Guest Reviews

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Quite simply, wow"

This experience was worth the long car journey and really made the holiday to Cambodia special. We arrived on the 1st October and from the moment we stepped onto the complimentary boat the relaxation began. The luxury of the tents astounded us, I especially wasn't expecting such a decent water pressure from the shower, to be able to lie in bed and just look out onto the river was unique. Another surprise was the variety of fresh food available, the daily changing set menu was wonderful. We did both the fire fly and waterfall excursions, should the weather have been better we would have jumped at the sunset trip too, the waterfall was brilliant fun and exhilarating. However what really made the trip for me was the people and their stories. The activities coordinator had such interesting stories to tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to his island, on the way back from the waterfall, where we met the locals and shared some fresh coconut. Seeing first hand how they live and discussing their hopes for their country was extremely thought provoking. Our last evening will be one I will never forget, from further discussions with staff about their views on the development of Cambodia, to our beautiful dinner over looking the water, I was already missing the resort when the staff all came out to play their guitars and sing for us, it was simply a fantastic experience, one I have not stopped raving about since returning. If you want to experience the hidden side of Cambodia or simply want to get away from it all for a while you really must stay here. Thank you all for making my holiday an unforgettable experience I truly do miss each of you

tugu malang: "Warm friendly and so much Character"

"From the moment we arrived ,we were greeted with the most warmest of smiles. It didn't take long before the staff greeted us by our Christian names. Our room was beautiful and on the bed a welcome post card, a nice touch. Everything about this hotel is amazing, the service the cleanliness, the amenities , and the spa was divine. We took an organised tour through the hotel as it is very much like a museum. So much art and wood carvings, the walk down ""The Love Avenue"" towards the Sahara room was simply beautiful. The food in the Resturant, you just cannot fault, 5 star all the way. Afternoon tea is provided each afternoon with some traditional Javanese sweets. We had booked for 2 nights only but extended another night , just really couldn't leave. If I could give this place 6 star, I would. Thank you to all the wonderful staff for making our stay in Malang very enjoyable. "

Muang La Lodge: "Its a long way from anything but so worth the trip"

"We booked this hotel some time ago, aided in no small part by a series of excellent reviews on this site. It was then with some consternation, that we read a couple of rather damning verdicts that were just posted prior to our arrival. Had we made a big mistake? Had something gone wrong? Reading these reviews a second time, one got the impression that one in particular was blaming the hotel for just about everything that was occurring in the world, so we carried on regardless. We are glad we did because this is a wonderful hotel, in great settings, much attention to detail, superb food, and lovely staff. I very rarely give out 5* on a review, saving it for a truly lovely experience, and this was one of them (...). The hotel itself is small, only 10 rooms, set in beautiful grounds next to a fast moving , but shallow river, the sound of which makes a lovely background and soothing effect. It is also situated next to a natural hot spring which they have used for 2 hotel use only hot tubs and another which is shared with the locals. We witnessed Monks and local children turning up in the evening for a soak which was wonderful to see. The hotel is very focused on using as many local provisions as possible, which again we liked, as it shows commitment to the environment. They bottle water from the river for drinking use too. (...) The staff are super friendly, and of course only a few speak English, but there was never a problem because of that. As for niggles and improvements , of course there are always some, which I have suggested to the management so as not to be misunderstood by readers as complaints, because I have none really. I only wish I was rich enough to afford a helicopter for the trip here, because I would visit often. Its a beautiful experience and I cannot recommend it enough."

MesaStila: "Exceptional experience"

Best of Central/East Java with no doubt. You can chill and relax enjoying a magnificent scenery of the nearby volcanoes and the jungle by the incredible pool, have the perfect massage at a top Spa and have your tea with cake in the afternoon at one of those amazing beds they have at the terraces overlooking the lawn, jungle and sunset. But at the same time, you can enjoy a tour at the Mesastila coffee plantation, a mountain bike tour through the rice fields and make it to the magnificent Borobodour Temple with an elephant ride included. All super nicely organised by the hotel staff. Finally, very nicely set for the children to enjoy too, pool table, chess, croquet for an incredible family holiday. Restaurant is good with best of Indonesia and some good balance with European dishes. No surprise service is at best. Would come back any time. Well done Mesastila.

Sea Dance Resort: "Terrific – Like joining a community!"

