Guest Reviews

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "A First for me"

"This is the first time I have reviewed any accommodation on any website, but I am moved to do it following a lovely stay at Tiger Mountain. I went there in a poor frame of mind as all my trips to Nepal in the past have been trekking holidays, but this time I was prevented from treking long distances due to injury. My wife and daughter had gone off on the trek leaving me feeling a little grumpy. But it didn't last. Tiger mountain lifted me from the moment I arrived. There is an air of tranquility about the place which is hard to describe, but it is soothing, warming and embracing. All the staff are fantastic. They are attentive but not overbearing. They are helpful and take the time to understand you, and then offer ideas which enhance your stay. I did some lovely walks guided by in-house staff who knew the area and people so well. It just makes the walk so much more enjoyable. I was also carefully steered away from an idea for a walk which I had, which with hind site would have largely been a waste of time, ending up doing a superb replacement instead. This approach to guests runs through the organisation from top to bottom, and also rubs off on the guests. Although traveling alone I couldn't have wished for better company, I had my meals with other guests who were great company and became friends. On top of that Marcus, (the owner), found time to join us and added to some very enjoyable evenings. And what of the accommodation, well the setting is great, my verandah affording terrific views of the Annapurna range, what better way to enjoy that early morning coffee delivered to your door. And inside there are all the ameneties you would wish for, provided in an environmentally thoughtful way. The food is delicious, fresh ingredients and an imaginative chef combine to produce fantastic meals. And I think it is the staff which is Tiger Mountains greatest asset. On talking to them, most have been here for years, some since it opened, and that means visitors benefit from staff who are knowledgeable and work as a team to provide an unparrelled experience. Yes, I did enjoy my stay immensely. A big thank you to Marcus and ALL his staff."

Rachamankha: "EXQUISITE HOTEL"

My husband and I have travelled extensively and this hotel was just the most beautiful we've ever visited. As soon as you enter the courtyard, you can feel the calming effect of the style and decor which are so lovely. Our room was a deluxe situated on the second floor. The attention to detail in the room was stunning; a king sized four poster bed, high airy ceilings and antique Chinese clothes chest. It was immaculately clean and the toiletries provided in the lavatory were top quality products. There was a very large swimming pool with comfortable lounges and umbrellas plus it was tucked into a private spot and very quiet. Breakfast was delicious with a variety of choices on the menu. All in all, a five star hotel by any standard!!

Jing’s Residence: "Amazing stay"

Amazing stay in a beautiful hotel, furnished with a delicate taste, managed by a dedicated and welcoming staff. A place we do recommend to everyone willing to retire from buzzling china and yet still experience china…

Cuca: "Favourite restaurant"

We went to Cuca on our last night in Jimbaran, saving the best for last! Such a beautiful setting and the staff are lovely. The meal is tapas style, beautifully presented and delicious. Everyone should experience Cuca at least once

Satri House: "Perfection"

"We loved this small hotel only a ten minute walk in to town to reach the start of the night market. It is full of wonderful artefacts and curios and lovely nooks with comfy seating to curl up with a book. The junior suite we occupied was wonderful with a fabulous shower and bath and separate w.c.. The two swimming pools were lovely each with its own character. Sweet and comfy bar available and we thought the restaurant was good although we mostly ate in town. Delicious breakfasts. Charming service. The hotel was very helpful organising reservations in local restaurants too. Could have stayed much longer and definitely will return to this haven if we come back to Laos."

Rak Ko Jae Seoul: "Rakkojae first 3 nights, Ritz Carlton last 2 nights. Cried the last 2 nights"

