Guest Reviews

Villa Song Saigon: "How Hotels Should Be"

"A mini break for 4 nights escaping the winter in Perth, Australia. Villa Song lived up to its #1 ranking on tripadvisor. Villa Song is a world class boutique, luxury hotel experience at less than the cost to stay in a country motel in Australia. From the glorious large river room with tall ceilings and colonial touches to the rain shower and crisp white linen the room delivers everything a weary traveller could possibly want. Fast free wi-fi, check. Free mini-bar, check. Free a la carte cooked breakfast, check. Individual coffee maker in room, check. So called 5 Star hotels could do well to introduce some of these features. The staff were polite, helpful and everyone from the pool to the front desk made us feel like welcome guests. The luxury (free) powerboat shuttle into the city is an absolute stroke of genius. A 20 minute relaxing river journey delivers you into the heart of HCMC and rescues you again when you are ready to return. All the convenience of a city centre hotel with none of the noise and chaos. It's hard to fault this place. The restaurant is good if you don't want to explore the other (many) local options, but not as outstanding as the rest of the hotel. If I were to be picky, there is no lift and if you are staying on the top floor, there is an easy 3 flights to help you exercise off your last meal!. I will stay here again, so should you."

RACHAMANKHA: "Zen oasis in the old town: fine Asian antiques, great service, sublime food!"

"We stayed for six nights. What a treat. This hotel is a ""Secret Retreat"" property, one of three that we stayed at in Thailand and Laos. They are owner occupied properties, with amazing attention to decor and service. The architect and designer of this property live here and use the hotel as their home and office, and as a display space for their fine collection of Asian antiquities, a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian. Just walking in the gate caused a feeling of calm. I asked for a yoga mat, no problem, and found that the second floor balcony of the spa, situated over the swimming pool, was a perfect place for doing my yoga routine, with several Buddhas looking on. The setting, the pool, the room, the service, the food were all wonderful. Paul, the manager, sat with us to plan out our day to day itinerary, and all of his suggestions were spot on, for temples and outings, and especially his recommendation for a tailor, from whom we got five shirts and a sport coat. The location is ideal with Wat Prah Singh just around the corner (we called it ""our"" temple), making it easy to drop in for monk chats, or to hear the chanting at 5 PM. The hotel is within the walls of old Chiang Mai and very close to the Sunday walking market. There is a discount for persons staying 3 nights or longer, not something we realized, but were happily surprised when they gave it to us without our asking. Having modified our original reservation at the last minute, we were scheduled to move rooms over our 6 night stay, but the management spent some time juggling the room schedule, so that we could stay in the same room, which we very much appreciated. We were in Room 19, in one of the main courtyards, and these courtyard rooms are quite lovely. One assumes these were equally as nice. The whole hotel is quiet and quiet. "

tugu lombok: "A slice of tropical paradise"

"In a 3-week adventure around Bali and Lombok, the Tugu Lombok was our absolute favourite place that we stayed, hands down. The resort is stunning, the grounds are impeccable, the rooms are extraordinarily beautiful. The beach is white sand and turquoise waters. Every meal we ate (in both restaurants) was absolutely delicious. The breakfast spread is fantastic (with a particularly amazing fruit plate) and the assortment of snorkelling equipment, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards is a great way to pass afternoons on the water. Things are laid out so that you never feel crowded. But by far the best thing about Tugu Lombok is the staff. Everyone, from Sharon, the GM, and Henry, her right hand man, to the spectacular restaurant staff, spa team, housekeeping staff, and security, were the epitome of hospitality. The staff are professional, knowledgeable, and polite, and everything they do is heartfelt and done with a smile. They anticipated our every need before we even expressed them and made us feel enormously welcome during our entire stay. We can't recommend this spot enough to anyone travelling to Lombok (and even if you're not, you might want to change your plans to include the Tugu). One small note on rooms - we had read through previous TripAdvisor reviews and decided to take the overwhelmingly consistent advice to splurge on a Bhagavat Gita suite and we were completely blown away by the beauty and design of these extraordinary villas. "

Samanea Beach Resort: "Perfect for Honeymoon!"

