Guest Reviews

MATHIS RETREAT: "Quiet place in the rice fields"

"Beautiful hotel, very peacefull place. All staff are very kind. Special thanks to the manager Karine who is absolutely dedicated to her guests. Few minutes talk will make her understand exactly what you expect from your trip, and so she will advise you the best excursions and things to do. "

Villa Song: "Delightful hotel away from the crowds"

"This is a delightful boutique hotel away from the crowds of Ho Chi Minh City but with the benefit of regular speed boat shuttles to take you to the centre of town. The rooms are well appointed with luxurious amenities. The service is fantastic from the very helpful staff. The location is out of the centre of town but it's easy to get into the centre of town and the location on the river is very nice. Also, the local neighborhood has a number of restaurants, shops, tailors etc. The hotel concierge has a great list of activities and tours - all the ones we did we were great. Definitely recommend Villa Song."

Villa Song Saigon: "A Peaceful Retreat"

"Villa Song is a small boutique hotel with only about 12 rooms. The grounds and building itself are luxurious and full of style. Each room is quite different in terms of size and configuration, so it pays to be sure you know what you're booking. We asked if it was possible to move to another room shortly after check- in because there was only one small window in the room and the reception staff were very helpful in offering another room. The breakfast is menu style rather than buffet and is very good with plenty of options on offer. The food at bistro song where we had two evening meals was great. The shuttle boat service in to district 1 is very convenient and worth a return trip just for the river cruise. Thao Dien, District 2 is worth a look around with some obvious wealth on display in the neighbourhood homes. Not as many local eating options as district 1 but a lot of work going on in the area with plenty of new places opening all the time."

Tugu Bali: "So Relaxing! Right by the beach!"

I loved the ambiance of this place. You feel relaxed the moment you enter. I love how they do a daily coffee and tea with traditional Balinese cakes. The rooms are amazing! You get your own private pool along with a stunning outdoor bathroom. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a romantic getaway.

Slow Villas and Spa: "Wonderful 10 days at Slow Villas"

"We had a two week holiday from work mid January 2017 and despite it being the rainy season decided to book 10 days on Gili Air - mainly because we got such great rates on flights from London to KL with Malaysian Airways. We stayed in KL for a night and then took budget airline Air Asia (highly recommended also!!) out to Indonesia. We'd been to Bali before but not ventured out to the Gilis. We flew from KL to Lombok and had a private taxi transfer from the airport to the 'port' (the journey in a taxi is about an hour and half). We then had a private speed boat take us to the port on Gili Air, which took about 10 mins. Then it's a ride in a cidone (horse and trap) to Slow Villas. So all in all a trip with lots of modes of transport but we thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Glad for the stop over in KL though. We did the same on the way back and not only do you need this for the flight times but we did appreciate the rest and we're generally people who are pretty comfortable with long haul. So, on to Slow Villas... it's a beautiful setting and the architecture/layout/design has been done perfectly. It's perfect tranquil yet everywhere on Gili Air is within walking distance. The nearest beach was about a 10 minute walk and then there are three beach bars/restaurants immediately on from there. Lots of people cycle and there are bikes to hire from reception. To be honest through we only used them once and were more than happy to walk everywhere - it compensated for the holiday (over) eating!! We love exploring and heading off for a wander around the island was all part of the experience. It's a fabulous island with loads of cool places to eat and drink. The villa and our garden was lovely. We were in villa 3. We would often spend the morning in the pool and sunbathing in our private garden and then headed off to the beach for to find somewhere new for lunch. Our favourite food wise was the Italian Dolce Mare (we went twice) but the best for lunch on the beach and cocktails at sunset was Island View Beach Bar and Bungalows, which is the closest to Slow. Breakfast at Slow is wonderful, just how the pictures show it to be. I fell in love with their dragon fruit juices (go to Pachamama for their legendary dragon fruit and peanut butter smoothie!) and muesli with yogurt. Avocados weren't always available which was a tiny downer as their Aussie breakfast with toast and avocado was yummy but hey you're on holiday on a tiny island in Indonesia and you have a day of sun and sand ahead of you, nothing is really a big problem! Don't expect a proper cooked English breakfast but their cooked tomato mix, like a ratatouille is delicious. We also had the Indonesian BBQ one evening. My word this was absolutely delicious. So much food between us and just stunning. Seriously worth staying in one evening for. The staff at Slow are all really kind and respectful. Some have brilliant English, others not so but unless your Indonesian is up to scratch then a level of patience shouldn't be too much of a hardship. It's so true that a smile goes a long way. We also went to the Slow Spa which has been done so nicely, it's tranquil and beautifully designed. We didn't visit any of the others on the island but it's easy to tell just by looking from the outside that Slow Spa is the most professional and up to the standards you'd expect at home. The room had everything we needed. We loved the outdoor bathroom. And as for that 'rainy' season - it didn't bother us at all. Yes it did rain and there were two or three days that we didn't sunbathe but we went off exploring and sitting in some really cool bars drinking green tea, exotic fruit juices and smoothies and watching the world go by. The sun is very intense so a few days respite was valuable. We still had lots of days joining nothing but laying on the beach and came back with a brilliant suntan! Plus there's nothing like watching a tropical storm roll in whilst you're on the beach with a Bintag in hand. We actually preferred that to the sunsets sometimes. Amazing sunsets here are just so common place!!!! We booked a snorkelling trip through Slow - just the two of us and two boatmen/guides. We saw turtles off Gili Meno and Gili T within minutes of jumping in the water. We've been lucky enough to see turtles before but never this many or this easily. The snorkelling trip was the highlight of our time. We had lunch on Gili Meno and had another two snorkelling stops on the way back. The sunken boat and metal structures off Meno (not sure exactly what it was) was the BEST snorkelling I've ever done in terms of seeing tropical fish. It was like a fish super highway. I could have stayed in the water there for hours and hours. So in summary Slow Villas is without a doubt the best accommodation on Gili Air. We're not backpackers and wanted some luxury. It's in a great, quiet location but still easy to get everywhere (really - no where is far on Gili Air). The staff and management are really helpful. There is so much choice in terms of eating out and at different budgets that you never get bored and there are lots of people to meet when you're out and about. We loved every moment. Terima kasih Julie, Kara and Martin. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Anopura: "Still wonderful"

