Guest Reviews

Villa Song: "River Retreat"

We spent four nights at the lovely Villa Song in August after a trip down the Mekong and it was a lovely surprise. The hotel is a beautifully restored French villa sitting right on the river in District 2. We chose to stay there because it is away from the hustle and bustle of District 1 and were very pleased with our choice. The restaurant on the river serves great food in a picturesque setting. The pool at the back of the hotel provides a peaceful retreat. Each of the rooms are different and we had one at the back with a little courtyard next to the pool which we were very happy with. The staff are excellent and the art work and presentation of the hotel is 5 star. We would not hesitate to stay at Villa Song next time we are in Ho Chi Minh.

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Excellent experience"

Overall it's a very wonderful experience. The vintage look, traditional music playing in the room, Nyonya snacks, breakfast and the service deserve good reputation. I will definitely visit it again in my next tri to Penang.

Nimmu House: "Lovely place, full of charm!"

"We had the chance to stay one night in this wonderful house. It's the perfect place to get used to the altitude on the first days of your stay in the Himalaya or even for resting after a trek. You will definitely appreciate the beauty of the place, the landscapes and the perfect service of the very nice staff. Everything is done to ensure you have the best stay. The food cooked with fresh product from the village is DELICIOUS, especially their homemade apricot jam jar ! The rooms are very charming as well as the tents. The wooden structure makes you feel closer to the nature. The house is full of history and you have to ask the team to tell you. You will learn a lot about the way of living of Ladakhi people. I would recommend to anyone to stop at least for one night in this SURPRISING, RELAXING and AMAZING Nimmu House."

Nimmu House: "best place to acclimatise and enjoy the natural beauty of Ladakh"

"http://blog.happy-tripping.com/2015/09/06/property-review-nimmu-house-ladakh/ Nimmu house is a beautiful place, replete with apricot and apple trees is just perfect to acclimatise to the high altitude either by traversing the journey to Ladakh on road ( from Srinagar or Manali) or to stay put for couple of days at a quite place, while soaking in the stark beauty of the wonder that is Ladakh. THE SETTING The location is perfect. Conveniently located 30 minutes from Leh (30 min from the airport) , the village of Nimmu is also close to the ,confluence (Sangam) of the Indus and Zanskar rivers and the monasteries of Lamayuru, Likir and Alchi (30 minutes – 1 hour drive). Nimmu is a charming little village where time has stood still, most people are farmers and happy with their simple lives. IMG_0133 Nimmu House is a noble house belonging to the cousin of Ladakh’s King from the early 90s, beautifully restored by a Frenchman Alex . During the property tour , our manager told us about the history and the supposed curse on the house due to which the occupants never bore any children, until the curse was dispelled by buddhist monks. Quite interesting! On offer are 5 spacious tents and 2 rooms in the house , with an open terrace for meals .We stayed in the tent, which had a stunning view of the landscape , comfy bed and modern bathroom . For city dwellers like us the best part is that the property is spread over orchards with hundreds of Apple and apricot trees and the rivulet running through . Lying on the large hammocks ,smelling the sweet scent of apricot and hearing the faint constant gurgling sounds of the stream makes you put all the sightseeing plans on hold. But really who needs to step out when you can experience the nature , warm Ladakhi hospitality in absolute peace and comfort of Nimmu house . IMG_3901_1 THE SERVICE There is no formal reception desk , but the staff is always available to make your stay comfortable. This place is serviced by one chef, one french manager and two local women. We received a very warm welcome by the French manager followed by 2 days of comfort and lot of personal attention. There is so much warmth in people that you forget about demanding any hospitality. We wanted to sample momos at one of the local restaurants on our evening walk and we were not carrying any money. To our pleasant surprise, a plate of steaming momos were served to us during dinner in Nimmu House, courtesy the local restaurant. Even as we were leaving , staff come out to see us off . It was almost like staying with family . THE FOOD Chef Mahesh cooked simple , delicious meals which were served on the open terraces as the weather was lovely. Breakfast had eggs, fruits and bread, as per preference. We loved the fresh apricot jams and juices. Lunch and dinner were 3 course set meals with starter (soup /salad), main course and desert. Sample this :- – Green Salad, Lasagna, Lemon Pie – Tomato Soup, Hakka Noodles, Philadelphia Cheese Cake – Gobi Soup, Paneer Masala/ Mutton Masala, Mud Cake All meals are simple and wholesome, using fresh produce from adjoining farms and stables. The food is largely tailored to suit the western palate as most guests are westerners. But they will keep your food preferences in mind and ensure that you leave the dining table with your tummy satisfied ! Lunch at Nimmu House Lunch at Nimmu House THE FACILITIES and Activities ON OFFER Nimmu House offers the following activities to make most of your stay there . Indoor: A library and game room , Guided tour of the house , stables or cooking classes . Outdoor: village tour , short guided hike , rafting on the Zanskar, guided tour of the monasteries of Basgo, Likir and Alchi. For us it was all soaking up the apple-scented air, lying on a hammock during daytime and hiking upto local gompas in the evening. View from the Gompa View from the Nimmu village Gompa WHAT STOLE THE SHOW? Amazing setting of orchards and Ladakh’s landscape with spacious tents. Best place to acclimatise , relax and learn about Ladakhi culture. It is a far cry from dusty lanes of Leh City and will give you exactly what you came for. IMG_3899 Now that you are convinced, lets bring you up to speed with the practicalities. Know more about Nimmu house Getting there The property is in Nimmu Village and 30 min drive from Leh Airport/ Leh City. Hole in your wallet Expect to pay around Rs 10,000 per night for the tent. Internet / Television There is no TV in the room and Wi-Fi signal is available on the terrace and house. What else – this is a family guesthouse , do not expect 24/7 room service or an elaborate ala carte menu. – Be prepared to relax and enjoy the simple life"

