Guest Reviews

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Peaceful and serene!"

"Neeleswar hermitage takes you to a different era. Free from anything unnatural like plastics and preservatives, the resort is indeed like a hermitage and gives you a much needed stress buster getaway! Rooms : The rooms are spacious and clean and an incense fragrance. The bathroom is as big as the room with a huge bath-tub (I guess not all rooms have a bath tub) with an open roof! The staff offers evening cleaning service where they come in and light a lamp and pull down the drapes and clean the room so that you have a peaceful sleep! Food : The downside was the sea food restaurant was closed due to the rains and we had only one of the restaurant to cater to us. However the food is just awesome! They have only a limited dishes on the menu, but are mouth watering delicious. They also obliged to serve us something off the menu (since my little daughter insisted for it). Hats off to the chef to bring in so much flavor in the simple local dishes. There is no buffet spread but if you appreciate good food and are ok to explore local cuisines, the chef wont disappoint you! Hotel surroundings and activities : The rooms overlook the beach and has a good verandah to sit and gaze into the waves. The beach is not a private one (open to the locals around) but is clean and managed well with security around. The infinity pool is really good is cleaned daily. There is a good view of the beach from the pool and one can spend hours just lazing in the pool. The resort offers spa and ayurvedic therapy with doctors consultation. There are few indoor games and library. There are hammocks and chairs laid out in several spots to just lay back and enjoy nature."

Discover Muang La | Visit Laos | Luxury & Boutique Hotel: "Requires a Sixth Star"

We spent two nights at Muang La Lodge last week and wish we had stayed two more nights. We have traveled to over 40 countries and I can't recall a better hotel experience. From our greeting by the Assistant Manger, to the beautiful room, to the hot tubs and massage, to the gourmet 5 course dinners and the fascinating day trips and activities, you can't ask for more. Add to that an incredibly beautiful and peaceful location. It isn't the easiest hotel to get to, but make the effort. It's worth it.

Inle Princess Resort: "Lakefront luxury"

From arrival to departure, everything at Inle Princess resort was an absolute delight. The enormous lakefront room is filled handcrafted decorations and a beautiful ceiling that stretches 10 metres above you. The outdoor shower is a fantastic addition. The resort grounds are again filled with handmade pots, signs and other decorative elements - all crafted on-site. The pool is wonderful, and quiet, the free breakfast consists of warm freshly made pastries and delicious eggs to order, and the staff are all so friendly and helpful. To have received a hand-wrapped and hand-written gift from the staff at the end of the stay was the icing on the cake. A wonderful experience. One minor criticism was that we found the taxi to the airport to be a little expensive so we sourced our own but a very minor blot on an otherwise fantastic stay.

Glenburn Tea Estate: "“Magical Shangri-La up in the clouds”"

"The views from all around both properties were breath-taking and we enjoyed some of the recommended walks you can do around the grounds, especially being treated to a delicious lunch down at the river. The food was great throughout the 4 days, sitting outside for breakfast and lunches is a treat (as long as the flies are not out in force) and dinners were similarly a great experience where you get to chat with other guests in a relaxed, communial manner, though private dining is always available, which we did take advantage of one night, when we were too fatigued to make small talk. Great variation of food also - with a different food 'theme' given for different nights - i.e. Indian, Tibetan, etc. The room we had (Singuella Suite - spelt incorrectly I'm sure) was huge, had some lovely period furniture and was decorated to a high, if a little mumsy, standard. Great bathroom and loads of hot water too. Sadly our visit to Darjeeling town was not the best due to it being really overcast, so I would suggest anyone stays here at least 3 nights to make the most of their time here. The road is what everyone else has written about it - bumpy and nerve jangling, but it is what it is - certainly we felt it seemed worse on the way down than up....also it seemed to get slightly more tolerable the more you did that journey, but it's no deciding factor over whether you should go to this place - it is really special, the views are simply stunning and the bonus of getting all your laundry done here for free was a great boon for us as we had 4 weeks worth of laundry to give them from our previous travels in India. The manager Jemima was lovely too - friendly, welcoming, easy to talk to with a great convivial manner. The shop was a nice, unexpected visit, but needed a bit more diversity in merchandise....again it got all a bit mumsy and twee after a while. The only other small criticism would be some of the employees English is very, very limited, which resulted in some wrong orders and misunderstandings - nothing major, but this is a pricey place to stay at and some guests might expect the service to be highly sharpened to reflect the fee. Still, if you can do go, I felt 4 nights was just the right amount of time to spend here....had a beautiful time which I will not forget. Room Tip: The newer bunglaow - for sure"

Summertime Villa: "Blissfully chilled"

We absolutely loved Summertime and cannot wait to go back. The owners have spent a lifetime delivering amazing holiday experiences in India and it feels like they poured all their learning and experience into creating and running this idyllic house.

