Guest Reviews

Villa Mathis: "Très bel établissement"

"Accueil chaleureux, jardin splendide très élaboré... Avons testé 3 chambres... Toutes mieux décorées les unes que les autres.. Étape obligée à l'arrivée ou au départ de Bali. Nouveau manager sympathique et efficace. Bonne continuation à tous "

Cuca: "Great Tapas Restaurant in Jimbaran"

"Awesome tapas restaurant in Jimbaran. We came here with a group of about 15 and did the tasting menu. We chose 9 dishes and they made sharing portions for all of us. The portions were perfect - everyone left full and almost all of the food was eaten. Standout dishes were the scallops, pork bun, and fried chicken. Overall, our whole group was happy with the meal which says something! The menu also had some items we didn’t see other places in Bali which was refreshing. The ambiance was pretty lively and the service was good. The pricing was also very reasonable, we paid around $100 a head including tip and we had a lot of nice alcohol. Great dinner - must do if in Jimbaran!"

Samanea Beach Resort: "Beautiful hotel"

"Samanea is a beautiful hotel in an incredible setting. The grounds are immaculate and the gardens are perfectly kept. The pond is really lovely, and the swimming pool is excellent. The jetty and the boardwalk around the mangroves brings you closer to the sea and to nature. The bungalows are superb, with a separate lounge area and a nice indoor/outdoor bathroom. Not too many mosquitoes, which surprised me being close to so much natural water. Many guests are weekenders from Phnom Penh, so if you visit midweek you may even have the place to yourself. Staff very helpful. I also had no problem reducing the number of nights I'd booked when changed my travel plans. Areas for improvement: 1. Communication between managers and reception staff is poor. I needed to organise transport in several occasions, but constantly found myself having to start from the beginning each time I spoke to someone different. With the language barrier, this caused a problem more than once. 2. People have a habit of forgetting things! eg tuktuk pick-ups to take me to the bus station, forgetting to service the room one day, food items from the restaurant. 3. The restaurant could be better. Items out of stock one day after another, things missing from an order, breakfast not really explained very well (I'm still unsure what exactly is included in the room rate!), quality variable. Maybe it's because much of their business is done at weekends? 4. Wifi is very unpredictable. Similar hotels in many other countries/resorts could easily charge far more than the rates at Samanea and you wouldn't feel shortchanged, so, notwithstanding the things that could be improved on, Samanea gets 5 stars for being great value for money and having a very friendly bunch of staff always willing to help."

Samanea Beach Resort: "True Service in a Relaxing Getaway"

Samanea is delightful and the staff is very responsive to any questions or requests you may have. They truly desire to respond to your needs. We did a package for two vegetarians and the chef designed meals for us that were delcious - so much food! Lovely bungalows with mosquito nets. Charming woman who gives the spa treatments - her reflexologies and body wraps are so relaxing. Jonathan was very helpful in helping design the package and answer any questions we had. We had dinner on the beach, on the rooftop. Took a tour of the town. They have computers and a printer for your use. It was a peaceful stay where we could not have asked for anything more.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "The perfect break!"

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge provided the perfect break from the rush, noise and dust in city life in Nepal. From the moment you arrive the staff are attentive and provide helpful information in a non intrusive way. The rooms, each a cottage on its own, are spacious, comfortable and every need is catered for. Early morning views of the mountains are spectacular and visible from each of the rooms. The food is so good at each meal, individual needs having been taken into account, it is worth losing a bit of weight before staying there. A place to be returned to.

