Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Enchantingly Memorable"

"We (family of 4 with kids 8 and 11) spent 2 nights at Noel's camp. This included 4 Safaris. Both Noel and Cecile were our hosts, a lucky thing as they are not always present at the camp. Tent - we are not campers and had just come from several days in Amanwella, so ""glamping"" was the intention. We got the aircon tent, a semi-permanent structure that runs on solar power. Very comfortable, and the AC was a key feature during the stifling dry heat of the day, and also made it a lot easier to fall asleep at night. There were a few quirks here and there but when glamping, you factor that into the mix. Overall the tent delivered beyond expectations. The one observation I will make is on security - nothing happened and there is a safe in the room, but the tents are zipper operated (no locks). The camp site is not that far from village areas. I would advise to bring 2 padlocks to lock the zipper clasps together at the 2 entrances (front flap and back flap leading to the bathroom). Your valuables will be secure enough in the safe but I didn't like the idea that someone could unzip and enter while we are asleep at night. To be clear, none of the camp staff are an issue, but it's outsiders who know the price of staying at this camp who could get ideas. Food - spectacular. They source organic and fresh from the farmers in the area, and their talented chef put together very flavorful breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It was all local cuisine, and there was always spicy plus non spicy varieties to ensure the kids would be fine. Your taste buds will be in for a real treat. Camp ambience - charming. The volunteers (especially Christina from Spain) entertained the kids with games. They also organized the building of an insect hotel which the kids loved, and also had them participate in tree planting to show the importance of giving back to nature when you leave a carbon footprint. Both entertaining and educational. Meals were communal style and made for enjoyable conversation. Breakfast and lunch under a thatched roof, dinner under the stars. Yes you will now and then see a small lizard or mantis or other creature on your armrest or the table... to be expected in a wildlife park. Safaris - prime time to see stuff is at dusk and dawn, so the AM departure is before 6AM and the PM outing is from 3pm to 6:30pm. On our first two outings, we saw numerous spotted and barking deer; eagles, kingfishers, peacocks, many other birds; mongoose; crocs; elephants. Watching 2 alpha deer bucks clash was neat but we still had not seen what we came for - leopards. The third outing was the charm, and we watched a large leopard lounging in the grass. I don't quite know how to describe the feeling of watching a beautiful and free animal in its natural habitat. All I can say is: a zoo ain't the same. My iphone camera shots won't do it justice. Fortunately, Noel was our guide and when you combine a passion for wildlife with an 8kg-supersonic-Nat Geo-caliber camera lens, the results are amazing. Attached are 2 of his pics of our leopard. As a bonus, we also spotted a young sloth bear. Noel is very knowledgeable and gave us valuable insight and commentary during the rides. His Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were properly decked out, and I noticed in the park many other outfits carrying tourists in rickety vehicles (one was even lopsided due to different sized tires). Also must credit Noel for truly trying hard on safari #3 to spot a leopard. He badly wanted for us to spot one before we depart, and made it his mission. There are no guarantees but it helps when your guide badly wants you to leave happy. We did the 2 night package and I highly recommend it. Had we done 1 night, we would have missed out on safari #3 which was the highlight. After safari #4, we had our fill and were ready to head off so the format was just right. I guess you could get lucky on a 1 night stay but your chances go up much more on the 2 nighter. There are some who do a day excursion from their beach resort, and this would be a mistake as you would arrive past dawn and leave before dusk, i.e. be on safari while the animals are asleep in a hidden shade. This is an eco-minded camp run by owners who are passionate about wildlife and conservation, and keen to impassion others by delivering on client experience. If you visit a big city like London or Manhattan, the hotel you choose plays a part but the city itself largely makes the experience. At a wildlife park, the hosts who run your camp and guide your safaris largely make for good vs bad experience. Is this value for money? I will answer same as when someone asks me that about my Porsche: I won't describe it as value for money but will just say, it's worth every penny."

