Guest Reviews

Mathis Retreat: "Wonderful place"

Spent 3 nights with my wife at Mathis Ubud. The view of the rice field is wonderful. They also have ducks just in front of the restaurant which makes the scenery alive. This place reflect the true Bali. The rooms are big and very well maintained, very quiet as well. If back in Ubud I would go back there for sure. If you are looking to see the real Bali, this is the place where to go.

Misool Eco Resort: "Wonderful vacation"

"We visited for 7 nights and had a wonderful time. The diving was exceptional. My wife and I have about 80 dives from Fiji, Bali and the Caribbean, so we are experienced but not experts. The dive team was fantastic and the sites themselves were the best we have been to by far. All close by. The resort does much more than talk about ""eco"" . They are dedicated and it shows in almost all that goes on. Food was great, accommodations were comfortable and the staff is very helpful, I went and got a pot of coffee the first morning to bring back to our porch and the next day they brought it to us at 6:30 am. It is not a luxurious, stuffy, place but very comfortable and unique in the world. We had water cabin 5 and I think it would be my choice in the future because it is sheltered from the afternoon sun but my wife thought water cabin 8 would be preferable because it is a little more private ( it gets the sun in the afternoon though) We will go back sometime for sure."

Inle Princess Resort: "Peaceful, a world apart"

"The fact that the long tail boats with their load motors are not allowed up to the hotel is the first idea one gets that this place places importancce on the wellbeing of its visitors. About 500 yards away, a one legged rower steps on board from a boathouse to bring us to the jetty. Here we were met with an ice cooled towel and drink. Our bungalow was stunning, the bathroom huge, actually it was three rooms, a large one with two washbasins leading to a room with a bath looking out into a small walled garden in which there was a blissful outdoor shower. I enjoyed this so much that I showered twice a day during our stay.In the room they had thought of everything, including binoculars and a bird watching book. The mini bar was stocked with complimentary soft drinks, alcoholic ones were of course not included. Supper was superb, one more of less 'has' to eat here as one cannot get away but the standard of the kitchen is fantastic. I had divine butter fish steamed in ginger which could not have been more delicious and my brother had green Thai curry. We sat outside and there were blankets for when it got chilly. Breakfast was just as good, everything imgainable was on offer and the banana cake was so morish that I asked for the recipe which was given to me. We also took advantage of the beautiful Spa which was excellent. The staff were without exception friendly and helpful and on our last night we found a package with the typical shoulder bag of the area in it and a note thanking us for staying. This place was an oasis of calm, the concept is perfect. Stayed February 2017, traveled with family"

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "What a wonderful cooking (and eating) experience"

"I visited Thahara Inle Heritage to take part in a culinary class with my group of seven; we were joined by another couple who also took part in the class. The head chef/director introduced himself and described the mission of Thahara Inle Heritage and the culinary school. We were provided a cup of herbal tea as well as an apron and a booklet containing the menu we were going to prepare along with the recipes for each item on the menu. We went through the gardens to select vegetables, and returned to the main classroom to start cooking. Each person was assigned one of the culinary students to assist with the cooking. I enjoyed learning about the goals of the students and how long they had been at the school. When I visited, there was 43 culinary students. I learned that the typical term is nine months for the students. I also loved sampling one of the ginger cookies that had been prepared by students. At each station we had two burners, as well as several ingredients which included turmeric, ginger & garlic, fresh crushed tomatoes, rice flower, fish and chicken. We started with a fish and eggplant soup by adding the fish to boiling water, then julienned the eggplant and added that to the water. After adding spices, we mashed the Gish and eggplant and returned them to the water. For each course, we followed the directions of the head chef (with the assistance of student chefs) to create a string bean salad, chicken curry and crispy tempura vegetable balls. We were then seated for dining and served our own dishes. Everyone enjoyed the food and the great experience. We were each given the menu and recipes as well as an apron. Such a great experience that supports Thahara Inle Heritage and provides participants with lasting memories. Stayed March 2016, traveled solo"

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Awesome experience"

