple. Is it possible to square serenity?The restaurant sala is next to the pool, its menu, owner Nathalie assured us, features authentic family recipes, largely her own. She also told me an aunt owns a restaurant in Boston and a cousin wrote a Cambodian recipe book. Meals at Maison Polanka are prepared by Pich, a woman who has been the family chef for 20 years.We found the menu choices all so good – a perfect caesar salad, fried spring rolls, steamed rice, stir-fried squid with peppercorns, a Khmer chicken curry, caramelized pork with an egg and rice, stir-fried eggs and veggies for breakfast, beef loc lac– we chose to eschew the many fine options Siem Reap has to offer foodies and instead, have all our meals, including several candlelit dinners, at Maison Polanka next to the pool, which at night is lit by votive candles.

Yandabo Home: "Surprinsingly great"

"3 hrs down the Irrawaddy from Mandalay, what a wonderful surprise to discover, just on the bank of the river, in a tiny village known for its pottery artisans, this beautiful Yandabo Home. Neat design, spacious room, view over the river, great cuisine and warm friendly staff offering a discreet and attentive service. Unexpected in this part of Myanmar. A place recommended for travelers who searching the authentic beauty of Burma."

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Great staff, great views, enlightening walks"

Marcus Cotton and the rest of the Tiger Mountain family have created a unique oasis in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Superb food, well stocked bar, appropriately appointed rooms and a morning view from the infinity pool that simply cannot be believed combine to let you relax from the bustle of Kathmandu and enjoy the rest of the country as you continue your trip after a few days. While Pokhara had its pleasures, we found the nature walk, particularly the interaction with locals (particularly children) from the homes scattered nearby, to be one of the highlights of our almost month long trip. We were there prior to the date in the TripAdvisor menu, but our travel agent says the location remains largely unchanged. When we talk about checking off all the bucket list places, and starting round two, Tiger Mountain is always the first location mentioned. We'll be back, Marcus...

Sukoon Houseboat: "Beautiful, relaxing and top notch in every way"

Our whole crew stayed here whilst filming a documentary for ITV and we adored it. Such a beautiful boat, and set in gorgeous surroundings. Altaf and his staff were charming and attentive, and we would have loved to have stayed ALOT longer!

Tugu Malang: "Wonderful and Amazing Heritage Hotel"

"I really love this hotel. It's so amazing and wonderful. They have a lot of etnic equipment. Every room has difference style. Here they have equipment from Oei Tiong Ham, the very rich people in 1900. All the staf is kind dan very helpful. some of staf could be a guide for the guest to explain each room, each equipment and others. Like visit a museum. There are a lot of story here. Very recommended hotel if you go to malang. If we have could not stay here. They have melati restaurant which is open 24 hours."

Maison Polanka: "Intimate boutique hotel"

"This hotel is small only 6 guest rooms I believe. We booked the Khmer House which was huge. We felt like we had our own house which we did. Ground floor is an outside seating area with massage tables. Room had so much character with unique pieces of furniture and even an old gramophone. Service was attentive and they were very helpful in booking our tours. Great pool to cool off after a sweaty day of sightseeing. This hotel is about 10mins from Pub street and the markets. Not much else nearby but that makes it all the more a beautiful sanctuary. "

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "take me back to the 4rivers where the everything is green and the staff is pretty…awesome"

"Never would I ever have expected to find a 5* service in such a remote place. It is so remote that after you step on the boat in Tatai village, you won`t set foot on land for days. And that is mostly because the resort is 100% floating. Which makes it even more awesome. The staff there is simply amazing. The kind of service you would get in a top quality hotel in Europe. They will attend carefully to your every need. Even though you won`t need much being there. You are surrounded by a clean river and the river is surrounded by untouched jungle. Maybe one of the last virgin forests in Cambodia and the whole world. You can take a kayak and discover for yourself, or take the guided tours to the waterfall or to the mangrove forest. You can read books, swim in your own huge river kind of pool and enjoy the delicious food carefully prepared by the Filipino chef. Oh, and one more thing. Maybe the most important one. If you are into protecting the environment and having an eco holiday, this is the place for you. The management there is going over their head to keep almost everything clean. And by that I mean not polluting. The garbage bags are biodegradable, most of the buildings are made from recycled materials or using a clean technology, they strive to use mostly solar power, and even the toiletries that they provide are specially made not to disrupt the balance of the surrounding ecosystems. To sum it up, it`s a gem, one of a kind. It`s a floating heaven."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Charming Mansion"

"My experience at the Blue Mansion was pleasant from start to end. The staff was very welcoming, courteous, and polite. Our room was very spacious, clean, and included little snacks and juices. Walking through the mansion's dimly lit walkways, having the fresh air outside your door, and admiring the architecture and detail of the decor add to a majestic feel I appreciated while staying in Penang. The included breakfast was very well prepared and the staff always accommodating. I would no doubt stay at the Blue Mansion the next time I'm in Penang. Stayed November 2016, traveled with family"

Kinabalu Park: "Best place to stay when visiting Kinabalu"

Yes, Sutera is expensive--but in this case, it's worth it. It is by far the nicest accommodation close to the park, and so convenient being inside the park. The rooms are beautiful, with nice views and ample amenities. Breakfast is included, you only have to pay park entry for your first day at the park if you're staying overnight, and wifi is available for in-house guests at Liwagu Restaurant.