Goldhen Budha: "Our happy place"
"We have spent 6 days at Golden Buddha in December 2015 and it has been one of the best Holiday experiences so far. The location is fantastic, the staff and the management are very friendly and the whole atmosphere is very familiar and relaxed. Food, drinks and services (e.g. Thai Massage) are great and our Baan was also stunning. Hopefully we can come back one day."tugu malang: "So luxurious"
"Our group of five arrived at Hotel Tugu by train late in the afternoon. We were greeted by very friendly and helpful staff who assisted us to check in. While our luggage was taken to our room we enjoyed the complimentary afternoon tea. The hotel is like staying in a museum. Tours are available but we were short of time. We enjoyed dinner by the pool before going to bed. We were woken at 12.30am and set out on our adventure to see the sunrise on Mount Bromo. This is a spectacular sight and well worth the journey. Warm clothing is definitely required. Don't forget your camera. We returned early morning to the hotel and had a few hours of sleep. That night we booked dinner in the King's room which is absolutely magnificent with so much to look at and so much history. We felt like Royalty seated at the table as we ate our meal. The staff went out of their way to make it a very memorable occasion for us. Next morning, after breakfast by the pool, our stay sadly came to an end we left for the airport. This hotel was one of the best that we have stayed in. We will definitely return again as our stay wasn't long enough to see everything that Malang has to offer. "Pindaya Farm House: "Amazing stay at the farmhouse!"
Had an unforgettable one night with my family of 5 adults and 2 kids several weeks ago. Amazing serenity surrounded by beautiful mountainview and farm, in which the property host raises various kinds of fresh veggies and herbs. The rooms were equipped with comfortable beds, and the modern style shower was a pleasant surprise! My favorite part of the property...Tugu Lombok: "Magical, Quirky and Friendly"
"I stayed at Hotel Tugu Lombok with my two sons in one of the Ampenen Villas. I had dined here in the past which had 'wetted' my appetite to stay and explore the resort more as it had looked so interesting and unique. I certainly wasn't disappointed. From arrival in the reconstructed Rumah Ampenan (19th century Chinese traders house), to the Bale Kokok Pletok (open air dining area), Lara Djonggrang Bar and temple inspired Spa, the whole place is full of interesting stories, mystique and quirkiness which give it a vibe like no other place I've stayed before and definitely set it apart from other larger resorts and ""chain"" hotels. Our villa was spacious even with three beds in it, refreshingly cool and spotlessly clean. We had so many welcome flowers and a personal note, which just endeared the place to us even more. Every day we were surprised with a new pet (of the towling variety, thanks to Jaelani one of the super friendly staff). While I appreciate it was low season, there were not many guests and so we felt like we were getting extra special attention - all the staff knew our names, which made you feel instantly safe and comfortable. We were also given a personal guided tour of the complex by Ellie, which as specified, was filled with stories and tales of Ancient Lombok, Temples, Princesses, Gods and immortal beings - facinating to understand the inspiration for the environment which we were enjoying. As there are not many dining options close to Hotel Tugu (a couple of very basic local warungs about 1km away), we ended up dining at the hotel for all meals, which did add up a bit (especially with the ++), but the quality of the food was superb with a wide choice of local and western foods, all of which tasted delicious. Even with taxes, the food was still good value compared to what we would normally pay in Australia for the same quality. We were at the hotel for three nights and dined in three different locations - the Bale Kokok Pletok, the Gedong Gandrung (hall of love - with my two sons!!) and the beach - all fantastic experiences. I would recommend doing a bike ride around the local area on the hotel's bikes (we did ours late afternoon to avoid the heat). Jaelani offered to escort us which was helpful and informative. Another worthwhile thing to do is get up early and stroll along the beach to enjoy the sunrise over Rinjani, the myriad of sea life exposed at low tide and the fishermen heading off for the day. We also used the hotel's kayaks to paddle around and over the bay (looking at amazing sea life below, including turtles) and stand up paddle boards - perfect for use on the clear blue, calm waters of the Sire peninsula. I dont think there's any doubt that I will come back to this magical place again - there is nothing I could fault and much to recommend. Room Tip: We were given a tour of several villas - they all looked wonderful."Reverie Siam Pai: "Colonial Style"
"The colonial styled hotel is set on the outskirts of Pai, but with a complementary buggy service into town. The grounds are well kept with lots of pathways around the resort. The river that runs through Pai passes the boundary of the hotel with rural views from the river. Very nice rooms situated around the gardens. There are two swimming pools and a smaller paddling pool for children. The breakfast is served and very leisurely. Rooms are large, very clean and tidy with all toilet requirements supplied. No mosquitos ! "Villa Song Saigon: "Great stay– lived up to the hype"
"We were happy to leave our original hotel in district one and book a last minute two nights at Villa Song. The area has a few great spots for eating and shopping (Dolphy for coffee and Banh Mi 362). It's about a 20 minute walk into the heart of things but we really enjoyed the scenery and slower place of things. It was a really nice contrast from district one and the tourist zone. The hotel is beautiful, on a river, and the boat ride is a great alternative to viewing the rapidly expanding city of Saigon. The cab ride back home later at night was $7-8. Easy! We'd head in on the 11:30 AM boat, do touristy stuff, take a later boat back to the hotel, and then go back out later on the 6 pm boat and cab back to the hotel later. It was not too inconvenient and it was very worth it to not feel the stress of getting run over by a motorbike for a solid few hours. Also, the pool! So much more serene, private and clean than the rooftop pools in HCMC. Also, there are only 23 rooms in the hotel, so you're not fighting for pool space. The service was fantastic, as was the food. Vietnamese breakfast options were the bomb. We loved the braised beef and egg noodle soup and the chicken congee. Great fresh squeezed OJ. Stay here!"SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Destined to be Myanmar’s first Michelin star restaurant ?"
