Guest Reviews

David’s Kitchen: "Best Restaurant in Chiang Mai"

What a wonderful evening at David's Kitchen. Even though it was a monsoon outside, the restaurant was absolutely packed. Both food and drink were great. I highly recommend the lobster bisque. The cocktail and wine list were both excellent. Chef David stopped by every table to chat with the customers and make sure they were having a great meal. Excellent and personalized service at its best.

Chakrabongse Villas: "Four nights in Bangkok, and we could not wish for a nicer hotel"

"This year I turned 60 and decided on a holiday in Thailand, of course I had to include Bangkok. I found this amazing small characterful place not far from the Royal Palace and Wat Pho. The staff are the most helpful I have come across on the holiday. The room is lovely, Moroccan in style, the Mali room, like home from home for me as I have a lot of Moroccan influence in my house. It is the best place of our holiday. The grounds are peaceful and well kept with a salt water swimming pool. There are wonderful small touches everywhere with orchids and water lilies. The dining area is in a pavilion next to the river with a view of Wat Arun. The food was excellent and the wine list very good. I would stay here every time in Bangkok. The staff are knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble."

Maison Polanka: "Stay here for wonderful personal service. Deserving of a 7/5 rating not merely 5/5"

"I will start with the summary: tranquil garden, great room, excellent F+B, attention to detail, but the wonderful staff is what made our stay in Siem Reap a truly memorable one (in addition to the the magnificent ruins, of course). The small touches such the chilled towels in the car and upon our return to Maison after each of our trips were truly appreciated. They provided a mobile phone with Maison's number preloaded in directory, another thoughtful and helpful detail. We found the staff not merely polite and helpful but genuinely concerned about our well-being. Maison arranged tuk-tuk rides for our trips into the center of town and the drivers were courteous. Our car/van driver was friendly and informative on the ride back to the airport, making us feel welcome in Cambodia even as we were about to depart. We cannot remember all the names of all who took care of us but special thanks to to Kathy and Sorpana (?) at reception for all their attention to us. Of course, we cannot say enough about Francis. From the initial email exchanges to our actual stay he remained on top of everything. We appreciated his meeting us at the airport on our late night arrival, something we did not expect. Initially I had considered one of the larger hotels but chose to look for a boutique hotel instead. I chose Maison based on both excellent reviews and the compelling back story as told on the hotel webpage. Several email communications with Francis were promptly answered; he readily addressed concerns about airport transfers (a hotel van is available; recommended as tuk-tuks and taxis may not know the hotel or its location) transport to the town center (tuk-tuks that the hotel apparently has an arrangement with and will wait for you at your destination in town). Maison Polanka is located on the east side of the Siem Reap river in a quiet secluded neighborhood (the nearby Po Lang Ka pagoda is what presumably gave name to the road and hotel), about 9km away from the airport and 2.5km from the markets in downtown Siem Reap. The Angkor National Museum is the closest site of interest within very easy walking distance less than 1km from Maison. Of course, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are much further away 6.5km and 11km respectively. We rode the hotel van for our tour of the temples and took tuk-tuks to town. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained, heavily wooded and thus shaded. There were flowering plants everywhere including orchids and butterflies were flitting around from bloom to bloom. There were just a few rooms. The largest accommodation was the Khmer House, a stand-alone building. We had booked the the Yellow Room in the ""Maison"" which also housed the Green, Orange, and Purple Rooms. Francis told us that Maison could accommodate at most 15 guests and that the entire hotel has been booked in the past for family reunions. Check-in was smooth; we had the first of many culled and scented wet face towels to freshen us up. We were also given glasses of chilled fruit juice while we waited to complete check-in. We were then led to the Maison building and askedo leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. The Yellow Room lived up to what the hotel website promised, as did the entire property. The decor was rustic with sophisticated touches. A small plate of sliced fresh fruit had been left on the desk for us to enjoy. The amenities were as listed on their website. The bathroom was actually on a higher level with a short flight of stairs curving up from the far corner of the room. We had no issues with the stairs but it could get wet and slippery. Having traveled with my elderly parents I have become more acutely aware of the need for secure handholds; a single handrail at the corner where the stairs make a left turn on the way up would a world of difference. The bathroom was spacious. The shower stall was large and even had a small tile bench along the wall. I do not recall how textured the floor tiles were but I did not see a rubberized bath mat with suction cups that other hotels sometimes offer. Again, a small handrail at the level of the threshold of the shower would help steady anyone stepping out of the shower. Not that the the edge of the shower was raised very high, just a couple of inches perhaps. The bed was comfortable and we slept well on both the nights during our stay. There was a narrow balcony that we never ventured out on. We had our meals at the ""Sala"", the open-sided communal area by the pool that served as lobby, living room and dining room. What I had initially thought was the reception desk turned out to do double duty as a bar. There was an adjacent area with couches and armchairs clearly meant as a lounging area for those not interested in relaxing by the pool. As one might expect for a kitchen serving such a small number of guests the menu was not extensive but our meals were well-prepared and delicious. The young ladies serving us were attentive but not hovering over us. We had our not had dinner by the time of our late arrival but I had made arrangements with Francis beforehand and, once we had freshened up, dinner was quickly prepared for us. Should our travels ever take us back to Siem Reap we will definitely be staying at Maison Polanka again."

