Villa Song Saigon: "Wonderful Gem of a Boutique Hotel – Do Not Miss"

Review by: lilingenue | Source: Trip Advisor
"A beautifully restored French Colonial property, Villa Song boasts just 23 rooms in a low key neighborhood, surrounded by expat residences and international schools. Hard to imagine that not much more than a decade ago, this area was pretty much swamp land! Before going, you really should know what Villa Song is not: - This is not a large chain hotel - every contact you have with the staff is friendly and warm, and chances are you may not know their names but they will certainly know yours. You're not just a face in the crowd. However, for being of such an intimate size, Villa Song has the extras that you don’t often find in similar boutique hotels: a gorgeous long swimming pool for doing laps or sunning yourself by, a pretty decently equipped gym room (machines & free weights), and a spa that doesn’t break the bank. - This is not a property you visit to party at as there's no late night bar or club thumping away downstairs (thank goodness). Along the same lines, don’t expect around-the-clock room service – we certainly didn’t miss it, since there’s a ton of late night delicious eats in this city. - Having said that, this is not the most accessible hotel to popular street eats and the sights, but it's surprisingly easy to get around, thanks to the complimentary hotel boat shuttle that zips you up/down the Saigon River to/from the Cau Mong pier on the border of Districts 4 & 1. These run on a schedule (book at the reception beforehand), and if there isn't one when you need it, an Uber saves you the hassle of dealing with unscrupulous cabbies, and takes you to/from the middle of District 1 within 15min for around US$6- US$7. Now onto what this beautiful property IS: - It is infinitely charming. Every room is unique, and even the same room type will vary in size. You'll get the same awesome water pressure in the shower though, which we loved, and lightning fast wi-fi. Also, in our case, although the Sanctuary room that we were upgraded to was a bit petite in size, we had a wonderful good-sized balcony that overlooked the river...perfect for a mid-afternoon beer (complimentary from the minibar) or a snooze. Breakfasts by the river are a calming way to start the day, no matter what time you decide to rise (!!!), and the food is well- portioned and delicious. And THAT iced Vietnamese coffee...my partner and I will be dreaming of those until our next visit! - It is incredibly service oriented. From check-in to check-out, and for our every want in-between, the staff at Villa Song offer up their help with warmth and smiles...we felt truly welcomed and at home. Besides our complimentary room upgrade upon our late night check-in, we were surprised with a cheesecake plate that was decorated with warm wishes (the trip was a belated birthday trip for my partner) – we were very touched. - It is really good value for money. While it’s not the cheapest hotel around, it certainly delivers much better bang for your buck than you’d expect for similar boutique properties, especially if you can find a deal through a third party website. Bathrooms are fully equipped with toiletries, toothbrushes and other bits you may have forgotten, hairdryers, and in-room Nespresso and minibar is complimentary (albeit with a selection that’s a bit spare), and the value-add of the boat shuttle to town that I mentioned previously takes it to the next level. Thank you to everyone at the Villa Song for a wonderful stay! The next time we visit, we will definitely be indulging ourselves with a stay at one of your beautifully appointed suites. We can’t wait."

Villa Song: "Fantastic Relaxing Location 5*"

Review by: CharmBrisbane | Source: Trip Advisor
"Amazing hotel and not that far from the centre. Perfect for a getaway if you live in Vietnam and also if you want to stay out of the hustle of the main centre. Gorgeous river location and fantastic staff. Caters for Asian and Western customers. The pool and surrounds are very relaxing."

Inle Princess Resort: "Lovely hotel with very sweet staff"

Review by: dutchguy2 | Source: Trip Advisor
Had a lovely, lovely few days here. Resort itself is quite small so very personal. Pool is nice, huts were nice, restaurant was very nice. All in all a great way to spend a few days. Can definitely recommend.