"Surely this must be the restaurant to put Yangon and Myanmar’s restaurants on the Michelin map! We dined in the beautiful surroundings and were truly amazed and delighted with a superb meal presented by chef Felix Eppisser and his team. In a country with no professional culinary schools, to create such an amazing menu and meal was simply incredible! We ate from the Elements fixed menu and every course was a true Star rated experience - We have been fortunate to eat in a number of Michelin restaurants throughout the last 12 months in both the UK and Italy including Le Manoir and the 3 Star il Duomo in Alba ( rated in the top 10 restaurants in the world currently)... this meal was up there with the very best! All of the staff were delightful and May our waitress and Felix”s wife Lucia looked after all guests ( and ourselves) with impeccable service. It was inspiring to hear how they are training the future chefs and service staff to capture the true essence of high quality cuisine - all being mentored and trained on site in the restaurant. When Michelin do finally find Myanmar, ( they have not yet ventured here!) I’m sure that this will be a Star contender and worthy champion for this amazing country Thanks to all at Seeds for a memorable end to our holiday in Myanmar Don’t miss the opportunity if you are in Yangon !"Villa Song Saigon: "Postmodern Colonial Style Perfection"
"In district 2, Villa Song is perfectly located along the Saigon river with scenes of the rural outskirts and industrial trade by cargo ship directly before you, to give a sense of location and culture. Being slightly out of the centre of the city and right on the banks of the river, means the air there is a slightly more fresh. Villa Song is a mightily impressive building, reminiscent of a palatial colonial outpost, yet it is only a few years old. The service is exceptional and the catering is world class. The outdoor bar and dining area is truly lovely. You can only be made to feel special here and although we only stayed 2 nights, my Husband and I found this hotel to be faultless. A nice touch was the complementary mini bar, including water, juices, soya drinks and beer, and fresh tropical fruits. The fixtures and fittings are top quality too, solid and robust and classically designed...everything for your comfort. We adored our stay here."Villa Song Saigon: "Height of luxury"
"We treated ourselves to a stay here on the last night of our holiday. It isn't cheap but does offer an exceptional experience. Just taking the speed boat into town makes it worth it! They organized a great tour to the tunnels for us and we enjoyed sitting in the peaceful gardens by the river drinking cocktails. The room is a luxurious boutique standard. The pool is a great size and lovely temperature. The only thing that could be improved is that the attitude of some of the reception staff was a bit snooty, it could be more universally warm and welcoming. Everybody was polite though and it felt very special to stay here."Manda De Laos: "Great restaurant and wonderful setting"
"We were recommended to try this restaurant and it did not disappoint. Food was fabulous , duck was wonderful as was the Luang Prabang salad. All of this is topped by the wonderful setting - get there early to catch daylight view before sun sets but then candle light makes it magical . Also noted gluten free selection on menu ."Travel Asia with Secret Retreats
Secret Retreats is a curated community of independent boutique hotel, villas, yachts and river boats keen to share their Asian Homes with travelers, sustainably and responsibly.
Conservation of the environment, culture and traditions of Asia is of paramount importance to all in Secret Retreats.
A community of like-minded hospitality professionals, we offer our guests authentic travel experiences that go beyond typical offerings to unveil the essence of Asia. Supporting the Asia based hoteliers and hospitality professionals and providing incredible holidays in Asia and tailor-made Asia travel itineraries direct to public ad travel agents.
Get inspired and make savings!
By booking direct with Secret Retreats and enjoy peace of mind from our full on the ground support. Contact our concierge and plan then book your Asia holiday now!