Guest Reviews

Flower Island: "Gorgeous, stylish resort with a strong personal touch"

"Stayed three nights here last week, and had an unforgettable time. I think what sets this apart from some of the top end resorts is the personal touch and the tasteful, considered aesthetic. The cottages and restaurant are set back behind the palm trees so as not to create an imposing man made frontage. The use of natural objects like sea shells, bamboo and palms feels, along with the 'ethnic' decor somehow feels more inspired than the cliched attempts you usually see in these sorts of places. (....)the island does genuinely create a special sort of intimacy and calm. I really can not speak highly enough of this place."

The Island Lodge: "Relaxing place with lovely staff"

"We stayed here at the beginning of our trip to Vietnam for three nights, with the intention of recovering from jet lag at a leisurely place and pace. One of us had started the trip with a nasty cold and we decided it needed a look from a doctor. The hotel owner, Michel and his assistant Amy were very helpful in arranging this quickly and with a minimum of fuss. Within a couple of hours we had been to the local clinic (with Amy on hand to translate) and returned with appropriate medications. This was above what we would have expected and topped off a very relaxing stay in a well thought out hotel. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Flower Island: "Simply Amazing!!"

"If you are looking for a place to truly relax, that is off the beaten path, and want to be surrounded by friendly mellow guests and attentive, caring staff, then this is the place for you. Flower Island is not like the other crowded resorts in Palawan. This is truly a place where you will chill and relax. For those that can’t sit still there is snorkeling (great reef just steps from your room), kayaks, SUPs, pearl farm tour and trekking around the island to keep you occupied. Definitely worth the time and investment. I highly recommend this place!!"

Bassac Mekong Delta Cruises by Secret Retreats: "Wonderful trip"

We had a fantastic overnight cruise on Bassac 3 with the friendly and informative Annie as our guide. The food was delicious and the trip to the local village, where some of Annie’s relatives live, was a genuine glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta. The boat trip the following day to the floating market was just as enjoyable and eating freshly chopped fruit on one of the boats was a highlight.

Maduzi Hotel: "Hidden retreats in the busy Bangkok"

"I am glad i found Maduzi Hotel in my Bangkok Hotels research before the trip, I wish that I found it sooner before we booked another hotel but me and my husband were lucky that we get to stay here for 3 nights out of our 6 days holiday in Bangkok. The location of this hotel is just a 3-5mins walk from Asok BTS which made it easier for us to travel to any corner of the city also 10-15 mins walk to Nana. The room itself was so fascinating. It was worth the price that we paid. Super big room with a very comfy king-sized bed and also a relaxing couch by the window. When we walked in to the bathroom, it was like we were in a celebrity's house. Big mirror with lovely lighting, walk-in closet, and the best part of it was the bathtub X jacuzzi! It was huge and quite deep, it could fit 2 people in it, and to fill the tub, the water will fall from the roof. Very unique and nice touch! On the other hand, they have a coffee machine in each of the room, also you can have free tea or coffee at their bar for 24/7. It was very relaxing after so much of walking around. They didn't have many breakfast options, but we tried almost every menu and they were delicious.. Every morning that's the thing we look after and if you wake up late you can have your breakfast as your brunch. I'm so looking forward to be back here and enjoy all of the fascinating facilities Maduzi has. Thank you for making our holiday memorable."

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "A resort well deserving a mention on trip advisor"

"Excellent staff lead by a very competent manager who made an effort to speak to guests at breakfast. It gave an opportunity to voice any outstanding issues in person( not that there was any ) Fine breakfast esp Indian food. Appam (indian pancake ) was made on request. Rooms were very clean well looked after . Every evening the room was turned over , mosquito coils set up and water and a bottle of local drink provided. The ambience was of a rural setting with soft lighting to guide us at night to our cottages. Tastefully decorated to a high standard. The landscaping was very appealing. Fine clean clear blue open air swimming pool that was just right for cooling off and swimming. The waiter service was infallible . Very polite English speaking staff made it all the more delightful. Very good avurvedic treatment with in house doctor for advise. In house tailor who can complete a shirt in lass than 24 hrs. Security was good day and night as I found out when walking alone by the beach. Crows are regular visitors at breakfast time and by the swimming pool. But well kept out the guests tables by a very astute guard who used a special technique to scare them away without any harm . The sandy beach is very hot to sun bathe . The sea water is a little unclear but warm and safe to swim. Sometimes the waves can be bigger than usual and hotel uses coloured flags to inform the safety condition of sea to guests. A few go to swim as most stay by the pool. This is a hotel worth a visit . Recommend at least a week for peace and sanity ! Room Tip: Facing the sea single cottage"

The Island Lodge: "Perfect"

"We loved the Island Lodge. The resort is beautiful and serene, particularly after experiencing the bustle of HCMC. Our room was spacious with a generous balcony overlooking the pool and the river beyond. Great pool with plenty of loungers, shaded and unshaded. Attentive and efficient staff. The owner made a point to personally welcome us and was on hand to say good-bye. We highly recommend the spa- the herbal massage was possibly the best we'd ever had. We enjoyed our meals in the restaurant and thought the prices were reasonable. The only negative aspect of our stay is that it wasn't long enough. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Tugu Bali: "Excellent property with excellent team"

"Tugu Bali is exotic experience. this is not modern multi story sky scrapper with typical stereotype ambiance. Its just different. It offers that serenity. you get chance to experience local culture and local recipes and most importantly, if you are looking out for total relaxation, this is the place for you. Most impressive part is the hotel staff. the whole team is courteous and make you feel special. They take extra care to meet your every expectation. They are too good. Food quality as well is very good, though the variety is bit limited."

Villa Song Saigon: "Wonderful Oasis on the River"

"I was fortunate enough to spend last weekend at Villa Song in Ho Chi Minh. The hotel is perfect...all the rooms have a wonderful colonial feel to them. My room had a balcony overlooking the river-perfect for a leisurely breakfast or a cocktail later on with my friends. While the hotel itself is beautiful, what set Villa Song apart was the service. The staff went the extra mile constantly to make our stay perfect. I can't recommend the hotel highly enough for anybody looking for a relaxed, elegant place to stay."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "This is an adventure not a hotel"

Arriving after mid day we were presented with a fantastic lunch, and then, after a short break taken out on the first of our four safaris. Noel has the inside running on the gig. He knows how to avoid the crowds and where the animals are likely to be (picking up on the signs most of us look past or do not hear). He goes straight to the front of the line at opening time for a first run on the empty roads (which animals also find it convenient to run along). Noel uses Land Cruisers with proper rounded off road tyres and adjusted suspensions, and provides high quality binoculars which adds to the experience. The food and service, no doubt reflecting Noel's experience in the airline industry, was of the highest standard. The tents are true safari camping tents - not glorified hotel rooms dressed up as a night under canvas ("glamping") - but still comfortable and very much fit for purpose. Note there are no promises about what you will or will not see. If you want a 100 per cent guarantee as to spotting a Leopard I recommend a zoo - otherwise embrace the adventure.