Guest Reviews

Tugu Malang: "The best hotel in the world + Unique Indonesian Vibe"

"I have been in countless hotels of all styles. Tugu made it to the top of my preferred stays list impressing me not for a day or two, but for 20 days of the perfect treatment and incredible structure. They have a touch of kindness and detail everyday! Little fresh flowers in your room. Complimentary local fruits. Impeccable cleanliness. Gorgeous traditional decoration. Little message every night. You have a spa, with different types of treatment available. A temple, business convention center, 24 h international and local restaurant/ bar with more than 150 wines, bakery, event center, swimming pool, boutique, antiques shop, all surrounded by a collection of the finest Dutch and Indonesian artifacts. 49 rooms served by 100 happy smiley team. You will feel like a king. And they all speak good English! Go if: you like to stay in a place that you can feel like home. With kind helpful people. And different options for relaxation and meals. In a very traditional unique atmosphere. Don't go if: you are a lean freak and prefer to stay in an international chain with no personal treatment. Attention: you can ask for a tour in the hotel. For free! Visiting (and maybe staying) in the presidential suit is pure entertainment. Congratulations to all staff, but special thanks to Rachel, Richard, Ratna, Daniel, John, Aris, Wahyu, Handy and all the girls from the front desk. Never change!"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Supporting the Local Community-True Eco Tourism"

"After spending a week at Golden Buddha, my greatest appreciation of the resort I can't emphasize enough (beyond the seclusion in a mesmerizing natural environment unparalleled in my experiences living in Thailand) is their mission to support the local community with true eco-tourism. I was amazed and overjoyed to learn all of the staff members, from the smiling and friendly faces behind the bar counter to the women working in the kitchen to the maintenance men who wave as you walk by, are all local people from the small fisherman village on the other side of the island. I actually had the opportunity to visit the village, Tey Pey Yoi, through an eco-tour offered by the resort where guests have a chance to learn from local school children the art of batik painting while contributing positively to the community and school as guests. My experience with our tour guide Eak was absolutely AMAZING. His giant genuine smile and his passion and local expertise about the wildlife we saw as we crossed the savannah to reach the village was the highlight of my stay at Golden Buddha (listening to the whistles he knows by heart to communicate with different birds isn't something you easily forget). The village itself is incredibly humble and reflective of a very low standard of living, with stilted one room homes over the water or small concrete houses covered by tin roofs on the sand. While the village way of life is a beautiful culture to witness and set in an awe-inspiring backdrop of local fisherman boats, mangrove trees, and mountains from the mainland, it brings a reality to where Golden Buddha's staff come from, and made even more clear to me the dedication and mission of the resort to train and offer employment opportunities specifically to the inhabitants of the island. They even hire an English intern every season to provide free English language lessons to the staff, an opportunity I can now fully understand after visiting the humble and under-funded school where most of the staff recieved their education. In a competitive tourist industry near places like Phuket and Khao Lak, Golden Buddha is true to the label ""eco-tourism"" by being an integral contributor to the local community. Knowing I am directly helping contribute to the livelihoods of the warm and beaming staff who made my stay so welcome gives me a feeling of pride as a traveler who is intentional about the footprint she leaves behind as a guest in a foreign country."

Slow Villas and Spa: "An absolute treatment"

"Staying at Slow Villas is such an experience ! I've been lucky enough to spend a few days there - and that was definitely too short. The villas are beautiful, solid construction, tastefully decorated, spacious, clean. The open air bathroom is beautiful, and the private swimming pool just in front of the bedroom is great, and even I didn't think it was really useful at Gili Air (the sea is less than 10 minutes away along a cute pathway), it's nice to cool off a bit that easily. Plus, breakfasts are awesome ! And the spa, God ! Clean, spacious rooms, a great choice of treatments to choose from, a professional service that considers your expectations and level of habit in massage, people are treating you with such a sweet care and a good professionalism at the same time, such a treatment ! The staff is so lovely as well, from Julie to her partners and all the team working on making you have such a great experience. No hesitation here : if you can afford it, even for 2 days, that will stay engraved in your memory for a loooong time ! Stayed April 2017, traveled as a couple"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise on earth"

We've been here two times as a family with two children, now 8 and 14 and we all talk about this place as the world's best and most beautiful place. Cozy authentic cabins, sumptuous bathrooms, a lovely quiet setting, great island, super restaurant, possibility of yoga with the island as the views of all sides, super super service and help with everything. One can go on trips, but even the kids did not miss anything, even days just went with walks on the island and be grateful to have been allowed to see and be so unspoilt and beautiful place. Think really the place belongs to rarities.