"I have to say they have an exceptional stuff that makes this safari a great experience. They are very professional and they will do the best for your comfort. The tents are GREAT, its a very nice enviroment and eventhought you are in the middle of the jungle (right next to Yala National Park) the accommodation its very clean, safe and comfy. The shower is A MA ZInG... You can shower looking at the starts. The food is very varied and includes many options of Sri Lankan food. Spending the night itself is a great experience. In my case, i did two safaris, one at 3pm and otherone at 5am the next morning, i saw among others animals: Elephants, a Leopard, Buffalos, Deers, Eagles (Grey-headed fish eagle and White-bellied sea-eagle that i can remember of), Ceylon jinglefowl, Indian peafowl Cocodrile, tons of birds (Common kingfisher, Rose-ringed parakeet, among others), oh and of course diverse monkeys. Awesome experience, highly recommended."

Satri House: "Escape into a world of tranquility!"

"Traveling in Asia can be stressful, so I was grateful for this all too short escape from reality at The Satri House. What a treat to be greeted with a welcome drink upon arrival! The staff really make an effort to make you feel at home. I chose economize by taking the local transportation from the Luang Prabang airport rather than the hotel pickup.This proved to be the right choice, as the airport is very organized for tourists with a set price and individual drop off at your hotel. My room was very comfortable, with fresh fruit and plenty of bottled water. Although the mini fridge was'nt stocked but you can order drinks.. As others have noteted, the walk into town was easy and enjoyable, taking you past many interesting sights. I would recommend to travelers who like to explore that you take your time and wander some of the side streets along the way... There is a fantastic 'hidden' restaurant just across the street. 'Manda de Laos'. Highly recommended for that romantic get away or restful retreat. My only regret was that I only had 2 nights to enjoy this wonderful place!"

Rachamankha: "Beautiful Boutique Hotel"

"Location is within the square but a little bit out of the main shopping and food areas in the old town of Chiang Mai. However it is only a 10-12 minute walk into the main central food areas and this slight isolation gives the hotel a sense of pure tranquility that is difficult to find in this bustling little city. Another bonus is the hotel is right next to one of our favourite temples (Phra Singh Temple) The property itself is pure class; the courtyard is stunning and there is plenty of places on the property to relax and read a book or take in the amazing architecture, art and culture that is oozing from this gorgeous hotel. The pool is beautiful and again another great place to relax and unwind. The staff are friendly but not over bearing which we found perfect. Sometimes staff can get a little too familiar but not in this case. The restaurant was fabulous and the breakfasts although not large were perfect to set up the day. There were a few things that were not 100% but over all we were very happy with our stay and would certainly go back. The WiFi on the property was not strong and would often drop but luckily we bought a pocket WiFi so wasn't a big issue. Although the staff did spray often there were many mosquito's around but we bought some bug spray at the local 7/11 and used it in the room before we left each evening. Also the rooms were appointed with mosquito nets which was great. There was also a real lack of power points in the room. I would take a power bar with you if you are expecting to charge anything more than a phone...but I guess this place is for relaxing and not for electronics ;)"

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "A secluded river paradise, wow"

It may take a while to get there but it was worth every minute. What a fabulous location, the staff were just sensational and that is the most luxurious tent ever!!!! Pristine river to swim in, as quiet as I have ever experienced, relaxing, gorgeous, socially aware resort that was just the best. And they have French Champagne yeh!!!!!!

THE SAMAR: "Very nice retreat"

"We stayed in double bedroom apartment (4 people) and had a wonderful stay. Building and decoration of exquisite taste, remarkable artifacts you would not find in standard hotels, rooms in pre-existing local houses, refurbished with attention. Location is half way between crowded city center and Ankor Wat - tuktuk is definitely needed but arranged by the staff. Food is really good, and staff really helpful - they were kind enough to arrange for us a barbecue after an event outside. Very nice! The pool is very comfortable and enjoyable. We definitely recommend "

Tugu Lombok: "A wonderful place to spend our honeyroom"

I can't say enough about Hotel Tugu and its staff. The property is absolutely beautiful and the staff went out of their way to make our Honeymoon special. Everything — the rooms, the beach, the wonderful activities and spa — was fantastic. They pampered us for 5 days straight! I can't wait to go back.