Guest Reviews

Locavore: "Amazing Amazing Amazing"

"It's easy to see why this restaurant has been on the Top 50 Asian Restaurants list for 2 years in a row. What a culinary experience. What a journey of taste sensations. As restaurant owners ourselves, people just don't realise the amount of effort that goes into bringing the theatre of dining to life. Locavore exceeds on every front. Incredible food, impeccable service from knowledgable wait staff who can recite every ingredient of every dish, delicious cocktails and affordable wines. As others have said, around $320 AUD which makes it on the high side for Bali, but worth every cent. Two things to note. I think our 7 course ended up 16 courses with snacks, pre dessert and post dessert - so make sure you don't eat much beforehand. And one small issue with the squid, not sure it was 100% so didn't eat it. The waitress offered to give me an alternative (again, fantastic service) but I declined as we had more than enough food. But it was a minor blemish in an extraordinary dining experience. Lovacore is a must if you're visiting Ubud. Can't wait to come back. Great job team."

Villa Song: "Colonial luxury at a reasonable price."

"We stayed at Villa Song for 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The staff were friendly and efficient, giving tips about taxi scams to avoid and guiding us to very good excursions to both the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta. There is a complimentary private water taxi from the hotel’s jetty into the centre of Ho Chi Minh city which made the journey much quicker, more scenic and gave a touch of exclusivity. The hotel is well appointed, our room had a river view and was really quite big. It had all the things you’d want as well as a lovely view of the river. The hotel itself is very attractive, in a colonial style with a sweeping staircase and plenty of airy space. The pool is a good size (perhaps 25m) and there is plenty of loungers etc, thick towels and an adjacent gym. Although we didn’t use it much the fact that the mini bar was complimentary was a nice touch. My only criticism would be that the laundry service was unnecessarily expensive with it costing over 1 million Dong to have a few shirts, shorts and underwear washed and pressed. Admittedly we did use the express service but it just felt like it was more expensive than it needed to be, especially in a place where you’d want to wear an ironed shirt and shorts. I must point out that the cost of the service was clear before we used it with a full audited list completed by the guest and the hotel, so there were no surprises. The restaurant has a very nice set menu or a la carte although the set menu didn’t change over our three night stay. We ate there twice and enjoyed the food both times. We also ate in the restaurant of the hotel next door which, whilst it was nice, was not of the same quality (or price, quite a bit cheaper) and the service was a little rushed. My wife used the spa and felt her pedicure was well done and good value for money. All round I’d say if you like a bit of luxury and are happy to pay for it you’d be hard pressed to find a better location than Villa Song and I’d happily go back again another time."

The Hue House: "Dinner"

Probably the best meal so far in Saigon this beautiful Vietnamaurrant sits on top of mastr building .Quite difficult to find but well worth the effort.Xcellnt food and staff very friendly price rang very reasonable

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Superb way to finish off your tour."

"Strange as it may seem. But we could not wait for the last four days of our holiday !! This lodge did not disappoint, the attention to detail, to ensure that your stay has the best chance of being a memorable one is impressive. There will always be somebody who will find fault, that is life ! The views are spectacular, the food excellent, ambiance spot on. We decided to have two days trekking, our guide Saajan was informative and considerate, and tailored the routes to suit our abilities, which was much appreciated by my wife who is not always the most sure footed rambler. The packed lunches were something that Enid Blyton would of approved of !! Marcus and his team can be proud of the experience they are delivering to their guests, and we will be returning to enjoy this hospitality as soon as we can. Thanks to all the team at Tiger mountain lodge."

Jing’s Residence: "Feeling Welcome In Beauttiful Surroundings"

Jing's Residence in the charming old town of Pingyao is one of a kind. It has all the attributes one wishes a hotel would possess, but rarely encounters in real life. For one thing, I was struck by the extremely appealing aesthetics of the compound, with its inner courtyards, its beautiful rooms/suites with all the amenities one would desire, its upstairs library with computers, its excellent restaurant... It is, however, the atmosphere of the place, the way you feel welcome and the sense that the staff cares about your well-being that really makes Jing's Residence such a unique and pleasing experience. My only regret is that, because of our tight schedule, we could not stay a few extra days and imbibe more of this relaxing, yet invigorating atmosphere.

Inle Princess Resort: "Un magnifique 5 étoiles"

"Un petit havre de paix au bord du lac Inle avec la vue sur le coucher de soleil . L'arrivée se fait en pirogue à la rame permettant d'apprécier le calme et le charme de l'hôtel chambre exceptionnelle très bien décorée nous avons bénéficié d'une chambre surclassée grâce à notre agence Pink Lotus Travels et Tours bon petit déjeuner avec vue sur le lac et très bon accueil service irréprochable un conseil y rester au moins 2 nuits pour profiter de ce cadre enchanteur Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Nimmu House: "best place to acclimatise and enjoy the natural beauty of Ladakh"

