Guest Reviews

The Apsara Rive Droite: "One of the best values in old Luang Prabang"

"The Apsara is my go to place for trips to Luang Prabang. It has a history (as opposed to the pop up colonial places built nearby in the past few years), excellent staff, and an appropriate level of comfort that's just right for LP. You're on the Nam Khaen, so you avoid a lot of the tourist noise, but you're only a block away. And their kitchen is good, too. Stayed September 2016"

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Stylish camping amidst the rice field and tropical jungle"

"We stayed 5 nights over the Christmas period with our 8 yo boy. A beautiful location amidst the rice fields and jungle. Our tent has a amazing infinity pool facing the jungle. The tent from South Africa was very well designed . If you stay in the suite tents , they are air conditioning but over our stay we never has to turn it on as we much prefer the naturally cool breeze of the jungle and it was never too hot and can even get a little chilly in the early morning if it rained over the night. There is no TV and the only other electrical appliances in the tent are the fans and lightings which was perfect for us as we are looking for natural living experience away from the city. We never have any issues with bugs or mosquitoes during our stay , in fact we got more mosquitoes at a luxury villa we stayed after sandat in Sanur. The team at sandat did a good job in keeping the compound clean , although you do get ants , other insects and geko but then this is part of the charm of the camping experience albeit a glamorous one. So if you are looking for a urban 5 stars hotel experience this is not for you. All the staffs are friendly and helpful and always ready to do their best to make your stay a happy one. The breakfast is adequate but could be improved with more choices although I understand it is never easy with a small property of only 8 tents to do a interesting buffet. Perhaps it's better if they could offer by order ala carte menu breakfast. Free shuttle to and back from ubud centre is offered by request, and we never have to wait too long and the drivers are always happy to do their best to drop you off anywhere in ubud when they are not busy. Overall, I feel this is a property run with heart to do their best for their guests and given the tent settings and location they are doing a good job. I have stayed at other similar accommodation like Soneva Kiri that are more luxurious but then again it's not fair to compare given the price differential. I would highly recommend sandat if you are looking for a experience to live close to nature and a peaceful break from urban life. I truly missed the sound and smell of the jungle sleeping in the tent. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5."

MesaStila: "Unique and absolutely magical place"

This place is very special, a collection of beautifully resorted traditional Java buildings, set in magnificent grounds, with the focal point being a grand, old Dutch plantation house. The staff are wonderfully welcoming and attend to your every need - you are truly pampered here. Meals were an absolute delight, all made with fresh, organic and locally-sourced ingredients. Our room was huge, beautiful and full of character - especially the amazing mosaic bathtub that could easily have fit three people! You will leave feeling blissfully calm and pampered. Very highly recommended and many thanks for a wonderful stay!

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Perfect Romantic Getaway"

"We stayed at Sea Dance for 5 nights in a Pool Villa room that was at the front of the property, overlooking the beach. We stayed April - May 2017 as part of our honeymoon vacation. We had a fabulous time at the resort and would highly recommend it. Pros - The resort was very quiet and private, and even with other guests and families, was very quiet. The staff was very personable, friendly, and helpful. They made every effort to make our stay the best. The rooms were very nice, with a large room area, large bathroom and shower, plenty of hot water and refreshing air conditioning. The property is very cute, with each room set up as its own 'cabana' and spread out nicely around the property. It had a very nice beach & relaxing feel, without being to themed. We ate at the restuarant multiple times and tried numerous items that were all delicious - especially the Thai food options.! They provided a happy hour daily, and had live music several times during our stay, which was entertaining without being too loud. While the location was slightly off of the main road (it is down a small side street), we were able to catch local shared taxis (red trucks) to get to other beaches with no problem. There is a 7-11 at the intersection of the main road and side street to Sea Dance for anything you might need to pick up. We also got a massage at the onsite spa our last day, which was wonderful. We didnt know that was available until we arrived. Cons - We found the beach to be a bit more rocky than we expected. Luckily we brought a pair of aqua socks/water shoes and that helped us to still be able to enjoy the beach. It is a good beach for snorkeling or kayaking, but not or swimming. This was fine for us, as other beaches were close by for a day visit, and we were still able to enjoy being by the water. Overall, we highly recommend this hotel and would stay here again in the future. We had a wonderful relaxing vacation and can't thank the staff at Sea Dance enough!"