Glenburn Tea Estate: "New Year’s Eve"

A boutique property in the midst of the tea estate with captivating views of Mt Kanchenjunga. The 19th century built cottages are luxurious and remind of the English countryside. One can spend the entire day relaxing and sun bathing in the beautiful lawn gazing at the variety of flora and the majestic mountain ranges. They offer various hikes exploring the nearby villages walking though the tea estates with expert in-house guides. Must visit property if one wishes to get pampered in the most beautiful of locales.

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Very nice place"

Perfect location near by the river Khan, and so close the center with all shops, restaurants and bars. Warm welcome. Rooms having a very good value for money. Plus, we had a nice meal at the restaurant. Friendly staff and kind manager Christopher.

Nimmu House: "4 nights of sheer bliss"

"We spent a bulk of our stay in Ladakh at Nimmu House and it truly was the best decision ever. We stayed in one of the tents which was super spacious and extremely comfortable. The property itself is a picture-book-kinda pretty and we just loved hanging out at the patio or napping on the hammocks. But what makes Nimmu feel more like a home than a house is the fantastic team running the place. From the manager to the chefs to the wait-staff down to the housekeeping and gardeners, everybody is just really nice and welcoming and ready to help if needed. The best part about our stay here however, was the food. After some pretty average meals in the rest of Ladakh, the meals at Nimmu were just fantastic. Do yourself a favour and don't book just a single night here. Ideally, once you're done sightseeing and roadtripping, stop by here for at least 3 days of R&R...you won't regret it. The only one piece of feedback we had for the management/ owners was to invest in better power back up. With frequent power cuts, it's a must."

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Just… wow!"

"Speechless. Following a 3 hour drive north from the airport and then getting onto a small boat at a dock in the middle of nowhere, you get ferried away from the mainland for an hour and a half. Making your way past small islands and following a remote coast of golden sand you arrive on the beach where you wade through the warm shallow clear water to get to the jeep. Being whisked off to a remote hut, there is just your hut which is about 50 mtrs away from the next. Peace. Quiet. Nature. Sand. Sun. Remoteness. 100 mtrs from the beach, the views are endless. Waking up, going to sleep, just the noise of birds, bugs, a dog in the distance, monkeys and waves crashing. (...)Taking a canoe down at the other end, it's possible to paddle out to another small island off shore. Or walk around to one of the other very tiny resorts. If you want nightlife, shopping, clubs, bars, socialising, fine food, luxury accommodation, cleanliness and an abundance of modern comforts - this is not for you. If you want adventure, solitude, being with nature, charming and quaint cabins, beach and being undisturbed then book straight away. I would love to go back."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "A Step Back In Time"

Recently visited Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion in Georgetown. All in all I was glad I went as I learned a lot about the original owner. The tour guide was a fascinating raconteur. I could tell she had told this story a few times in the 18 years she had worked there. The quality of the restoration is absolutely amazing.

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Exceptional safari experience . Don’t think twice"

"The most amazing safari from start to finish. My husband and I stayed 2 nights at this wonderful campsite. Due to the experience of our main guide Dilanka and the team, we saw leopards, elephants, sloth bear, and many beautiful birds. We also met some fantastic people from other countries. The jeeps are really comfortable and looked much better than other companies we saw in the park. The food was exceptional and the facilities around the campsite certainly made this glamping. Our tents were cleaned a few times a day and we got to shower in hot water under the stars at night. Everyone looked after us so well and they are very professional, warm and the nicest people. This was a truly exceptional experience and I would highly recommend it. Thanks to Noel and his team for the amazing safari."