We are a family of four and stayed in a two-bedroom pool villa over New Year's 2017-18 for four nights. There were several other families there as well. The owners and staff made us feel very welcome, and the food and facilities were top notch. The best part was the new year's party, which made everyone feel like we'd been invited to someone's house to celebrate - really a fun time, we recommend the Seadance to everyone.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise for our family vacation in Thailand"

"We stayed at the Golden Buddha in April for 3 nights and my only regret is we weren't there for our entire 2 week vacation. In planning our trip I was non-committal to any one place concerned we would be stuck somewhere that didn't turn out as we expected, but had I only known. Our family of 5, kids aged 13, 11 and 9, stayed in the Baan Lucy which was beachfront and the perfect distance to the clubhouse and the bay. The house was lovely but when we come back, which we are definitely doing, I may look at one of the larger houses that had a bit more sitting/lounging area. We loved staying on the beach with the sunset and the breeze, but the back houses looked lovely as well. The arrival is something our family will never forget. Golden Buddha is not easy to get to and after a 3 hour drive from Phuket and a 90 minute ride on a pretty rough long tail, we pulled into paradise. The bay is great for kids of all ages as well as the grown ups. Pizza bar, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, swimming. It is a great way to spend the day. The beach is also beautiful and swimming is very nice- soft soft sand and great shelling. The food is over the top- very local and authentic but also sophisticated. There are a ton of families at the resort, for good reason, but could possibly be overwhelming for a couple on their honeymoon, although the clubhouse has an upstairs that was more dedicated to adults. Really a top notch resort in an unbelievable location. Almost hate sharing as it seems like a hidden gem in Thailand. Such a great experience after spending time in Bangkok, Railay Beach and Phuket. Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"

Villa Song: "Holiday"

"Fantastic hotel, great staff, lovely pool great food. This hotel is a must for anyone visiting Hochiminh city It's on the river about a 15 minute drive to the centre of Hochiminh but the hotel put on a free shuttle service for those wishing to visit the centre which we used"

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Paradise"

"We arrived at our third hotel on the island which was sea dance on the 23rd March, we were met by Tum who made us feel very welcomed, we were taken to our villa which was out of this world with its own pool and fantastic setting. The staff all called us by our first names and were all so fantastic. We eat in the restaurant and the food was delightful, My only words are Paradise, thanks for a fantastic stay and we will be back next year Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Misool Eco Resort: "We love Misool"

"This was our second trip to Misool - our first with our children in tow. Misool is a wonderful place with stunning diving and very good service. We were lucky enough to be upgraded from two water cottages for our family of five to the Utara villa, which is amazing (thank you!). There is nothing as captivating as watching baitfish launch themselves above the reef to escape predators or the bioluminescence that sparkles in the new moon of Misool. Our kids had wonderful snorkeling excursions - even our youngest (5 years old) saw mantis shrimp, sharks, sea turtles and sea snakes (required a bit of a boat ride - sea snakes require fresh water). The dive guides are wonderful. We especially love Kiikii (from our first trip), Nofi (snorkel guide) and Jemy (our dive guide this time). Uni got us advanced open certified and cannot thank her enough. I would encourage travelers to coordinate with on the ground staff to ensure your desires/hopes/dreams are understood. We had a few hiccups. we love the mission and vision of everyone at Misool. Highly recommend."

MesaStila: "A perfect sanctuary in the hills"

"This place is honestly as good as you can hope to find for a holiday. Absolutely everything about it was perfect. It's difficult to know where to start in describing it but the big things were: - The estate is all exquisite, colonial style - built and collected by one (Italian) lady over 20 or so years. Her passion shows through in every price of furniture and every building. Fortunately it is still beautifully maintained even today - The service is far from old school though. The staff knew us perfectly and were fantastically well coordinated everywhere we went. If we were having lunch, they would confirm our spa plans for the afternoon, for example. Very slick. - The rooms were fantastic. Spacious, well equipped and with the most incredible views of the mountains and jungle below us. - There were activities all through the day: horse riding, coffee plantation tours, spa treatments. All entirely optional but very insightful and inspiring. There were also lots of outdoor games like croquet etc for us to play. - The afternoon tea was a perfect touch end of the day - sitting out on the Verandah... - The food was excellent. Always really tasty and a great blend of western and Javanese - The spa and hammam were incredible. The Hammam was such a treat - a full Turkish bath that was luxuriously decked out. The staff were also probably the best masseuses that we've ever seen - We did a few excursions / walks through local plantations or up one of the nearby peaks. They were a must do for me - so perfect. This place is basically like ""out of africa"" in java - just perfect. Stayed February 2017, traveled with family"