Guest Reviews

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "What a wonderful cooking (and eating) experience"

"I visited Thahara Inle Heritage to take part in a culinary class with my group of seven; we were joined by another couple who also took part in the class. The head chef/director introduced himself and described the mission of Thahara Inle Heritage and the culinary school. We were provided a cup of herbal tea as well as an apron and a booklet containing the menu we were going to prepare along with the recipes for each item on the menu. We went through the gardens to select vegetables, and returned to the main classroom to start cooking. Each person was assigned one of the culinary students to assist with the cooking. I enjoyed learning about the goals of the students and how long they had been at the school. When I visited, there was 43 culinary students. I learned that the typical term is nine months for the students. I also loved sampling one of the ginger cookies that had been prepared by students. At each station we had two burners, as well as several ingredients which included turmeric, ginger & garlic, fresh crushed tomatoes, rice flower, fish and chicken. We started with a fish and eggplant soup by adding the fish to boiling water, then julienned the eggplant and added that to the water. After adding spices, we mashed the Gish and eggplant and returned them to the water. For each course, we followed the directions of the head chef (with the assistance of student chefs) to create a string bean salad, chicken curry and crispy tempura vegetable balls. We were then seated for dining and served our own dishes. Everyone enjoyed the food and the great experience. We were each given the menu and recipes as well as an apron. Such a great experience that supports Thahara Inle Heritage and provides participants with lasting memories. Stayed March 2016, traveled solo"

Villa Song: "Beautiful hotel, grounds and artwork."

Our family of 4 stayed in a suite with balcony. Bedroom area was a little cramped with one extra bed for our girls to share, lots of room in the entrance/bathroom/balcony though. Close enough to get to town with ease and so quiet and relaxing to come back to. Kids loved the pool and we really enjoyed our included massages. The artwork and attention to detail were lovely. Staff were great, super helpful. Would have liked to stay longer.

Villa Song Saigon: "Mattie Nason"

"Wonderful hotel with excellent service. We stayed in the Art room. I could sit on my bed with open windows and listen to the river, music from the restaurant and the feel the cool breeze after the evening rain. The extra cost for the larger room was worth it. Overall a good value. The food was excellent, breakfast was included and could be had any time during the day. The pool was a high light for me. On enough for serious laps and the perfect temperature. Open 27/7! All their recommendations were great too."

Dewakan: "The best restaurant n Malaysia and one of the best in the World"

"Not easy to find, but when you get to this beautiful cosy restaurant, only thing you have to do is ENJOY! I think I had one of the best dinner I ever had... Amazing! So creative, original, tasty, flavored... Chef Darren Deohis a genius! With a great young team around, in the kitchen and also to serve the guests. He prepared us a meal to pare with great Burgundy range, and it was just perfect! All local ingredients, including the best duck I ever had (and I al French, from South West...). This is the place to go (dinner only and not open on Sunday). Don't miss it. For me this may have at least 2 stars in Michelin Guide (3rd star will come with the service)... Just a last word: WOOOOWWWW!"

Maison Polanka: "Best hotel of our trip!"

"Maison Polanka is an incredible place. On our first evening there, we had a glass of bubbles as we watched the sky slowly turn to dusk and listened to the birds, the cicadas and the nearby monks singing -- total perfection. It was such a treat to be taken care of so well and in such a stunningly beautiful environment. We stayed for five nights in the Khmer house, which was great. Plenty of space, nice amenities, and kept nice and cool by the fans and AC. The staff worked with my husband to plan a fantastic birthday dinner for me, setting up a romantic private dining experience surrounded by candles and even ordering in a special birthday cake. We would recommend Maison Polanka to any traveler who is looking to experience Cambodia in serenity and luxury and in the care of a wonderful staff. Our biggest thanks to Cathy, Julie, Cune, Tuy La, Kong, Da, Som, Osa, Chan, Rithy, Seam, Sam, Sopharin, Thy, Sarin, Sopha, and the rest of the amazing team behind the scenes that make it such a special place."

