Guest Reviews

Tugu Bali: "Charming Hotel – really makes you want to stay in Bali"

This boutique hotel is Bali at its finest- excellent service, gorgeous rooms, wonderful food, and traditional Balinese antiques incorporated flawlessly into the property. We were warmly greeted upon arrival by Putu, who was more than attentive and helpful for the entire duration of our stay. He made sure everything was ready for us, including our drop-off to the airport, and even gave us a tour of the art around the properly. Our room was comfortable, spacious and charming, complementing the rest of the hotel with antique art pieces on display right in the room. Every member of the staff greeted us with a smile and accommodated every small request. Extra perks make this boutique hotel special- like the freedom to have breakfast wherever we wanted. We chose to have our breakfast in a cabana overlooking the beach and every detail was taken care of, plus the food was delicious! This hotel made our Bali experience thoroughly enjoyable and we would definitely visit again.

Reverie Siam Pai: "Faultless"

"My partner and I stayed at this establishment for 4 nights in October and I am so happy that we chose to come here. This was the end of trip through Vietnam and Cambodia and we both agree that this hotel was one of our highlights. We initially chose the hotel as it is slightly out of Pai which suited as it meant we could dip in and out of the town when we wanted. We had a mountain view room which was gorgeous. The room is decorated in such a way that you feel comfortable straight away and we loved the eccentric little pieces dotted around and attention to detail. The shower was amazing! The actual ground were also amazing and so lovely to walk round. The hidden pavilion is lovely in the daytime to sit by the river, and lit up by fairy lights in the evening it is a beautiful and romantic retreat. But the real thanks must go to the staff. The girls that served our meals were so polite as friendly, they really would go out of their way to help you. The boys that drove the shuttle into town always had a smile on their faces. And without a doubt a huge thank you to the cocktail mixologist boys who made out stay. Their signature cocktails are absolutely amazing and the effort they put into them is second to none. They deserve an award for their skills! Thank you Reverie for a truly memorable stay. And if you are considering whether to stay here all I can say is just book it, you won't regret it."

Villa Song: "Beautiful boutique hotel"

"This hotel is an old french colonial building on the banks of the Mekong river in District 2. The rooms are beautiful. By circumstance, we had the opportunity to experience three different rooms in the hotel. The Riverview rooms have a better view, but are noisier with the restaurant below. The garden/pool side rooms are quiet and the view of the garden is lovely, but beyond that into the distance it's just a neighbourhood view which is nothing special. The restaurant serves excellent food - I was actually surprised how wonderful everything we ate there was. There is a free shuttle boat into the city, which is a nice perk."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Ethical safari company and wonderful staff; game safaris are a bonus! A++++"

