Guest Reviews

Villa Song Saigon: "Great stay– lived up to the hype"

"We were happy to leave our original hotel in district one and book a last minute two nights at Villa Song. The area has a few great spots for eating and shopping (Dolphy for coffee and Banh Mi 362). It's about a 20 minute walk into the heart of things but we really enjoyed the scenery and slower place of things. It was a really nice contrast from district one and the tourist zone. The hotel is beautiful, on a river, and the boat ride is a great alternative to viewing the rapidly expanding city of Saigon. The cab ride back home later at night was $7-8. Easy! We'd head in on the 11:30 AM boat, do touristy stuff, take a later boat back to the hotel, and then go back out later on the 6 pm boat and cab back to the hotel later. It was not too inconvenient and it was very worth it to not feel the stress of getting run over by a motorbike for a solid few hours. Also, the pool! So much more serene, private and clean than the rooftop pools in HCMC. Also, there are only 23 rooms in the hotel, so you're not fighting for pool space. The service was fantastic, as was the food. Vietnamese breakfast options were the bomb. We loved the braised beef and egg noodle soup and the chicken congee. Great fresh squeezed OJ. Stay here!"

Arumdalu: "Calming Escape from Urban Life"

"If you ever find yourself in a sea-tuation in need for a peaceful green retreat and a doze of Vitamin Sea, then the answer you're looking for is Arumdalu Private Resort in Belitung. My first-ever trip to Belitung and Arumdalu surpassed all my expectations of a private resort in a small developing island- less known than Bali. We stayed a total of three days and two nights. Absolutely ah-ma-zing! Throughout our stay, the staff members are all very friendly, extremely polite, and offer helpful services 24/7. On my very first night, we were having trouble with the wifi connection from our multiple devices. It was past midnight when I called the front desk for assistance. The receptionist assisted us for a long time over the phone and maintained his professionalism all throughout. We were very thankful for his patience and kindness. The whole facility is really gorgeous, with beautiful architectural details and greenery. Everything seems to be thoughtfully designed and managed for the sole purpose of comfort and privacy. This place offers absolute privacy (underlined and bolded.) On top of its general secluded location and the private beach, each villa is designed with complete privacy in mind: gated entrance, dense greenery as partitions between villas, and a personal swimming pool. There is also a sense of exclusivity through minimal interaction with the staff on daily basis. For instance, there is no specific timeframe for room cleaning service and the staff wouldn't knock on your door to clean up your space. Everything is only a phone call away. How convenient! Another highlight is ‘Sahang Beachfront’ restaurant. The restaurant evokes a strong cozy ambiance. The wooden glassed space with home-styled table decorations creates an extremely familiar intimacy. The veggies and fruits used as ingredients are organically grown and freshly picked from in their own garden. Bottom-line: the food here is worth the calories to satisfy your palate. Personal side note, as an architect that values design and craftsmanship as well as an avid believer of living a sustainable lifestyle, I feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction staying in a resort that proactively shows and promotes its core values of their thoughtful quality design and eco-friendliness. Oh! Did I mention that I saw 6 dolphins by the shore while waiting for sunrise? Such a therapeutic comfort. Personally recommend Arumdalu to those seeking for a calming luxurious natural escape from urban life Stayed February 2017, traveled with family"

The Village House: "Mr and Mrs Smith style boutique hotel"

"Myself and a friend stayed at The Village House for one night a couple of weeks ago, and we both left saying that we could have stayed for much longer. If I go back to Borneo I intend to stay there for at least a week! The room was lovely and clean, modern, unpretentious and very comfortable. The bathroom was big, with a powerful shower. It was quiet and felt safe and secure. The hotel has a lovely pool, which has lots of nice plants and trees around it that give it a great deal of character. The restaurant and 'bar' area is around the pool, we ate both lunch and supper at the hotel as there is nowhere else around (I believe the closest restaurant is a 5km drive away), but eating at the hotel was the best decision anyway, as their food is some of the best we had over the course of the trip, which is high praise in Malaysia! The beach is about 2 minutes away from the hotel on foot, it is huge and quite striking with lots of trees and deadwood on the beach. The sea was extremely warm, it is quite shallow for a long way out, so perhaps not the best if you want a real dip. Sadly I was attacked by a jelly fish so my swim was abruptly ended. According to the hotel they are not that rare, but not dangerous, perhaps not the best place from swimming though! Overall I found it comfortable, the staff were lovely and helpful, and I would highly recommend its restaurant. If you are looking for somewhere with lots of bars and restaurants, however, this is not the area for you!"

