Guest Reviews

Labyrinth: "Great Singaporean influences"

I like how the menu is deisgned with our local food in mind. Most of the food executed were excellent. Wines were a little dissapointing though.

The Cabochon Hotel: "Intimate and tranquil boutique hotel in perfect location"

"We loved the Cabochon hotel and it's warm and friendly staff. The hotel has only eight rooms and suites in a superbly decorated French colonnial style inspired building. Wooden doors, door handles, light switches, quirky collectors items, they all are perfectly curated to add to the colonial feel. Apperently the building itself is a new structure which I only found out by realising there's no way an older wooden building would be able to carry a huge swimmingpool like the luxurious rooftoppool of the Cabocho I read another reviewer mentioning the pool as a small one. I do not know in what hotels some people might stay but the Cabochon pool is in my opinion huge! It covers the entire roof of the hotel (20-25m pool?), and is perfectly fine to do some fine swimming exercises. Another great detail which I loved is that there is no reception desk like in a regular hotel, just a tiny 'office'. From the frontdoor you step into the hallway immediately which leads to the central staircase. This also adds to the homely feel of the Cabochon. Check in is in the lounge area/Joy luck club where also breakfast is being served. You can also have your breakfast on the veranda which is great. The staff we loved. They immediately made us feel at home, spoke english well and were really helpful. Furthermore the location can't be better, at the end of a short quiet soi (alley) that leads directly to Sukhumvit Road with two skytrain stations within a five minute walk. Yes, the regular rooms are not that big but for us it just did add to the intimate feel of our stay here. It felt very special our three nights over at the Cabochon, highly recommended."

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Perfect oasis with an exceptional staff"

"How to begin? There are six bungalows which sit over the southern part of Inle Lake. Your time spent here will not only give you memories you’ll always remember, but the money is going back into the area to preserve and help it thrive. Inle Heritage is not-for-profit, and they have a vocational training center on site to teach students from around the country about hospitality. It takes about 2 hours from the airport. Roughly an hour by car, another by longboat. I would recommend staying here instead of the northern part of the lake because you’re closer to all of the sightseeing. Don’t worry about the hour boat ride, because you’re sightseeing along the way! Make sure to keep your camera out so you’re able to catch some of the fishermen on your journey south. Take a big breath of the air too, it’s the freshest you’ll ever smell. Once you arrive, there are 6 bungalows. It’s also connected to a restaurant which makes the best food we’ve honestly ever eaten. We fell in love with Burmese food in Yangon and Bagan, but couldn’t believe it could get even better in the Shan State. A lot of tour guides will stop to eat at the restaurant since they have fresh, clean, and of course delicious food. The bungalow is perfect. The inside is clean, simple, and very relaxing. There are so many windows that bring in the freshest breeze all throughout the day. The view from the back is breathtaking and peaceful. I never read that Inle Lake was surrounded by such beautiful mountains, but the views everywhere are unreal and go on as far as the eye can see! The room is spacious, calm, and quiet at night. It’s such a treat to come back from dinner to have turn down service with hot water bottles at the foot of the bed. It’s so cozy! The bathroom area is also very spacious. The shower is big and the water pressure is wonderful. Breakfast was included, and they do not disappoint. You get so much delicious food, even if you’re full you keep eating because you wonder if you’ll ever have a breakfast this good again! Having it brought to your bungalow was something we looked forward to every morning. This was arranged the evening before so you can just wake up to an incredible meal. By the way, the organic food is grown and picked just outside your bungalow! You can’t get any more fresh than that. Also, we are both vegan, so they went above and beyond to accommodate our diet. We always love eating local authentic food when we travel vs. western, so being able to enjoy everything the other guests would also enjoy was perfect! I can't stress enough how their food was the best we've ever eaten in our entire lives! There is also a Burmese cat preservation on site as well. This is a wonderful cause since it’s re-introducing Burmese cats back into Myanmar. All of the cats are well cared for and are such a treat to visit while staying. Please make sure to stop by the gift shop. There are a ton of great gift ideas - especially cat themed. The money helps local artisans, and disadvantaged people in the area. They are constantly working directly with these people to get new items into the shop and help create a business for those less fortunate. Anything extra goes back into the Burmese cat preservation. My Husband and I originally booked 2 nights here for the middle of January 2016. The location and staff blew us away so much that we decided to change our flight and added an additional night. Thant Zin helped us call to cancel our previous flight, found us a new one and booked it for us as well. We couldn’t believe how simple she made it, and how happy she was to help. She honestly made our entire stay one we will always remember. We really appreciate all that she did for us, and so happy that we left as friends! We were continually blown away by the top notch service. Still, after 3 nights we wish we would have stayed much longer. What we loved the most about visiting Myanmar were the people, and everyone there proved it time and time again. Their kindness and willingness to help is above anything we’ve ever experienced. Every little detail was perfect. We felt like they were our family, not staff, during our entire stay. Having stayed at many boutique and top hotels, even a few that have made the TripAdvisor list of best in the world, this topped them all. If only I could put into words the feeling Thahara Inle Heritage gave us. I’m hoping this review will shed light on such a beautiful place. Stayed January 2016, traveled as a couple"

