Guest Reviews

MesaStila: "Tranquility"

"Tranquil and relaxing this retreat has everything you need for a break from the ordinary. My husband and I just returned from a four fabulous nights at MesaStila, its low season so not very many other guests but all the facilities were available and we were kindly upgraded to an Arum Villa. A large breakfast each morning filled us till tea time, both of which are included in the room price. Dinners were a very good selection of both asian and western foods but i'd highly recommend sticking with the Javanese dishes that the chef, Arya Kusumaatmaja, prepares so excellently. each day has an assortment of activities that are included such as , yoga, coffee plantation tour, martial arts, etc. and there are many optional tours you can book. The staff were all very friendly and professional, the village tour we took with one of the staff( I'm sorry I don't have his name to hand) was fantastic, he was very knowledgeable and brought us to several small cottage industries that are well 'off the beaten track'. I've already recommended this place to my expat friends who travel extensively throughout asia and I look forward to going back again someday "

Yandabo Home: "A special place"

"Having enjoyed our river cruise from Bagan, we were whisked by a small boat to arrive at Yandabo Home and a warm greeting from the staff group. A real achievement to create this boutique hotel here, off the beaten track. Simple bedroom with a high quality bathroom and products and food well presented. Friendly staff took us to visit the local villages with tea and biscuits on the way on the boat back a nice touch. Thanks to all the team. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Magical Location and Five star service"

The magical location of this resort poised on a hill with direct views of Darjeeling town and Kachenjunga from my bedroom window is quite unforgettable. Lush gardens communal dinners and a sense of a bygone time reminiscent of the british rag. Day trips to Darjeeling and Kalipong and the river camp. Husna and Alex went out of their way to make me feel at home.

Maison Polanka: "Stay here for wonderful personal service. Deserving of a 7/5 rating not merely 5/5"

"I will start with the summary: tranquil garden, great room, excellent F+B, attention to detail, but the wonderful staff is what made our stay in Siem Reap a truly memorable one (in addition to the the magnificent ruins, of course). The small touches such the chilled towels in the car and upon our return to Maison after each of our trips were truly appreciated. They provided a mobile phone with Maison's number preloaded in directory, another thoughtful and helpful detail. We found the staff not merely polite and helpful but genuinely concerned about our well-being. Maison arranged tuk-tuk rides for our trips into the center of town and the drivers were courteous. Our car/van driver was friendly and informative on the ride back to the airport, making us feel welcome in Cambodia even as we were about to depart. We cannot remember all the names of all who took care of us but special thanks to to Kathy and Sorpana (?) at reception for all their attention to us. Of course, we cannot say enough about Francis. From the initial email exchanges to our actual stay he remained on top of everything. We appreciated his meeting us at the airport on our late night arrival, something we did not expect. Initially I had considered one of the larger hotels but chose to look for a boutique hotel instead. I chose Maison based on both excellent reviews and the compelling back story as told on the hotel webpage. Several email communications with Francis were promptly answered; he readily addressed concerns about airport transfers (a hotel van is available; recommended as tuk-tuks and taxis may not know the hotel or its location) transport to the town center (tuk-tuks that the hotel apparently has an arrangement with and will wait for you at your destination in town). Maison Polanka is located on the east side of the Siem Reap river in a quiet secluded neighborhood (the nearby Po Lang Ka pagoda is what presumably gave name to the road and hotel), about 9km away from the airport and 2.5km from the markets in downtown Siem Reap. The Angkor National Museum is the closest site of interest within very easy walking distance less than 1km from Maison. Of course, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are much further away 6.5km and 11km respectively. We rode the hotel van for our tour of the temples and took tuk-tuks to town. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained, heavily wooded and thus shaded. There were flowering plants everywhere including orchids and butterflies were flitting around from bloom to bloom. There were just a few rooms. The largest accommodation was the Khmer House, a stand-alone building. We had booked the the Yellow Room in the ""Maison"" which also housed the Green, Orange, and Purple Rooms. Francis told us that Maison could accommodate at most 15 guests and that the entire hotel has been booked in the past for family reunions. Check-in was smooth; we had the first of many culled and scented wet face towels to freshen us up. We were also given glasses of chilled fruit juice while we waited to complete check-in. We were then led to the Maison building and askedo leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. The Yellow Room lived up to what the hotel website promised, as did the entire property. The decor was rustic with sophisticated touches. A small plate of sliced fresh fruit had been left on the desk for us to enjoy. The amenities were as listed on their website. The bathroom was actually on a higher level with a short flight of stairs curving up from the far corner of the room. We had no issues with the stairs but it could get wet and slippery. Having traveled with my elderly parents I have become more acutely aware of the need for secure handholds; a single handrail at the corner where the stairs make a left turn on the way up would a world of difference. The bathroom was spacious. The shower stall was large and even had a small tile bench along the wall. I do not recall how textured the floor tiles were but I did not see a rubberized bath mat with suction cups that other hotels sometimes offer. Again, a small handrail at the level of the threshold of the shower would help steady anyone stepping out of the shower. Not that the the edge of the shower was raised very high, just a couple of inches perhaps. The bed was comfortable and we slept well on both the nights during our stay. There was a narrow balcony that we never ventured out on. We had our meals at the ""Sala"", the open-sided communal area by the pool that served as lobby, living room and dining room. What I had initially thought was the reception desk turned out to do double duty as a bar. There was an adjacent area with couches and armchairs clearly meant as a lounging area for those not interested in relaxing by the pool. As one might expect for a kitchen serving such a small number of guests the menu was not extensive but our meals were well-prepared and delicious. The young ladies serving us were attentive but not hovering over us. We had our not had dinner by the time of our late arrival but I had made arrangements with Francis beforehand and, once we had freshened up, dinner was quickly prepared for us. Should our travels ever take us back to Siem Reap we will definitely be staying at Maison Polanka again."

