Guest Reviews

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Unforgettable dinner and atmosphere"

We've been there for several times during our journey in Mianmar ,it was always a stunning experience with delicious menu compositions a perfect view over the lake and a professional warm atmosphere, congratulation for set up a such a valuable spot of high quality and hospitality in only a few months .. we will be back ....!

Maison Polanka: "Stay here for wonderful personal service. Deserving of a 7/5 rating not merely 5/5"

"I will start with the summary: tranquil garden, great room, excellent F+B, attention to detail, but the wonderful staff is what made our stay in Siem Reap a truly memorable one (in addition to the the magnificent ruins, of course). The small touches such the chilled towels in the car and upon our return to Maison after each of our trips were truly appreciated. They provided a mobile phone with Maison's number preloaded in directory, another thoughtful and helpful detail. We found the staff not merely polite and helpful but genuinely concerned about our well-being. Maison arranged tuk-tuk rides for our trips into the center of town and the drivers were courteous. Our car/van driver was friendly and informative on the ride back to the airport, making us feel welcome in Cambodia even as we were about to depart. We cannot remember all the names of all who took care of us but special thanks to to Kathy and Sorpana (?) at reception for all their attention to us. Of course, we cannot say enough about Francis. From the initial email exchanges to our actual stay he remained on top of everything. We appreciated his meeting us at the airport on our late night arrival, something we did not expect. Initially I had considered one of the larger hotels but chose to look for a boutique hotel instead. I chose Maison based on both excellent reviews and the compelling back story as told on the hotel webpage. Several email communications with Francis were promptly answered; he readily addressed concerns about airport transfers (a hotel van is available; recommended as tuk-tuks and taxis may not know the hotel or its location) transport to the town center (tuk-tuks that the hotel apparently has an arrangement with and will wait for you at your destination in town). Maison Polanka is located on the east side of the Siem Reap river in a quiet secluded neighborhood (the nearby Po Lang Ka pagoda is what presumably gave name to the road and hotel), about 9km away from the airport and 2.5km from the markets in downtown Siem Reap. The Angkor National Museum is the closest site of interest within very easy walking distance less than 1km from Maison. Of course, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are much further away 6.5km and 11km respectively. We rode the hotel van for our tour of the temples and took tuk-tuks to town. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained, heavily wooded and thus shaded. There were flowering plants everywhere including orchids and butterflies were flitting around from bloom to bloom. There were just a few rooms. The largest accommodation was the Khmer House, a stand-alone building. We had booked the the Yellow Room in the ""Maison"" which also housed the Green, Orange, and Purple Rooms. Francis told us that Maison could accommodate at most 15 guests and that the entire hotel has been booked in the past for family reunions. Check-in was smooth; we had the first of many culled and scented wet face towels to freshen us up. We were also given glasses of chilled fruit juice while we waited to complete check-in. We were then led to the Maison building and askedo leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. The Yellow Room lived up to what the hotel website promised, as did the entire property. The decor was rustic with sophisticated touches. A small plate of sliced fresh fruit had been left on the desk for us to enjoy. The amenities were as listed on their website. The bathroom was actually on a higher level with a short flight of stairs curving up from the far corner of the room. We had no issues with the stairs but it could get wet and slippery. Having traveled with my elderly parents I have become more acutely aware of the need for secure handholds; a single handrail at the corner where the stairs make a left turn on the way up would a world of difference. The bathroom was spacious. The shower stall was large and even had a small tile bench along the wall. I do not recall how textured the floor tiles were but I did not see a rubberized bath mat with suction cups that other hotels sometimes offer. Again, a small handrail at the level of the threshold of the shower would help steady anyone stepping out of the shower. Not that the the edge of the shower was raised very high, just a couple of inches perhaps. The bed was comfortable and we slept well on both the nights during our stay. There was a narrow balcony that we never ventured out on. We had our meals at the ""Sala"", the open-sided communal area by the pool that served as lobby, living room and dining room. What I had initially thought was the reception desk turned out to do double duty as a bar. There was an adjacent area with couches and armchairs clearly meant as a lounging area for those not interested in relaxing by the pool. As one might expect for a kitchen serving such a small number of guests the menu was not extensive but our meals were well-prepared and delicious. The young ladies serving us were attentive but not hovering over us. We had our not had dinner by the time of our late arrival but I had made arrangements with Francis beforehand and, once we had freshened up, dinner was quickly prepared for us. Should our travels ever take us back to Siem Reap we will definitely be staying at Maison Polanka again."

Tugu Malang: "Excellent service!!!"

"The Tugu hotel is a hotel, but at the same time it's also a museum. We stayed here for 2 nights and we had an amazing experience. Because of the low season we could choose our room. The staff was incredible. No question was ever too much to answer and everything was arranged with a smile. Every staff member knew our name and the small talks during breakfast and dinner gave our stay a personal touch. When you stay at the hotel you get a free tour of the hotel/museum and a good explanation of all the artifacts. For us this was a nice bonus, because it helps you understanding some of the history of Java. There are spa facilities and we've booked the 4 hour couples retreat. It was very relaxing: massage, bath with fresh rose petals, scrubbing, manicure, pedicure, washing en drying our hair, tea,... and after all that (really took 4 hours) there was a 4 course dinner, again with some personal touches (all included in the price). What can I say about the food? One word: super! There are so many things to choose from for breakfast and dinner. Local food, street food, western food, chinese food,... Last but not least is the Tea Time Experience in the afternoon. Every day between 16pm and 17pm (or 18pm) you can enjoy a nice cup of tea with fresh made Indonesian snacks. If you stay at the hotel you should certainly try it once. Kept all things in mind this hotel is one of our top 3 of all the hotels we've been in the world! I certainly hope to visit this hotel in the future during one of our next journeys. Thanks to the staff for making this a very pleasant stay. Joni & Jens (J&J)"