"Out of selfishness, I wish I could keep the Rakkojae a secret and post the stay as poorly managed, noisy, and uncomfortable. Or maybe that the Rakkojae reminded me of a fake Hollywood set for a Korean drama. Or better yet, that Rakkojae is located in a completely inconvenient location with zero access to historic areas and their iconic shop-filled alleys. Selfishness loses this one. The host was too nice to ever wish anything bad for them. Take everything stated and translate each into their polar opposite. That's Rakkojae. The stay carries a physical and emotional warmth that can't be described without using the word ""home."" A super nice, quiet home with heated jade floors, and served breakfasts causing one to reflect upon why one needs energy and brain robbing sweet carbos to start the day. How about fresh rice, cured fish, panchon with amazing kimchi, rice porridge tea and a different secret dessert every day. The Location If you arrive in the evening, your cab driver will wonder if your address is correct. Once you take a final turn down a narrow alley, you'll also begin wondering if you missed a digit on your address. But it's oh, sooo right. Once you start walking to any of the sights, you'll realize how perfect the location is for walking everywhere. Moreover, it's close enough to the subway for jaunts into the city. In the main city or otherwise, the street food alleys will help you regain your faith in the idea of street food. Unique, scrumptious, and absolutely no digestive drama -- other than various self-induce triggers from over-indulging. Kids OK? I have a feeling that if you have more than one child (we had our lone 8 yr old), and/or if your kids are typically loud and excitable, you might feel self-conscious because Rakkojae and the area is very quiet. The people are too nice to reject you for this, but you will be aware of how loud you actually can be. Ahhh. Peace and quiet. It's the price we parents often pay for having our bundles of joy. In fact, in the historic residential area you'll see more ""keep quiet"" signs than you'll ever see in a dozen libraries. It's not that kids can't run amok with joy, laughter while screaming their bloody lungs with excitement, but perhaps limited ""happy drama"" on the Rakkojae premises will allow one to blend-in a bit. Frankly, our child had no interest in running and screaming amok on site. It's so beautiful and peaceful that even a kid can feel odd belting the lyrics to Moana at 11p under such peaceful conditions. She saved it later for the streets. Sorry Seoul. Our last days at the Ritz Carlton in Seoul were fine. But all of us would have traded it all to move back to Rakkojae in a heartbeat. Go. I'm Hawaiian, so I don't promise anything, but the Rakkojae is a stay that will become part of your memory of the trip vs. merely being a cool place because they have bounce rooms for kids, mini bars and lots of people you could have met at some function back home. MOAAana!"

Villa Song Saigon: "Villa Song: a wonderful Art Deco hotel occupying a quiet position on the banks of the Saigon river"

Great hotel, great food (apart from breakfast, which was average), fantastic bedroom and really helpful staff. Annoying niggly problems with signing bills and a trainee at breakfast barely understood English. Nice free mini-bar in room, with water, soft drinks and beer.

Pindaya Farm House: "Great Shan State retreat"

"My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 2.5 day, 3 night stay at the farmhouse. After working/living in Yangon for six weeks, Pindaya Farmhouse is a little paradise, a beautiful building, with wonderful spaces indoors and out to enjoy the rural scenery, along a quiet drive and road out from which we birded quite happily in the afternoon (enchanted by the Sooty-Headed Bulbuls...). The décor is stunning, including bright paintings by Myanmar artists that grace the common room's walls. We also appreciated the farmhouse's efforts at sustainability, with solar panels, solar heated water for showers, rainwater harvesting and storage, and ample vegetable gardens and newly planted fruit trees. I can't wait til the mango trees begin to supply fruit! The rooms are extremely comfortable, each with private sitting spaces outside affording vistas of the rural countryside. Lighting is excellent, and the wifi system was quite reliable (also surprising to find!). The kitchen offers a nice array of dishes for lunch and dinner, although Win Naing also recommended an excellent restaurant, the Golden Moon, on the outskirts of town. We spent one half-day touring the caves, the nearby paper/umbrella artisans, and a weaver. On our second full day, we hired a guide to take us on a 5-mile hike up into the hills, where we visited a village in the bamboo grove and watched potato ""crackers"" being smoked/dried and enjoyed green tea and good conversation with the lady of the house. Along the way, we were passed by a couple and two Myanmar guides who were hiking from Pindaya to Kalaw, a three-day trek. I also collect textiles, and was sent to a little gift shop that had a beautiful selection of women's ""longyi"" cloths. Afternoons were for relaxing and reading, while evenings we especially enjoyed our final dinner shared with fellow travelers. In mid-February the air is still cool and delightfully dry in Pindaya, a welcome respite from Yangon, although it was always a bit smoky from the farmers who are burning crop residues in preparation for the upcoming growing season. That gave a special glow to the sunrises and sunsets, which were both stunning. Thahara made it very easy for me to arrange all aspects of the trip, managing my extensive email inquiries, helping me to settle on dates, and even arranging flights for us between Yangon and Heho near Taunggyi. I paid online via a secure epayment website, it could not have been easier. I plan to recommend Thahara's Pindaya Farmhouse to all my Yangon colleagues!"

Manda De Laos: "Wonderful!"

"Probably our favourite restaurant during our travels in Vietnam and Laos. Beautiful setting, it is as attractive as it looks on the photos! Excellent service and fantastic food. We went for dinner and enjoyed it so much that we returned for our last lunch before embarking on our home ward journey. We had a la carte, great sausage and pork balls for starters and good chicken curry and stir fried buffalo. Also had one of the set tasting menus which was delicious. Interesting cocktails! Definitely the best in Luang Prabang. It's a little way from the centre of the town, but well worth the journey."

Villa Song Saigon: "A fabulous oasis in this noisy city"

"Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City to be PC) is a large, noisy, chaotic city. It was a relief, therefore, to find our accommodation was away from the madness, right on the river and the general ambience of the hotel reflected its location. Fabulous food and cocktails, a lovely setting, a stunning pool, very friendly staff... all in all I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone travelling in Vietnam. Stayed November 2016, traveled with friends"