Cuca: "Exceptional!"

"This was easily ranked one of, if not, the best meals we've had in Bali. The property sits on a beautiful idyllic garden surrounded by coconut trees. It has an open concept kitchen and I diners sat by the kitchen counter. Service was excellent, in fact, more than excellent. So much attention to details without being intrusive. Food was an explosion of Flavours. I'm not going to list what we ate but everything we had was amazing. It's the first time I went to a restaurant and not take pics of the food as pics will not justify the experience. Like it says in the menu, come with an open mind and an empty stomach! Totally worth it!"

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Little piece of paradise"

We stayed here for 4 nights and what a magical time that was. We could not have been happier with the service we received by staff of Sanak. The employes of Sanak retreat is what makes Sanak of what it is. They are absolutely amazing. Fell in love this place and will definitely come back on my next trip to Beautiful Bali

Manukan Island Resort: "Charming villas with great staff"

"We stayed for one night in a beachside villa. Staff encountered were all very friendly and professional. Upon check in we were shown to our room, given a welcome tea and a friendly introduction to the room and facilities on the island. The room itself was so charming - spacious, well laid out, clean and very comfortable all round with beach towels and thongs provided and a cute little balcony overlooking the beach, it suited the environment perfectly and you really couldn't ask for anything more. We were warned that they switch generators several times a day and as such we may experience power disruptions but this was very minimal. The outside breakfast buffet was okay, we did notice insects crawling over some of the breads. Dinner, although the menu was somewhat limited, was really lovely with tables and fairy lights set up next to the beach complete with three musicians performing songs for every table - very romantic. Most of the many tourists on day trip leave the island by 4pm and after this you can really appreciate and enjoy the environment you are in as during the day it is not as pleasant, crowded and noisy. The walk to Sunset Point was a highlight though the pagoda there doesn't offer the best view - continue down the small path to the rocks, very serene. We had an earlyish flight to catch on the day of our departure and the staff were happy to ensure an early boat back to KK was made available to us. We were offered a friendly farewell and as we boarded our boat and were about to depart, a staff member ran out to return a power cable we had accidentally left behind in our room which was much appreciated. If you are planning on visiting Manukan Island we would recommend staying at this resort - very enjoyable and well managed and you are able to experience the island without the daily crowds."

Samanea Beach Resort: "Perfect for families"

"We stayed with several friends at Samanea, most of them families with kids, who loved the setting and the experience at the hotel. The villas are probably the largest in Kep, with huge beds and sitting areas. The showers are a special experience, and the outside seating areas are comfortable in rain or sun. The pool area is excellent, with a great size suitable for both kids and adults. The view of the sea is stunning, with a huge pier that is great for photos and sunsets! There are so many places on the resort to relax, with the nice canopy of trees, pool area, and sea view. It is not walkable to Kep beach or the crab market, so definitely need some sort of tuk tuk or rental transportation. What we were stunned most by was the excellent service--accommodating all of our needs and always helpful with all of our requests. Definitely recommended for long stays in Kep!"

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Holiday"

The Cabochon is quiet and peaceful reminiscent of a colonial era with all the trimmings of a boutique residence. The location offers great access to the city's delights including retail and food outlets. The rooms are light, airy and spacious with crisp white bedding. The pool area is sedate and relaxing. The restaurant serves a wonderful array of Thai delights from all regions of this wonderful land. The bar area is busy with eclectic wonders but also soothing and tasteful. The staff are smart, attentive and most helpful. I would recommend this to any discerning traveller. I most certainly will be returning.

JL Studio: "A magician Chef!"

"With the talented creative sense of Chef Jimmy, a beautiful presentation, a deeply researched concept, a friendly team for service, JL Studio has found the magic formula to surprise. Young chef, young team, new place... yet a solid experience that transports us with brio into the imaginary world of the Chef. CONGRATULTIONS!"