Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Fabulous Safari in Sri Lanka"

"We stayed at the Leopard Safari campsite for three nights starting on Christmas Day. It was a wonderful experience for the entire family (2 adults and 4 children ages 9 to 15). We had Sarge as our guide and he did an excellent job looking after us on the safaris. He is very knowledge not only about the general wildlife but also about birds in particular (we saw about 80 different species of birds as well as leopards, elephants and a sloth bear). Noel and Sophie did a terrific job as hosts for all the meals. They have great insights about Sri Lanka in general as well as the beautiful nature there. It was clear that Leopard Safaris was on a higher level than the other safari companies. The food was also terrific, and we were successful in having our kids try many different things. All in all, a terrific experience. Stayed December 2016, traveled with family"

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "A fantastic family experience. Thank you Leopard Safaris!"

This was brilliant. It was just 2 nights out of a long trip for our family but definitely one of the absolute highlights. We are a family of 4 with a 13 year old girl and 17 year old boy and we all loved everything about the camp and the game drives. Jeeps were perfect for game viewing and small enough that it was just our family in the jeep with a driver and a guide. We went on 4 game drives and saw heaps - leopard on 2 occasions,crocs, lots of elephant, eagles and so much more. They took us to the uncrowded blocks of the reserve, so you weren't fighting against lots of other jeeps to get to see the animals. It felt very personal, and different. The camp and tents were fab - all the mod cons and very comfortable whilst still giving a feeling of being out in the bush. We had been worried about being a bit bored in the middle of the day but the the game drives take up a large part of the time and the day just flew by. The new swimming pool will be a great addition. All the guides were superb - a fantastic family experience. Thank you Leopard Safaris

Mathis Retreat: "Great stay"

"We spent four nights at Ubud in Kenanga Hotel during our August visit to Bali & Lombok. This has been our preferred location of our full holiday. Ubud is brilliant and Kenanga absolutely perfect. Once you are in the hotel you are out of the Ubud chaos and you can really relax. Wonderful view and extreme kindness the two top factors. My son (5 years old) enjoyed so much beeing free and look at ducks or walk on the small tracks through the rice fields. Karine, the hotel manager, has been very helpful with a lot of suggestions on how to use at the best our available days. We also tried a cooking lesson organized in the hotel just for us and we really enjoyed it too. The hotel restaurant is very good also for the demanding Italian tastes. Go there !!!"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise does exist! And it is golden."

"Your jet lag and tiredness begin to melt away the moment you board the boat at Kuraburi (about a couple of hours by road from Phuket) but as you glide into the palm-fringed bay beach of the resort itself you really do have to pinch yourself that you have not just fallen asleep and are dreaming. Simply imagine the most beautiful beach you can and you'll probably still not match the reality! You can see why some call this place 'undiscovered'. If you are looking for complete relaxation - away from the constant communication of modern life this place is for you. Chill and relax with a lime soda! But the resort while maintaining an authentic air (the open air bathrooms and wide stilted verandas of the various houses (Baans) being just a couple) also manages to exude luxury and the clubhouse does have internet for those that need some contact with the outside world. The perfect mix! There are also plenty of trips (safari to the interior of the island, fishing and batik making) if lying on a beach is not 100% your thing. The food is brilliant and I'd challenge anyone not be able to construct a menu to their taste from the wide range on offer. The cocktails are also excellent - especially when bought at happy hour (6-7 pm) to watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea from the clubhouse balcony. The resort is super well-managed with Massi and Theresa (who speak about ten languages between them) to the fore and the owner, Valerie, also about to help answer questions. Nothing is too much trouble and standards are very high. The Thai staff are wonderful too and you sense have bought into the ethos of the place. If you visit the Golden Buddha Beach Resort you'll not just have a great holiday you'll make friends I am sure. 5 stars is almost not enough . . .I have high standards and the Golden Buddha Beach Resort exceeded them all. This is a must go see place - you'll not be disappointed."

