Guest Reviews

Maison Polanka: "A welcoming oasis with boutique charm"

Great for families and couples who are looking for tranquility and excellent service after long days at the temples. The rooms are clean, charming and tastefully appointed (we were 2 couples, we had the Khmer House for our parents and stayed in the Orange Room just across the way), and the pool and grounds are tidy and inviting. We enjoyed a couple of breakfasts and a dinner there -- the food was delicious and the setting so peaceful. I might only suggest that the early morning to-go breakfast be amended to forgo the heavy full sets of flatware and replace the bread slices for an omelet option or something. The generous coffee and hot chocolate thermoses were genius, though. My highest starts for this stay was for the service -- we were made to feel like we were the only guests there, though we weren't. Francis was a particular gem: so helpful over email before we arrived and exceedingly courteous and thoughtful about arrangements throughout our stay (important since my father-in-law has a prosthetic leg and doesn't fit well in small cars, and none of us are accustomed to humidity). I would return to Maison Polanka in an instant and already have recommended it to friends. I have no doubt it is one of the most special hotels in Siem Reap -- we enjoyed it even more than our consequent stays at luxury properties like the iconic Metropole Legend in Hanoi, Vietnam. It's just a lovely place with lovely people.

Mrauk U Princess Resort: "Fabulous Food in a Fabulous Setting"

We were not staying here but came to look at the resort and eat a late lunch after four hours of visiting ruins on bicycles. We were hot and sweaty so definitely appreciated the cool, open restaurant. Delicious drinks. Delicious homemade bread, along with chilled cucumber soup, chicken sate, banana leaf shrimp salad, potato curry, and ice cream for dessert. Excellent service provided by Kyaw Soe Paing and the staff he was training. An expensive treat to ourselves but well worth it!

Reverie Siam: "Wonderful and fairy tale like oases just outside PAI city center"

reverie Siam lies just ouside Pai, the distance is perfect. Quit, but close to the village. You enter a place with a relaxing atmosphere and wonderful designed rooms/villa's. There are two big (salt) swimming pools. Everything is thought of in this resort. The fruit snacks when you are at the pool, a thai telephone to loan when you are going to town and the list goes on. The WIFI connection is fast (10mb) The a la cart breakfast is very nice, a wide variety of choices. What is best, is the staff. Never We encountered staff in thailand who are so engaged with the wellbeing of the resort en their guests. We extended our stay from 3 nights to 9 nights, that says enough.

Pindaya Farm House: "Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast with extraordinary views of Pindaya"

This is a lovely working farm and small hotel. The owners are delightful people who accommodated our needs, and fed us extremely well. We had heard that this part of the country is called the Tuscany of Myanmar, and it is absolutely true. The hills surround the valley, and the red earth is reminiscent of Italy. The organic produce is spectacular, and the preparation of the food at Thahara Pindaya was simple and delicious. The rooms are comfortable and capacious, while simple, and the views from the decks are splendid whether in the early morning, middle of the day, or evening.

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Retreat of all retreats"

"We actually stayed here in October 2015 and took the risk of heading up into the mountains to go see what we can find. We came across this special peace of Bali and could not have been happier. The location is stunning and the concept is magical. True Balinese warmth makes this retreat a little slice of heaven. A true experience of all senses and one of the highlights of magical Bali. It is a little trek to get here away from the main coasts and hustle and bustle of Ubud but it is worth it. Step away from the tourist trail and places like this allow you to discover the real beauty of Indonesia and their people. Stayed June 2016, traveled as a couple"

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."

Maison Polanka: "A unique experience, perfectly executed"

"My reviews reveal a shameless sybarite, happily wallowing in the decadence of suites in the top hotels all over the planet; the Amans, the Four Seasons, the Six Senses, the Belmonds. Siem Reap has most of these and visitors would be served well at any one of them in their visit Angkor Wat. For something wildly different and unique, however, book the ""Khmer House"" at Maison Polanka, the best of the five available rooms. This is a lush garden, about two acres, surrounded with high walls off a bumpy, unpaved back street not too far from the main canal road and the Museum (and the Aman). Behind the electric sliding door is a beautiful, cool and shaded oasis of grass, kept wet, with high trees and flowering shrubs. It is quiet and peaceful; there is no traffic noise Khmer House is a small, simple wooden, single room building on stilts in the center of the property. The large living room is underneath the house and the equally large bedroom with a sitting veranda is above. The bedroom is air-conditioned and has fans, in addition. See the website for photos. All this at less than half the price of the chains. Dining is under an outdoor pavilion adjacent to a very nice 50 foot pool, suitable for laps and cooling off after a visit to the temples. The menu, though limited, is varied and offers excellent suggestions for any palate. We were so pleased we ate all our meals there for five days, not venturing outside. I also attended the cooking school; one student and three cooks. Lots of fun. As it turned out, a great advantage of our booking was the superb service we received with our private car with driver and guide. Our guide, ""Pich"", is a certified, uniformed guide for Angkor Wat and accompanied us on all our temple tours for two days. She arranged for the tickets and the timing for our visits to avoid crowds. (We enjoyed the sunrise over the main temple.) She is an excellent, knowledgeable guide. The driver awaited us with ice-cold towels and water when we finished each temple visit. He was also available on call and waited for us on shopping and museum visits. a very worthwhile indulgence. The staff is small but attentive and anxious to please. Upon each return to the garden, a young women awaits with a cold towel at your room. This is not ""roughing it""; it is equal luxury in a different guise. A superb alternative to the usual."

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Harmony, quality and privacy"

"Our family visited Sea Dance at the end of December 2016. Since the very first moment, we felt very welcome and got a ""home feeling"" in combination with top quality and excellent comfort. The resort is not too big, which gives you feeling of privacy, but as everyone feels so much at ease there, there are plenty of opportunities to chat to other guests and staff members. Accommodation and facilities were perfect. There were always free chairs at the pool and plenty of clean towels. The food was amazing - everything beautifully presented, fresh and healthy and its prices really affordable. We spent a fantastic New Year's evening at Sea Dance - Atom and her band played live music, people danced, sang, ate and drank - it could really not be any better. Towards the end of our stay, we had a medical emergency and Mr Poy, the owner of the resort, took care of it personally, and helped us with everything we needed. We can definitely recommend Sea Dance to anyone, who looks for combination of privacy, quality, relax and entertainment, great food and fun! Stayed December 2016, traveled with family"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Heaven by the beach"

"Mr Jayan K.V. and his amazing team at this haven by the beach in Kerala gave us the most relaxing stay, even with 3 teenage sons. The service is impeccable, while the vibe is laid back at this gorgeous resort, the service could not be better, including the staff on the Lotus Houseboat. The ayurvedic treatments are a must, we hadn't gone with treatments in mind but had 1 every day. The free yoga sessions are taught by a master. If you feel wound up or run down, as we were after lengthy travels round India...this place is the cure. Room Tip: Choose 1 of the ocea view bungalows"

Sanak Retreat Bali: "As good as it gets"

"Thank goodness that , on our first visit to Bali , we chose to stay at Sanak. I shudder to think that we might have selected somewhere in traffic-clogged and frenetic Ubud or near Denpasar. Of course I accept that many travellers visit the island for different reasons, but if you want a rural idyll with picture post card views of the sort of idealized landscape that you thought might have disappeared - choose Sanak. The individual accommodations ( we stayed in a one bedroom ) are very spacious, comfortable and spotless. The staff are all delightful , friendly and helpful . Food and drink are excellent - what a delight to look out over paddy fields with scuttling ducks, and distant mountains as you eat. Make the journey - you'll love the place Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"