Guest Reviews

Heritage Suites Hotel: "Breathtaking Wedding experience – highlight of our whole trip!"

"We stayed here between 17/12/17 - 21/12/17 as a party of seven and had the pleasure of having our wedding day planned and hosted by the brilliant staff at Heritage Suites Hotel. Oma, Nicolas, Teka and each and every member of staff, we can’t thank you enough for the hours of work, meticulous attention to detail, beautiful venue and exceptional level of service we had during our stay. You made our wedding the most memorable, intimate and spectacular day we’ve ever experienced, and it’s something neither we or our guests will ever forget. We won’t bore you with the long story, but basically, we decided to cancel our ‘home wedding’ and elope to the country that we got engaged in two years earlier (best decision ever!). As you would expect, we were quite nervous organising our entire wedding experience via email and Skype, having not seen seen the venue in person. We went back and forth with the team, sharing information and pictures until both sides were confident that we would get the wedding that we wanted. Throughout the entire process, Oma, Nicolas and Teka couldn’t have been more attentive and helpful, answering all of our questions (sorry guys!) until we fully understood each element of our wedding and stay. If you are reading this and thinking of having a wedding ceremony in Cambodia, PLEASE, you should seriously consider using Heritage Suites Hotel as your venue of choice - you won’t regret it. Highlights include: - The quick transformation of the hotel ‘alley’ / atrium into a beautiful walkway & altar was nothing short of astonishing. The whole place had beautiful white decor, flowers (lotus & rose), with an amazingly decorated platform at the end where the ceremony was held. - The organisation of external services was exactly what we wanted. Makeup & hair was great, the photographer / videographer (Oyen Rodriguez & his team - check his stuff out on YouTube!) was phenomenal, amazing buttonholes & bouquets, an extremely charming and well spoken registrar called Mourad (who looks like Hugh Laurie!) to lead the ceremony. - We had the flexibility of tailoring our own ceremony including our own vows, readings and words in a ‘Western style’ and incorporating a Buddhist blessing given by some local monks which we and our guests enjoyed thoroughly. - More food and drink than you could ever want! The men and women enjoyed a light breakfast separately, before canapés & drinks in the lobby after the ceremony , more canapés & champagne during sunset, and a beautifully cooked dinner on the evening. - We couldn’t decide between having tuk-tuks or jeeps… so we had both! Each type of transportation were dressed up for the occasion including flowers, ribbons, signage (our initials) and tassels. - Our transportation took us out to ricefields and other scenic locations for photographs before arriving at a pier on a beautifully still lake (Trav Kot) for sunset canapés and champagne. - Our final destination was the real show stopper. Teka from Heritage Adventures (sister company of Heritage Suites Hotel) worked with us to organise a luxury camping experience and dinner by a remote temple called Banteay Ampil. Our jeeps pulled up and we were greeted by smiling staff who provided us with necklaces and bracelets made from the Jasmine flower. Venturing further into the campsite, we were surrounded by thousands of tealights, relaxing and having welcome cocktails in a ‘chill out’ area (think lots of cushions, throws, low sitting sofas, fire pits). The luxury tents were incredible - better than our house back home! We could go on for hours as the team organised so much more (on this day, and the rest of our time with them). We seriously couldn’t fault anything - each element was provided with 100% effort and the full team delivered everything with a smile. It felt as though they were genuinely happy for us, and enjoyed being part of our wedding experience. No text, pictures or videos could do the whole experience justice, and we feel quite smug that only the seven of us will ever know what it truly felt like during these special couple of days. Aside from our experience from a wedding perspective, the hotel and level of service as a guest was fantastic. The rooms were immaculate, tastefully decorated, spacious and comfortable. The restaurant food during breakfast, lunch and dinner was plentiful, tasty and well-priced. We were never left wanting, with staff always on hand to make sure we had everything we needed. If anybody would like to speak to us further, feel free to contact Heritage Suites Hotel and ask for Jonathan & Katherine Birch’s contact information) - we’d be more than happy to help! Thanks, Mr & Mrs Birch"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Serenity in India"

