Guest Reviews

Maison Polanka: "Stay here for wonderful personal service. Deserving of a 7/5 rating not merely 5/5"

"I will start with the summary: tranquil garden, great room, excellent F+B, attention to detail, but the wonderful staff is what made our stay in Siem Reap a truly memorable one (in addition to the the magnificent ruins, of course). The small touches such the chilled towels in the car and upon our return to Maison after each of our trips were truly appreciated. They provided a mobile phone with Maison's number preloaded in directory, another thoughtful and helpful detail. We found the staff not merely polite and helpful but genuinely concerned about our well-being. Maison arranged tuk-tuk rides for our trips into the center of town and the drivers were courteous. Our car/van driver was friendly and informative on the ride back to the airport, making us feel welcome in Cambodia even as we were about to depart. We cannot remember all the names of all who took care of us but special thanks to to Kathy and Sorpana (?) at reception for all their attention to us. Of course, we cannot say enough about Francis. From the initial email exchanges to our actual stay he remained on top of everything. We appreciated his meeting us at the airport on our late night arrival, something we did not expect. Initially I had considered one of the larger hotels but chose to look for a boutique hotel instead. I chose Maison based on both excellent reviews and the compelling back story as told on the hotel webpage. Several email communications with Francis were promptly answered; he readily addressed concerns about airport transfers (a hotel van is available; recommended as tuk-tuks and taxis may not know the hotel or its location) transport to the town center (tuk-tuks that the hotel apparently has an arrangement with and will wait for you at your destination in town). Maison Polanka is located on the east side of the Siem Reap river in a quiet secluded neighborhood (the nearby Po Lang Ka pagoda is what presumably gave name to the road and hotel), about 9km away from the airport and 2.5km from the markets in downtown Siem Reap. The Angkor National Museum is the closest site of interest within very easy walking distance less than 1km from Maison. Of course, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are much further away 6.5km and 11km respectively. We rode the hotel van for our tour of the temples and took tuk-tuks to town. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained, heavily wooded and thus shaded. There were flowering plants everywhere including orchids and butterflies were flitting around from bloom to bloom. There were just a few rooms. The largest accommodation was the Khmer House, a stand-alone building. We had booked the the Yellow Room in the ""Maison"" which also housed the Green, Orange, and Purple Rooms. Francis told us that Maison could accommodate at most 15 guests and that the entire hotel has been booked in the past for family reunions. Check-in was smooth; we had the first of many culled and scented wet face towels to freshen us up. We were also given glasses of chilled fruit juice while we waited to complete check-in. We were then led to the Maison building and askedo leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. The Yellow Room lived up to what the hotel website promised, as did the entire property. The decor was rustic with sophisticated touches. A small plate of sliced fresh fruit had been left on the desk for us to enjoy. The amenities were as listed on their website. The bathroom was actually on a higher level with a short flight of stairs curving up from the far corner of the room. We had no issues with the stairs but it could get wet and slippery. Having traveled with my elderly parents I have become more acutely aware of the need for secure handholds; a single handrail at the corner where the stairs make a left turn on the way up would a world of difference. The bathroom was spacious. The shower stall was large and even had a small tile bench along the wall. I do not recall how textured the floor tiles were but I did not see a rubberized bath mat with suction cups that other hotels sometimes offer. Again, a small handrail at the level of the threshold of the shower would help steady anyone stepping out of the shower. Not that the the edge of the shower was raised very high, just a couple of inches perhaps. The bed was comfortable and we slept well on both the nights during our stay. There was a narrow balcony that we never ventured out on. We had our meals at the ""Sala"", the open-sided communal area by the pool that served as lobby, living room and dining room. What I had initially thought was the reception desk turned out to do double duty as a bar. There was an adjacent area with couches and armchairs clearly meant as a lounging area for those not interested in relaxing by the pool. As one might expect for a kitchen serving such a small number of guests the menu was not extensive but our meals were well-prepared and delicious. The young ladies serving us were attentive but not hovering over us. We had our not had dinner by the time of our late arrival but I had made arrangements with Francis beforehand and, once we had freshened up, dinner was quickly prepared for us. Should our travels ever take us back to Siem Reap we will definitely be staying at Maison Polanka again."

