Guest Reviews

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Paradise!"

We had been told that Glenburn was a special place by others that had stayed, but that goes a little way to describe the experience that myself and my partner had... it's a truly magical destination. Our room Rangeet was stunning, as is the rest of the estate, so beautifully maintained by the meticulous staff and gardeners. We loved the communal dinners, especially the tea themed night which was extremely tasty. The staff throughout our stay were always very helpful and friendly, there is always someone around too. We decided to take the hike down to the river and have lunch there, which was beautiful, as again the food exceptional! I would also really recommend having a massage, one of the best I have ever had... We were lucky enough to see an extraordinary sunset one evening, I don't think there can be another view like it anywhere in Darjeeling. The whole place, and our stay felt so serene and relaxed that a special shout out must go to Jemima and Holly who manage the place and are obviously making sure things run so smoothly - thanks you two! My only complaint would be the road, lucky for Glenburn they have some of the best drivers in the world! Can't wait to go back.

NOEL RODRIGO’S LEOPARD SAFARIS: "Fantastic experience"

"We had a three-night stay at the camp and we couldn't recommend it more. We saw elephants, crocodiles, mongoose, wild boar, jungle cats and, most importantly, leopards! Saj is an absolutely brilliant guide, who has fantastic knowledge about all of Sri Lanka's animals and birds, and knew exactly where to go to find the leopards. We saw a huge male being charged by a water buffalo and a female relaxing in a tree. All the staff are great and the food is fantastic – my husband was in curry heaven! We loved staying in the tent too and showering outdoors. All in all, a wonderful experience. "

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Relaxing paradise"

"This is truly serene! Located on a secluded portion of a river. Very quiet. Beautiful! Definite great romantic place. Great front porch views direct in front of your room. Swim in relatively clear water right off your front porch. See fireflies in the evenings and dragon flies and birds during the day. Offers excursions but we instead chose to stay put on our front porch relaxing and river swimming. The food was reasonable but not great. But the place is so nice, refreshing and relaxing it can be considered as a place you should visit at least once in a lifetime. Nature at its best"

Cuca: "Amazing experience!"

Great meal and a great service! We took the tasting menu and enjoyed every single dish that was served.

Samanea Beach Resort: "Relaxing resort getaway"

"Samanea beach resort is a quiet haven when you want a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of work. This is about 2 1/2 hours away from Phnom Penh. This was recommended by a colleague at work. When we arrived, the manager was very warm and welcoming. The place is very nice, well kept and quiet - perfect for having drinks by the pool and lounging by their man made beach to watch the sunset. This is a place for when you want some time to think and recharge. The food selection was limited though. But we did get the crabs for dinner and they were really good. The rooms are all villas and they are very nice & spacious. I would have wanted more acu though but it is understandably very hot weather now in Cambodia. Overall, we had a great stay. Will definitely come back here again."

Villa Song Saigon: "oasis"

"From start to finish pure quality far enough from the hustle of the city. The hotel offers a free taxi service by boat into the city a great way to travel in and out . The cost of the evening meal is not cheap but it is pure quality and very tranquil sat by the river watching the surroundings light up. All the staff are outstanding . we spent three nights then travelled to nah trang for ten days Returned for one night are flight was not till 12.00 the following night the staff could not have been more helpfull thet provided us with another room to prepare for the return trip."

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Excellent! Just Excellent"

"I visited the Blue Mansion during one of the tour groups, and I was simply captivated by the rich story behind the building. Every single detail of the mansion was explained meticulously by the guides. I did the guided tour twice, and I was very impressed by the fact that the guides were genuinely passionate about the history of the building, as well as the history of George Town. I went back to the Blue Mansion for dinner at the restaurant upstairs. Again, I was impressed. the food was spectacular, the decor is kept minimal, so the natural beauty of the building can be appreciated. I particularly love that I get to have a drink at the balcony and stare at the beautiful sculptures up close! Definitely worth visiting. Again and again and again and again. Stayed September 2016, traveled with friends"

Tugu Lombok: "Tugu to be true…..not in this case"

"Well esteemed reader I have to say this is an exceptional and unique hotel. This isn't a 5 star in the traditional sense of the more developed regions of the world. The rooms are pretty basic (but massive), the drains can smell and the wifi is unreliable (which his a blessing on holiday!!!). The building is eclectic - bits are approaching 150 years old - and this hotchpotch approach is the real charm of the hotel. It doesn't try to make a statement - it doesn't have to - it just works and create a lovely relaxing environment. The location is amazing. Set on the pretty unspoilt Sire beach with views to the Gili Islands and the volcanos of Lombok beyond it really is an idyllic setting. The staff are lovely and cant do enough to please. The food is good - the Indonesian dishes being especially excellent. For dinner food can be served on tables set up on the beach - this is a must, but needs booking daily. Breakfasts not the high point - but adequate. The gym facilities are essentially non existent - a few broken weights machines, a tiny number of free weights, a few cardio machines - including a non-functioning treadmill - soon to be replaced apparently! The lap pool is great - big thumbs up from the piscatorial Mrs Foodi8 for this. The lack of gym forces you to enjoy a run on the beach - which is magical. A 5 mile run is easy to do along the largely deserted beach. You need to wear trainers though as there are lots of sharp bits of old coral and shells lurking in the sand. I have the feeling in 10 years time Lombok will be much more like Bali - more tourist oriented and developed. So go soon if you are going."

Jing’s Residence: "Hidden Gem"

This Hotel is fantastic. Set in the middle of an ancient city, the hotel's design and comfort is unbelievable. Excellent food, best service, and the friendliest and happiest staff I've ever met. Loved it!

Inle Princess Resort: "Loved it"

"I loved this hotel. Our chalets were huge and extremely comfortable, and I much appreciated the free minibar containing soft drinks. There were all the amenities you would expect, and the turn down service and cleaning of the rooms was excellent. The view across the lake was also splendid. We made good use of the spa, which has to have the most enormous treatment rooms anywhere. And the treatments were first class. The only thing that I would criticise are the steps into the bathroom and out to the outdoor shower from the room; the steps are all the same colour and in dim lighting merge into one another, with the result that we both tripped down them. A couple of white outlines on the steps would help enormously. There was a very nice bar area, which was extremely efficient and well-run. And the food in the restaurant was also good."