Inle Princess Resort: "Beautiful relaxing and serene experience"

Review by: shari001 | Source: Trip Advisor
The resort is built in traditional mynamar style with lots of teak everywhere! We had a garden cottage which looked out on to a lovely large pond covered in water lilies. The cottage itself was beautifully and tastefully furnished, if a little quirky! Being winter, the inbuilt chimena is lit in the evening if wanted. There is also a/c and ceiling fan. The bathroom is well appointed and the cottage also boasts an outdoor shower. Outside are sunloungers, armchairs and a table on a deck. Be aware, there is no TV or music system in the cottage. Occasionally you will hear a gecko or bird but other than that, we could only hear silence. There is a large restaurant serving both Mynamar and western dishes. In my opinion, the food is good but not outstanding. The hotel has a pool but it looked snd my toe told me, it was way too cold to venture in... I'm talking winter here!!! The resort is a perfect place from which to go exploring by long tail boat on Lake Inle. There are many interesting villages and pagodas in their 100s to see and, of course, the obligatory market selling anything and everything. We spent 3 nights here which i reckon is enough.

Rachamankha: "Lovely romantic getaway"

Review by: MCat194 | Source: Trip Advisor
We had a lovely stay at Rachamankha! The food at the restaurant is wonderful- the included breakfasts are really a treat to start your day. The hotel itself is beautifully decorated and landscaped. Rooms are spacious and airy with high ceilings. It's easy to spend an afternoon relaxing by the pool or in the library just soaking it all in. The location is also quite good- easy to walk around and see the sights. Would definitely stay here again!

Inle Princess Resort: "Beautiful, calm location"

Review by: HasHout | Source: Trip Advisor
We stayed in lake side room for 2 nights. As everyone has said it is a lovely hotel. The rooms are spacious and well maintained, the food good with local dishes, the swimming pool an unexpected bonus, kind staff. It is an enjoyable boat journey to teach the resort, being off the main water ways means it is very quiet. Very highly recommended.

Heritage Suites Hotel: "Good Retreat at the End of the Day"

Review by: Erin S | Source: Trip Advisor
We spent 4 nights at the Heritage Suites in Siem Reap, while visiting the Angkor Wat ruins and surrounding countryside. When we returned in the late afternoon every day, it was an excellent refuge from the heat and humidity. The grounds are lovely, the staff are excellent, and the rooms are well appointed. It’s a great place to reflect on what you’ve seen and heard during the day, and rest up before the next day. All and all a fine accommodation.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "A Lodge with a View and so much more"

Review by: Christel W | Source: Trip Advisor
"This was my second time at TMPL, and for me TMPL is first of all about this magnificent view. The place itself is so beautifully built, that no matter which way you turn, you are always able to enjoy the spectecular view on the Anapurna mountain range and at the same time feel included in nature without being intrusive. A result of the environmentally conscious approach by its owner Marcus Cotton. The rooms are inviting - spacious, comfortable and in decor beyond any short lived fashion, which can at times be overwhelming. So I felt instantly at home. And the food was just delicious, home made from their own organic garden. It was a treat to chose whatever you wanted, because the guest's well being had priority. The staff is very well trained, attentive, efficent in a gentle way, making you feel very welcome. I thoroughly enjoyed Marcus' warm and generous hospitality sprinkled with a lovely sense of british humour. It was a truly wonderful stay for me and I will be back for more as soon as I can. Stayed January 2017, traveled with friends"

Hotel Tugu Lombok: "Amazing"

Review by: Holding VioletB... V | Source: Trip Advisor
"The hotel is beautiful and an example of the amazing Tugu style! There are 4 Tugu hotels in Indonesia and this was the only one I didnot visit yet! The way it is set up doesn't make you feel like you are in a hotel. It feels like staying with friends that have a big house with eclectic taste! The staff are very friendly and cater to your every need. The gardens are beautiful and the beach is very quiet. What else can you want? They have 2 Beautiful wooden boats that can take you snorkeling or to the Gili Islands in style! If you go to Lombok this is the place to stay!"

Slow Villas and Spa: "Heaven on earth"

Review by: mudgeroo | Source: Trip Advisor
Absolute luxury, low key, discreet, perfect. Quiet oasis....wouldn't want this place to be anywhere but hidden away from the mainstream vibes. Those who say location is poor are fools...it's a perfectly hidden gem. Attention to detail here is amazing...even down to the chique dinnerware. Breakfast amazing...people and services fantastic. So peaceful. Come.
instagram youtube linkedin blog tiktok

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!