Guest Reviews

Satri House: "Authentic Experience"

"Satri House delivers on its promise of being ""a historic destination, a unique design"". The original house was run as a hotel since 2002 and was extended in 2008 reflecting the original architecture. We stayed over Songkran for 4 nights and were warmly welcomed by Jacques Mury (General Manager) and Navinda Imbubpa (Guest Experience Manager). On arrival to the room, we were impressed by the handwritten welcome note from Jacques. Whilst it is true that the hotel is located close to a fairground (the source of techno music correctly referred to in the previous review), we understand that Luang Prabang is always tranquil and that the volume we experienced was limited to this New Year festival only. We reflected on the importance of a pre-visit study. Notwithstanding this, Satri House is an amazing hotel. The renovation mirrors the original house perfectly. The Satri House team is attentive and caring. Key takeaways: # the staff is incredibly warm and greet you with sincerity # the housekeeping and gardener teams are amazing # the breakfast is plentiful. We recommend the freshly made noodle soup # the restaurant is terrific. We ate in many restaurants during our visit and will review them separately. We found the quality of the food at the Satri House restaurant to be equal to our better dining experiences # we love the two pools. Whilst we agree that the main pool could do with more lounges, we note that there are additional lounges at the second pool # the hotel is not located in the centre of the (small) city of Luang Prabang. It is in fact a 15-20 min walk to the city centre. The hotel does provide complimentary lockable bicycles with baskets that will get you there in 5-8 minutes One suggestion is to resolve the positioning of the Google Maps location pin. I am confident that when return to Satri House outside of the New Year festival, we will rate our experience as excellent."

Tugu Malang: "Excellent deco, service and spa"

"Very nice hotel located close to train station (no need taxi). Many antiques collected by owner make hotel deco look unique with many rooms to discover and nice pieces of furniture. They know how to greet guests and make business: 15mn massage offered, very good local pastries with drink offered at tea time. Nice pool for children, good restaurant and cosy colonial bar. Great location to visit the town and the region. Very good surprise to find this hotel in this small town."

Sanak Retreat: "Tranquil oasis amidst the rice paddies"

My wife and I and two adult children had a great stay in one of the lovely bungalows overlooking the rice paddies. The accommodations were very comfortable and the food was good. Both days we toured the area, one day by van and the second day by ATV’s. This is a very relaxing, serene and pleasant spot.

Rachamankha: "Breakfast, service, and spacious rooms"

"I had horrible allergies here, but I still think that this hotel deserves a 5 star rating. I loved the 3 course breakfast (probably too much food but prepared us for some long days!) Pool is huge and relaxing although we never saw any other guests in the water, and it closes early. A perk (for me) is that this hotel is designed for adults, and there's beautiful art everywhere. Housekeeping was always available, and the location is extremely close/walkable to shops, markets and Wats while maintaining a secluded feeling."

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Pearl surrounded by tea bushes"

This hotel doesn't only welcome you at their doorstep, but already at the airport of Bagdogra: the driver offers you a cold drink and wet towels to get you set for the three and a half hours drive to the estate. On the way, you are offered real Glenburn tea, sandwiches (which we really liked) and cake. How English. The trip to the hotel is a long one and the last 45 minutes are like sitting in a blender. But it is all more than worth it: the setting of this hotel is absolutely gorgeous: the tea plantation surrounds the beautiful house and the view on the Himalaya is stunning. We were warmly welcomed by the English couple who manage the hotel on behalf of the Calcutta-based owners and they do an excellent job in making certain the guests are comfortable. We stayed in the old property in a spectacular room with a huge bed, fireplace and small garden room (it was, indeed, the room we requested. In advance they would not confirm the room to us, and to be hones, considering the price this hotel charges, we find it incorrect that they should not accept reservations for specific rooms). All service you could think of is included in the price. We love the 'bed tea': a serving of tea in your room just after you wake up. Also, it was quite a treat that you could ask for tea and cake at all times of the day. The (western) breakfast is good, but the homemade jam was more like a mash than a jam. The specials were delicious and also the homemade muesli (with home made yoghurt). The dinner was served on a large table with all guests (you can opt out, and have a private dinner). Although this sometimes takes a bit getting used to, we enjoyed talking with the various guests. The food was mostly delicious, but there were some misses here and there. The hotel is quite a distance from Darjeeling and Kalimpong, but the hotel can arrange your visit there, too (driver is included in the price). Having said that, the trip is quite long and we were content with visiting only Darjeeling on one day, and we spend the rest of our time reading, touring the tea factory (including tasting: amazing how different all the teas taste), making walks through the tea plantation and to the river (where the hotel organized a pleasant BBQ. Heed their warning to put DEET on. I forgot a spot on my arm and the small flies got me good; it itched for days after!) They have wifi in the hotel, but the connection is terrible. It is typically a location to relax after an exhausting trip through Nepal, Bhutan or India, so we would recommend staying at least three nights; a shorter stay doesn't seem worth the trouble. We would not be surprised if we found ourselves staying here again!

