Guest Reviews

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Secluded paradise"

"The resort is a collection of bungalows and a clubhouse built along a pristine stretch of the Andaman coast, along with a more protected bay for swimming (there's a great beach bar on this end). If you're arriving by sea (and not by jeep from the pier) the boat drops you off in the bay, and you wade through the water onto the beach, which sets the tone for the stay. Most of the baans are open air, as is the clubhouse, and you wake up and fall asleep to the sound of waves, the wind, crickets (or whatever the local variant), lizards, birds, and monkeys. Likewise, although the west-facing beach doesn't have any lounge chairs or umbrellas, we were often the only people sitting on our towels under the shade of palm trees, watching scuttling crabs and the receding tide. It truly is designed to bring you as close to nature as possible without actually camping on the beach. The people at the resort are all lovely - Massi, Duang, and all the folks who worked in the clubhouse and the bar are professional and friendly. A special thanks to P'Wam, the head chef, who gave me a great cooking class. The food is uniformly delicious, fresh, and varied a lot from day to day. We were there for four days and didn't see the same dish twice at dinner. Breakfast is plentiful. Everything, from the food to the drinks, was fairly priced and great value considering how difficult it must be to provision the place. A few things that might be helpful to know before going: The waves on the long stretch of beach are quite wild and we didn't find it possible to swim, but it's great for strolls and lying around. If you're going in peak season with kids, don't count on being able to hang out at that beach with them. The bay side was quiet when we were there (in mid December, we felt we had the run of the place) but I can imagine it getting quite crowded around Christmas. The mosquitos and black flies are no joke. I showed up without any DEET and had to buy some immediately, and use it constantly, and even then I was bitten. If you tend to attract bites, plan on covering up and using DEET in the morning and evening. In retrospect I wish we had gone for a beachfront baan as they probably had fewer bugs than ours, which didn't get as much breeze. Our baan was beautifully maintained and felt very private, with an outdoor bathroom and decks. Note that the water is from a well and gives off a strong sulphurous odour, which keeps showers short and eco friendly. All in all, a truly special place that runs seamlessly despite its remoteness and the encroaching jungle and sea around it. We enjoyed our time there and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it or go back."

Locavore: "A must try journey for your taste bud"

OMG!!!!! No words to describe this resturant... the only resturant in Indonesia to be in top 50 Asian resturant.. enough said.. word of warning dinner reservation at least 1 month in advance... but the experience on ur taste buds... so totally worth it.. only set course available.... extremely friendly staff, top notch service.. as an Indonesian, so proud of them :) :) keep it up :)

Maison Polanka: "5 star done right"

Maison polanka is a 5 star done right. Stylish rooms in an intimate atmosphere with attentive and friendly service. The art works and the furnitures in the Khmer house were gorgeous,and it was a class apart from anywhere I have stayed in the region. The room is huge intact and we appreciated the large shower area with lots of rooms for the clothes to be hanged and lots of space for personal belongings. Everything was spotless on arrival, including the common areas. The food was excellent. The hotels location which is just within the city. Yes the road is bumpy but you will find a haven at the end of the pagoda. Thank you to everyone involved in making our stay so pleasant.

Tugu Malang: "Truely Colonial"

"Tugu Hotel is an icon in Malang, East Java province, and most likely it's the best hotel in town. It has all the facilities of a 5-star hotel, bar, restaurant, swimming pool to identify some. The environment is very lush and greenish, a plus point. It's also centrally located in the heart of the city, yet another plus point. The room is neatly arranged, cozy, and clean, equipped with a tea table, fantastic.. Afternoon tea is served between 4 - 6 pm, free of charge. The staffers are warm and forthcoming, another plus point. Over all rating is 5/5."

Sukoon Houseboat: "Lovely experience!"

I've spent 3 nights on Sukoon Houseboat together with my father to start our trip through India and it was a fantastic experience! The houseboat has 5 comfortable rooms, authentic but with all modern comfort and well-equipped bathrooms. We wer lucky to meet the owner, mr Chapri, a very friendly man with whom we had interesting conversations. All stafmembers are very friendly and their service is impecable and of a high level. For diner, let the chef surprise you and you will be overwhelmed! Definetely the best choice for your stay on Dal Lake!

Sukoon Houseboat: "The best"

Wowww... We booked this houseboat only after thoroughly checking all the reviews. My main concern was the washroom and safety and my personal recommendation will be sukoon houseboat managed by a very reputed family of Kashmir. Try to book the suite as the room size is little bigger compared to other rooms plus a little more private. Good food and thank to the wonderful host Babu. Would definitely come back again soon.

Villa Song Saigon: "Fantastic"

"We stayed at Villa Song Saigon for the final 3 nights of a 21 day tour it was the perfect place to finish a very busy holiday. The room although quite small had a very large patio which we used to read and listen to music. The beds a pillows were so so comfortable and the shower had great pressure. The breakfast was Al a Carte with a good selection of Asian and European. The evening meals were good but not great and quite expensive but in saying that we ate there two out of the three nights! We sat and had our meals by the river what a pleasant way to eat. The staff were friendly attentive and helpful and the level of cleanliness 100% Although the hotel was in district two a water taxi was provided free of charge to drop us off and bring us back from the city. There are plenty of good restaurants within walking distance from hotel"

Maison Polanka: "Outstanding hotel for those who do not want to be part of the backpacker party scene"

"I stay in a lot of high-end hotels, but this one is right up there among the very best. The location is slightly - but not inconveniently - off the beaten track (literally, the approach road is dust). This turns out to be a blessing when you consider that some of Siem Reap is decidedly too brash. The neighbourhood seems authentic and not at all threatening. The first thing that strikes you when you enter the hotel is the superb garden, which is like a tropical paradise. It is a delightful place to come back after a hot day at the temples. The puppy and two rabbits add a very charming and slightly comic touch. There is a very nice, but small, pool. The rooms are exquisite. Incredibly tasteful, stylish, comfortable, and the staff are willing to customise to individual needs (e.g. twin versus double bed). The restaurant is outside, with very nice food, beautifully presented. We requested local fruits they don't normally serve, and they went out of their way to buy them from the local market. The management is attentive, full of good advice, can arrange local tours however you want to do it, and is very friendly without being at all intrusive. All in all, if you like boutique hotels which are relaxing and authentic, you will absolutely love this place."

The Island Lodge: "A bijou at the Mekong Delta"

Our stay at The Island Lodge was simply awesome. The food is great and the service is extremely polite and attentive. Michel has taken his time to personally talk to us and make guests feel welcome which is much appreciated and adds to the warm experience we had. The whole experience is rounded up with the nice swimming pool at the Mekong river and the Spa which invite to some relaxing moments.

Satri House: "Wonderful hotel"

This is wonderful hotel. We very enjoyed our 3 nights stay here. The scenery around the hotel is like in paradise with lovely garden and a swimming pool. The room is huge with traditional decoration and well equipped. Staff is amazing friendly and helpful