Locavore: "EXQUISITE"

For what you pay for, you are getting a Michelin style restaurant meal. There were certain courses that did not hit it out of the park, but overall the dining experience was superb. Easily the highlight of my Bali trip.

NOEL RODRIGO’S LEOPARD SAFARIS: "Just amazing"

"We are a family of five and have been in several luxury lodges around the world so far and for that matter we are not easy to impress. But, the devotion to fulfill his guests’ expectations as seen in Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safari Camp is hard to mach. Everything is so well organized and you feel special from the first minute you arrive there. Since we are not used to such high temperatures and humidity, we were afraid how we will cope with that, but stepping in to an air-conditioned tent and cold, wet towels as a first thing when you step down from your jeep made our fears totally irrelevant. The tents and amenities are excellent, very clean and safe from bugs. Even if you never stayed in tents before, there is no reason to fear from lack of comfort. The touch of luxury that we found in our Luxury tent was in range of a five star hotel. You cannot admire enough the hard wood furniture and commitment to details that makes this tent an accommodation for royalties. This is a rare lodge where breakfast, lunch and dinner, could compete with any top restaurant (or a million star Michelin as Noel calls it since it's under the amazing starry sky). You can ask for a special menu for kids and if you are celebrating a special occasion, the staff will do their best to make it unforgettable. Even the birthday cake made in a jungle kitchen is not a problem for them.  The staff shows extensive knowledge on all the animals, but having Noel as a guide and driver is incomparable to any other. Noels lodge is a 20 minute drive from the park entrance Block 5, but the jeeps are comfortable and there are interesting things to see even on the way. The landscapes in the park are just breathtaking and beyond this world. The park is a treasure box for a birdwatchers. We love all the animals, but spoting leopard was our goal. Spoting animals in such a thick jungle is very difficult and it's not always easy to find one in an open space. But, Noel has a six sense for it and with him on the wheel, you cannot miss. His years of living in nature and his devotion to leopards taught him how to read signs, leopard footsteps and monkey alarms, to be able to bring his guests to amazing sights of animals in their natural habitat. The respect and love for nature that he and his staff are showing must surely impress you. And the passion he shows when he finds that leopard is just contagious. We saw leopards up close, sloth bears and many other animals, more then we could ever hope for. Of course, a camp like this, has its price and it´s a lot of money, but don't let the price be your main decision factor. In Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard safari camp you are buying something money can't buy - the love and passion for animals and nature and absolute commitment to every wish you might have during your stay in this camp. We returned home with some great pictures, unforgettable memories and I might say, friends for life. Thank you Noel and Cecile for making it happen! "

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Lovely stay"

Stayed for one night for my birthday, such a beautiful and iconic place to be. It is full of history and has more character than any other place I have stayed at. Breakfast and staff were lovely, would definitely stay again. A unique experience

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Unexpected luxury"

"This is a lovely boutique hotel that sits on Inle Lake. The service was wonderful, the staff friendly and helpful. All of our meals were included in the price of the room and the food was excellent. Our room opened onto the lake - very peaceful and the room was luxurious. The hotel has a program where it is training young men and women to work in the hotels with tourists. The student's education is at no charge. In addition the owner is trying to reintroduce Bumese cats into the country. About 39 cats are maintained on the property in a very nice inclosure. We opted for a guide, Min Min Tun, mmt.inle12061977@gmail.com, to shows us around the lake. We found this very helpful as it enabled us to see more then the usual tourist spots. I would return to this lovely place again and again. Room Tip: All the rooms are excellent"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise"

"This is Thailand's best kept secret. Charming and secluded and really really well run by Massi, the hotel manager. We were in heaven and are dreaming about our next visit. No tvs, no air conditioning, running water that smells a little due to minerals, but none of it matters when you are at the golden Buddha because you are drawn into a Robison Crusoe fantasy that you seldom find anywhere these days. Lots of nature and very little to do except enjoy the surroundings. Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"