Guest Reviews

Samanea Beach Resort: "Stunning location – pontoon into the sea a great plus"

"We were only there for one night, but it's a spectacular location - 12 nicely designed bungalows in a green park where you can't see or hear your neighbors. There were two Khmer families shooting their wedding albums - which gives you some idea of how nice it was - and with a 25 mètre pool you don't need to do into the sea - but there is a 59 mètre or so pier which takes you over the initial mud and far enough out that the sea is easy to swim in Food was excellent - although slightly bizarrely they had no fish or crabs. Extremely Eco friendly, and very nice staff Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Rachamankha: "An oasis of tranquilliy"

"The Rachamankha hotel is a true gem, an oasis of peace right in the city of Chiang Mai. We stayed at this hotel for 4 nights, and it was a perfect stay. The hotel is located just a few minutes walk from the Wat Phra Singh temple, and close to the Sunday Night Market. Taking a taxi from the airport takes only 15 minutes, and the everywhere inside the old center of Chiang Mai is walking distant. The rooms are located inside a courtyard that is secluded from the busy street outside, and it is very quite and peaceful. The staff is incredibly attentive and helpful, and guests are felt welcome from the moment they step inside. The architecture of the hotel is very elegant yet understated, and so are the rooms, which face the inner courtyard. The rooms have ample space, and complimentary amenities include slippers, bathrobe, umbrellas for the rainy days, fruit, and water bottles which are refilled daily. The breakfast is very good, with a buffet of bread, fruit, pastries and cereal, and the choice of items from an a la carte menu such as eggs, omelette, waffles and french toast. The quality of the breakfast and the service at the table is excellent. The swimming pool, located at the back of the hotel is big enough considering the smaller number of rooms, and was never too crowded during our stay. It is possible to also get massages in a building next to the pool, and the prices for poolside drinks are very competitive for Western standards. Overall our stay at Rachamankha was great, and it is hard to find a negative about the hotel. The price is high compared to the average room priced in Chiang Mai, but the quality is more than enough to justify it. I would definitely recommend this hotel to my fiends and family for their future travel plans."

Nimmu House: "A really nice change of pace!"

Most people spend their first night in Ladakh in Leh (the site of the airport) which is fine, but another- and arguably better- option is to drive one hour west to the village of Nimmu near the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, and stay at the wonderful Nimmu House. I stayed in one of the excellent and comfortable tents, which were both spacious and quiet (unlike Leh). The food was really good, especially the lemon chicken which was absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly, and the only improvements I could suggest would be some better grounds maintenance. I would definitely stay here again!

Rachamankha: "Zen oasis in the old town: fine Asian antiques, great service, sublime food"

We stayed for six nights. What a treat. This hotel is a "Secret Retreat" property, one of three that we stayed at in Thailand and Laos. They are owner occupied properties, with amazing attention to decor and service. The architect and designer of this property live here and use the hotel as their home and office, and as a display space for their fine collection of Asian antiquities, a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian. Just walking in the gate caused a feeling of calm. I asked for a yoga mat, no problem, and found that the second floor balcony of the spa, situated over the swimming pool, was a perfect place for doing my yoga routine, with several Buddhas looking on. The setting, the pool, the room, the service, the food were all wonderful. Paul, the manager, sat with us to plan out our day to day itinerary, and all of his suggestions were spot on, for temples and outings, and especially his recommendation for a tailor, from whom we got five shirts and a sport coat. The location is ideal with Wat Prah Singh just around the corner (we called it "our" temple), making it easy to drop in for monk chats, or to hear the chanting at 5 PM. The hotel is within the walls of old Chiang Mai and very close to the Sunday walking market. There is a discount for persons staying 3 nights or longer, not something we realized, but were happily surprised when they gave it to us without our asking. Having modified our original reservation at the last minute, we were scheduled to move rooms over our 6 night stay, but the management spent some time juggling the room schedule, so that we could stay in the same room, which we very much appreciated. We were in Room 19, in one of the main courtyards, and these courtyard rooms are quite lovely. One assumes these were equally as nice. The whole hotel is quiet and quiet.

Jing’s Residence: "The best hotel we have stayed at anywhere!"

"My husband and I just checked out from a two day stay at Jing’s Residence, and I must say it was the most enjoyable hotel we have ever stayed at in the world. It is not overly opulent nor extravagant, just perfectly designed, with exceptional service, and every detail is taken care of. Imam and his team could not have been more accommodating and attentive, and were never overbearing or fussy. Afternoon tea was a wonderful experience, breakfast was excellent, and the in room local snacks were very much appreciated. The hotel itself is exceptionally beautiful. Furniture and artwork has been very tastefully selected, and the outdoor spaces are as well maintained as the indoor ones. The location couldn’t have been better, steps from the sights and shops but in a very quiet and peaceful part of the old city. I couldn’t recommend this hotel more, and not only should it be where you stay during your time in Pingyao, you should come to Pingyao just to stay here!"