Rahai’i Pangun: "Amazing wildlife experience"

"Seeing orangutans in the wild has to be one of the great sights in nature and Wow are a great company with whom to do it. I suspect that there are cheaper options as the 3 day 2 night experience is quite pricey, but I felt that I got value for money. Communications were good and I was met at the airport by my guide. The vast majority of boats on the river require you to sleep on the deck on a mattress under a mosquito net, but my boat had proper bedrooms, with ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning, which was most welcome in the jungle heat. The boat could easily take 6 in comfort, though I had it all to myself. My guide Faisal was excellent and beyond seeing the orangutans at the feeding stations we spotted them several times in the trees along the river, plus saw crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and various birds etc and pointed out the fauna along the way. He was very knowledgeable. The crew were also good, the food was possibly the best I had in Indonesia and they cooked for 6 so there was no chance of going hungry. Seeing orangutans swinging through the trees is incredible and I recommend everyone who visits Indonesia to experience it with wow"

The Apsara Rive Droite: "ideal location, lovely rooms"

"One of the first truly boutique hotels to open on the middle of the old UNESCO quarter of Luang Prabang, it is still going very strong. I was welcomed by a nice basket of fruit. Staff was genuinely happy to see me again. Rooms are very large and decorated in a very Indochine style with a twist of modernity. A lovely place to relax and to use as a base to explore this charming small town. Breakfast is included and is lovely. A choice of Asian or Western with fresh fruit and orange juice. Has a very good restaurant, one of the best in Luang Prabang. Prices are very easonable. Stayed April 2017, traveled solo"

Jing’s Residence: "Jing’s is an Amazing Experience!"

"Our family of four (kids ages 13 and 11) stayed 2 nights in 2 Courtyard Suites in June. The suites were directly across from each other in the first courtyard off of the hotel lobby. We wanted one room with 2 beds, but all the rooms have only one bed, which worked just fine because the beds are massive. The quality of the rooms and amenities is luxurious. Everything was spotless and tastefully done in a traditional Chinese courtyard style. The common areas of the hotel are fantastic. The hotel is expensive for Pingyao standards, but is a great value when considering the additional service and in-room amenities. The location is directly in the center of old town, but just off of the busiest pedestrian street. It is an easy walk to any restaurant or attraction in the old town. The beds were extremely comfortable and the hotel was very peaceful and quiet. Everyone slept great. The AC worked extremely well. Everything in the bathroom worked well, but was a little tight on space. There is limited light over the bathroom sink. The wifi worked well from our rooms. The service at the hotel is very high quality and everyone is extremely friendly. The breakfast is high quality, and made to order, but somewhat limited. Both western and eastern options are available. We also enjoyed the complimentary afternoon tea both days, which was simple, but well done. We had an amazing experience at this hotel and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique traditional courtyard style hotel with fantastic service and all the modern amenities. I wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else in Pingyao."

The Island lodge: "Gorgeous retreat along the Mekong River; exceptional staff"

Gorgeous retreat along the Mekong River. We stayed in one of the garden bungalows and had such a peaceful and lovely time after our frenetic few days in Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel grounds are beautiful with wonderful landscaping of the lush, natural greenery. Breakfast is included and is taken in the open air lounge looking onto the pool and the river. The pool itself is beautiful with plenty of loungers and a good mix of sun and shade, and you can watch the Mekong River drift by as you enjoy a drink from the bar a few steps away. The staff at The Island Lodge really made the whole experience extra special - everyone was so kind and welcoming to my husband and I during our stay. Chau (the manager) was absolutely the best - she was so helpful and attentive to all of our requests, coordinating with her staff to ensure we were well taken care of the entire time. She gave us recommendations of local restaurants and some sightseeing places in My Tho, too, when we wanted to venture out, and helped arrange our transportation. The hotel is very secluded and a bit out of the way from the town and other attractions but for this kind of property I believe that is sort of the point. We chose to stay here for a few days between Ho Chi Minh and a river cruise leaving from Can Tho. I would highly recommend staying here if you plan to go to the Mekong Delta area (it’s worth a stay on its own, even if you DIDN’T already plan on coming to the area)!

Villa Song Saigon: "Superb hotel"

"This hotel is outstanding. The service is spot on without being obtrusive, the food delicious, the rooms light and airy and the pool so luxurious. A speedboat takes clients to and from the hotel to the city so it's a convenient relief to be able to come out of the bustle of the city at night. Room Tip: We were on the third floor overlooking the river. The room was cool light and airy and very spacious"