Guest Reviews

The Samar: "Beautiful relaxing hotel near Ankor Wat"

"we have just returned from Cambodia 29 April. Stayed at the Samar Villas for 8nights We were upgraded to our own villa (amazing) as it was my husbands birthday whilst there. The hotel is very close to Ankor Wat so wonderful if your up early. It is very peaceful and calm. We ate in the restaurant a couple of times which I would recommend, Bertrand the owner of the hotel gave us wonderful restaurant recommendations as well. All of the staff were so warm and friendly and couldn't do enough for us. It's about a 8-10 min tuk tuk ride into siem reap town, we had the same tuk tuk driver whilst there who was just charming. The hotel arrant a English speaking guide for us who was wonderful he knew the answer to every question we asked him (many!!) I had a massage whilst there wish was truly relaxing. If you are visiting Siem Reap this is the place to stay, just out of the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap, but close enough to get out and about."

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 ! "

Slow Villas and Spa: "Worth it for the breakfast alone"

On a small island where there is so much choice it's hard to know where to choose. Slow Villas stood out for us because of the individual service and a taste of luxury they promised. The villas are full of everything you need, the outside/inside bathrooms are decorated to a high standard with stunning features and free toiletries. The pools are small but fine for two people to cool off in and the gardens are clean and well cared for. Breakfast was a real highlight which is served in your villa and was wonderfully fresh, colourful and plenty of choice. I also tried the spa which was extremely relaxing and well worth a visit if you have time! I didn't want to leave and hope I'll be back.

Cuca: "WOW"

"Place Located in Jimbaran. A very secluded area as most of the driver is not familiar of the small road. Ambiance Perfect! They have 3 types of seating area: Dining Room, Bar and Garden. If you want to see the art creation of your food, i suggest you seat at the Bar area as that's where you can see what Chef does! Like 'live show'. Garden seating has a good ambiance but we didn't seat outside because of mosquito (that's just me). Dining room has a semi private arrangement as each table has curtains in between other tables which is a great idea! It has a very homey-cozy feeling! Service They have more than enough staff to assist you. They serve with smile and very warmth. You can feel that they are proud of their work and that they enjoy it! Food Here comes the bomb! We ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu and it's soooo worth it! The creativity and intricate workmanship is WOW! From presentation to food taste is just the best! My fave was the number 3, Fish! (It's in the photo - looks like a flower). The food that excites me the most was the dessert called Bali Breakfast (in photo- looks like egg)! It's something you MUST order! The coconut and mango flavor with the crusty (granola i think) is perfectly combined into an amazing dessert! This place has thought of everything from the start to the end of your dining experience. They'll give you something to start of to enhance your palette and a drink at the end for digestion...just WOW! It's one side of Bali you've never experienced before and it's really worth every $$$ and time. Definitely highly recommended to visit and try when in Bali. Not recommended for family with kids. I'll be back to try the other dish on my next Bali Trip!"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Relax and revive – the perfect place"

"We arrived in the dark after a tiring ten-hour car drive from Kochi and I thought I heard thunder. In fact it was the Arabian Sea pounding the extensive beach and in the morning we could see this magical place. A healthy breakfast on the beach and we were ready to relax. Many have given full positive descriptions so I don’t need to repeat those and the web site is accurate. Instead I will highlight just a few things that impressed me. I now have to watch my diet carefully and the wholemeal breads, fresh fruits, variety of fish are perfect. The menu includes various juices and I went for spinach but asked for some ginger too; I bet that will be on the list next time. All the food is superb, healthy and interesting. The aerial sketch on the website does not do it justice; there are many palm trees and the gardens are quite beautiful, spacious and well maintained. Contrary to some other comments I would recommend a sea view cottage without hesitation. There are only 18 cottages and they are carefully arranged; the peace is almost tangible. In fact the whole place has been designed by a skilful hand with great attention to detail and that includes the cottage interiors. Anyone who reads my reviews will know that I look at issues that might be relevant to those with mobility problems. There are a few steps to each cottage but the pathways should be OK. Internally the doors have very strong springs and help would be needed. For those with weak knees or limited use of limbs may find the bathroom a bit difficult. As a retired architect I know how it grates to put in grab handles. I hope the owners will consider seriously putting one close to the WC and another in the wonderful non-slip shower area. These things are important for those in need but I must emphasise that standard of design is very high. I wanted a full Ayurvedic body massage and had three; all were excellent. All that others have said about the atmosphere, management, welcoming and helpful staff etc. I endorse. No one could want for anything more. My wife and I seriously considered extending our week-long stay which is a testament in itself. Room Tip: Sea view cottage but all seemed very good."

