Guest Reviews

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Best lodge in Pokhara… if not the whole of Nepal"

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge was by far the best place we stayed in our month long trip to Nepal. Marcus was a fantastic host, and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay the best ever. The lodge itself is beautiful and the view will definitely make you want to outstay your visit!

Cuca: "Great, creative dinner"

We came here for some cocktails outside and then dinner at the chef's table. The drinks were very good and very creative! The food was delicious and I also think creative and well thought out. The service could not be better either! We enjoyed the chefs table. The restaurant outside and table seating looked very nice, but it was different sitting at the chefs table and they briefly explain the dish and answer any questions when they bring it to you. Additionally, our servers also seemed very knowledgeable on the dishes being served. Pricing was good. You will always pay a bit more for nice cocktails, but they were worth it and I don't think overpriced compared to other places. The food is very reasonable for what you get. Highly recommend stopping in Cuca whether for a full meal or cocktails and snacks as it's all tapas style!

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Very nice place"

Perfect location near by the river Khan, and so close the center with all shops, restaurants and bars. Warm welcome. Rooms having a very good value for money. Plus, we had a nice meal at the restaurant. Friendly staff and kind manager Christopher.

MesaStila: "Hidden treasure – a lovely escape"

"Our party of 19 stayed at this amazing resort on the last leg of our trip. The MesaStila is housed on a vast area that was once a coffee plantation. Imagine lush greenery, manicured lawns and beautifully landscaped plants. These grounds are peppered with bungalows of varying sizes with some having connecting doors. This proved useful for all the kids in the party to visit each others' rooms. We also had the privilege of staying at the Bellavista (also referred to as the Presidential Suite). This palatial residence has a living room large enough to house all 19 of us for dinner without feeling cramped. The amazing staff obliged to our request to have room service served there because of the kids were too tired to head to the restaurant for dinner. The living area also proved useful for group discussion sessions and a good game of hide and seek. The bedrooms were equally mind blowing with the ornate four poster beds and sunken baths. A beautiful blend of antiques and modern requirements - copper sinks and faucets, flat screen TV, wooden bar locks, electric kettle and a bar fridge. The resort kindly obliged to our request for extra beds as some of us had 3 in a group. The rooms were large enough to accommodate the bed without it feeling like space was compromised, The other villas has a variety of bedding combinations including one with a loft bed! Within the Resort, the Hammam Spa was a wonderful escape as I opted for the 90min Intensive Massage Therapy. My therapist managed to work through my knots from the previous day's hike and left me feeling so refreshed, I was tempted to add another 90 minutes! Breakfast is served daily at Java Green. There is a decent selection of local and international food (try to chicken porridge!) but the one thing you must not miss is the daily dose of Jamu (Indonesian Traditional Herbal Drink) served by the loveliest little lady at the entrance of the restaurant. There are several concoctions to choose from - be warned, some taste better than others - but they're all good for the system. And if the lady's appearance is anything to go by, I'd be happy to drink the stuff daily! If you're wondering what to do at the resort, here's a list of stuff we tried: Cycling through the Padi fields and taking a soak at the local ""hot spring"" at the end of the ride The Coffee Plantation tour - very educational with more than just coffee to see Take a swim in the lovely pool Relax at the SPA Play pool at the bar Read a nice book at the clubhouse Ask about the Jeep tour to Merapi (Indonesia's most active volcano) Visit the amazing Borobudur Plenty to see and do! There's also stuffwe didn't have time to try, like batik painting, learning to play the Gamelan, morning Yoga sessions, pony rides, etc. Check with the Reception for the daily activity schedules. While the 8 parents on the trip were quite awestruck by the place, I also have to add that we had 11 boys with us - all aged 12 and some were slightly spooked by the ornate architecture and furnishings when we arrived on the first night. The city boys having just left a rather modern upmarket hotel did take a while to get used to the antiquated outlook of the place. That said, they were very happy to run around once the sun came up and once familiarity set in, they were a bit sad to leave after 3 nights there. I would recommend the establishment for couples, anyone in need of peace and quiet, people who appreciate old architecture or just someone in need of a slightly different holiday."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Heritage and cultural luxury"

