Guest Reviews

Samanea Beach Resort: "Beautiful Hotel in Mosquito Land"

Hotel Samanea is one of the better hotels in Kep, it is beautiful and charming, however the description of having a white sanded beach was quite misleading. The hotel did not have a beach perse, only a sanded area with a water front. The hotel needs to be sprayed for mosquitoes, they were literally everywhere and we were getting bitten so much. Even in our own room they managed to get in to bite us. It was very uncomfortable. The staff tried to do as much as they could but they were not successful at it and they just let the dead mosquitoes out there. they did not clean after they sprayed.it was quite weird. The bed was a bit hard and the freestanding tub took hours to fill out but the room was very beautiful. They have all the elements in place, they just need to master the level of comfort for their guests. The breakfast was excellent!

tugu lombok: "A magical place with beauty in every step."

"The hotel is beautiful, with lot of different areas to explore, relax and even work. All the areas are decorated with elegance, full of art objects. The room was very comfortable, the bathroom was amazing with open air area. The hotel staff is very kind, you feel pampered every minute. "

Rachamankha: "Lovely – definitely unexpected in the city; quiet and peaceful"

Beautiful Thai decor and ambience. It was very hot when we were there but the rooms were beautiful and cool. Drinking water was abundant and we did not have to purchase water whilst we were there. The design of the hotel is a great concept and interesting to read about in the books scattered in the common area - beautiful design; we would have used this area more had it been cooler. The library was amazing - my husband wants one like it! The pool is lovely, though warm later in the day as it is not sheltered - so we went for early morning swims. Close enough to walk to night markets - about 10 minutes.

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Superb and enchanting"

"You have to go to believe how unique it is . The speed boat to downtown Saigon was the icing on the gateau. We arrived mid morning and were offered complimentary breakfast . Our rooms were most exciting . I shall never forget Villa Song . "

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Perfection!"

"I can't believe I left my visit to Glenburn (and Darjeeling) to the end of my time in India. I definitely would have returned if I'd been earlier in my tour. The overall experience is fabulous, though there are adjustments that could be made to the property to make it out of this world. The property may not be as fancy as some five star resorts but the experience is everything you could hope for, largely thanks to the wonderful efforts of caretakers Will and Faye (and Alex, who is helping for a few months). They went out of their way to make the it memorable, warm and welcoming. The views and the grounds of the estate are lovely. The tea fields are interesting for a few hours. A lot of guests loved the trek to the Ranjeet River. I preferred whiling away the hours on the front verandah, which really is the perfect antidote to the chaos and dirt of most Indian cities. The catering is superb - kudos to the kitchen staff. If you like kitsch, it's worth the visit to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - though much of its journey is through town centres, cheek by jowl with people and their homes. The Shimla toy train may be better. Was lucky to catch a glimpse of Kanchenjunga on my last day but many don't get that lucky. It's still beautiful with or without that experience. The rooms are gorgeously quaint and the attention to detail with the decor is lovely. I loved all the butterfly touches in the Butterfly Room. But the owners may want to consider upgrading the sealing of rooms and electricity given the rates are in the higher bracket for the region. Post monsoon, I found a lot of creepy crawlies were making their way inside through gaps in the windows and an external door that couldn't close/lock. Also plugging in and using the hairdryer could get a bit buzzy given the old electrics. An upgrade to smooth the road to the property also wouldn't go astray. There is bumpy and there is feeling like you're in a washing machine. It's manageable if you don't get car sick but would be horrible if you do - I think the driver also makes a big difference. I did the road with two fabulous drivers and a less careful one as I was leaving and I noticed the difference. Despite those quibbles, I'd go again in a heart beat. Really loved the place. I was lucky to get a late room over the Dusshera/Durga Pooja holiday but apparently it books up fast."

Villa Song Saigon: "Loved it"

"We stayed for two nights, it is a peaceful location and the rooms nicely appointed, the bed was supportive which made for a restful night. The breakfasts were from a menu I had the pho which was very tasty. The evening meals are more western than Vietnamese and beautifully presented and tasty. Being picky, I'd prefer a greater focus on Vietnamese flavours A lovely hotel out of the chaos associated with the central city. The regular boat into city was convenient and when you returned from the city the peaceful atmosphere of the hotel is reinforced."

muang la: "A piece of heaven in the middle of nowhere!"

"After a rough first week of travelling and very cold weather, we were thrilled to spend a couple of nights here. Gorgeous room, with HEATERS and hot water bottles, tastefully decorated, lovely bathrooms, with home grown bathsalts. The setting is delightful, on the river, and the infinity pool on its own island was a good place to unwind with a book when the sun comes out. All the little hidey holes have access to drinks and snacks and service is never far away. The spa itself, with the two huge hot spring-fed pools are elevated so you have a view of the surrounding countryside and are a panacea for weary limbs, and the massage sets you up for the next part of the journey! The five course dinner is light and carefully crafted, full of flavour, and the cocktails inventive and yummy. Little braziers kept us warm while we ate, and a large boma-type fireplace was comforting for an aperitif. We had a long walk on our free day round the local Khamu village, and enjoyed seeing village life at a slow pace, the pace it is lived. Excursions can be arranged to nearby hill tribes, but we didn't know about that. Even though the local staff dont speak much English it is good to see the management trying to give back other local community by providing jobs and an enhanced local spa for the village. I can't rate this place highly enough "

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Back to Nature"

I have stayed there with my family for one night. It was wonderful experience. The food taste is excellent. The guest service are the ultimate. All the staff especially the reception counter, Ayurveda Spa are always with a bright smile. I have stayed many type of hotels in all over the world, but Neeleshwar Hermitage is a different experience. I strongly recommend this property to all my friends and readers of this review. Its awesome .

Rachamankha: "The best place to stay in Chiangmai"

"This must be my 8 or 9th visit to rachamnkha. It is such a great place to stay. The manager, Paul, is without doubt one of the best hoteliers I have ever met. And the praise doesn't stop with him. The staff are 2nd to none. The rooms are excellent, and the garden setting that the hotel is situated in is an oasis in the city. The breakfast is the best I have ever encountered in many years of travelling, and the lunch and dinner do not disappoint. If you are staying in Chang Mai, stay here. If you are not staying in Chiang Mai , then change your plans and stay here. It's worth the trip. Without doubt, and pound for pound, is the best place you will ever stay in Thailand. "

The Apsara Rive Droite: "One of the best values in old Luang Prabang"

"The Apsara is my go to place for trips to Luang Prabang. It has a history (as opposed to the pop up colonial places built nearby in the past few years), excellent staff, and an appropriate level of comfort that's just right for LP. You're on the Nam Khaen, so you avoid a lot of the tourist noise, but you're only a block away. And their kitchen is good, too. Stayed September 2016"