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Viaggio di nozze"

Arrivare al sandat è complicato per colpa della strada accidentata è situato nel mezzo delle risaie di ubud ma la struttura è finemente curata in ogni dettaglio. Abbiamo soggiornato in una tenda con piscina privata l'arredo è bellissimo e molto moderno.le camere vengono pulite una volta al giorno ma oltre agli asciugamani vengono cambiate le lenzuola giornalmente .Il personale è super gentile ti servono in tutto e per tutto c'è una navetta gratuita per il centro di ubud e si può concordare quali escursioni fare direttamente alla reception senza intermediari. I proprietari sono italiani e la cucina è ottima grazie a una signora che insegna ai locali cosa vuol dire "cucinare ".lo consiglio vivamente a chi vuol rimanere fuori dal traffico e soprattutto dallo smog delle città balinesi per noi è stato un paradiso!

Reverie Siam: "An experience to remember"

Reverie Siam will always be a very special place for my mother and I. As soon as we arrived we were transported, this place is so much more than a hotel. Every detail has been thought about, the staff were always one step ahead of us. A special thank you to Mr Sabastian for making each night so lovely, we thank you for your talent and experience. To Toffy for your humor and care, we looked forward to seeing you every morning. There is no doubt we will be back to visit you again and will recommend this oasis to all the special people in our lives. Thank you!

Jing’s Residence: "Paradise in Pingyao"

While Pingyao did not blow me away - this hotel sure did! My husband and I were helped with the trains by the staff, and they graciously extended our checkout to protect us from the rain. Iman is absolutely wonderful and all the staff treat you amazingly. The breakfast was the best we had in China and all the little touches really made our stay memorable. If you're going to Pingyao, stay here!!

The Island Lodge: "Lovely place"

Absolutely gorgeous hotel with amazing surroundings. Listed here as a 3 star but definitely worth 5+. The rooms are spacious and luxurious with a beautiful design and amazing bathroom. The pool area is great . If you are looking for somewhere peaceful to relax and rewind, then this is the place to book. You won't regret it . Thank you to all the staff and the owners , Francois and Michel , it has been a pleasure and we hope to see you again soon .

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Book in for Lunch and tour"

"we came for the tour only (not hotel guests) but saw the sign for a well priced lunch in the dining room. At 65rbs is was fabulous. Setting, history and fusion of Asian and western flavours on the menu. An unexpected delight in hot weather tourism. ring prior as hear it is popular with cruise boat patrons."

Jing’s Residence: "Very charming place to stay"

Very quiet, beautifull and confortable place to stay. Not like an hotel, more like a beautiful home, a nice library to spend time to read drinking a good tea, possibility to access to a free Wi-Fi, and very kind persons at the check in/out, at the restaurant for the diner or the breakfast...

Nimmu House: "Amazing retreat, fine food and service"

"This incredible property is the perfect place to base a Ladakh itinerary from. We spent our first 4 days there to acclimatize. Tents are very luxurious and were perfect for our family of four. The property has a 'Provence in Ladakh' feel to it. Very European. All staff were wonderful. It felt like we had forged new friendships that will endure. Food is incredibly fresh and was a real highlight for us. The hotel staff helped to make all arrangements for activities - and there's a lot to do in the area!! I really cant recommend this property high enough. It is one of the best that we have stayed in in many years."

Mrauk U Princess Resort: "Da non perdere"

"Visitare Mrauk è stato meraviglioso! Un po' laborioso da raggiungere (volo di un'ora e un quarto da Yangon fino a Sittwe e poi un'ora e mezza di barca veloce), ma ne vale assolutamente la pena! Da poco raggiunto dal turismo, è un posto ancora autentico e con un'atmosfera incredibile! Nei vari monasteri e pagode ci è spesso capitato che fossero i monaci o i turisti birmani a chiederci di fotografarci! Non c'era mai capitato nonostante i tantissimi viaggi! Il resort ha una bella atmosfera e il ristorante è ottimo. Particolare la piscina galleggiante nello stagno circondata da fiori di loto! Ottima anche la SPA: super massaggi! Molto grandi e confortevoli i cottages completamente in teak. Stayed December 2016, traveled as a couple"

Villa Song Saigon: "Best Hotel we stayed at in Vietnam"

"Charming, well-run, well-situated hotel outside the hubbub and pollution of downtown HCMC/Saigon. We stayed here twice during out three week trip through Vietnam and Cambodia. Villa Song was a wonderful respite from the highly charged program. The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed; the staff is helpful and professional; the food is excellent. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Room Tip: River view rooms are lovely."