"http://blog.happy-tripping.com/2015/09/06/property-review-nimmu-house-ladakh/ Nimmu house is a beautiful place, replete with apricot and apple trees is just perfect to acclimatise to the high altitude either by traversing the journey to Ladakh on road ( from Srinagar or Manali) or to stay put for couple of days at a quite place, while soaking in the stark beauty of the wonder that is Ladakh. THE SETTING The location is perfect. Conveniently located 30 minutes from Leh (30 min from the airport) , the village of Nimmu is also close to the ,confluence (Sangam) of the Indus and Zanskar rivers and the monasteries of Lamayuru, Likir and Alchi (30 minutes – 1 hour drive). Nimmu is a charming little village where time has stood still, most people are farmers and happy with their simple lives. IMG_0133 Nimmu House is a noble house belonging to the cousin of Ladakh’s King from the early 90s, beautifully restored by a Frenchman Alex . During the property tour , our manager told us about the history and the supposed curse on the house due to which the occupants never bore any children, until the curse was dispelled by buddhist monks. Quite interesting! On offer are 5 spacious tents and 2 rooms in the house , with an open terrace for meals .We stayed in the tent, which had a stunning view of the landscape , comfy bed and modern bathroom . For city dwellers like us the best part is that the property is spread over orchards with hundreds of Apple and apricot trees and the rivulet running through . Lying on the large hammocks ,smelling the sweet scent of apricot and hearing the faint constant gurgling sounds of the stream makes you put all the sightseeing plans on hold. But really who needs to step out when you can experience the nature , warm Ladakhi hospitality in absolute peace and comfort of Nimmu house . IMG_3901_1 THE SERVICE There is no formal reception desk , but the staff is always available to make your stay comfortable. This place is serviced by one chef, one french manager and two local women. We received a very warm welcome by the French manager followed by 2 days of comfort and lot of personal attention. There is so much warmth in people that you forget about demanding any hospitality. We wanted to sample momos at one of the local restaurants on our evening walk and we were not carrying any money. To our pleasant surprise, a plate of steaming momos were served to us during dinner in Nimmu House, courtesy the local restaurant. Even as we were leaving , staff come out to see us off . It was almost like staying with family . THE FOOD Chef Mahesh cooked simple , delicious meals which were served on the open terraces as the weather was lovely. Breakfast had eggs, fruits and bread, as per preference. We loved the fresh apricot jams and juices. Lunch and dinner were 3 course set meals with starter (soup /salad), main course and desert. Sample this :- – Green Salad, Lasagna, Lemon Pie – Tomato Soup, Hakka Noodles, Philadelphia Cheese Cake – Gobi Soup, Paneer Masala/ Mutton Masala, Mud Cake All meals are simple and wholesome, using fresh produce from adjoining farms and stables. The food is largely tailored to suit the western palate as most guests are westerners. But they will keep your food preferences in mind and ensure that you leave the dining table with your tummy satisfied ! Lunch at Nimmu House Lunch at Nimmu House THE FACILITIES and Activities ON OFFER Nimmu House offers the following activities to make most of your stay there . Indoor: A library and game room , Guided tour of the house , stables or cooking classes . Outdoor: village tour , short guided hike , rafting on the Zanskar, guided tour of the monasteries of Basgo, Likir and Alchi. For us it was all soaking up the apple-scented air, lying on a hammock during daytime and hiking upto local gompas in the evening. View from the Gompa View from the Nimmu village Gompa WHAT STOLE THE SHOW? Amazing setting of orchards and Ladakh’s landscape with spacious tents. Best place to acclimatise , relax and learn about Ladakhi culture. It is a far cry from dusty lanes of Leh City and will give you exactly what you came for. IMG_3899 Now that you are convinced, lets bring you up to speed with the practicalities. Know more about Nimmu house Getting there The property is in Nimmu Village and 30 min drive from Leh Airport/ Leh City. Hole in your wallet Expect to pay around Rs 10,000 per night for the tent. Internet / Television There is no TV in the room and Wi-Fi signal is available on the terrace and house. What else – this is a family guesthouse , do not expect 24/7 room service or an elaborate ala carte menu. – Be prepared to relax and enjoy the simple life"

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Way above the standard expected in Yangon"

"Felix and Lucia Eppiser have many years experience in the restaurant industry coming from a Michelin star background in Switzerland, on to Le Planteur also in Yangon and then time in Malaysia until they have settled again in Yangon. Seeds is a relatively newcomer on the fine dining scene here and there are some great menu options, we chose ""Lotus"". From the time we arrived till we left we were treated like very valued guests. Serve was impeccable and we had a vast array of appetisers before we even started. We had a table on the terrace and if we have one criticism we thought the lighting level not quite adequate (we also ate outside at Le Planteur where the lighting was better) but otherwise it was faultless. Excellent tasting menu using mostly local ingredients, great presentation, textures and flavours. Both Felix and Lucia spoke to us several times and we liked their approach to staff training. There is also a nice wine list, obviously well chosen, and a bottle of nice Alsace Riesling was $43 which was pretty reasonable. At a touch over $200 all in for the two of us, plus a small cash tip, it is obviously top end for Yangon but not for the likes of Western diners. I hope Seeds goes from strength to strength and if we are ever in Yangon again we will return, I agree if ever Michelin get there it is star quality."

Pindaya Farm House: "Paradise!"

Thahara in Pindaya, Myanmar is the most wonderful B&B. The accommodations were spotless, the food excellent, the host and hostess were polite, kind and very attentive. I was very sick for about 24 hours and they made special food for me! Our host picked us up at the airport and provided transportation for our sightseeing. The setting for the B&B is in the country on a farm. Very quiet and peaceful. We are already planning our return trip. I would encourage everyone to consider a trip to this lovely property.

Maisons Wat Kor: "The most charming hotel"

We stayed here for 3 nights during our honeymoon recently and it was a highlight! What a beautiful hidden gem, we just loved it. The staff here are so incredibly friendly, we were sad to say goodbye to them. The whole place was very relaxing and we enjoyed spending some time by the peaceful swimming pool area, as well as enjoying a massage in the serene pavilion that overlooks the pond. The food choices were a little bit limited, but we understand that this is only a small hotel and they take great pride in creating local dishes from home-grown produce etc. We visited Battambang town several times during our stay by tuk tuk, which only cost a few dollars and could be easily arranged from the property. We can see what Angelina Jolie stayed here - we can't wait until we can come and stay again!