Villa Song: "A perfect retreat after the trip"

Our two nights at Villa Song provided a relaxing start to our ambitious trip. The hotel is stylish, airy, comfortable and as lovely as it looks in the photos. We especially enjoyed breakfast on the banks of the river -- delicious, hearty Asian or Western options accompanied by an entertaining view of the boat traffic passing by. The hotel staff were exceptionally accommodating and kind (we had a member of our small group with a foot injury and they switched her to a larger room on the first floor at no extra charge). The showers are outstanding, the amenities top notch and they're generous with the bottled water (and the free minibar). If it was possible to give six stars, I would :)

Talabgaon Castle: "Very beautiful resort, amazing hospitality overall an awesome experience"

This place is just fab, very well maintained heritage castle. The property is beautiful and takes you back to the royal living. Hospitality of the staff is just amazing. Mr. Harminder Singh's hospitality was just out of the world. Meals were authentic Rajasthani cuisine, made with lot of love and served with even more love :-) Overall me and my family had a wonderful experience which we will never forget. Hope to visit this awesome place again!!

Hotel Tugu Lombok: "Amazing Lombok"

This is our second trip to Tugu Lombok which is very unusual for us as we rarely return to a holiday destination we've previously been so that speaks highly for Tugu. We are avid international travellers and travel on average 4-6 times a year and Tugu holds a special place in our hearts. It's a stunning setting so full of character and charm (unlike many souless 5 star hotels). Its a photographer's dream. The accomodation, food and service is second to none. Though unfortunately I can't remember all the names of the attentive and gracious staff I do want to thank one of the managers Hanny for her wonderful hospitality and impeccable customer service. I can't recommend this hotel enough.

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Fantastic place & staff"

"French word : ""Le meilleur endroit pour dormir SUR le lac, et le meilleur restaurant de la région"" We were originally staying 2 nights, but ended but cancelling a night in Nyaung Shwe to spend an additional one at Inle Heritage. This is hands-down the best hotel (& restaurant) I've experienced in Myanmar. It is not the most luxurious, but it's not the point here. The rooms are beautiful, decorated with taste, eco-friendly. Only 6 bungalows, perfectly maintained, making the place a haven of peace in the evening. It might get busy at lunch and in the afternoon as tourists come to eat and visit the place. They probably have the best restaurant in lake area, and they also have burmese cats, endemic fish aquariums, cooking classes, homegrown vegetables etc. Basically the place is also a foundation : eco-friendly hotel, burmese cat sanctuary, and a school training students for hotels and restaurants. A portion of everything you pay here (hotel, restaurant, not sure for the souvenir shop) will go to the foundation. Breakfast is fantastic : real bread, real croissants, no wonder why all the customers were French :). Restaurant is great as well and serves fine cuisine (Myanmar/Thai style, homemade recipes, and a couple western dishes). Had one of their specialties, some simple fried rice and a so-classic Chicken Sandwich, all 3 were just perfect. Their ""pancakes"" are more like French crepes rather than US pancakes, taste great ! Girlfriend got sick on first day here, and stayed in bed the whole day while I left to visit Indein. The whole staff took care of her, from the cleaning ladies to the Chef preparing a special meal, and the manager checking on her every couple hours. Staff has been fabulous. The souvenir shop is nice as well, they seem to have superior quality stuff and pretty much everything you'd need. Consider checking it as you might find better stuff than on Inle markets / temple shops. You may find more luxurious places on Inle, but you will end up in resorts. It will cost more, and there will be 30 or more bungalows which won't always be in good shape. Honestly, if you want to be ON LAKE, go straight for Inle Heritage, forget about the lake ""resorts"". It is true there is some noise because of the boats going around (can start early in the morning), but keep in mind this will happen anywhere as long as you're staying on the lake. Okay, maybe a swimming-pool would be cool, but that sounds kind of stupid when you're actually on a lake (would not recommend swimming in the lake though). Maybe if they can make some eco-friendly pool, idea for the future :) We were kind of sad to leave Inle Heritage, I'd honestly would have stayed there for a whole week. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Satri House: "Great place to stay in Laos"

"Satri House in Luangprabang is centrally located. It's a very quaint hotel, first class with lovely rooms and a very, very accommodating staff. Customer service is excellent. Would highly recommend this hotel! Though the hotel is old, all the rooms, courtyards, restaurants, etc. have all the modern conveniences while still retaining the traditional charm. Room Tip: All rooms are good. No elevator due to this being a UNESCO building but staff carries all the lugga."

Sukoon Houseboat: "wonderful houseboat"

No doubt the best houseboat in kashmir,initially planned to stay at the houseboat for 2 nights but it was such wondeful place to be that extended my stay for one more night,the staff is excellent very caring and the food served one of the best ever had on my holiday...Would love to go back and enjoy the beauty and the surroundings from the houseboaat....

Tugu Malang: "One of the best"

not just in Malang, but period...speaking of period, it is a period hotel, filled with antiques, interesting objets d'arte, good food in the resto (and wonderful service), a great gift and antique shop and and wonderful food shop with local delicacies. I last visited 2 years ago and almost forgot just how special the place is, including the service (John, thank you once again!), how comfortable the rooms are (they are idiosyncratic) and how altogether delightful a stay here is. It's a 5 minute walk from the bird mkt and plant stalls and that's a real plus if that's of any interest to you at all.