"We were privileged to spend 5 nights in the hotel and 2 nights on the Lotus Houseboat during February. Our hotel stay was truly perfect. It is a very relaxing environment and just what was needed after a busy stay in Mumbai. We were in one of the beach facing bungalows, called Virya (strength!). It was spotlessly clean, with a comfortable bed, quiet and efficient air conditioning and an outdoor bathroom. The food was lovely - fresh, colourful, healthy and tasty. Experiencing real Indian food on our trip was quite a revelation, particularly compared to the version we get at home! I also enjoyed the extensive a la carte breakfasts at the beachside restaurant - much nicer than a normal hotel buffet breakfast. The free yoga sessions each morning were enjoyable, and pitched at a beginner's level, so accessible to all. We both had spa sessions every day, leaving it to the on-site doctor to choose and schedule our treatments. I loved the treatment where oil is dripped onto your forehead - it was so incredibly relaxing. The beach is deserted, and great for long walks. The sea was rough while we were there, so not suitable for swimming. The pool area is serene, and the sun beds super comfy. We found the service throughout the hotel to be exemplary. We really couldn't fault it. Just a little thing to be aware of - the hotel does not serve spirits, and there is only a limited selection of wine and beer available with dinner - so do stock up on duty free before you arrive if this is an issue for you. If I were to rate our 2 night stay on the Lotus Houseboat, I would probably give it 4 stars. Overall, it was a unique experience and we are glad that we did it. The service was again, very good, though a little more formal than at the hotel. We had an on board chef, who prepared the most delicious food. Our cabin was spacious and luxurious. Having seen a handful of other houseboats drift past, I would say that the Lotus is one of the nicest on this stretch of the backwaters. Unfortunately, however, we were unlucky during our stay because there was an issue with the generator. As a result at night it was either like a sauna in our cabin, or very noisy. In addition, there were constant loud explosions nearby (from the nearby naval base?) throughout the first night. It proved absolutely impossible to sleep, and not at all the romantic, serene experience it could have been. The write up you are given in advance about the trips onto land should be taken with a pinch of salt. For example you don't visit an ancient sacred snake temple in the middle of a monkey forest - you are no longer allowed near to the temple. The reality is that you wander through some scrub land to the side of the road to feed some monkeys with vegetables. Not a big deal really, but just a case of over promising and under delivering in some areas. In hindsight we would have preferred instead to have spent more time relaxing on the top deck of the boat. If you do decide to overnight on the Lotus, it's probably best to book the boat on an exclusive basis, as we did. Sharing the limited space aboard with a couple of strangers could be a little awkward! Overall we really had a fantastic time, and would love to return one day. It's a perfect spot for some R & R."

MesaStila: "Beautiful jungle retreat with excellent service"

" came on a group retreat so my experience might not be the same as a general tourist, but had the most lovely stay with such friendly, attentive and thorough service. Our every need was catered for with such politeness and efficiency. We were in a big group with multiple events throughout our stay and complex logistical needs, and everything was made so easy thanks to the staff. The rooms themselves are very traditional and rustic, but beautifully fitted out. I had a huge four poster bed with a glorious bathroom complete with a big stone bathtub (and fresh rose petals everyday). The property is HUGE and is absolutely beautiful to explore - so much greenery, beautiful mountain views, a stunning infinite pool and comfortable common areas. The wifi is fairly reliable which was quite important for us - it would fall out every now and then but not take long to reconnect. The food on offer was traditional - quite a lot of options and always delicious. My only comment would be that it was generally quite flavoursome and heavy - there were generally options for dietary intolerances but in terms of plain ""clean eating"" it was a bit harder. Similarly, the place has gym facilities but they are very basic. Although when you come to MesaStila there is enough other physical activity to do without equipment - just go for a hike around the property! It's about 2 hours from the airport which was quite a trek, but the seclusion makes it worth it. About an hour from Borobudur but easy to organise transport through the hotel. Would definitely recommend a stay for a secluded, relaxing, retreat style holiday. The one thing that would be worth noting in advance - it is a Muslim area with many mosques surrounding it and at prayer times very early in the morning and again in the evening chanting can be heard quite loudly through amplified speakers. I didn't wake up to it overnight, but a lighter sleeper might need to invest in earplugs. It's part of the cultural immersion though, so we quite enjoyed it."

