Guest Reviews

Rachamankha: "Beautiful, boutique hotel, don’t expect 5 bars, a gym & 3 restaurants"

A gem of a hotel, hidden away down a side lane in the old city. No noise, 24hr security & an architectural wonder of Thai design. Rooms with covered walkways are all built round open courtyards with paths, palm & oleander trees & pots, joining them to different areas of the hotel. The pool area is beautifully maintained & the library has an old colonial feel with many interesting subjects to browse, particularly travel & architecture. Our room was quiet, spacious, spotlessly clean, with an excellent shower & lovely Moulton Brown toiletries. Breakfast was taken outside or in, waiter served with choices cooked to order. Very relaxing compared to the pandemonium of buffet breakfasts experienced elsewhere. Restaurant evening meals delicious & beautifully presented. Would definitely return & recommend.

TIGER MOUNTAIN POKHARA LODGE: "Heaven on earth"

"Having trekked for six days in the hills, Tiger Mountain Lodge was exactly what we needed. We arrived and were immediately offered refreshing drinks whilst sitting on the veranda looking at the stunning scenery.The view was incredible every single day and it was magical to sit out over breakfast and just see the mountains in the distance. The staff were on another level. They were so attentive, willing to do anything (which included making endless amounts of popcorn) and really professional. They knew exactly when we needed something and were polite and chatty. The rooms themselves were fantastic, the beds really comfy and the views stunning. The bathrooms too were much appreciated and the showers were very welcome after the hills! The food was five star: every day was something different and the breakfast especially wonderful. As a vegetarian, they were very accommodating. (...)It really is a place like nowhere else."

Tugu Lombok: "Full of character and charm"

"What a unique and characterful hotel! The architecture and decor is completely authentic and brimming with stunning antiques and artefacts. The whole experience was so wonderfully relaxing - from the warm welcome and complimentary massage to the fresh seafood dinner on the beach! The sea was so calm - perfect to try out paddle boarding and kayaking. There was nothing to fault... friendly and helpful staff, delicious food, amazingly comfortable bed, stunning outdoor bath and private pool, spacious grounds and a beautiful white sandy beach for long walks. I would not hesitate to recommend The Tugu Lombok to anyone who is tired of large and impersonal hotels."

Villa Song Saigon: "2 nights wasn’t enough"

"Fabulous hotel, loved every minute. After a busy 2 weeks travelling south from Hanoi via Mekong Delta it was a real treat to finish our trip with 2 nights at Villa Song. It was extremely hot in Saigon compared to everywhere else so we used the hotel as a sanctuary to recuperate and enjoy. We got it right! The free shuttle boat into town was great and frequent, so the only trip we made was to the market to finish our gift and souvenir shopping, then spent the rest of the day by the pool. It was lovely also to sit by the river watching the 'traffic', with delicious food and friendly staff. Breakfast was served for most of the morning and was a fantastic way to start the day. The room was great (we had an extra bed put into a twin room) on the top storey - a bit of a climb without a lift but not a huge problem, it's not as though you had to carry your bags or anything! Absolutely top of the list for another trip to Saigon, and maybe next time I will be able to drag myself away from the oasis that is Villa Song and see a little bit of the city!"

Rachamankha: "Oasis"

Beautifully adorned elegant boutique hotel in the Old City, peacefully situated on an alley away from the noise of the roads. The rooms all face one of two outdoor courtyards; a sheltered lobby area open to the courtyards divides the space; suites face a different courtyard. The property has a pool and a small library/computer room, in-house telephones at the pool or lobby can be used to order drinks or food from the limited bar menu. A welcome drink was provided (beer or wine) and can be best enjoyed at the pool or lobby. A breakfast was provided with our rate and consisted of coffee/juice service, bread service, and a three-course meal (served in three parts; hint: specify order, if desired) in a leisurely semi-formal setting. There was not a fitness room but was made up for by early morning walks or runs. Gratis bottled water. The hotel is walking distance to everything in the Old City.

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Sublime"

"Grandes chambres de luxe au milieu des rizières. Très bon restaurant et prix très abordable. Il est aussi possible de manger dans la chambre. Comme partout a Bali,personnel aux petits soins. Le cadre est merveilleux,superbe piscine."