NEELESHWAR: "Exceptional in every way"

"My husband and I did the 7-day detox package, which includes yoga, meals made to suit our constitutions and health requirements, and 2 luxurious Ayurvedic treatments a day, plus consultation with their Ayurvedic Doctor. There's no doubt we've never felt better, but on top of that we were thoroughly impressed with the exceptional service, the kindness and attentiveness of the people who work there and the stunning gardens, pool and sea views. And the food is an art - fresh, creative, flavourful and satisfying. Truly a first class experience, with every detail attended to beyond our expectations. What makes this place special above all are the wonderful people who will make your stay more than just a vacation, but a lifelong memory. It may seem expensive, but it's worth every dollar! If you go, be sure to take their free bicycles out for a ride in the village! "

Villa Song: "Perfect escape"

"Spent five days at the Villa Song and it was hard to fault anything, from the service to the amenities. This is a perfect spot to explore Saigon but escape the craziness of city life. We would particularly recommend a happy hour cocktail (or two) on the terrace overlooking the Saigon River. If I was to make one suggestion, it would be for a more frequent speedboat service, especially in the afternoon."

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Wonderful retreat to experience the peace that is northern Kerala"

"The approach is a bit inauspicious, but once you enter and are greeted by the scented garland, er person who places it over you and then brings a refreshing wash towel followed by coconut water still in the nut, you know you've entered a place that won't leave you wanting. This was my second stay because it provided a perfect respite from the vibrant and fun chaos that goes with visiting India and their cities in particular. The peaceful place that allowed me to relax and unwind before returning home. The Hermitage's layout is charming, with winding foot paths connecting the villas that are surrounded by nature. The bungalows are solid, spacious, comfortable, well furnished, with options for cooling (open windows & ceiling fan or closed windows and just ac). Staff are friendly and helpful, the Arabian Sea is swimable with a wide beach and the pool great as well. The on-site food is pretty good and they'll turn up the heat if you want it that way. And if one wanders off site, on foot or by bike, you'll experience the charm and warmth of the surrounding farming & fishing communities. When visiting India and you want a calm, 'oh this adventure had to end sometime, but let's end on a serene note', Neeleshwar is a wonderful place to unwind and just be. I'll be back again!"

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Rural eco-lodge with stunning views"

We stayed here for a couple of nights in October 2015. It was the ideal relaxation before embarking on a trek in the Annapurna region. The lodge aims to be very eco-friendly and produces much of its own food in the grounds. Escorted walks are possible; we went on a short 2-hour one and gained an insight into Nepalese rural life. We stayed in our own bungalow, and took meals and drinks in the main building, which has a bar and restaurant. The food was excellent! Our lunches were Nepalese and dinner more European in style, and the breakfasts were huge! We enjoyed sun-downers and snacks in the evening in the bar, and during power cuts it was romantically candle-lit! We were woken early with coffee at our room to view the sunrise over the Fishtail mountain - a fabulous sight! Attentive and friendly staff made our visit perfect.

Beautifully designed and great service: "Beautifully designed and great service"

This is a really great hotel if you want to experience Asian colonial chic at its best. Breakfast is served in a gorgeous space, rooms are specious and stylish, the location is great, quiet and still good access to SkyTrain - what a special place.