Glenburn Tea Estate: "A delight"

"How do I start to describe Glenburn? At the beginning, I guess. The journey up from Bagdogra/Siliguri is a 4/5 hour drive, and, once you get to the hills, the road twists and turns, is two way only, and has enough slow traffic to make overtaking difficult/dangerous, but, except in the couple of places where the tar has broken up and washed away, it’s OK. The last bit, tho’, when you turn down off the road to Darjeeling and Ghum, is very slow and very bumpy, just as they admit on their website. We came down it in the dark, and it was only two days later when we went up it in the daylight that we could see why it was uncomfortable – it is very poor in places. BUT, please don’t let that put you off! Glenburn is delightful. Set in a working tea estate, with its own tea “gardens” for acres and acres all around, the processing factory a short walk down the driveway, and workers villages dotted down and across the slopes, it is surrounded by green, green hills (or it was in Oct 2016). There are tracks and paths and a road or two through the estate, and down to the river, so walking is lovely. The accommodation is essentially split in two. The original estate manager’s bungalow has a long wide veranda on the front, a lovely “old fashioned” communal dining room, with one big dining table (and maybe 12 chairs round it), a lounge and 4 bedrooms, all with staff areas behind. Then the newer bungalow, set a little lower down the point, has 4 big bedrooms, a sitting room, another couple of verandas and another set of kitchens on one level, with the Spa rooms below. We had the Singalila Suite in the new bungalow. It was big, with very large ensuite bathroom, with walk-in shower, 4 poster bed (with a comfortable, new mattress), teak floors, french doors on one side and a lovely little bay window area to sit and drink our morning “bed tea”, looking out to the west towards the Himalayas – sadly, in the 6 nights we were there (in early October) the clouds never lifted enough for us to see Kanchenjunga, but that was our fault for going so soon after the monsoon. The meals were excellent. Breakfasts were served on the lower bungalow’s terrace, and were fruit, juices, toast, and eggs any way you’d like, plus a daily “special”. The lunches we had were certainly “special” – one day we walked down to the river-side, along to Sikkim and then had lunch of soup, quiches, bread and salads, on the lawn by the “fishing bungalow”, and then walked back-up (that was hot!). Another day we walked up towards the main road and had lunch of carrot soup, tuna sandwiches and salad served to us at a picnic table and chairs set up on the empty roadside, looking at the spectacular views. Diners were generally communal in main bungalow, but on two nights we asked to dine on our own, and were happily served on one or other of the terraces. Diners were varied “curries”, one night Tibetan, another South Indian, for example, but one night it was a “roast”. We stayed 6 nights, so five days, at the start of out trip, and had lots to do. A day trip out to Darjeeling for the Darjeeling/Ghum toy train, and a visit to St Paul’s School, walks around the estate, down to the river and Sikkim, and a tour of the tea factory were all fun – though the walking can be pretty steep if you choose for it to be. We loved it all, but above all, the staff were terrific; the local staff were happy, smiling, and keen to do well, and the managers, Fay and Will, were just super – efficient, kind, friendly and very well suited to their roles. Finally, was the bumpy ride down to the Estate worth it? Without a doubt."

Samanea Beach Resort: "Wonderful Resort"

Can be the best place to stay in. The view is great and the services are wonderful. The stuff are so friendly and warm welcoming that they gave make me wanna go there again. The decoration are so classic and l love it.

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Wonderful stay at Cheong Fatt Tze / Blue Mansion"

"Over the recent Easter long weekend, we decided to take a break in Penang. We picked the Blue Mansion, indigo blue coloured heritage hotel with only 18 rooms after learning about its history and seen some pictures. From the outside, the heritage hotel is hidden behind a high wall so only the roof and part of the building were visible from outside. The hotel also conducts a tour of the hotel, sharing the history as well as the challenging task of restoring the hotel when it was bought over following the death of the last son of the original owner. Hotel guests gets to join the tour for free. We were very fortunate to join the tour on the day that Loh-Lim Lin Lee, current owner of the hotel, was leading the tour. She only does it on Friday at 11am and 2pm. She was a wonderful story teller, sharing about the unique architecture, origins of the materials used in the construction such as colourful history. Beautifully restored with rooms that are a mixed of modern and traditional. We even have a jacuzzi in our bathroom! Highly recommend for a different experience from conventional hotel stay. Stayed March 2017, traveled with friends"

The River Resort: "Luxury by the Mighty Mekong"

We three seniors had two goals for this four day layover. One was a good rest after a busy two weeks. The second was to see sunset over the Mekong. We got our rest with fully appointed rooms with balconies overlooking the river, two infinity pools, seating under the trees for Happy Hour and a wonderful menu. Breakfast is included and it is excellent. The staff could not be more friendly and helpful. All arrangements were made for our four events, to Wat Phou, aromatherapy massages (with muscle), the sunset cruise, and a walk through the villages and temples on the island across the way in the cool of the morning. There were several families with young children, and other seniors enjoying being pampered, like us. This place is perfect for those two demographics.

Mume: "Dinner with Friends"

It looks private from outside, foods are delicious and creative. Not that much choice but delicious. It is worth to try.