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "A peaceful Oasis"

"This beautiful hotel is set out of the bustling city of Saigon, located on the riverside. It is about a 20 minutes boat trip into district one of HCMC (provided free of charge by the hotel at selected times during e day). Approx. 50 mins drive from the airport (depending on time of day/traffic). The hotel is quiet and offers a relaxing and peaceful escape from the bustle and noise of the centre of HCMC. Very friendly staff, clean, large room (top floor), lovely pool area. Restaurant at back of hotel over looking river, lovely setting, food very good. We thoroughly enjoyed our three night stay and would recommend this for anyone wanting a retreat from the manic city centre. "

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Terrific food and lovely service"

"Cuisine Wat Damnak came highly recommended by friends and it truly didn't disappoint! We were fortunate to be warmly greeted by the proprietor chef, Joannès Rivière; a super nice man - and fantastic chef! We had the 6 course tasting menu (there were 2 options) we were able to mix choices from one menu with the other. All dishes, including the amuse bouche, were a great combination of flavours and textures, unquestionably Cambodian in origin but with some subtle execution. Wine list was good and Joannès made a great recommendation of a William Fevre Sauvignon Blanc from Burgundy - highly unusual but a great match to the food. All dishes were top-notch but the Mekong langoustine grilled in cassava leaves were stand out as was the desert; Mango cashew nut crumble, green mango jelly with vanilla and white chocolate cream! Unbelievably great value at US$31 for the 6 course tasting menu, and total bill including the wine and water came to less than $110 , not including optional tip/service. I think a visit to Siem Reap without dining here would be as incomprehensible as coming and not visiting Angkor Wat!"

Rachamankha: "Beautiful place"

I really love this hotel so beautiful and quiet and great food and bar. Staff is friendly and If you looking for something special for holiday. This hotel is great one. I would love to back again. Thanks

The Cabochon Hotel and Residence: "Loved everything about the Cabochon"

We stayed here for two nights' stopover from Europe en route to Australia. It was a glorious way to finish a hectic holiday - the spaces are peaceful and beautifully curated, our room was lovely, cool and quiet with large balcony to let the lush warm air in occasionally (aircon was perfect, however) and the shower was amazingly powerful. The staff are kind, warm, super helpful without being pushy, and the food is really excellent - much better than a meal we had at a vaunted restaurant in town. We did not want to leave, and will definitely be back.

The Governor’s House: "Warm"

This hotel was amazing. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The food was some of the best I had while on my vacation. There is a cozy feeling to this place that made me feel like I was right at home.

Rachamankha: "PEACEFUL OASIS"

"We spent 4 nights at the Rachamanka hotel, a small boutique hotel in Chiang Mai. The staff was very friendly & helpful. Our room was large with comfortable beds & quality linens. Bathroom amenities, including a toothbrush/toothpaste & insect repellent, were replaced daily. Breakfast was served in a beautiful courtyard, with a wood burning fire to take the chill off those cool mornings. The grounds are beautifully manicured. Antique Burmese letter chest decorate the walkways. The pool has comfortable chaise lounges with large beach towels. I would definitely stay here again. Stayed January 2017, traveled with friends"

Sea Dance Resort: "Awesome holiday!"

"We we're a family of five staying in a two bedroom pool villa for 10 days in August. We had an awesome time at Seadance Resort. It is a secluded and tranquil place. We rented scooters for the time we were there thus could explore most of the island's beaches, waterfalls, restaurants etc with ease. That gave us the best of both worlds - busy days and coming to the serenity of Seadance in the evenings. Some days we just spent at the pool drinking awesome cocktails (passionfruit mojito was my favorite) and relaxing. Free piña colada ice lollies was a bonus. Friendly and helpful staff made our stay even more pleasant. Thank you especially to Faith, Helen and Poy for adding that more personal touch to your already awesome service as well. We will definitely return to Seadance resort in the future."

The Cabochon Hotel: "Wonderful experience"

A great hideaway just off Sukhumvit with a beautifully curated experience full of curiosities, each room filled for a quiet browse. The things you discover. A step back into a indochin residence, sit back, with a cocktail or two, turn off the phone and relax before you venture out. Great warm and welcoming service, thank you. Very easy to recommend.

Tugu Bali: "Lovely place with perfect service"

"Of you want to experience some of Indonesia's history then you should visit Tugu. Lovely hotel with great service. Their Japanese restaurant inside an old Chinese temple is also lovely. Nice garden next to the beach. Great breakfast with too much food to eat. Everyday you can also enjoy tea time next to the pool. Due to the rising popularity of Canggu the neighborhood is becoming the hotel's biggest enemy. A lot of construction work is going on. Really a pity for such nice place! But Great place for spending your last nights at Bali"