"We returned to Anopura after three years, and enjoyed it just as much as before. The remote setting is wonderful, the accommodation is excellent, and Ishwar and his team provide a wonderful service. Breakfast by the pool, lunch in the shade and dinner under the stars are all delightful, with fresh local ingredients. On a walk with Ishwar we got to meet some of the producers of the food we'd eaten in the days before. After five hectic weeks in Rajasthan this was a marvellous way to finish our trip. We would love to return again. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Satri House: "Wonderfully peaceful boutique hotel"

"Had a wonderful time at Satri house in late August for the first few days of our honeymoon. The whole hotel is full of the most fascinating antiques and curios, and is really beautifully designed. We stayed up in the Satri House suite, in the building where the prince of Laos used to sleep! The suite was so beautiful, and had a view over the serene swimming pool. If you are a fan of vintage and mid-century antiques, you will love it! Whilst staying at Satri House (due to it being the raining season) there were no other guests, so we were treated to the experience of staying in our 'own private mansion' with all of the fabulous and incredibly helpful staff there to cater for our every need. Just perfect! No matter the time of day or how late we had been out, we always returned to the hotel to find 4 people at the front desk ready to help us, and two behind the pool side bar, just in case we fancied ordering a drink! The food deserves special mention too. Dinner on the first night was delicious - lots of carefully crafted local specialities with 5* presentation. Although the hotel is set away from the main part of town, it's still within walking distance or a very easy 2 minute tuk tuk ride. We preferred being slightly further out as the peace and quiet was exactly what we wanted at the end of the day. "

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "OMG"

I cannot say enough good things about the Golden Buddha Beach Resort. I wanted a beach hotel that was secluded, just-the-right-amount-of-rustic, stylish, and on a deserted beach. We got it! The hotel’s website is intelligently discrete but its description is correct. Highlights: meeting the hotel manager (Massi), the hotel's French owner (so friendly!), the New Years Eve dinner buffet, and the massage. The only recommendation I would make: the main dishes at lunch and dinner could benefit from a vegetable side dish; vegetable side dishes should be offered on the menu; the pricing of food could be a tad more reasonable.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "rejuvinating natural splendour"

"At this point in your travels this is the perfect place to be. Whether you've just completed your travels over to begin a trek or are in the middle of your journey you're probably ready for some clean air, beautiful views and sophisticated but understated pampering. The lodge itself sits astride a mountain ridge outside Pokhara allowing views to the north (Himalyas) and south (Pokhara). If your expecting ""bling"" (flat screens etc) forget it. If your expexting a proper mountain lodge then this is it. Beautiful architecture, natural building materials, total comfort, privacy and unbelievable scenery. I stayed for 3 days and never tired of the food, on the contrary I was left wondering what's next. Every meal has a local or continental version impeccably prepared and served. The chef and many of the staff have been at the lodge since it opened and have the food, beverage and service dialled in. I know this might sound a little ridiculous but I spent 3.5 weeks travelling India and Nepal and this was my favorited place to spend a few days. I guess it was just the perfect place at the right time. Next year we are hoping to do a 2 week trek, this is where we plan to start and end, I can' wait. "

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Peace and tranquility"

Beautiful, beautiful, rural location. You feel completely out of touch of the modern world and utterly in touch with nature and your surroundings. Amazing spa, best massages of my life and beautiful products to be bought here. As a real yogi I loved the yoga on the beach every morning free of charge! The food was delicious and the staff were so accommodating to my slightly poorly stomach (from previously in my trip) and made me food of the menu to keep me perky!