Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Wild at Heart"

"As we pulled up to the meeting point , we were met with a striking man in safari attire, Danu. Danu (our host) is a much younger Sri Lankan version of Sir David Attenborough-with a dash of Indiana Jones. His knowledge for wildlife is amazing and he has an eagle eye for spotting animals as did our amazing driver who is so knowledgable and we loved hearing about his tiger encounters in India. Both these guys are passionate conservationists but make it really interesting and are very sensitive to the needs of wildlife and safari newbies. My husband and I became so comfortable around then we found ourselves asking ridiculous questions like ""Does that elephant get lonely?"" Danu is a true professional for keeping a straight face when he answered ""Um, I haven't gotten around to asking him""... We are still laughing about but seriously these guys are like your personal wildlife Wikipedia. We booked the normal tents and were absolutely blown away by the luxury. We have been staying in 5 Star hotels throughout Sri Lanka but this was the cleanest room/tent we have ever seen with the crispest sheets and plugs for my phone. I will miss my outdoor shower, there is no better feeling than having an outdoor shower after a big day in the park. I have to talk about the food. It was next level! This was by far the best food I have had in Sri Lanka and what made it SO special was Danu showing us how to eat it like a local. I loved learning about the cuisine and Sri Lankan culture under the stars. The guys who were serving us in the bar and restaurant- a lantern lit space under the stars treated me like a jungle queen! I miss them already and plan to kidnap them the next time I come back. So I would highly recommend these guys to anyone who has a deep respect for wildlife, a love for a bit of luxury in the jungle and those who are wild at heart. Yala is calling for you. Ki and Keelan"

Tugu Bali: "Entrancing trip back in time seductive and excellent"

"A quick drive apres arriving at Denpasar we bear down on this enclave with its own laidback vibe. Its got all the blah-blah yoga resorty stuff that allow people to reconnect with parts of themselves they should keep private. Entry is via a huge open foyer, supported by towering teak beams, with history everywhere. Our room is unique furnished with ancient artworks and a giant four-poster even bigger than ours back home. Dowenstairs is a private pool. Everything reeks of history of art deco. Its an entrancing trip back in time allowing us no chance to resist the hotel's seductive charms."

Locavore: "Stunning food and flawless service!"

As professional chef and lover of all types of food, I was pleasantly surprised at the outstanding quality of the food, presentation and service at Locavore. Each dish was beautiful and delicious and sitting at the chefs counter made it even better as we could see the food being made and watch the silent precision behind the scenes. This meal is in my top three restaurant meals ( alongside The French Laundry, Napa Valley and Eden Hill, Seattle) of all time! I liked that the degustation size is small, as I left full but not overly heavy. In addition to the 5 course degustation we ordered we received no less than 6 amuse bouche and a whole tray of petit fours for dessert. The cocktails were awesome. This is a must do in Ubud! Thank you Locavore, I am inspired! Leela Brett

Villa Mathis: "The Proposal Of A Lifetime"

"I was lucky enough to have known just how beautifully romantic and special Villa Mathis is in Bali already and decided it would be the perfect location for my proposal to my beautiful fiancé in AUG 2017. Bruno and his beautiful wife were ever so kind to create the most magically romantic setting in one of their private gardens for this special occasion. Seriously they went above and beyond anyone could hope for, from table setting to the fairy lights, to the love hearts hanging in the trees, to the white silk walkway and candles to the table, to the fire dancers that put on a show for us. Everything was absolutely perfect and i am forever in grateful for provided this for our special occasion. I cannot forget the manager of Villa Mathis either for all of his help and time he dedicated to arranging all of the extras things for us and also being the one to secretly put the ring in the glass of champagne for my toast and proposal. =) The rooms and villas and gardens and pool and restaurant and food and staff of this resort are truly amazing and something you would expect from a 5 star hotel. Once again i cannot speak highly enough of this resort, the owners, the manager, the staff. It is truly a romantic place to stay and overtime my fiancé and i celebrate our engagement we will also be thinking of how Burno and the team and Villa Mathis made this more special then i could of ever hoped for. Forever grateful. =)"

Satri House: "Just as elegant as it’s name suggests"

"Satri house is a quiet and beautiful little hideaway. The entire place has a relaxing and calming vibe, which was nice after travelling around three countries beforehand. The staff are all extremely friendly, helpful and lovely people. This was perfect for a short stay during our honeymoon and I'd definitely recommend Satri House to couple's and families alike. Oh and the restaurant is absolutely amazing! Breakfast was to die for! And we had dinner there one night which was just as mouthwatering! Satri House also provides bicycles to use (free of charge) and it's only a quick 3 minute ride into the main part of town. You will not be disappointed :)"

Chakrabongse Villas: "Service and charm in a beautiful oasis!"

We are a family of 4 adults and we stayed at Chakrabongse Villas for 5 nights and fell in love with the beauty and charm of this wonderful residence. We usually stay at one of the top 5* hotels in Bangkok but are so thrilled to have found this gem. It was fully booked while we were there and, while there are only 6 or so rooms, we never saw another guest the whole time. From waking up in the early morning to walk around the palace walls or giving alms with the lovely Ms Atom to dipping in the pool to cool down after a long day of exploring, we felt so at home and taken care of at the beautiful villas. The breakfasts on the river were a wonderful start to the day and our dinner was an experience in Thai cuisine that we will never forget. I have seldom stayed at any hotel where I have felt that the staff genuinely care for their guests in the way that we experienced at Chakrabongse. Thank you Ms Atom for making our stay and experience to remember, we can't wait to see you again!

Mie Cafe: "Amazing food and service"

I came here for lunch by myself and was amazed by the pleasant environment. I sat at the garden and the staff nicely put 2 fans facing me. The food was great - I had beef tartare which was marinated with local herbs and topped with plenty of parmesan cheese. I also had the fish amok which is a classic Khmer dish. The meal was ended with a homemade vanilla ice-cream. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Sukoon Houseboat: "paradise"

There are passages written about the houseboats of Kashmir, and yet nothing prepared us for the quaintness of this houseboat. Luxurious to a fault each room has a full size bath tup as well as a shower stall. Living like royalty, the staff is the best I have encountered in my travels and the location perfect. An escape in the truest sense with the water gently bobbing the boat and lilies peeping out of their leaves to greet the day. An honest treat and the best way to cap our Kashmiri experience.

Nimmu House: "A lovely place to relax and acclimatise"

"We started our journey in lovely Ladakh from Nimmu House. It was a perfect start. We received a very warm welcome followed by 2 days of comfort and lot of personal attention. The apricot and apple trees were in bloom and we were allowed to pick as and when! It is a great eco friendly retreat from busy city life. Chef Mahesh cooked superb meals which were served in the courtyard in open air as weather was lovely. Sumo is a wonderful lady who is an extremely helpful and pleasant person. Overall a very satisfying stay. Would recommend definitely. Free Wifi is available but in certain areas only., We started our journey to explore Ladakh with Shanti travels. They were brilliant right from pick up from delhi airport till the drop off 10 days later. I would also like to mention guide Wanchuk and Rigzin-driver; they were superb throughout our time in Ladakh."

Maison Polanka: "A Tranquil Haven"

A beautiful traditional Cambodian house, with just five rooms, it could not have been more perfect. Set in a tropical garden with a lovely pool. Nothing is too much trouble, delicious breakfast and we had several lunches and suppers here. Just a 10 minute Tuk Tok ride from the manic hub of Siem Reap. I cannot recommend it more highly. Perfect place to releax after the excursions to the Temples.