Guest Reviews

Tugu Lombok: "Amazing location, great staff and stunning beaches"

"After an amazing week in Bali my wife and I flew to Lombok and made our way to Hotel Tugu with high expectations, and boy did it deliver! The amazing location, friendly staff and stunning beaches were the epitome of paradise. It has to be one of the most calming places I have ever visited. As it was our honeymoon we splashed out on a Bhagavat Villa which was the icing on the cake. An enormous villa with an outdoor bathroom, private pool and direct access to the beach. It also had the biggest bed I've ever seen! It truly is a stunning hotel with excellent staff and gets a 10/10 from me and the Mrs. Tip #1 - It's a long drive form the airport to Hotel Tugu. Rather than taking our chances on a local taxi company we contacted the hotel prior to our arrival and arranged a taxi directly with them. It was a really nice car, the driver spoke English and it helped us to relax from the moment we stepped off the pane. Tip #2 - The next hotel we stayed at was on Gili Trawangan. The hotel arranged a boat transfer directly from the beach (right outside our room) to Gili T. What a way to say goodbye!"

Tugu Lombok: "10/10!"

"My partner and I stayed at Tugu hotel in late September for a week and just could not speak highly enough of the place. It doesn't have the 'grand entrance' like other more commercial resorts do, but that really does work to Tugu's advantage, as it is like no other hotel you'll stay at. To make it easy for anyone deciding whether to stay here in the future, here is a list of pros and cons: Pros: - There is a lot of work gone into this hotel to make it very unique, for example; the owner/ designer has purchased many pieces of traditional antique statues from all over the show (large and small) that are randomly situated around the hotel grounds with stories all about them in regards to their history and culture. - There's a very authentic/ traditional vibe, which you cant help but feel immersed in and inspired by - The food is great. It's not a regular buffet breakfast, they make everything for you personally. P.S - The Jackfuit Curry is a must! P.P.S - I'm vegan and the staff more than catered to my needs by removing certain ingredients for me with no hassle. - Even though the place was fully booked, it never felt crowded, which made the whole stay more relaxing and enjoyable. You never had to fight for a sunbed or table etc. - The private beach is beautiful...those crystal azure blue waters that you see on postcards type of deal... (although not the best at low tide for swimming from the coral). - Lastly I would say, the staff are what made the stay just so memorable. They go out of their way to do anything to make you have a great time. At the end when we drove away, there were about 6 of them that waved us off! I almost felt emotional because they treated us like family (and I was so sad to leave)! Cons: - There's nothing really around in close vicinity to this resort (not really a con for us because the hotel is so amazing you don't really need to leave) but for the more adventurous/ partying types - this could be a negative maybe? In saying that, you can hire scooters and venture out. All in all I give Tugu the biggest thumbs up. My partner and I always talk about our stay there and how much we want to go back!"

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Dale"

2015 review, this place is heaven :)🎂 stayed in front left room was so nice I wonder if the original color was white but the blue is fine, it's peaceful but we did get hit by lightening the night before we left, well the mansion did and the paintings fell off the wall hehe☺

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."

Arumdalu: "Resort with an awesome beach front"

An amazing private Resort with wonderful personalized service where you can have a peaceful and quiet time. The beach was really clean with fine white sand and not forgetting the many instagrammable spots. Op for the private dome at Sahang Beachfront Resto for a wonderful dining experience where you will definitely get serenaded by the waves.

Villa Song Saigon: "Superb!"

Wow! I don't even know where to start! It was the lap of luxury. It oozed style, chic and elegance. The large French colonial style fans in the rooms and hallways created a wonderful atmosphere. Our room was large and stylish. The swimming pool area was immaculately clean and well attended with constant supplies of ice water. The breakfast was absolutely exceptional. We were looked after by Freddie who put a lot of effort and personal touch into serving us. Regular speed boat free shuttle into the city centre means you are just minutes from the buzz of Ho Chi Minh. I would definitely recommend this hotel

Nimmu House: "beautiful home stay"

"beautiful heritage property with all modern amenities. The tiny entrance itself speaks about its character. French touch to Ladhki house was pretty fusion. Tents were also beautiful. Our Hostess Sonam was also very hospitable. A lovely feel over all."

Mathis Retreat: "Hasn’t Changed with Ownership Change"

"We have just returned after 4 years for a 3 night stay and the Mathis Retreat is just as beautiful as it was when it was Kenanga. Many of the staff are the same and are delightful. This time we stayed in a bungalow instead of a deluxe room and it was beautiful. You don't have the rice paddy views from the bungalow but they are only a few steps away from either the pool or restaurant. The included breakfast was delightful. We only ate at the Terracotta restaurant twice this time other than breakfast each day. This visit we found some of the menu items not available which was a shame. I also found my favourite cocktails were not available because of a missing liquor. The only other changes I noticed were no ""happy hour"" which was a little disappointing and no complimentary afternoon tea which I had previously found to be a lovely touch. These small things are not enough to deter me from staying at this beautiful place and I have in fact already booked a return visit. If you are looking for a peaceful, beautiful place to stay that is situated amongst the rice paddies then Mathis Retreat is the answer. Absolutely love it."

Rachamankha: "Perfect stay"

I stayed here for 4 nights. The hotel is idyllic, calm and peaceful. The architecture and grounds are stunning and perfect for relaxation. I loved the lounge area which was ideal to relax in after a day's sightseeing in Chiang Mai. I was delighted by breakfast - well made, great choice and beautifully dressed tables which made for a lovely start to the day. Rooms are spacious and decorated with antique furniture. The bathroom could do with some updating. I also ate in the restaurant one evening - there were not many guests so quiet but the northern Thai food was delicious. The service at the hotel was great. My stay in Rachamanka really made for a great trip to Chiang Mai - loved it !

Heritage Suites Hotel: "Perfect Place to Spend the Rest of My Life… If only I could."

My sister and I shared a bungalow suite and felt very much like queens. She's used to 5-star service, but I'm still a little awe-struck. The room was large with a sitting room, private outside area, and a large king sized bed, with a sturdy mattress and high quality bedding. The service was wonderful. While all of the staff were friendly and helpful, stand-outs for our stay were Sim and Sippa. They were both very attentive to our needs, and suggested things when we asked questions, and Sippa was able to find several options when we told her we wanted to see an Apsara dance. Breakfast is included and is delicious. The coffee was wonderful, the fruit ripe and tasty and the mini croissants and pain-au-chocolats crafted the French way. We ate at the restaurant for dinner once, and we all loved the food. I'm a vegetarian and the chef made sure I could eat eggs and added one to my rice and veggie dish. Tip- get the passion fruit sorbet. To Die For. The pool was lovely and we had drinks two afternoons in a row sitting by the pool. We also got massages while there- they are excellent for relaxing massages but if you're going in for some kind of sports, technical, injury related massage, my advice is to wait for your regular masseuse and enjoy their relaxing massages, which are very good. We had a wonderful time and hope to return one day. The return flight about killed me, but this place is worth another visit.