Guest Reviews

Tugu Lombok: "We were totally spoilt"

Our family of five (kids 19, 16, 9) spent 11 nights at Hotel Tugu in July and it was sensational. We picked Lombok because the weather is perfect at this time of the year, the water is like a bath and we wanted somewhere less commercial than Bali. We had two of the least expensive rooms and they were huge, one accommodated the three kids easily. We spent our days snorkelling (at high tide you can swim out directly in front of the resort to see lovely tropical fish and we saw a turtle once); paddling; reading; eating and drinking; and reconnecting as a family. A day trip around the Gili Islands is a must and the nearby Autore Pearl Farm does a great tour although you'll need LOTS of money to buy their pearls. Instead I bought cheapie freshwater pearls from Ali who sells them on the beach! As with all holidays its the people who set a place apart. The staff at Tugu couldn't have done more for us. Trips to chemists for cold medication, aranging tours, making delicious food that they will serve literally anywhere you like, bringing sun lounges to you when they see you laying on the sand, and a final night display of folded towel animals, the likes of which we've never seen. If you need a real break, Tugu comes highly recommended. If you do go, please consider Lombok's Forgotten Children's Foundation (just google for details). We took over a couple of bags of good quality children's clothes and I'm currently collecting pre-used laptops and phones to send over. It's an incredible grass roots charity making a huge difference and if you're lucky enough to stay at Tugu I'm sure you can also do something small to help when you visit Lombok.

Muang La Lodge: "Séjour enchanteur"

In perfect harmony with the environment, immersed in a lush stayed 2 days in this charming resort in discreet luxury, where everything is done for the welfare of visitors. Much attention is paid to details that make all the difference. A delight.

Tugu Bali: "Marvelous"

I and my husband just had an amazing meal at this restaurant. It's a very stylist place with a really lovely ambience. The food is absolutely delicious with alot of choice. Service and setting fantastic. We will return and highly recommended.

Rachamankha: "Luxury Oasis in Middle of Chiang Mai — Superb Value"

The Rachamankha hotel is an oasis in the middle of Chiang Mai, Thailand. My wife and I stayed there for three nights as part of a southeast Asia tour. The hotel grounds are fabulous and peaceful. The break fast was outstanding and a great way to start any day. The value for the price was superb. I highly recommend this hotel.

Manda De Laos: "Beautiiful ambience; very good food"

This restaurant is outdoors surrounding a pond. The frogs supply background music. The ambience is very pleasant. It is upscale for Luang Prabang and the food is more refined (and tourist friendly) than most places. We enjoyed it very much. It is pricey for Luang Prabang, but not by U.S. standards. Friendly service

Supanniga Eating Room: "So much goodness"

The crab is fabulous, but I can't get enough of the wing bean salad. I know, salad right? But is just so good.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Secluded paradise"

"The resort is a collection of bungalows and a clubhouse built along a pristine stretch of the Andaman coast, along with a more protected bay for swimming (there's a great beach bar on this end). If you're arriving by sea (and not by jeep from the pier) the boat drops you off in the bay, and you wade through the water onto the beach, which sets the tone for the stay. Most of the baans are open air, as is the clubhouse, and you wake up and fall asleep to the sound of waves, the wind, crickets (or whatever the local variant), lizards, birds, and monkeys. Likewise, although the west-facing beach doesn't have any lounge chairs or umbrellas, we were often the only people sitting on our towels under the shade of palm trees, watching scuttling crabs and the receding tide. It truly is designed to bring you as close to nature as possible without actually camping on the beach. The people at the resort are all lovely - Massi, Duang, and all the folks who worked in the clubhouse and the bar are professional and friendly. A special thanks to P'Wam, the head chef, who gave me a great cooking class. The food is uniformly delicious, fresh, and varied a lot from day to day. We were there for four days and didn't see the same dish twice at dinner. Breakfast is plentiful. Everything, from the food to the drinks, was fairly priced and great value considering how difficult it must be to provision the place. A few things that might be helpful to know before going: The waves on the long stretch of beach are quite wild and we didn't find it possible to swim, but it's great for strolls and lying around. If you're going in peak season with kids, don't count on being able to hang out at that beach with them. The bay side was quiet when we were there (in mid December, we felt we had the run of the place) but I can imagine it getting quite crowded around Christmas. The mosquitos and black flies are no joke. I showed up without any DEET and had to buy some immediately, and use it constantly, and even then I was bitten. If you tend to attract bites, plan on covering up and using DEET in the morning and evening. In retrospect I wish we had gone for a beachfront baan as they probably had fewer bugs than ours, which didn't get as much breeze. Our baan was beautifully maintained and felt very private, with an outdoor bathroom and decks. Note that the water is from a well and gives off a strong sulphurous odour, which keeps showers short and eco friendly. All in all, a truly special place that runs seamlessly despite its remoteness and the encroaching jungle and sea around it. We enjoyed our time there and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it or go back."

Villa Mathis: "what a great stay"

"A romantic gataway with an amazing service and an amazing manager. We felt taken care every moment of our stay. Villas are very state full designed. With so many small corners, lounges, pools and cabanas we never felt in a hotel, more like a private Home. liked it a lot and just 10 min from the Buzz. great work guys keep it up."

Satri House: "Wonderful stay"

This is one of the most beautiful hotel that we've stayed. Wonderful decoration with traditional style and wooden furniture. Room is spacious and clean. Staff is very friendly and attentive with perfect English.

Rachamankha: "Absolutely exquisite"

Arriving at this hotel is so peaceful and Tranquil. Loaded with beautiful antiques and an air of sophistication and luxury not experienced in other parts of Thailand. In the old city this is quintessential old world Asia.