Guest Reviews

The River Resort: "Superbe ! Notre plus bel hôtel au Laos"

Superbe : l arrivée en bateau et l accueil, l aménagement paysager du site, la qualité des constructions et la décoration, les 2 douches dans la chambre, le petit déjeuner surtout lorsqu il n y a pas le buffet et que l on peut choisir parmi du salé et du sucré frais et bien cuisiné, les 2 grandes piscines, le personnel discret et efficace, le prêt de vélo (et cerise sur le gâteau l attention parfaite de vous offrir une bouteille d eau fraîche pour votre balade !). Bref après 3 semaines au Laos nous sommes en mesure de comparer : du très très haut niveau, luxueux mais où on se sent bien ! Et la literie parfaite...

jing: "Not to be missed"

"If you wish to visit Ping Yao while in China, this hotel is THE place to stay. It is, in fact, worth the trip, all by itself. The classic beauty of the old town and a stay at Jing's Residence combines for an unforgettable experience. Aline Wilson "

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Beautiful Hotel"

"We had a great stay here. The best bed we have ever had in a hotel.A lovely tranquil place on the river. Very friendly staff, nice rooms and public areas. Excellent breakfast and dinner. In district 2 about 30 mins from the centre of town. Regular free boat service in to town. A perfect place to stay just a little way from a very busy, noisy and bustling city. Would love to go back "

Maison Polanka: "Just the best!"

We stayed here for 3 nights. The grounds, the staff, the rooms, the attention to detail, everything is perfect. Off the main drag of Siem Reap is this oasis of a hotel. You enter through the sliding gate to see a beautiful garden and staff waiting to meet you. As you walk along the path with a staff member you see the open air dining area, the pool and the few buildings that house your perfect room. Don't miss Maison Polanka

Jing’s Residence: "Feeling Welcome In Beauttiful Surroundings"

Jing's Residence in the charming old town of Pingyao is one of a kind. It has all the attributes one wishes a hotel would possess, but rarely encounters in real life. For one thing, I was struck by the extremely appealing aesthetics of the compound, with its inner courtyards, its beautiful rooms/suites with all the amenities one would desire, its upstairs library with computers, its excellent restaurant... It is, however, the atmosphere of the place, the way you feel welcome and the sense that the staff cares about your well-being that really makes Jing's Residence such a unique and pleasing experience. My only regret is that, because of our tight schedule, we could not stay a few extra days and imbibe more of this relaxing, yet invigorating atmosphere.

Manda De Laos: "Great food, beautiful location"

The restaurant is set overlooking a lake filled with lotus flowers and lily pads,the majority of the restaurant is outdoors but covered. The food served is fresh and tasty, the menu serves seasonal, traditional Laos food with a modern twist along with other, mainly South East Asian dishes. Everything we ordered was execllent and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

Villa Song Saigon: "Perfection"

"This hotel is wonderful. You may hesitate to stay somewhere a bit outside of the main HCMC hustle and bustle, but once you're here you won't regret the decision. I didn't care much for HCMC, so after a few hours down there, it was nice to escape across the river (like fleeing back to the CT suburbs after an afternoon in NYC). Breakfast is fabulous and served to you riverside - full menu of choices. There are pretty regular boat shuttles into HCMC but if you don't want to wait for one or miss one, a cab ride is like $7 USD (which, if you can afford to stay here...shouldn't really be an issue). Beds are comfortable. Turndown service included yummy pastry - cream puffs, madeleines. Because it's a small hotel, the pool is quiet and never crowded. They also exchange cash at spot! Would return. Stayed March 2017, traveled with friends"

Mathis Retreat: "Ultimate Relaxation"

"I've stayed at this hotel with my parents twice - once in 2014 and once in 2016. It was then known as Kenanga. I hope that the name change doesn't impact anything else, because our stays were both so perfect. The staff are SO attentive and friendly. The service is really amazing. You're welcomed with warm smiles every morning, and really begin to feel at home. We stayed in the bungalows the first time. They are renovated so beautifully, with a cool and comfortable design. Every detail, from the bathtub to the nightstand to the soaps, seems to be intentionally planned. The second time we stayed in normal rooms. Like the bungalow, the room was lovely (only a little smaller). The only difference is that the bungalow is closer to the pool/restaurant and that the room has a nicer view of the rice paddies. All in all, I could stay in either and be just as content. The entire property is so beautiful and peaceful. They play quiet but fitting music in the open air restaurant, the pool is spotless and has a perfect temperature, there are shady and sunny spots surrounding the pool to read and relax at, the restaurant is beautiful during day and night, and the hotel isn't too far away from Ubud. During both stays we walked from the hotel to Ubud, and it's really a charming walk. The drive is less than ten minutes. I would really recommend staying outside of Ubud and going into the town during the day. It's a lot more peaceful. When I look back on our stays at Kenanga, I really feel an inner bliss. The food (again, I hope this stays the same in spite of the name change) is actually AMAZING. You have several different breakfast choices from the menu, all of which are prepared so well. It leaves you full, but not too full like at many other buffet-style breakfasts. I hate to be the kind of tourist who eats most meals at the hotel, but I have to admit that my mom and I ate two of four dinners at the hotel. Absolutely no regrets. The food is so tasty, and you can choose from local flavors to western food. I mean it when I say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. They also prepare the most lovely drinks out of all kinds of fresh fruit. I'm under 18, so I only had fresh juices, but I'm sure their cocktail and alcohol selection is great. The kitchen really knows how to use natural ingredients. I had papaya juice every morning with my breakfast, and tried out several of their mixed juices during the evening when my parents had wine. My family usually doesn't go back to past destinations, and definitely not back to old hotels, just because second and third stays usually can't compare with first impressions. Kenanga is an outlier, however. We couldn't help but return for a second stay, and I'm having a hard time not knowing when I'll get to go back again. I hope everything about this hotel stays the same - the atmosphere, the charm, the service, the food, the views, and the size. I'm fine with a name change (though the name Kenanga has a special place in my heart) as long as the experience will be the same whenever I get a chance to return."

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."

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 "