Guest Reviews

Discover Muang La | Visit Laos | Luxury & Boutique Hotel: "Requires a Sixth Star"

We spent two nights at Muang La Lodge last week and wish we had stayed two more nights. We have traveled to over 40 countries and I can't recall a better hotel experience. From our greeting by the Assistant Manger, to the beautiful room, to the hot tubs and massage, to the gourmet 5 course dinners and the fascinating day trips and activities, you can't ask for more. Add to that an incredibly beautiful and peaceful location. It isn't the easiest hotel to get to, but make the effort. It's worth it.

Inle Princess Resort: "Classic Architecture. Best Service."

"It was my first time at Inle Lake and I selected to stay here because my Myanmar friend used to talk about it as the resort also runs a non-profit organisation called 'Inle Heritage', so I think there is a good sign of people's minds here. The location is in the beginning of Inle Lake, so very peaceful. You have to take a long-tail boat farther to explore the lake. The architecture is in local style and each unit is large, so you definitely have plenty of space to enjoy, esp. when you come in a group. They have souvenir shop which sells local products and books. I was eager how those products are made and they toured me around a little area where they showed how local people live and products they make for a living. Quite interesting. The room is beautiful and you can see the sunset from your room. Morning time is SUPER calm. You will get recharged here for sure. The best thing must be FOOD. The chefs cook not only local Inle or Myanmar food, but also international menus / European menus and they did a great job. I personally like the baguette served hot for every meal. Also, tomatoes here are very fresh. I saw them planting on a floating garden around the lake. Other facilities like swimming pool, lobby, communal spaces are big. There are recreational areas around the resort. Staff members are caring. They accompany you for whatever you want. With the smile on their faces, they are genuinely generous. I've heard many of them working here for 15-20 years. Last, they have their own jetty in which you board the long-tail boat to anywhere in the lake. The jetty is well-designed. I am considering revisiting this resort again with family in the wintertime."

MAISONS WAT KOR: "Calming and traquil setting"

"Beautiful gardens wrapped around central pond/lake overflowing with blossoming lotus flowers ... truly beautiful. Salt water pool, good kitchen and friendly staff. Beautiful rooms but shower recess could be better. Photos evidence a visit by Brad and Angelina Jolie staying here ... this speaks for itself. Quiet retreat at the end of sometimes frantic days. "

Jings-residence: "Perfect in every way"

Jing's Residence was a perfect experience: a rare combination of a hotel that reaches both the high standards of any world class hotel, combined with the charm, intimacy, and uniqueness of a small operation. It is exactly what a boutique hotel should be. Imam and his staff cared for our every need. The hotel was beautiful and historic, yet modern and comfortable. I cannot recommend Jing's Residence enough.

MesaStila: "Hidden treasure – a lovely escape"

"Our party of 19 stayed at this amazing resort on the last leg of our trip. The MesaStila is housed on a vast area that was once a coffee plantation. Imagine lush greenery, manicured lawns and beautifully landscaped plants. These grounds are peppered with bungalows of varying sizes with some having connecting doors. This proved useful for all the kids in the party to visit each others' rooms. We also had the privilege of staying at the Bellavista (also referred to as the Presidential Suite). This palatial residence has a living room large enough to house all 19 of us for dinner without feeling cramped. The amazing staff obliged to our request to have room service served there because of the kids were too tired to head to the restaurant for dinner. The living area also proved useful for group discussion sessions and a good game of hide and seek. The bedrooms were equally mind blowing with the ornate four poster beds and sunken baths. A beautiful blend of antiques and modern requirements - copper sinks and faucets, flat screen TV, wooden bar locks, electric kettle and a bar fridge. The resort kindly obliged to our request for extra beds as some of us had 3 in a group. The rooms were large enough to accommodate the bed without it feeling like space was compromised, The other villas has a variety of bedding combinations including one with a loft bed! Within the Resort, the Hammam Spa was a wonderful escape as I opted for the 90min Intensive Massage Therapy. My therapist managed to work through my knots from the previous day's hike and left me feeling so refreshed, I was tempted to add another 90 minutes! Breakfast is served daily at Java Green. There is a decent selection of local and international food (try to chicken porridge!) but the one thing you must not miss is the daily dose of Jamu (Indonesian Traditional Herbal Drink) served by the loveliest little lady at the entrance of the restaurant. There are several concoctions to choose from - be warned, some taste better than others - but they're all good for the system. And if the lady's appearance is anything to go by, I'd be happy to drink the stuff daily! If you're wondering what to do at the resort, here's a list of stuff we tried: Cycling through the Padi fields and taking a soak at the local ""hot spring"" at the end of the ride The Coffee Plantation tour - very educational with more than just coffee to see Take a swim in the lovely pool Relax at the SPA Play pool at the bar Read a nice book at the clubhouse Ask about the Jeep tour to Merapi (Indonesia's most active volcano) Visit the amazing Borobudur Plenty to see and do! There's also stuffwe didn't have time to try, like batik painting, learning to play the Gamelan, morning Yoga sessions, pony rides, etc. Check with the Reception for the daily activity schedules. While the 8 parents on the trip were quite awestruck by the place, I also have to add that we had 11 boys with us - all aged 12 and some were slightly spooked by the ornate architecture and furnishings when we arrived on the first night. The city boys having just left a rather modern upmarket hotel did take a while to get used to the antiquated outlook of the place. That said, they were very happy to run around once the sun came up and once familiarity set in, they were a bit sad to leave after 3 nights there. I would recommend the establishment for couples, anyone in need of peace and quiet, people who appreciate old architecture or just someone in need of a slightly different holiday."