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Amazing food"

Have been here twice - once for lunch and once for a special dinner. Both times were amazing - the setting is beautiful, service amazing and the food (the real treasure of the place). High quality and tasty - food that I could get in Europe (which is hard to find in Myanmar). The set menu was pricey but worth it - truffle ravioli and lamb come highly recommended. The chocolate fondant is amazing too!

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "a Charming and nostalgic elegant retreat in Penang"

"This is my 3rd stay at Cheong Fatt Tze in 10 years Not only the building is beautifully restored and maintained, but a lot of efforts have been put to improve comfort in the rooms (new refurbished) and facilities (new garden and pool , new bar...) The Manager Daniel has done a great job with him team for attention to service and friendliness Impressive improvements. congratulations to all... We will be back!"

Discover Muang La | Visit Laos | Luxury & Boutique Hotel: "A great resort in Northern Laos"

We had no idea what to expect but the resort proved to be beautiful. It is at the confluence of two rivers and has its own hot water spring. The staff are delightful, the gardens lovely and the rooms outstanding. But in fact the best feature of all is the food. The breakfast is fine but it is the set five course dinner which stars - a fascinating fusion of Lao and Western tastes. Lovely herbs and spices but not too much chilli! It is difficult to get to but well worth the effort. Highly recommended for those who want to get away from it all in great comfort amid stunning scenery.

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Dejligt hotel med super service"

Jeg har aldrig før oplevet et hotel med så god, venlig og afslappet atmosfære! Hotellet har kun 9 værelser, men iøvrigt swimmingpool og dejlige øvrige faciliteter. Også en lille dejlig restaurant med dejlig morgenmad og frokost - prøvede ikke aftensmaden. Værelset var stort, rent og med dejligt badeværelse og altan med udsigt mod poolen og floden og selve byen på den anden side af floden. - De sørger for transport frem og tilbage over floden i en lille båd, der altid er disponibel. - Personalet er utroligt venligt og hjælpsomt. - Håber meget på at komme tilbage til denne lille perle, hvor jeg virkelig følte mig hjemme i afslappende omgivelser.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Amazing trip, missed out on boat ride"

I really enjoyed this trip, it was the most fun i ever had for such a long time. The staffs were amazing and so polite and the hotel in itself was a sight to be amazed by. I stayed in the hotel for 3 days but it was the best 72 hours i ever experienced. I really do hope to come again

Talabgaon Castle: "A countryside oasis"

The resort is about an hour out of Jaipur in truly rustic rural surroundings. The castle has been very tastefully restored and the entire property is very well maintained. Being a small resort, it is idea as a very peaceful getaway. The food is very good.

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Luxury camping and safari experience"

"Staying at NRLS camp is a complete experience. The luxury tented accommodation includes a comfortable king size bed ( air conditioning available in some), with separate bathroom ( hot shower, basin & toilet)- it is well appointed & clean. The tents are private and set amongst the trees (we were visited by several monkeys- which were not annoying). Full board included all meals, snacks & drinks, which were served in a family/dinner party type arrangement- allowing us to have wonderful chats and conversations with other travellers. Food was mainly authentic Sri Lankan- beautifully presented & excellent quality. Staff were courteous & friendly. Of course, the highlight was the safaris ( two per day). Our guide was outstanding - knowledgeable about Yala National Park and the Sri Lankan wildlife, responsive to our questions, flexible with our requests and he offered helpful photographic tips too. The jeeps are clean & well equipped ( but as with 4 wheel drives expect to go over some bumpy roads & through water). During our 4 safaris, we were lucky to spot 2 leopards- one was a special sighting ( close up for about 15 minutes without any other jeeps present), several elephants and many birds. Unfortunately - no sloth bears sighted, but naturally there are no guarantees for wildlife encounters. Overall this was a fun experience & I would highly recommend it."