The Governor’s House: "Possibly the best boutique hotel in Asia"

" I found GH by accident, but I'm so glad I did. We were celebrating my wife's birthday and wasn't sure what to expect. Fortunately I'd picked well, Yin Yin (mgr) had organised the things I wanted to do, including some of the best restaurants in town. She and her team made us feel so welcome and the service was five star, even from the tuk tuk driver Raymond. The hotel is small, but beautiful and the staff really make you feel at home. They even made my wife a birthday cake, which made her day even more perfect. I've stayed in Raffles, which I can't fault, but if you want all the style and personal service at a fraction of the cost, look no further than the Governors House..."

Misool Eco Resort: "Beyond beautiful"

"As a long time diver in the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef, I was amazed at the diversity and abundance of the: soft and hard corals, the fish, sharks, nudibranchs, clams, starfish, mantas etc at Misool. The colors are amazing. I had to remind myself that the reefs were real and not computer generated. Everywhere you looked there was a different coral and an unfamiliar fish/animal. We stayed in a Water Cottage built above the water on stilts. Each night we slept to the sound of water rippling against the pilings, in a very comfortable king size bed surrounded by a canopy of mosquito netting. There were few mosquitos near us though others reported some. Food is abundant, delicious, amazingly varied and served family style so you get to know everyone there. You walk along boardwalks surrounded by flowers to diving, presentations and the dining area. We felt pampered our entire time at Misool, by the diving staff, the kitchen and wait staff, house staff, the management and the astounding beauty of the place. Equally impressive is the work the owners of Misool do protecting the reefs, providing jobs / job training and education to the community. The beauty and health of the reefs at and around Misool is do in large part because of the work that Misool does in protecting the reef with it's ""no take"" zone, employing local men to patrol and monitor fishing, as well as the recycling programs that keep the waters clean and also teach the children about the value of their ocean. Misool is a very special place, most of the people who were diving with us were returning because they love it. We also hope to return."

Samanea Beach Resort: "Stunning location – pontoon into the sea a great plus"

"We were only there for one night, but it's a spectacular location - 12 nicely designed bungalows in a green park where you can't see or hear your neighbors. There were two Khmer families shooting their wedding albums - which gives you some idea of how nice it was - and with a 25 mètre pool you don't need to do into the sea - but there is a 59 mètre or so pier which takes you over the initial mud and far enough out that the sea is easy to swim in Food was excellent - although slightly bizarrely they had no fish or crabs. Extremely Eco friendly, and very nice staff Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Blue Mansion – Penang History"

"The 'Blue Mansion' as it is called as it's Blue is a piece of Penang history that you should visit whilst in Penang. A guided tour of the mansion tells the story of Cheong Fat Tze who originally built the mansion and the great detail and care in the architectural process. Tours are in English 3x day and go for about 1hr, but you should arrive at least 10-15min before the tour times as the gate closes until next tour. Toilets are located within the mansion grounds near the exit. Stayed January 2017, traveled solo"

MesaStila: "Heaven on Earth"

This place is really something special. Spotlessly clean throughout, delicious free breakfast and afternoon tea every day, an extensive dinner menu full of tasty local Javanese dishes, enormous villa with a daybed on the veranda to while away the hours being immersed in the spectacular mountain scenery, a heavenly on-site hammam and spa. I could go on and on! But by far the best aspect of our stay was the staff who went above and beyond the usual service of any resort staff we've ever met, even going so far as to provide a complimentary Tiramisu after one dinner because I'd mentioned it was my favourite the day before! Being so close to the natural and cultural environment of Java complete with omnipresent birdcall and intermittent calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques was nothing short of magical. As was our private trip to Borobudur at dusk (the one time we could drag ourselves out of the resort) which was organised promptly with no fuss. Whilst there are many free activities provided such as a tour of the coffee plantation, yoga etc., relaxation took hold so thoroughly that we didn't join any of them...maybe next time. And since the 7 nights we spent at Mesa Stila was a pleasure from start to finish, there will definitely be a next time.

Sea Dance Resort: "More incredible than the pictures depict, Should be a 5 start resort!!"

This hotel was AMAZING! After staying in other "4 star" resorts on various islands and arriving to properties that did not come close to our expectations, we weren't expecting anything to write home about. Needless to say we were more than pleasantly surprised with the quality of this resort. The bathrooms are GORGEOUS, facilities are clean, and the pool was luxurious and beautiful. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, they even brought us complimentary boozy popsicles while we lounged by the pool! If you want to stay somewhere that is far enough from the town that you can experience a hidden oasis, yet easily access the town for dinner/shopping/etc. with a $4 taxi ride, then this is the perfect place for you.