"Summary: If you want a unique and special experience – come and stay here! Seeing a leopard is just a bonus! The safaris, the camp, and the team are brilliant. The company is ethical, environmentally-minded and the staff is knowledgeable, professional and passionate. You will not regret glamping, going on safari and generally having a brilliant time. I would recommend Noel Rodrigos Leopard Safaris to anyone and everyone! We went on a few safaris during our time in Yala but Leopard Safaris was so superior in every sense of the word! My only regret was not staying longer!!! I recently stayed with my husband and 8-year-old son. After a short drive from the pick area, we got received with a warm welcome and a cold towel. Well, Noel Roderigo’s Leopard Safaris, you had me at cold towel.... it continued to get better and better from there. We got a fresh coconut drink and then shown to our tent. The tent Hailing from Australia we are very used to camping. Often, we just throw down a swag or a very thin mattress on the ground. Glamping is the ultimate in camping – you get a real bed and awesome amenities. You get the excitement of camping with the creature comforts. It makes the entire experience so special. The fact that everything is ecological friendly makes this experience even more unique. The fact they have NO plastic made me so proud of them! What a wonderful thing to do and it just shows that Noel walks the talk of eco-tourism! I would say that getting the tent with the a/c is probably a good idea during hot times of the year. We got the unairconditioned tent and we did sweat a bit. Each ‘bedroom’ and the main area did have a small fan and you did get some air flowing through the tent too. If I had to have one criticism, it was the tent zips. I can see how this would be a hard thing to maintain. Sometimes when you closed the tent the zip would pop open. You could do it but you had to have a few goes. Cuisine Wow, just wow! The meals were some of the best we had during our 2.5 months in Sri Lanka. The chef also made a non-spicy variety for our super fussy son. Our son didn’t eat it but that is no reflection on his cooking ability, as our son doesn’t eat much other than bread! Following each meal, there was an interesting explanation of the ingredients or the meals. They were all traditional Sri Lankan meals and utterly delicious. If you do not cope with spice, as one of the other visitors didn’t, you might want to mention this. It was hot and spicy but that is the way we love it! Each meal was different and the selection interesting. The amount of food was generous. They also source all food locally. Each meal was set up at a different location within the camp and it was beautifully decorated each time. Our son absolutely loved making the string hoppers with the traditional press. You do need to realise you are eating under the stars, literally, and I had bugs come say hello. I am not sure why they decided I was the most exciting. But if you fear bugs, I would say maybe you need to go to a more sterile environment! The camp The entire camp was rustic, practical but also gorgeous. There were many areas just to relax and wind down. At night, it was utterly beautiful - You had small lights guiding you everywhere in the camp at night. The lounge/bar area was beyond beautiful during the day but at night, it was light up with candles and was perfect. We got some light snacks, again delicious and wound down with a wine or beer. Its a really nice way to relax prior to dinner. My husband did open the portable A/C unit in this area and did end up jumping about 10 feet into the air when a small brown snake sprung out of the unit at great speed! It was just exciting and great to see that nature was so chilled it popped in for a swim. It could be free and wild even in the camp! The snake was not dangerous. They were building a new addition - a pool! That will be an unreal addition! I can imagine how relaxing that will be. Ecological and ethically minded tourism Everything about Leopard Safaris is well thought out and has a purpose, yet looked awesome too! You can feel good about staying here. Often I feel a little sick when I see water in plastic bottles, here they stored in glass bottles in the camp and in metal bottles on game drives! What a novel idea! It really should be the NORM!! Electricity is from solar panels and a dual battery system in their safari jeeps. When they are driving it will recharge a battery, how cool is that?! I looked around and everywhere was “reduce, reuse and recycle”. You drink from jars, the basins are upcycled from pots, the fences and bridges are from fallen branches etc. etc.I could go on and on about these examples. As I said before, there is no plastic anywhere! You even had a sink that filtered the tooth paste you spat into the small basin! Our son also got to plant a tree in the camp. It was a lovely touch and great to teach kids about carbon footprint in a practical sense. Plus in the future, you can come visit ‘your’ tree. The company also funds a number of environmental and community programs. Just prior to our safari I was reading about them giving aid to those affected by the 2017 floods - transporting supplies. Again, they walk the talk! It is so refreshing to see! We did have one somewhat unnerving experience. The farmer next door used a VERY loud firework to scare away the elephants 4 or 5 times. We had a mobile to call the team but I think maybe they should have called us to say, “don’t worry the world is not ending”. It was so loud! Plus, I could hear the elephant breaking the trees and I am unsure how close it got but the farmer needed to set off way too many to scare the elephant away. It added to the excitement but I am not sure how great that is for the elephants. We got told it was an unusual occurrence though, as the fence near the camp had been broken a few days earlier. Safaris As I said, the safaris are just the bonus! Even though the leopard did elude us, I know we were very close a number of times. It didn't matter though (well I did want to see one!) but we saw countless other animals and birds, and we had an utterly wonderful experience. A highlight was a crocodile trying to climb a tree to get away from an angry buffalo! The Jeep – was very comfortable, drink bottles, cold drinks in an Esky, snacks, guide books and binoculars. It was well maintained and comfortable. Our Naturalist/Guide – Saamera He is a wonderful person and guide. He is so passionate about wildlife conservation and it really showed. He is very engaging and has excellent English. He is well versed and well educated about wildlife. I really enjoyed talking to him at length about conservation during our meals. He has the world’s most sensitive ears and was constantly on the lookout for signs of leopards and all other wildlife. It was great that he also didn’t talk all the time. Silence is golden at times. He had the mix right. If we asked a question, he answered with knowledgeable answers. Again, comparing to other “guides” we met who clearly made up the answers. The driver – Praneeth He was such a great driver. Actually, he was amazing! He drove at a reliable speed and it was comfortable. I felt like he could have a lot to offer in terms of guiding too, he clearly knew his stuff. He heard so many noises and looked for tracks, and knew all the cues. Other jeeps you can just see screaming around the place with no purpose. The team Saamera and Praneeth worked together and would discuss where to go next if they heard a noise that meant leopards were near. You could tell they liked working together. I feel bad I do not know everyone’s name but everyone was great! I guess my only criticism is – where are the chicks at? Maybe they are a distraction? Haha. Either way! I think having some females around the camp would be great! All that said, I would have loved to have met the “Master” himself, Noel! In his absence, his team does a great job. Conclusion We did a 1-night safari with 2 game drives and I really wish we did 2 nights. 1 night was just not enough! I cannot wait to return to see the leopards that did elude us! We were so close several times hearing many warning calls. I would love to return one day soon and even try out the Wilpattu glamping location you offer. I already know the level of care, service, and diligence will be sensational. Thank you, Noel, Saamera and the entire Leopard Safaris team! You are head and shoulder above 99% of the other operators out there. Please do not ever change your spots!"