Chakrabongse Villas: "Four nights in Bangkok, and we could not wish for a nicer hotel"

"This year I turned 60 and decided on a holiday in Thailand, of course I had to include Bangkok. I found this amazing small characterful place not far from the Royal Palace and Wat Pho. The staff are the most helpful I have come across on the holiday. The room is lovely, Moroccan in style, the Mali room, like home from home for me as I have a lot of Moroccan influence in my house. It is the best place of our holiday. The grounds are peaceful and well kept with a salt water swimming pool. There are wonderful small touches everywhere with orchids and water lilies. The dining area is in a pavilion next to the river with a view of Wat Arun. The food was excellent and the wine list very good. I would stay here every time in Bangkok. The staff are knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble."

Kinabalu Park: "A Paradise up in the hills"

My cousin and I stayed at one of the units in Nepenthes Lodges managed by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. The lodges are located right in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage Site. We had the luxury of a two storey lodge with two bed rooms, a balcony, a nice sitting room with a fire place and a kitchen. The place is well run. I would like to commend the manager, Alvina, who was very concerned about us after we checked in, as it was raining heavily. She made sure that our small requests, including room service, were met with great efficiency. From the lodge, we could see Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, and misty rain forest around us. It was so relaxing staying in the lodge and taking cool walks to see the flora and fauna in a natural setting. Temperature at this 5,200ft highland was very comfortable. We really enjoyed our stay and appreciate the good service.

Manda De Laos: "Wonderful Location and Cuisine"

"Laotian cuisine is generally nice. I appreciate the taste and variety. But in Manda de Laos, the food taste great add it with amazing presentation. Most recommended dishes are Mok Pa (local fish dish), and Phed Makham (their signature duck dish)! Everything we ordered from starters to dessert are just great. The location is very serene overlooking lily ponds. Just lovely and relaxing."

Rachamankha: "Incredible Hotel Stay"

This hotel is absolutely beautiful and it was the best place we stayed at while in Thailand. It is centrally located to many city attractions and it is within walking distance to several spas, restaurants, etc. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained and it has a magical feel to it while you stroll through the various buildings. The breakfast is very nicely done and there is a patio so you can enjoy your meal on the terrace. The rooms have more of antique feel with a modern twist - lots of nice amenities including a canopy bed, Molton Brown products, and good A/C. The only challenge I had during my stay in Chiang Main was that I got a lot of bug bites - please note the hotel also provides free bug spray so don't forget to use this religiously if you are prone to bug bites (I made the mistake of going without it for a couple of days). I would highly recommend this hotel to others who go to Chiang Mai...you won't be disappointed!

MesaStila: "Always Want to Come Back"

"This is the second time we visit this property within February 2016. First time was on Feb 7th, and the second time was on Feb 28th. We were travelling to Jogja but I missed this place so much, we decided to drive to Magelang to have an afternoon coffee here. I can't even decide where to begin to share with you how marvelous this place is. The property itself is a magnificent mixture between old time Javanese architecture of Joglo Houses, which are very beautiful, and some wooden buildings from Dutch Colonial era. The Coffee and several other traditional drinks here are just the perfect company to enjoy the weather and magnificent view of mt. Merapi. You can also pamper your eyes with the lush greeneries view everywhere you look. Last but not least, the staff here are just lovely. First class hospitality. "

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "What a lovely stay"

Very nice small resort in a beautiful and preserved site, including a direct access to a magnificent beach. The bungalows are lovely and convenient, with their private pool and outer lounge. The staff and management are both discreet and efficient, always available. Exquisite cuisine too, we didn't expect such high-quality. Our only regret was to leave this place...