"Built around 1840 and now providing public accommodation, this is the luxury with character missing in today's 5 (or more) star hotels. From the old fashioned door key to the huge rooms furnished to transport you back in time, the centre open courtyard with photos of those from the past or the 'day beds' along the courtyard wings to relax in, this is 'what's old is new again'. The bathroom and shower facilities are modern 'western' but still set in the decor of yesteryear. Breakfast à la cart can be a little slow but gives time to relax, enjoy the ambience and enjoy the many self serve offerings. Located in the old town area, further history and the delights of Georgetown are just out the gate"

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Stylish camping amidst the rice field and tropical jungle"

"We stayed 5 nights over the Christmas period with our 8 yo boy. A beautiful location amidst the rice fields and jungle. Our tent has a amazing infinity pool facing the jungle. The tent from South Africa was very well designed . If you stay in the suite tents , they are air conditioning but over our stay we never has to turn it on as we much prefer the naturally cool breeze of the jungle and it was never too hot and can even get a little chilly in the early morning if it rained over the night. There is no TV and the only other electrical appliances in the tent are the fans and lightings which was perfect for us as we are looking for natural living experience away from the city. We never have any issues with bugs or mosquitoes during our stay , in fact we got more mosquitoes at a luxury villa we stayed after sandat in Sanur. The team at sandat did a good job in keeping the compound clean , although you do get ants , other insects and geko but then this is part of the charm of the camping experience albeit a glamorous one. So if you are looking for a urban 5 stars hotel experience this is not for you. All the staffs are friendly and helpful and always ready to do their best to make your stay a happy one. The breakfast is adequate but could be improved with more choices although I understand it is never easy with a small property of only 8 tents to do a interesting buffet. Perhaps it's better if they could offer by order ala carte menu breakfast. Free shuttle to and back from ubud centre is offered by request, and we never have to wait too long and the drivers are always happy to do their best to drop you off anywhere in ubud when they are not busy. Overall, I feel this is a property run with heart to do their best for their guests and given the tent settings and location they are doing a good job. I have stayed at other similar accommodation like Soneva Kiri that are more luxurious but then again it's not fair to compare given the price differential. I would highly recommend sandat if you are looking for a experience to live close to nature and a peaceful break from urban life. I truly missed the sound and smell of the jungle sleeping in the tent. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5."

Locavore: "Simply amazing"

Off to Locavore with a friend who. Had been twice before ,no clues given but just told it would be stunning ......Well how fantastic is this restaurant....OMG ...have eaten at Sepia in Sydney and Vue de Monde in Melbourne....Need I say any more ,but I will ......From the moment you arrive till you leave its a fantastic theatre.of food ,presented in the most artistic way .every dish seems to arrive with great flourish and a chef to explain what your about to taste ........I Don't know if the food is created for each plate ,jug,bowl,etc or they are created for the food ,But such a amazing collection I'd like to take each piece home with me ....Won't talk about the food or the wines as I feel you have to experience it for yourself.....To finish ,Great attentive team members,fantastic food ,casual relaxed decor..So next time your in Ubud it's a must ...So good going back on Saturday !!!!!! Does that tell you all .

Manda De Laos: "Luxury dinner but good quality"

This was the first restaurant we tried. Perfect for couples with romantic atmosphere. One of the most expensive restaurant in Laos I would say, but the food is worthy.

Slow Villas and Spa: "The BEST place in Gili Air"

Slow is simply the BEST place to stay in Gili Air. Effortlessly chic it is a paradise to go back to at the end of your dives or beach activity. Julie knows absolutely everything there is to know about the gilis and is there to help. The villas have their own private plunge pools, garden, kitchenette and a great bed: the perfect recipe for success. The spa is amazing. A bit of heaven on earth.

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Wonderful stay!"

It's as though we walked on the the set of "Out of Africa" with all the period pieces. Great location, staff,room was neat,clean and spacious. It's off the beaten track but then again most of the great places are.