Guest Reviews

Muang La Lodge: "Most charming Xmas Eve ever"

We stayed in this absolutely beautiful small resort for two nights. We were fortunate that we had a short journey, having flown to the nearest town and been picked up by the resort's car and our guide. We thought the location absolutely stunning and the staff even more fabulous. Our trek into the hills on Christmas Eve could not have been better (even down to the picnic lunch we carried with us from the resort) and the Christmas Eve entertainment which ended with us lighting Chinese lanterns was just magic. Thanks to everyone at the resort who made our stay so very special.

Yandabo Home: "Delightful stopover"

After an exhausting (but fun!) day, beset by unforeseen delays, we arrived at this fabulous hotel. We were met the wonderful Burmese greeting and immediately felt relaxed and at home. Late as we were, the staff were happy to take us on a fascinating tour of the pottery village, before serving a fabulous dinner on the deck. I was sorry we had only planned one night on our way from Bagan to Mandalay. I could have luxuriated in the superb hospitality and perfectly appointed rooms for one more day.

MesaStila: "Wondereful and Relaxing"

Can't say enough how much we enjoyed our stay at the charming Mesa Stila Resort. Our villa was a wonderful suprise, full of personal touches, and indulgent at the same time. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and we just sunk into the relaxed pace. There are not enough superlatives for the view - it is breathtaking. Staying here is a privilege and we are grateful for the experience. Although not a typical "child-friendly" resort, our 7 year old daughter was made to feel extremely welcome - she enjoyed the horse-riding and participating in the batik demonstration. Be sure to do the coffee plantation tour - it was so interesting. This place is just beautiful...

CABOCHON: "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. "

Mie Cafe: "Very nice"

Went here for a dinner and it was very nice price and customer service with so many smiles you could not help smiling yourself. Very easy to get to.

Mudanwan Villa: "Tranquil and GREAT hot spring facilities!"

"I have stayed in Mudanwan for 2 night with my family. We got a big room on the ground floor with our own hot spring pool and swimming pool in the back yard (privacy guaranteed), a large bathroom with another indoor hot spring pool, two king size beds, and it was just fabulous!!! We went for a full board package and the food was just gorgeous and fresh! There's a 24 hr juice/snack bar too. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly, and the services were just great. We really had a fantastic time there. Although the location is really in the middle of nowhere, they do offer a nice shuttle service."

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Beautiful views over cocktails"

"My party and I decided to stop by Seeds to watch the sun set over the lake. It was a completely gorgeous view, and we enjoyed several cocktails and appetizers during. I was not able to try the dining menu food as we were going to a different spot for dinner. I will say, this spot is very Euro-centric, so if you are looking for a ""local haunt"" this isn't it. However, it you want to enjoy a sit-down, white table-clothed restaurant, then this is your spot. The menu was moderately-to-expensively priced, but the views and ambiance are well worth it. I'd recommend going before the sunsets in order to watch the sky change. We stayed a little afterwards out on the deck, and I was eaten alive by mosquitoes (bring your spray!). While we were there, they had just opened their little cocoon tree house for small dinner parties. Next time I take a group, I will definitely be booking that!"

Satri House: "A little bit of paradise!"

"We stayed for 4 nights in two deluxe rooms and loved everything about the hotel. We didn't see a junior suite but were more than happy with our rooms which were located on the top floor with balconies. The rooms were spacious with large shower rooms and separate toilets and free wifi. The hotel was fully occupied when we were there but as the rooms are spread around the grounds we often felt that we were the only ones there. The staff were excellent and always happy to help you. They organised for us to visit the waterfalls by travelling along the Mekong on a private boat to a nearby village where we were then picked up by a pick up who took us then to the waterfalls. It was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip. The hotel grounds were beautiful. The inside communal areas were filled with wonderful antiques and furniture that added to the charm and peacefulness of the hotel. It takes about 10 minutes to walk onto the centre of Luang Prabang, but there were free bicycles to use if you preferred. If we returned to Luang Prabang, we wouldn't hesitate in returning to this hotel. In fact, we wouldn't stay anywhere else! Thank you to all the staff that made our stay so enjoyable."

Maison Polanka: "Make the Most of Cambodia"

Fantastic accommodations in the heart of Seam Reap. Quaint, quite boutique hotel that catered to our every need including creating an itinerary to maximize our 3 days exploring the city. In addition to fantastic food, they have a wonderful, helpful staff that coordinated tour guides and set up a special tour of the Diamond Silk weaving farm. A must! The pool was the perfect refresher after hot temple tours!

Tugu Bali: "The Secret Retreat!"

"This is our 2nd stay at Tugu. We enjoyed it so much we couldn't resist another stay. Although it is a little more expensive the Tugu ""offer"" is unique. You can lie in your own private space overlooking the sea without being annoyed by hawkers and just watch the surfers, or lie by the pool in privacy. The perfect getaway. We were fortunate enough to experience the cultural evening which presented us with 3 dances - so amazing and professional - a totally memorable experience. We used the hotel driver to take us to Seminyak on a couple of occasions - he was polite, courteous and perfect in every way. Thank you Tugu - your staff our amazing...well done Jenny. Good luck with the Living Wall construction, we look forward to seeing it in the future."