Rachamankha: "Spectacular"

"The four of us decided to splurge a bit on our last four nights on our Southeast Asia tour and reserved a suite at the hotel. Our suite was rooms 24/25 right off the entrance. The suite was spectacular with it's own garden, a very large living area and small kitchen and two large bedrooms with each its own bathroom. We loved the space and it was decorated beautifully. The tub/shower stalls were a bit outdated but everything was clean and worked perfectly although in the other room our friends said the water pressure was poor and they did not have hot water one day. The rooms were incredibly quiet despite the fact that one of the bedrooms had windows facing the front and the parking area. The service was incredible and the staff amazingly helpful even from the pick up at the airport. Lots of helpful info and help in navigating some issues that arose during our stay. The grounds are impeccable and there are lots of little surprises for guests around the property (candies, brandy in the library, etc.) Breakfast was incredible with a great selection of food. The service during breakfast broke down a bit we found due either to language barrier or the fact that multiple people were serving all the tables and therefore sometimes you needed to remind a waiter that you had asked for something or because they didn't write down your order. Nothing serious and is something you encounter all over Asia. The waiters were all very charming and sometimes shy about their English but their English is far superior to my Thai so it all worked! We also ate dinner in their restaurant one evening and it was spectacular and a beautiful setting. There was a Thai instrumentalist that played and with the food all made for a memorable experience. We would not hesitate to recommend this lovely hotel or stay again in the future. Stayed January 2017, traveled with friends"

Villa Song Saigon: "Beautiful and relaxing introduction to Vietnam"

Shuttle water taxis allowed easy entry into the city and a quick escape at the end of the day. Tours to chi chi tunnels and Mekong delta pick you up at their river jetty and make for a beautiful way to experience the beauty of Ho Chi Minh. The facilities at the hotel were top notch and unobtrusive. The hotel's exceptional service was appreciated and staff were friendly and efficient. it is definitely the hotel to go to if you are starting your trip or ending it. Spoil yourself and give yourself at least 3-5 nights here so you can soak up the pleasures of riverside living in Ho Chi Minh City.

Misool Eco Resort: "FABULOUS"

I can't say enough about this place or the people that run it and work there. The waters are AMAZING for snorklers. Everything about this place was perfect! It was an experience of a life time. I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Magnificent hotel experience in Nepal"

Beautiful. Exceptional level 10 service. To die for views! Quiet get away - absolutely worth the uphill trek to experience. Loved everything about it and will absolutely return next trip to Nepal! Marcus and his team will make you feel welcome, and you will be spoiled!

David’s Kitchen: "Another beautiful evening"

The service is spectacular. Table presentation perfect. They could have served anything and one would have been happy. However the food they served was good - very good. Oh - back in Hong Kong planning next trip

Slow Villas and Spa: "Just perfect"

"On our 3 weeks roundtrip through Bali and Lombok my girlfriend and me have stayed 3 nights at Slow Private Pool Villas and it was supposed to be the highlight of our trip. To shorten the story: The Slow was even better than expected! Our private villa was surrounded by a huge and nicely planted garden. The pool was just awesome - perfectly clean and bigger than expected. Furniture, tapware and decoration were beautiful and definitely chosen with a huge amount of passion for the details. The staff was always friendly and helpful - no matter if we wanted to go diving, book a snorkeling trip or had some other questions: there's nothing they can't help you with in order to have the perfect time at Gili Air. The breakfast is definitely another highlight. It's getting served at your Villa at your preferred time and tastes delicious! We can't wait to come back next year! But then for longer than 3 nights. :)"

Satri House: "Beautiful"

"When planning a visit to Luang Prabang you can get a little blown away by the accommodation on offer, there are many beautiful properties to consider all offering their own style. After much thought we plumped for here and stayed in a Satri House Suite. The original historic house in which we stayed was delightful. A lovely bathroom, huge bedroom with a very comfortable mattress and a separate sitting room area. The rest of the little complex of rooms are well set out in the grounds and not at all crowded, everything has been very tastefully done and to a ver high standard. The location is away from the main centre a little, a normal paced walk probably not more than 30mins to the far end of the town, we enjoyed walking into the centre, traffic is not a problem at all, and to be honest we appreciated the little district where the hotel is located, very pleasant streets around. We also used the complimentary bikes to have a little venture further to edges of town. A little Lao whiskey nightcap with a quick read of the local paper became a pleasant regular evening stop. Walking around town with a keen eye on the other places we considered, Villa Santi, Busari, 3 Nagas etc amongst many more we firmly decided we had made the right choice and not once did I have a regret of our choice. We did not eat a main meal here, but breakfast was more than adequate, the home jams delicious. If I had a tiny gripe it would be that the staff, which in every other way were delightful and really attentive could pay a little more attention to used towels around the pool, thats not much as the only grumble of any kind though. Beautiful place, I understand this is pretty much the main heritage hotel in the city, I am not surprised."