Slow Villas and Spa: "Hidden little secret"

"Slow is located on the eastern part of Gili Air - it s a small island, but this area is still quiet, with many coconuts and few construction. Each villa is a little private sanctuary, with a large garden, a nice pool, a terrace. charming decoration, quality linen... and the possibility if you like to have a chef to come and cook a BBQ just for you. Very friendly team, happy to share their favorite spots around the island. it's not right on the beach... but this is why also it's so quiet... and beach is 2mn walk! recommended: take a bike and go around the island by bike!"

The Apsara Rive Droite: "The Apsara Queen"

"We stayed at the Apsara Rive Droite so that we had a swimming pool as in the old part of Luang Prabang the boutique hotels don't have the space for a pool. We were not disappointed - this is a small boutique hotel with only about 12 rooms. The service from the staff was fantastic and they were very helpful in recommending things to do even though this is not our first visit to Luang Prabang. The rooms are spacious with big balconies looking over the river to the old part of Luang Prabang. The hotel has a little 'punt' called the Apsara Queen to take you back and forth across the river to the old part of the city where you can wander around. This is walking distance of all the restaurants, bars and shopping so it is a great location. The punt operates 24 hours a day so there is no worry about getting home late or leaving early in the morning to see the monk walking around collecting their alms for the day. We used their bicycles to ride around the weaving villages and then to ride into and around the old part. It was very easy as it is mostly flat and an easy cycle with little of no traffic. Worth doing to explore the side of the river that the hotel is situated on. Very interesting riding past the homes with woman weaving or doing other crafts. Excellent opportunity to buy direct from the person that makes them. When we go back this is the place we will be staying at ....... highly recommended."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Hauntingly beautiful"

"Staying at the Blue Mansion was an experience in itself! One of the highlights of our time in Penang! This courtyard house is exquisite beyond words, from the lobby to its inner courtyards. Calm and quiet, we were immediately transported to another century. Guests can join any of the daily tours for free. The guides were fantastic in explaining the history of Cheong Fatt Tze, the man and the house. There are small displays that remain open throughout the day that guests can browse at leisure. The mansion is bright and open in during the day. And turns mysterious and haunting at night with its glowing red lanterns. One of the most romantic places we've ever stayed. Breakfast was simple and elegant, with a la carte options as well. We had dinner at the restaurant which was good but not particularly memorable. Everyday, the staff will bring some small desserts for afternoon tea (always different and carefully created!). The location is also very central. Right next to a large covered open air food market with every type of cuisine imaginable (and very cheap). The hotel also provides bikes for rent for free but bikes are not all well maintained. We will never forget our stay at the Blue Mansion and if we return to Penang, we will not stay anywhere else."