"This resort has everything you can ask for! An amazing, comfortable room with four poster bed, a small lounge and an open bath! The food is superb. the resort is just next to the sea ( though you cant get inside the water, but the beautiful shore and pier make up for it). Slightly away from the city centre, since you need to take a tuk tuk to the crab market or the beach. Overall it is quiet, peaceful and ultra romantic! Stayed March 2016, traveled as a couple"

The Village House: "Rest and repose, eco-luxe style"

Have stayed here numerous times, never disappointed. Keep it up, Village House Team! Facilities are clean and spacious, quiet areas hidden away here and there for thinking or writing. Excellent food, and a pretty well-stocked recreational room. No children here, so the pool remains civilised at all times... Am looking forward to my next visit already...

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen: "A Foodie Paradise!"

Run - don't walk - to this culinary gem! Tucked away on Soi 7, Blackitch is easy to miss, and but for the recommendation of our Concierge, would never have been on our radar. Thankfully it was. The quirky but inviting dining area only holds three tables, creating a kitchen-table like atmosphere which complements Chef Black's generous and personal approach to cooking for his guests. The 9-course menu changes daily according to the freshest ingredients available that day. Our meal incorporated plants he had foraged at 6 am, deep dark honey he had carried back from Chiang Rai, beef and pork he had fermented for two weeks, and smoked short rice grains collected from the nearby hill tribes. The ice cream was being hand-churned in the gelato lab downstairs when we arrived. Each course is carefully introduced and explained, and as one sips the 2 year-aged plum wine (made by Chef Black of course), it is easy to get lost in the narrative. The food however speaks for itself, as does the warmth and sincerity of our host. A true Chiang Mai "Must"!

The Island Lodge: "Scherer"

"The Island Lodge is a marvellous place! An oasis in the middle of a special place almost a junge beside the river. The view is historic, peaceful and really unique. There is nothing to compare with the Island Lodge in the area! The owner Michel and his wife Francoise are exceptional hosts not because of a necessity but because of a natural true passion to receive their guests with warmth and friendliness. It is a really comfortable feeling after traveling down from the chaos and noise of Ho Chi Minh! Breakfast is á la carte, it is slow and easy going just like the Mekong. Dinner is more or less the same. Lots of choice and lots of taste and just so comfortable. One of the best parts of this residence has to be the interior design. Michel did almost everything himself and if he ever gives up the Hotel business he could certainly try his hand at ID!! He has taste and style which is very seldom in a hotel of this size. Usually boutique hotels get a little Kitsch over load. Not here the attention to detail is impressive and highly soothing just before a early afternoon nap! The pool is big and super practical! And make sure you go with Michel on a bike tour. Probably something that will stay with me for ever for all the right reasons! Don't bother looking at any other place if you want to stay a few days in the Delta "

Villa Mathis: "la maison rouge de l’hôtel villa Mathis privatisée : le top !"

Nous étions 7 et avions privatisé la maison rouge (villa de 4 chambres avec piscine privatisée) : c'était le top en termes de décoration de chaque chambre et de beauté (végétation luxuriante dans le jardin, piscine à une température idéale de 27° assez grande pour faire mes 40 mn de longueurs quotidienne ;)). Nous avons choisi un dîner privatisé dans le jardin 2 soirées, c'était vraiment "luxe (à prix raisonnable), calme et volupté". En résumé, une très très belle adresse qui vaut le coup pour 3 ou 4 nuits maximum. Peu de choix de resto accessibles à pied en dehors de l'hôtel : la Casetta, un resto italien très bien juste en face sur la route, et c'est tout.

Dewakan: "A wonderful experience!"

It's my first time trying the modern Malaysian cuisine and it was amazing. Never knew that our local ingredients can be so versatile. Kudos to the chef team for their adventurous experiments. Full of surprises and I did enjoy all the new flavors dancing on my palate. Love the wine and fermented beverages pairing.

Sea Dance Resort: "Amazing"

"Very impressive! I had the most amazing stay! I was originally booked in for 2 nights I checked out only to return 2 hours later.. I spent the most idyllic 8 nights at the Seadance, I desperately needed to recharge. The resort is peaceful and calm. Every one knows your name and treats you like a friend not just a hotel guest.. Nothing was too much trouble, any request taken care of! I stay in hotels/resorts at least once a week for business the Sea Dance with its understated elegance out does many! Thank you to Faith, Helen,John and Danny You were all amazing! I very much enjoyed your company. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome, I was so sad to leave. I will be back again soon. Tina"