The Island Lodge: "Serenity"

"Recently went here a second time and it pure bliss. The resort is stunning, beautifully designed accompanied by good service and a wonderful, peaceful atmosphere. We live in Saigon and we usually travel outside the country when we have any spare time but we make time to come to Island Lodge because it's that's great. We're actually going for our third visit in less than a week. Can't wait. "

Sukoon Houseboat: "Luxury meets nature"

I cannot tell you how nice my stay at Sukoon was! The staff was excellent headed by Vishal and service staff by Babu. The location of the boat is perfect too. A shuttle motorised shikara takes you from the promenade to the houseboat [HB] and you can come and go whenever you wish if you fancy a walk on the promenade. The rooms are generously sized and the bathrooms can put some hotels to shame! :-) The food was excellent too and the best part was the peace and quiet you can expect here. The breakfast on the terrace was a treat :-) Wifi! Can you believe that and at no extra cost. You can spend a nice lazy noon on the terrace on the lounger reading a book and enjoy your time here. I loved it :-)

Glenburn Tea Estate: "A hidden gem not to be missed!"

A stay at the Glenburn tea estate is a truly unforgettable experience and we loved every minute of it. Whichever way you look from the delightful gardens or from either of the beautiful bungalows there is a wonderful vista, even when the mountains are shrouded in mist. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not at its best when we stayed in late March/early April, but we were lucky enough to be there for 5 nights and so we at least had 2 fabulous mornings when we were treated to the breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga mountain range from the comfort of our room. Our room (Camelia) was fabulously spacious and beautifully decorated in English country house style with a lovely seating area, and French doors onto a small balcony with magnificent views. The bathroom was enormous with roll top bath and huge walk in shower. We did not see any of the other rooms but all other guests seemed just as impressed with theirs, and we gather the views are wonderful from each and every room. The food was delicious with an imaginative and varied menu and, despite initial reservations, we really rather enjoyed the communal dining in the evening. It was very interesting to meet such a variety of people from all over the world. I think perhaps my husband was a little bored on the last evening being the only man at a dining table full of rather verbose women! There was plenty to keep us amused during our 5 night stay with a visit to the tea factory, walks around the estate looking at the flowers, birds and butterflies, a lovely (though quite tiring) hike to the river camp with a tasty meal when we arrived, and a day trip into Darjeeling. We could have done a lot more but, after the hustle and bustle of Kolkata, and because the gardens were so idyllic, we relished in the opportunity to relax, reading, chatting, playing cards and drinking plenty of Glenburn First Flush tea! All of the staff were friendly, helpful and efficient, and hats off to the multi-talented Nilima and Luna for being such lovely and well-informed guides, but also for running the shop and helping with the organisation of the staff welfare programme, amongst a multitude of other skills. A very big thank you to Jemima, Holly and all the staff for a truly memorable and delightful stay........ We hope we will return one day.

Le Passe-Temps: "Little French Paradise"

"During out stay in a close lodging we came here regularly for family lunch and dining by the beach in this little paradise. Very nice food clearly ahead of anything around with variety. Green curry - my benchmark - is very well cooked. Delicious Paneng and TKK. Warm and friendly service. Kids friendly - can spend hours chasing hermit crabs next to you without bothering. Beach and horizon view at high tide is the cliche you are looking for, quietly sipping your chilled Chardonnay while waiting for your starter of fresh spring rolls, feet in the sand and sound of waves in the ears. Also spent Xmas Dinner. Nice buffet in family spirit in a welcoming atmosphere. For those who: - look for a nice lunch/dinner in Krabi far from the crowd. - have a sense of elite and exclusivity without superfluous sophistication. - are not afraid of being surrounded by (quiet and not too vocal) French. - don't mind a slight communautarian skew - are OK to pay more to get more. Still overall very reasonable."

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Best Experience in My 6 Week Asian Travels"

"Amazing Boutique Hotel that sits along the peaceful Saigon River, beautiful colonial style rooms, amazing views, personal staff, great pool, and excellent restaurant. I never wanted to leave (no kidding). The staff were so good to me it felt like they were my family. I had another month of travel upon leaving and I knew no hotel would match this. I would say it was one of the top 2 best experiences in my 30 years of travel. I want to give credit to the amazing staff (top to bottom). The Director of Operations Ta Thanh Thuy was so helpful: from future travel/hotel tips to aid with some personal business of mine (all this while being wonderfully pleasant and thoughtful). Ms. Nhu, at the front desk was the anchor. She helped me with all needs: tours, food recommendations, travel tips, and taking care of a Fed Ex package that wouldn't have gotten to me if not for her hard work. Equaling as pleasant and helpful was my friend Ms. Tuyet. Kevin, the chef, gave me wonderful advice for touring the city, and dazzled me with his Michelin level food. And finally the charming and lovely Ms. Quy. I enjoyed her big smile every day and our nice conversations. The rest of the staff were equally great, but I don't have the time or space to write on it. An unforgettable experience. I hope I'm back soon. "