Talabgaon Castle: "A night with the maharajah"

Prior to my departure to India I went on their website to see what to expect and what I saw was very appealing and filled me with great expectations. These were more than realised as the reality of the place is quite simply enchanting. First there is the imposing and stylish and elegant archway that you have to go through, then the splendour of the building reveals itself with in front of it a manicured garden. After that it is sheer enjoyment of the senses as you go through courtyards, reading rooms with imposing chandelier. I felt an incredible sense of peace there helped in that respect by the most exotic room that I have ever stayed something of the Arabian nights. The staff is locally employed and will do their best for you. The food is nice. Walking through the garden it was a pleasant surprise to encounter an emu. Whilst there I would recommend the camel ride going through the village and surroundings as it gives you the chance to be up close with the villagers who will extend to you the most enthusiastic of welcome. I left this place the following day with only one regret and that is that I would have wanted to stay there a bit longer.

Tugu Bali: "Mr Roni Braitanbaum"

"It was an amazing experience . The staff were so professional and polite and try all the time to make sure we are ok . The variety of art collection is amazing .The facilities were so comfortable and clean . The rooms were very large with outdoor shower and fish pond . The food was great. I highly recommend to stay in the Bali Tugu."

Le Passe-Temps: "A gem, timeless, perfect for a honeymoon"

The Pastime is our great discovery this year. Cozy, well located, with stunning views over the bay of Krabi, we were more than happy with my husband to a stage at Olivier and Kiet, the owners of Hobby, for a few days during our honeymoon. Their welcome was exemplary and friendly, the rooms are decorated with taste, the food is delicious and the proposed activities are varied, reasonably priced. The place is suitable also for great encounters with other travelers around an evening cocktail. In short, a little paradise that it was very difficult to leave! One thing is sure, if we go back to Thailand, we will not fail to iron home ..

David’s Kitchen: "Birthday"

I went there yesterday solo and it was the best decision that I ever made . The staff was so friendly and very professional. Almost like an white glove dining but the price is so much friendly . The owner David is very kind, he came to my table personally to say hi and sing happy birthday song to me . The food was excellent . Best pumpkin soup and escargots!! Everything else was also very delicious. Best restaurant in Chiangmai and I can't wait to bring my family and friends there one day .

Reverie Siam Pai: "Oasisd"

We’ve stayed for 2 nights @ Reverie Siam Resort and all of us truly enjoyed it. We booked a Villa Family which was enormous in size. The Villa was well maintained, clean and equipped with a super comparable mattress. 👍👍👍👍👍

Villa Song Saigon: "Great hotel away from the center"

Colonial villa with smart decor. Lovely big swimming pool. Located next to the river. Enjoyed the complimentary 10 minute boat ride to center of Ho Chi Minh. Excellent restaurant. A la carte extensive breakfast menu in a lovely setting. We had two adjoining rooms with a sitting room inbetween overlooking the river. Third floor no lifts so you needed to be able to manage stairs although I think there were rooms on ground floor. Lovely atmosphere and very attentive staff.