Locavore: "Awesome set menu"

Very fine place to lunch or dinner. Reservation by phone quite hard, but female staff more helpful when you come to booking. However, the set menu is amazing. You will happy to spend two hours meal. 😆😙👍

Muang La Lodge: "A magical experience in Northern Laos"

"We have been fortunate to travel to many wonderful places with wonderful experience but I must say our recent stay at Muang La Resort rates among two that felt magical. The attractive designed buildings and immaculate green grounds set smack dab beside the Nam Pak (river) in this little valley beside the Muang La village is an idyllic spot for a vacation. From the moment we were welcomed by the general manager and staff with a welcome beverage and snack, to our beautiful and comfortable rooms and the delicious meals - we so enjoyed our stay here. Since traveling with our high-school aged son we booked two adjacent rooms at the edge of the property which overlooked the Nam Pak. The rooms were spacious and well appointed, as were the bathrooms. We enjoyed walking to the dining area (covered but open to beautiful views of the river and surrounding hills) as there is well cared for lawns and tropical plants. The meals were delicious, from several choices for breakfast to the gourmet fusion dinners. We found every staff member to be friendly and attentive to our requests and needs. You could lounge at the Resort property and thoroughly enjoy yourself - we chose to experience it all, from the infinity pool on the island in the middle of the Nam Pak (complete with pool bar and snack service - recommend the Lao Mojito and Khamu Blue), to the hot spas (both the resorts's private dip and the very hot community spa shared with the village)... the steam room was a treat for the nose and sinuses with a mixture of lemongrass and other herbs). We rode available bikes to the Khamu village across the river and also took several excursions with the arranged guide Don. Loved the mountain bike ride along the rice paddies to the local villages and through town. The 4-wheel drive adventure to the Hmong village and through the forest to climb the rock overlooking the valley was an amazing and exhilarating journey, but the biggest impact on us was walking through the villages and interacting with the people - such kind and warm people who willingly shared their life with us. Getting to Muang La Resort requires dedication (for us, a 5-hour van ride from Luang Prabang) - but so much worth it. This stay really gave us a feel for the warm-hearted people of Southeast Asia. Thank you to the management and staff of Muang La for a perfect stay - memories we will treasure!"

Mie Cafe: "A hidden gem"

Gorgeous garden setting and fabulous food. Fresh, tasty ingredients with excellent presentation. Recommended by a local ex-monk and it didn’t disappoint.

Misool Eco Resort: "Umweltfreundliche, entlegene Taucherlodge in paradiesischer Umgebung"

"Andrew und Marit, heutige Besitzer der Misool Lodge, haben aus einer Vision eine Realität gemacht. Wo einst ein Camp von illegalen Haifischern stand wurde eine traumhafte Ökolodge geschaffen: nicht luxuriös im herkömmlichen Sinne, aber von höchstem Niveau: Hütten, Restaurant, Tauchbasis sind perfekt. Beim Bau wurden Treibholz und umgefallene Tropenbäume verwendet, das Riff wurde (im Gegensatz zu den meisten Malediven-Inseln) nicht angerührt. Inzwischen hat die ""no-take"" Zone eine Fläche von 220 km2, und eigene Patrouillen sorgen dafür, dass illegale Fischer gestellt (und manchmal auch verhaftet) werden. Die erstaunliche Erholung der Fischbestände (um bis zu 600%!) wird wissenschaftlich dokumentiert. Es wird viel für die umliegenden Dörfer gemacht, und über 100 Personen haben Arbeitsplätze bekommen. Die Hütte war geräumig, die Klimaanlage überflüssig da es nie wirklich heiß war. Es gab einige interessante Vorträge. Das Essen war leicht und schmackhaft, die Betreuung freundlich. Die Tauchbasis hatte für jede Hütte eine eigene ""work station"" mit mehreren Steckdosen, auf 4-6 Taucher kamen jeweils 2 Tauchguides. Die Tauchplätze waren meist nur 5-10 Minuten entfernt. Die Unterwasserwelt prachtvoll mit tausenden Fischarten und Korallen, meist etwas trüb durch Plankton. Ein Höhepunkt war Magic Mountain, eine Putzstation für zwei Mantaarten, die uns umkreisten. Das Preisniveau war sehr hoch, und wir mussten für Leihausrüstung, Tauchen, aber auch Internet, Wäsche und Getränke zusätzlich bezahlen. Aber es hat sich gelohnt! Ein Wermutstropfen war das durchwegs graue und teils regnerische Wetter im Januar. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Dewakan: "Exquisite"

"The 10 course dinner menu is well-crafted and each course successfully tickled different areas of our taste buds. The meal starts with 4 complimentary snacks, followed by 3 appetizers, 4 main courses, 3 desserts & ends with Malaysian-flavored ice pops. These are served over a 3-hour period, which is good timing for me personally - lots of time for good, long conversations! Love the fact that each course is infused with Malaysian flavors, bringing these local ingredients to another level. The restaurant atmosphere was quiet and service was impressive - they were quick to response to our needs. However, there are limited tables and they only entertain reservations made online (check out their website). This restaurant is located in KDU College, Glenmarie - may be quite a distance from KL but convenient for patrons from Shah Alam & Subang Jaya. Overall, we had an enjoyable evening. It was definitely a great fine dining experience."