Guest Reviews

MesaStila: "Beautiful jungle retreat with excellent service"

" came on a group retreat so my experience might not be the same as a general tourist, but had the most lovely stay with such friendly, attentive and thorough service. Our every need was catered for with such politeness and efficiency. We were in a big group with multiple events throughout our stay and complex logistical needs, and everything was made so easy thanks to the staff. The rooms themselves are very traditional and rustic, but beautifully fitted out. I had a huge four poster bed with a glorious bathroom complete with a big stone bathtub (and fresh rose petals everyday). The property is HUGE and is absolutely beautiful to explore - so much greenery, beautiful mountain views, a stunning infinite pool and comfortable common areas. The wifi is fairly reliable which was quite important for us - it would fall out every now and then but not take long to reconnect. The food on offer was traditional - quite a lot of options and always delicious. My only comment would be that it was generally quite flavoursome and heavy - there were generally options for dietary intolerances but in terms of plain ""clean eating"" it was a bit harder. Similarly, the place has gym facilities but they are very basic. Although when you come to MesaStila there is enough other physical activity to do without equipment - just go for a hike around the property! It's about 2 hours from the airport which was quite a trek, but the seclusion makes it worth it. About an hour from Borobudur but easy to organise transport through the hotel. Would definitely recommend a stay for a secluded, relaxing, retreat style holiday. The one thing that would be worth noting in advance - it is a Muslim area with many mosques surrounding it and at prayer times very early in the morning and again in the evening chanting can be heard quite loudly through amplified speakers. I didn't wake up to it overnight, but a lighter sleeper might need to invest in earplugs. It's part of the cultural immersion though, so we quite enjoyed it."

Villa Song Saigon: "Amazing"

This is the best hotel I've ever stayed at. From the food to the great staff, I couldn't ask for a better experience. We were greeted by the manager and staff with the utmost charm and led to an incredible room. The pool and the restaurant were amazing as well. If you're looking for a place to stay that is quiet and beautiful, choose Villa Song.

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Holiday"

The Cabochon is quiet and peaceful reminiscent of a colonial era with all the trimmings of a boutique residence. The location offers great access to the city's delights including retail and food outlets. The rooms are light, airy and spacious with crisp white bedding. The pool area is sedate and relaxing. The restaurant serves a wonderful array of Thai delights from all regions of this wonderful land. The bar area is busy with eclectic wonders but also soothing and tasteful. The staff are smart, attentive and most helpful. I would recommend this to any discerning traveller. I most certainly will be returning.

Inle Princess Resort: "Classic Architecture. Best Service."

"It was my first time at Inle Lake and I selected to stay here because my Myanmar friend used to talk about it as the resort also runs a non-profit organisation called 'Inle Heritage', so I think there is a good sign of people's minds here. The location is in the beginning of Inle Lake, so very peaceful. You have to take a long-tail boat farther to explore the lake. The architecture is in local style and each unit is large, so you definitely have plenty of space to enjoy, esp. when you come in a group. They have souvenir shop which sells local products and books. I was eager how those products are made and they toured me around a little area where they showed how local people live and products they make for a living. Quite interesting. The room is beautiful and you can see the sunset from your room. Morning time is SUPER calm. You will get recharged here for sure. The best thing must be FOOD. The chefs cook not only local Inle or Myanmar food, but also international menus / European menus and they did a great job. I personally like the baguette served hot for every meal. Also, tomatoes here are very fresh. I saw them planting on a floating garden around the lake. Other facilities like swimming pool, lobby, communal spaces are big. There are recreational areas around the resort. Staff members are caring. They accompany you for whatever you want. With the smile on their faces, they are genuinely generous. I've heard many of them working here for 15-20 years. Last, they have their own jetty in which you board the long-tail boat to anywhere in the lake. The jetty is well-designed. I am considering revisiting this resort again with family in the wintertime."