The Island Lodge: "A touch of paradise"

"We stayed here for two nights this week and really enjoyed our stay. The staff are attentive and caring and the whole atmosphere is very relaxing. The restaurant has a wonderful mix of French and Vietnamese food which is five star quality We spend our days by the pool watching the board go by and saw two magnificent sunsets at the end of the piers. I fully recommend taking advantage of the day trips on offer and they are very good and give a great insight into day to day life on unicorn island. If we are ever in the area again we would love to return. Room tip: try and get a river view room, we stayed in room 3 and it was perfect."

Cuca: "Absolute Fine Dining"

"Cuca is a fine dining experience. I highly recommend the Chef's Plate (degustation). Each serving is exquisite: both visually stunning and a wonderful balance of different textures and flavours. Treat yourself and enjoy a fine dining experience for a fraction of the price it would cost in your home country."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Honeymoon Highlight"

"We booked the luxury tent as part of our honeymoon. From pick up to drop off everything was 5 star! We had the most fantastic time and staff went the extra mile to make our stay extra special. The room itself was magnificent and we adored being able to shower under the stars. Everything about the room has been carefully thought out and lovingly handmade. The bed was extremely comfortable and we felt safe and secure in the tent. It felt like a tent from 'Harry Potter' as from the outside you would not expect them to be able to fit in so much luxury. The food! Every day we were greeted with a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. We even had private dining under the stars and a cookery lesson. I think my favourite had to be string hoppers and the coconut pancakes. Let's not forget the Safari. We managed to see a total of 5 leopards! (a mating couple, a very large male eating a monkey and a mother and cub on our last day!). Praneeth was our guide and he was very knowledgeable. A big thank you to everyone for making it so special, we will remember it so fondly and really hope to come back very soon! Emma and Matty"

Locavore: "Three hours of foodie bliss"

"We had the 7 course non vego menu and were again impressed on our third visit to this restaurant. We came from Sanur to eat here again and it was worth the journey! The kitchen maintained the excellent level of taste sensation in each morsel of the “snacks” and the actual menu courses. My only “mmm not sure” moment was the caffeine fish combination. The tomato consommé with the sorbet, the mushrooms , the varied uses of egg - could go on.... If you have the time and the money and enjoy food as an experience, go. Its around top dollar for Bali, but not in comparison to similar in Australia and Michelin rated restaurants in Europe."

Tugu Bali: "Excellent romantic artistic getaway"

"The history and art of this exclusive hotel is very interesting. The staff can tell you even more about the art. The hotel is beautiful and gives you al the freedom and serenity you need. After a year of hard work, we arrived in Bali and stayed at the Tugu hotel the first couple of days. Our room had a perfect beach view with an incredible sunset. Just WOW. Waking up with the rhythm of the waves in the back ground is so relaxing... From the moment we arrived we found that peace and holiday feeling we have been waiting for for so long. Everybody of the staff is very polite and gives you the feeling that you are special, that you are welcome, that you are their number one priority. They give you the attention you need. Not to little not to much. Excellent job every one. A special thank for you, Arie. You have been so nice and so friendly. You did the extra mile for us. Terima kasih dari Amsterdam. Canggu becomes more and more popular - which is a good thing. And just out of the hotel you'll find some nice bars and cool hangouts (also on the beach). Unfortunately that becomes some kind of a mismatch with the serenity and calmness the Tugu hotel has so well mastered."

Nimmu House: "Une pause à Nimmu House au retour d’un trek au Zanskar"

"Faire une halte de 2 nuits à Nimmu House au retour d'un trek est un vrai moment de douceur. Non seulement vous profitez d'un des plus beaux panoramas de la vallée de l'Indus, mais vous entrez là dans un petit joyau de l'architecture ladakhie niché au creux d'un fabuleux jardin. Un personnel adorable, attentif, aux petits soins pour vous-qu'il s'agisse de vous concocter d'excellents repas aux senteurs locales ou de vous soulager avec une préparation ""maison"" aux huiles essentielles, tout y est pour que vous vous sentiez chez vous dans ce cadre magique et si l'aventure ne nous avait pas appelés plus loin, sûr que nous y serions encore! Un hébergement de charme un peu hors du temps à ne surtout pas manquer si vous passez par là-bas."