Reverie Siam: "Perfect Hotel in Pai"

"This hotel is very nice and charming. We stayed on a villa. The room is quite big with spacious bathroom with jacuzzi inside. You have a very nice garden view from your jacuzzi tub. It's like an open-air bathroom but closed with glass window. Very comfortable bed and day bed. You have your own balcony with private back yard. It's fantastic! You have a very generous breakfast here: 1 main dish, 1 sweet dish and 2 beverages. I Iove the decoration of every corner of the hotel. Staffs here are very polite and friendly. They are very well trained! Big thanks to the management team and all staffs. Stayed January 2017, traveled with family"

Heritage Suites Hotel: "Respite amid the bustle of Siem Reap"

"We enjoyed our stay at the Heritage Suites. Service is top notch, with water and a cool towel in the car that meets your flight. The staff were friendly and helpful, and liked to practice their English. Our room was spacious, with a seating area separated from the bedroom by a curtain. Turndown service brought fresh water and clean towels. It was quiet and the room was secluded from other rooms. Breakfast was great, you could order everything or one thing! Everything we tried was delicious. We took tuktuk into town for dinner, there was almost always one waiting, and the front desk would call for one at peak times. While the location is a little far from pub street, we enjoyed being away from the crowds. We chose the hotel because we wanted quiet and to make sure we had a good guide to tour Angkor and the surrounding Wats. The hotel arranged our driver and guide for 2 days. Our guide, Chan spoke good English. He was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the temples, culture, and history from him. The driver was cordial and knew when to offer cool towels and water. We exchanged email with the hotel tour desk before our arrival to ensure we saw the key sights we were interested in. Our one suggestion would be for Chan to be a little more communicative about what was next, so we would know whether to bring snacks or water with us. "

Reverie Siam Pai: "Very nice and relaxing"

Passed 3 nights in this nice hotel locate just 1 km from Pai town centre. The resort is really nice, it has 2 nice swimming pools, very good mediterranean restaurant and lovely rooms well equipped. Breakfast is à la carte, so you can choose whatever you prefer. It is really good! Wish to come back

Nimmu House: "Amazing place for a relaxing & peaceful stay in Leh"

"We arrived in early May and were the first guests of the season. PROPERTY: It's a beautiful property with tons of apricot, apple & walnut trees which were in full bloom. The courtyard / terrace with comfortable seating & hammocks was paradise. One could spend an entire day lazing in the sun, gazing at the amazing views and spotting beautiful birds that would fly by and occasionally perch on the trees to feed (the photographs cannot do it justice - no offense to the photographer). The WIFI is patchy when it works, and that added to the charm of being totally disconnected. ACCOMODATIONS: As it was too cold (especially at night) we stayed in the heritage rooms instead of the tents. The rooms are cozy though small. They have all the basis amenities and the beds are comfortable. The hot water bottles & space heater (when the power was on) made the rooms bearable at night. The typical Ladakhi furniture was a nice touch. Though, watch out for the narrow and short doorways, after a couple of bumps we got used to them. THINGS TO DO: We were there for just 3 days (our only regret was we couldn't stay longer). The first day was spent relaxing on the property to acclimatize, which was a treat by itself. The manager gave us tour of the house and the history of the house and the family that owns it is fascinating (we got to meet some of family and they are gracious and friendly and it was a pleasure meeting them). We also visited the Alchi & Likir monasteries which were built in the 11th century and are very well preserved with beautiful paintings/murals. We also did a day trip to Pangong Tso, which was amazing and a must do. The hotel management made all the arrangements and they were top notch. [A heads-up though, the hotel only accepts CASH (no credit cards); so bring enough!]. MANAGEMENT & STAFF: The best thing for us about Nimmo House, is the management & staff. Couldn't say enough nice things about them. They treated us as family (in a good way!!). It was a pleasure to get to know all of them, hearing their fascinating stories about what brought them to to this remote place from all over the world and their experiences in Ladakh."