Satri House: "Special and a real secret retreat!…"

"We couldn't have made a better choice for our stay in LP! Used to check all reviews in detail before we make our booking, our expectations were already high when arriving at Satri House, but our experience during our 4 nights stay has beaten this even more. All ingredients for a perfect stay for my wife, our daughters and myself were there! It certainly is a hidden gem! All staff members are super friendly and personal. The warm welcome by Giovanni (the Satri House GM) himself was much appreciated. The atmosphere within Satri House is really special....quiet and majestic...Every single corner of the hotel has special, beautiful decorations and the rooms are very well acquainted with lots of special details. AC is perfect and beds very comfortable...Both swimming pools provided our kids lots of fun after having discovered LP and its surroundings in the heat during the day. Located very little outside the city centre, but with a short of 5 minutes by bike or TukTuk you're at the night market and the city centre. Breakfast is very good and a la carte (a la carte fits more with the atmosphere of Satri House than a buffet, so keep it like this). Marmelades prepared by the lovely grand old lady are delicious and the special birthday cake for our youngest daughter during her birthday was very much appreciated! All in all, having travelled all over the world and stayed in many small boutique hotels in SE Asia, Satri House is a must stay and recommended for 100%! @Giovanni, suppose the buffalo mozzarella of the local buffalo farm has been / will be placed on your menu card....:-)...It would confirm your roots with this secret retreat on the other side of the earth...:-). Regards with lovely memories, Roger, Miranda, Noa and Lily"

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Contemporary luxury in a historic mansion"

"Checked into The (lovingly restored) Blue Mansion for a two-night stay in December 2016, my first visit despite having been past the building on previous trips to Penang. From the warm hospitality, comfortable beds, clean big rooms (lovely bathroom a big plus with me), antique furniture, breakfast in the courtyard to coming back to a dim sum basket of local 'kuih' (cakes / sweets) with a handwritten note every evening was a lovely touch - the whole experience was memorable and in my opinion, worth returning for. Pro tip: the hotel is conveniently located next to a food court serving local delights, and across Georgetown Wines for that cheeky vino or late night tapas - thank me later! The Mansion is also home to Indigo, a fine dining restaurant which I tried, enjoyed and highly recommend. For those wanting to learn about the mansion's history, guided tours by some very passionate locals run daily at 11.00am, 2.00pm and 3.30pm - definitely something to fit into your travel itinerary. All in all, a strong contender for a unique experience. Stayed December 2016, traveled with friends"

Satri House: "Wonderful place, great location"

This is a beautiful destination hotel for a relaxing break. We stayed for 3 nights with our kids and grandparents and we all had a lovely time. The room was big, the bathroom was a bit awkward to use but it worked, the breakfast was fantastic. There are 2 pools and it is a lovely and peaceful setting. They have bikes to loan for free. The grounds and gardens are stunning. We booked through Mr&Mrs Smith so we received a free Lao Massage in the spa which was fab. I would definitely recommend Satri House.

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "A peaceful and luxurious haven"

From the moment I arrived I felt at home in my comfortable room. Very friendly staff, excellent service wished I could have stayed longer. The food was fantastic too and as for the quirky interior design it must be seen to be believed. This will now be home from home whenever I come to Bangkok. They also arranged a trip to a tranquil and beautiful spa for me,

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Understated comfort in Luang Prabang"

"Upon arrival at The Apsara, we were met by a very welcoming and gracious staff. And in fact, throughout our stay, they attended to all of our needs and were always very nice and friendly. The hotel itself is located just off the main street in Luang Prabang, on the banks of the Khan River. The location is perfect; just of few shorts blocks from the main downtown area and night market, but on a very quiet one-way street. The rooms are simple, but comfortable and very clean, with a colonial feel to them. However one word of warning: make sure you book a top-floor room. Our hardwood floors squeaked when we walked on them and I felt sorry for the guests in the room below ours. We only ate breakfast at the hotel (and it was always delicious), so I cannot comment on the dinners or other meals the hotel offered. Overall, we loved our stay at The Apsara and I would highly recommend it for anyone visiting Luang Prabang. Room Tip: Hardwood floors, make sure you book a top floor room"

Villa Song Saigon: "Best staycation"

River view, love garden, boutique pool, and of course must mention the beautiful villa where accommodate 10+ rooms in colonial designs. We stayed in 3 different types of rooms at Villa Song & all have its own uniqueness.