Supanniga Luxury Bangkok River Cruises: "Amazing Food and Great Views"

Amazing Food and Great Views - The food was incredible, staff very friendly and views were great. All in all a great experience and would certainly recommend.

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Hauntingly beautiful"

"Staying at the Blue Mansion was an experience in itself! One of the highlights of our time in Penang! This courtyard house is exquisite beyond words, from the lobby to its inner courtyards. Calm and quiet, we were immediately transported to another century. Guests can join any of the daily tours for free. The guides were fantastic in explaining the history of Cheong Fatt Tze, the man and the house. There are small displays that remain open throughout the day that guests can browse at leisure. The mansion is bright and open in during the day. And turns mysterious and haunting at night with its glowing red lanterns. One of the most romantic places we've ever stayed. Breakfast was simple and elegant, with a la carte options as well. We had dinner at the restaurant which was good but not particularly memorable. Everyday, the staff will bring some small desserts for afternoon tea (always different and carefully created!). The location is also very central. Right next to a large covered open air food market with every type of cuisine imaginable (and very cheap). The hotel also provides bikes for rent for free but bikes are not all well maintained. We will never forget our stay at the Blue Mansion and if we return to Penang, we will not stay anywhere else."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Characterful boutique hotel"

"When staying in Georgetown you are probably wanting to be immersed in the colonial character of the place, so staying in a beautiful restored mansion with a fascinating history is a logical and excellent choice - one that we did not regret in the slightest. Nor was it particularly expensive compared with other hotel options We enjoyed learning the history by joining the guided tour (free for guests) and were able to admire the décor and feel of the place both at breakfast time and in the lounging area outside the rooms. Our room was in some ways relatively basic but perfectly adequate and again had character. The service was friendly and helpful. The hotel location is good - on the edge of the heritage area and near to an excellent food court dining and entertainment complex. Breakfast selection also good with small buffet and also a la carte choices including some unusual ones such as green tea pancakes. No juices on the buffet but they brought us some freshly squeezed on request. No hesitation to recommend."

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Easy and elegant hotel, lovely to return to after a day roaming Bangkok"

I like every thing about Cabochon, but mostly the serene and peaceful atmosphere. Despite the very obsessive attention to design details, the overall atmosphere is of ease and friendliness. The food at the restaurant is good. Breakfast is a bit cramped and the small buffet could/ should be improved - the fruit section in particular. One small thing this time the music in the public areas was rather loud, and we had to ask if it could be turned down a little. But these are details. I stay at Cabochon every time I go to Bangkok and I love it.

Hotel Tugu Malang: "Unrivalled favorite"

If you would ask me right now what hotel in the world is your all time favorite, this would definitely be it! As far as i am concerned, Tugu has it all to make me long for a next stay. Even though it was built relatively recently it has been conceived and decorated with such taste and eye for details that it transports you back to an era when time was so much more irrelevant. In spite of its location right next to the Malang town hall, the warm tranquility of the tropical surroundings seems to pervade every single corner of Tugu hotel. Afternoon tea is offered as it would be in a local market stall that somehow miraculously appeared on the first floor amidst the colonial antiques and furniture. Not one sound of the bustling traffic outside reaches the large, impeccably clean rooms, delicately scented with fresh Jasmin flowers, guaranteeing a good night sleep. Excellent beds, a breakfast menu so extensive and varied that you'd wish you could stay forever... Ah! And let's not forget the excellent wine bar (a little minus for the bartender though, who clearly had to look up the recipes of some very common drinks on his phone). If offered the chance, do take the guided tour of the hotel and you'll be surprized by what this gem has on offer.