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Little piece of paradise"

We stayed here for 4 nights and what a magical time that was. We could not have been happier with the service we received by staff of Sanak. The employes of Sanak retreat is what makes Sanak of what it is. They are absolutely amazing. Fell in love this place and will definitely come back on my next trip to Beautiful Bali

Villa Song Saigon: "Absolutely splendid & luxurious"

We selected this hotel for our final night in Vietnam and to celebrate our anniversary. It seemed a long way from the airport initially, but really it is quite close to the city centre and the hotel provides regular transport for guests. We splurged on an art suite and it was so beautiful that we wished we could have stayed longer, much longer. The staff were so kind and in our room we found a lovely little surprise to help us mark our special occasion. How thoughtful. The location of the hotel overlooking the river is beautiful and we were so impressed with the decor, the staff, the restaurant and the facilities. Our room was superb in every detail and we were given the opportunity to take a boat ride from the hotel's dock to the city - great fun. A fantastic stay.

Tugu Bali: "Hotel meets art museum"

"Hotel Tugu surprised us! Canguu has gotten busier and built up but you step inside Hotel Tugu and it is like stepping into an oasis back in time. The rich artwork everywhere you turn is a photographers dream! The hotel is more than happy to give you a tour for free and I highly recommend it. Hearing the history behind each art piece and painting makes the experience that much richer. The rooms are like staying in an old wood Balinese villa. If you are looking for a modern Marriott, than this hotel would not be for you (and you would be missing out on a one of a kind experience), Lots of character and amazing views. The service is great! You can eat anywhere on the property at any time. I highly recommend you check out all the nooks and crannies. There are many more dining spots than you may think at first blush. They also have numerous one of a kind specialty drinks that do not disappoint. The Japanese restaurant is a reconstructed ancient Chinese temple. Good sushi and better pictures so bring your camera to dinner!"

The Cabochon Hotel: "A Special Spot in Bangkok"

"I hope as my first post that a rather gushing review does not come off as unauthentic. I'd be happy for anyone to message me with questions as I really do think the Cabochon is a special place with kind and attentive staff. My wife and I arranged a 50th birthday weekend for a friend and chose the Cabochon as both our hotel and the restaurant for the birthday dinner. We had 9 rooms at the hotel, with 18 adults and 4 children joining. We first discovered the hotel a few years back when some friends living close by in Bangkok took us to dinner at the hotel restaurant, Thai Lao Yeh. Late last year (2015) we went back for dinner on our own and were so impressed we asked to tour some rooms with the intention of possibly selecting this as the venue for the 50th birthday weekend trip. Once the staff showed us a selection of rooms we were hooked. In hindsight I made many mistakes in coordinating such a large group. Rin, who had coincidentally been our waiter on our second Thai Lao Yeh dinner, wound up being our primary contact. Honestly I did not make it easy for Rin, yet he was able to handle request after request and never once let us down. In the end the weekend went perfectly, and everyone in our party commented how much they loved the hotel and restaurant. Let me give some targeted commentary that I hope others will find useful. Restaurant - See my (future) Thai Lao Yeh review. Atmosphere - Historic luxury, so you would think... You absolutely won't believe the hotel was relatively recently built from the ground up. The owner, architect, and builders have done an amazing job not only decorating the entire hotel with vintage pieces, but the actual structure itself (walls, door frames, etc) has been made to look aged. Multiple people in our party commented on this. It has to be seen to be believed. Staff - I have stayed at multiple top tier properties in Sukhumvit and wider Bangkok. The service was 5 star quality, with boutique friendliness. Rin was really a standout for us, but all staff were great. Rooms - The vintage look and feel does not result in any compromises on practicality. The bed was comfortable, as was the lounge furniture in our large balcony suite. The bathroom was spacious, well equipped, and worked as expected. Ground Floor Lounges - Do yourself a favor and have a drink in the lounge. Calling it a ""lounge"" may give the wrong impression. There are actually multiple sitting rooms. Choose your spot, sit back, relax, and soak in the vibe. Breakfast - If you're used to a large hotel's buffet your first impression might be negative, but the selection of fruits, breads, and a main never became boring over the 4 meals we enjoyed on this visit. Pool - It does not compare to the resort luxury of the SGS, but let's be honest the Cabochon just doesn't have the space or army of staff to compete in this area. The pool was practical, well maintained, and proved to be a nice place to hang out with friends and cool down. I can imagine during the hotter summer months it could be a bit too hot to spend extended hours poolside, so if this is your thing then look for another hotel. Location - This is the only area I have not given them 5 points. They are a little further away from both shopping and transportation than some of the hotels centered around Asok or Nana on the Sky Train. You will need to walk 7 minutes to get to Phrom Phong for the closest mall and concentration of shops and restaurants. That said, the peace and quiet of being setback about 200 meters from the street noise of Sukhumvit should be appealing to some. Without a doubt the Cabochon is now my go to Bangkok hotel. The cost performance is top class, the hotel restaurant is honestly one of the best restaurants (if not the best) in all of Bangkok, and the staff are extremely helpful. You can't go wrong if all of my commentary above resonates with you -- really. "