Talabgaon Castle: "A pearl tucked in the beautiful Rajasthani countryside"

"Located one and a half hour from Jaipur on the way to Ranthambore or Bundi, Talabgaon Castel is the perfect blend of Rajasthani heritage and culture ! The road to reach is crossing the countryside and villages. I love the thrill of diving deep in the rural India and suddenly reaching this splendid property. It brings you back in the royal times ! The castel has been remarquably renovated and improved by this family of polo players who are passionate about their legacy. I came with some friends and we were welcomed and by two of the brothers who take great care of us all along our stay. The staff is professional and provided an excellent service. They serve authentic Rajasthani food made with the vegetables from the organic garden. The rooms are large, clean, comfortable and beautiful. Chose one with the view on the swimming pool ! I particularly loved the gardens where you can stroll until the organic gardens, the farm the polo field and meet on your way some peacocks and even an emeu ! Perfect place to explore the rural life of India and to relax. They offer a large range of activities in an around the hotel (horse riding, walks, jeep safaris, camel cart ride...). We all wished we had stayed longer ! Thank you to the Talabgaon family for lovely time! Stayed January 2017, traveled with friends"

Jing’s Residence: "best hotel in Pingyao"

Manager and staffs are like family, provide invisible care when staying. Decent decoration, low key, quiet, with the best combination of sense of traditional beauty and modern experience design. A must staying place in Pingyao.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Recently rewarded with the title “best coastal Resort in Asia” , the Neeeshwar hermitage"

"This 16 bungalows counting hermitage , amidst a brilliant southern flowering garden, Looking to the Arabian sea, is really a shining jewel on Malabar's coast. Very friendly competent staff, excellent food an very quiet surrounding. Healthy walks Along a sandy beach. Neeleswar hermitage ""for ever""!"

David’s Kitchen: "Amazing food – David has created something truly special in Chiang Mai"

"We were lucky enough to get a table at this amazing restaurant and enjoyed a fabulous meal, and a warm welcome from David who is a legend indeed. The venue is beautiful and spacious, and the menu both extensive and mouth watering. We shared appetizers in order to experience a range, and 3 of us fell for the waygu beef cheek. So meltingly delicious that we went above and beyond ""satisfied"" to well and truly filled to the gills :-) David also recommended our wines and his advice was spot on. Thank you David for making our visit so memorable. Big thanks to Bruce and Rhiannon for an incredible treat!"

The Village House: "Relaxing Bed and Breakfast"

"This is an off-the-beaten track bed and breakfast. There are no signs and I doubt there are any other tourists in Santubong Village. We walked along the beach (mud flat, really) and through town and seemed to be the star attraction (as obvious tourists). Once inside the compound, you hear the constant rippling water cascading off of the clear swimming pool. There are hammocks and cozy chairs to spend a lazy day. The staff serves breakfast (including in the room price), plus snacks, lunch, and dinner upon ordering. The food was all very tasty. Order dinner at 5pm (and select your dining time) and as soon as you sit down, it will be delivered to your table. The rooms are small, but comfortable and clean. The bed is soft (unlike so many in Southeast Asia). The A/C worked and kept us cool. You could take a taxi up to the Sarawak Cultural Village or hike Santubong Mountain, but otherwise there's nothing nearby. This is a great place for relaxation. **Do take a map and their phone number. There are no signs even at the front door and it's unlikely many taxis from Kuching would know it's location. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Maduzi Hotel: "Worth to stay"

"Very calm and quiet. not many rooms, so not crowded like a other hotels in bangkok. Room was clean and nice, all the staffs are very gentle and kind. 5mins walk from asok bts stn. I would love to stay again later."

Muang La Lodge: "Belle adresse"

Here every detail is a plus that adds to our well-being ... The first place along the river, the garden, pavilions, swimming pool, warm pool .... Breakfast and good and well presented dinner. I enjoyed a nice massage. Small various attentions provide comfort (brazier, fruit in the room, tea and water available in various places) rewarding excursion in the villages. Welcome by Raphael and Mathilde.