Guest Reviews

Villa Song Saigon: "Fantastic"

In January, we stayed for two weeks at Villa Song, and to be honest, it was the best holiday we've had in years ! Of course, Saigon is a beautiful and interesting city, but staying at Villa Song was the cherry on te cake. Never have we seen such friendly staff who did way more than just their job to make our stay memorable. From reception to housekeeping, everyone always had a smile on their face and was eager to help. A special "thumbs up" for the ladies (and gentleman) at reception - you were great ! We love you ! Above that, the hotel itself is a little gem : beautiful, calm, impeccably clean and ideally located in the nice Thao Dien district, away from the noisy and busy city centre. A complementary boat shuttle made going for a stroll and visiting the old town centre super easy. And last but not least : the hotel also has a fantastic restaurant with great food - definitely worth a visit ! Villa Song will be seeing us again :-) ! Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Pearl surrounded by tea bushes"

This hotel doesn't only welcome you at their doorstep, but already at the airport of Bagdogra: the driver offers you a cold drink and wet towels to get you set for the three and a half hours drive to the estate. On the way, you are offered real Glenburn tea, sandwiches (which we really liked) and cake. How English. The trip to the hotel is a long one and the last 45 minutes are like sitting in a blender. But it is all more than worth it: the setting of this hotel is absolutely gorgeous: the tea plantation surrounds the beautiful house and the view on the Himalaya is stunning. We were warmly welcomed by the English couple who manage the hotel on behalf of the Calcutta-based owners and they do an excellent job in making certain the guests are comfortable. We stayed in the old property in a spectacular room with a huge bed, fireplace and small garden room (it was, indeed, the room we requested. In advance they would not confirm the room to us, and to be hones, considering the price this hotel charges, we find it incorrect that they should not accept reservations for specific rooms). All service you could think of is included in the price. We love the 'bed tea': a serving of tea in your room just after you wake up. Also, it was quite a treat that you could ask for tea and cake at all times of the day. The (western) breakfast is good, but the homemade jam was more like a mash than a jam. The specials were delicious and also the homemade muesli (with home made yoghurt). The dinner was served on a large table with all guests (you can opt out, and have a private dinner). Although this sometimes takes a bit getting used to, we enjoyed talking with the various guests. The food was mostly delicious, but there were some misses here and there. The hotel is quite a distance from Darjeeling and Kalimpong, but the hotel can arrange your visit there, too (driver is included in the price). Having said that, the trip is quite long and we were content with visiting only Darjeeling on one day, and we spend the rest of our time reading, touring the tea factory (including tasting: amazing how different all the teas taste), making walks through the tea plantation and to the river (where the hotel organized a pleasant BBQ. Heed their warning to put DEET on. I forgot a spot on my arm and the small flies got me good; it itched for days after!) They have wifi in the hotel, but the connection is terrible. It is typically a location to relax after an exhausting trip through Nepal, Bhutan or India, so we would recommend staying at least three nights; a shorter stay doesn't seem worth the trouble. We would not be surprised if we found ourselves staying here again!

Flower Island Resort: "Amazing"

"This island is staggering. We arrived on the boat to a millionaires welcome, we were blown away and the only guests on the island, ill never have this again in my life. Make sure you do the pearl lunch trip it was fab. Also sleep in the lighthouse, we stopped on the 5th floor to witness the sunrise, ill never forget our stay here."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Leopard Dreamland"

"We had a wonderful pre-Christmas stay with Sarj, Sanjay, Damien and the team at the Yala site. Service was impeccable, food outstanding, and the accomodation a fair bit more luxurious than I remembered from camping trips in my youth! We stayed 3 nights, and had 6 drives. The first 2 were great - elephants. Spotted deer, colourful indigenous birds,etc - but no leopards. On the 3rd drive we got lucky, and from then on we hit the jackpot, with 7 different leopards in the last 4 drives! The staff were amazing, Sarj an absolute wealth of info (wildlife and photography), Damien full of stories to keep us entertained, and Sanjay ensuring that everything back at camp was shipshape. My expectations for Sri Lankan safaris were limited, having had some amazing trips in South Africa, but it massively exceeded expectations. My 12 year old son loved it, and we will return!"

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Our family ( incl 2 teenage boys ) enjoyed this wonderful safari experience"

"All the staff was amazing, dedicated and super friendly The food was outstanding the staff was very knowledgeable and competent and we learned a lot . My husband and I had the air con tent which was an absolute treat in the middle of the day We are all committed to come back again."

Rachamankha: "Lovely hotel"

We stayed here 3 nights during our time in Chiang Mai. It’s a wonderful hotel, beautiful decor and love all the flowers and natural elements. Room was great and maid service was excellent. Enjoyed the common areas as well - outdoor sitting areas, garden, and amazing pool!! Breakfast was delicious, our booking included the daily breakfast (we booked using Chase reward points). There is a buffet with a variety of breads, pastries, meat, cheese, fruit, juices and more. Also includes a menu with a variety of western and Thai dishes that you can have prepared on the spot. Best coffee we had during our entire vacation. Great location in the old city and close walking distance to everything. As soon as you walk into the hotel gate, you have a tranquil and relaxing escape from the bustle of the city.

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...

Muang La Lodge: "Très beau petit hôtel en bordure d’un affluent du Mékong et de sources chaudes"

"Very nice small hotel (10 rooms) next to a tributary of the Mekong and hot springs pool and water (enough) hot for locals and hotel guests, 2 small private pools of hot water, 1 beautiful pool with private access to a river island with bars, etc. etc.! Do not miss the excursions in 4x4 in the beautiful mountain wilderness hosting different ethnic groups organized by the hotel with local English speaking guide! The entire staff except 2 Laotian manager. "

Villa Mathis: "Impeccable service in a stunning location"

"I stayed overnight at Villa Mathis (lombok room). The room is huge and very beautiful. The decor is sumptuous. My room had an office desk, which is perfect for laptop (work). The restaurant and the gardens/houses are interesting : there are statues, curtains, giant chairs and stone chess boards, as well as reading areas. - So much space!! The gardens are impeccably manicured. The staff is experienced but at the same time they are discreet. Breakfast is huge (too much:) and they have decent coffee. The bungalows are in what they call a ""villa""; grouped around a pool and open space living area. And everywhere you look, you can discover museum-like items.I didn't venture into the other areas but I understand that each bungalow is different. I was in an area called ""maison rouge"". Definitely a great romantic hotel."

The Village House: "A quiet pool of calm; a haven in the jungle. R&R and lovely, friendly staff."

"My boyfriend and I returned to a cold England today after staying at the Village House for five days, after a rather hectic two-week exploration of Brunei and Malaysia. The Village House, and the surrounding area was the ideal relaxing end to our holiday There are plenty of places to explore nearby; two beautiful beaches, local villages where the people are very friendly and day trips further afield to see national parks and nature, or to explore the jungle or local culture. (...) The staff are all incredibly friendly, helpful and eager to please, and we built up a good rapport with them during our stay there. It's clear they have great respect for the place and hope guests feel the same way. The room was VERY clean, with cleaners coming in twice per day, and there is a library and TV room, with wifi, for guests to use, in addition to the beautiful swimming pool and relaxation areas with hammocks, sun loungers etc. We had absolutely no complaints, and would recommend anyone to stay here (...)"