Guest Reviews

Glenburn Tea Estate: "An oasis in beautiful landscape"

"We stayed 4 nights here and felt this was just about right. 2 nights is just not enough for the journey in and out which is yes long and yes bumpy.. but it is an adventure.. and to be honest after reading about the road I was slightly worried. In our opinion it is not as bad as its made out to be. If you want to get away from it all and off the beaten track you have to put in some effort. Will, Faye and the team were great with exceptional levels of service given at every moment. If you like the ski chalet concept you will love Glenburn. This is a ski chalet in the foothills of the Himalayas. There is a wide variety of activity and plenty of time just to relax if you want to. One tip take good walking shoes to really enjoy the treks available. Rooms are big, unique and lovely. You could put on pounds if you ate all the food. There was plenty of it and at all times of the day. Bed tea in the mornings was a real treat. WiFi was weak but leave it behind and put it away is our best advice. We did and were so refreshed by doing so. All in all a really lovely place to stay."

Maisons Wat Kor: "Lovely Small Hotel set in Lush Tropical Garden"

"Hotel Wat Maisons is made up of three Khmer style houses with 12 bedrooms, set in grounds of lush tropical vegetation. The rooms are lovely and old-fashioned with dark wood furniture and feel very comfortable. The swimming pool is a good size and due to the small size of the hotel we had it to ourselves most of the time. There are comfortable sunbeds to lie on and admire the banana and frangipani trees. The restaurant has wifi but otherwise fits with the traditional colonial style. Dinner is a set menu each night, although the kitchen will serve western style dishes for those who do not want Khmer style cooking. The set menu we had consisted of five courses, was absolutely delicious and we felt it good value for $12 per head. The staff are very welcoming and make you feel at home. The hotel has a laid back style and, in keeping with this, breakfast is a leisurely affair - make sure you allow plenty of time before you are due to leave. All in all, this was a special place to stay and we really enjoyed our two nights here."

Villa Song: "Superb boutique haven"

"A wonderful boutique hotel away from the madness of district 1. The option of a shuttle boat along the river into the heart of the city is a nice touch. Either eating or drinking out on the patio area of a evening with the boats quietly winding their way down the river is a superb setting to while away a few hours with the high rise buildings of the city lit up as your backdrop. Other reviewers have commented on the small portions at breakfast. Whilst we both love our food we did not consider the portions too small. However, as the management have commented the staff I am sure would only be too happy to serve addional helpings if requested. All in all a great option for a stay in HCMC."

Villa Song Saigon: "Wonderful Gem of a Boutique Hotel – Do Not Miss"

"A beautifully restored French Colonial property, Villa Song boasts just 23 rooms in a low key neighborhood, surrounded by expat residences and international schools. Hard to imagine that not much more than a decade ago, this area was pretty much swamp land! Before going, you really should know what Villa Song is not: - This is not a large chain hotel - every contact you have with the staff is friendly and warm, and chances are you may not know their names but they will certainly know yours. You're not just a face in the crowd. However, for being of such an intimate size, Villa Song has the extras that you don’t often find in similar boutique hotels: a gorgeous long swimming pool for doing laps or sunning yourself by, a pretty decently equipped gym room (machines & free weights), and a spa that doesn’t break the bank. - This is not a property you visit to party at as there's no late night bar or club thumping away downstairs (thank goodness). Along the same lines, don’t expect around-the-clock room service – we certainly didn’t miss it, since there’s a ton of late night delicious eats in this city. - Having said that, this is not the most accessible hotel to popular street eats and the sights, but it's surprisingly easy to get around, thanks to the complimentary hotel boat shuttle that zips you up/down the Saigon River to/from the Cau Mong pier on the border of Districts 4 & 1. These run on a schedule (book at the reception beforehand), and if there isn't one when you need it, an Uber saves you the hassle of dealing with unscrupulous cabbies, and takes you to/from the middle of District 1 within 15min for around US$6- US$7. Now onto what this beautiful property IS: - It is infinitely charming. Every room is unique, and even the same room type will vary in size. You'll get the same awesome water pressure in the shower though, which we loved, and lightning fast wi-fi. Also, in our case, although the Sanctuary room that we were upgraded to was a bit petite in size, we had a wonderful good-sized balcony that overlooked the river...perfect for a mid-afternoon beer (complimentary from the minibar) or a snooze. Breakfasts by the river are a calming way to start the day, no matter what time you decide to rise (!!!), and the food is well- portioned and delicious. And THAT iced Vietnamese coffee...my partner and I will be dreaming of those until our next visit! - It is incredibly service oriented. From check-in to check-out, and for our every want in-between, the staff at Villa Song offer up their help with warmth and smiles...we felt truly welcomed and at home. Besides our complimentary room upgrade upon our late night check-in, we were surprised with a cheesecake plate that was decorated with warm wishes (the trip was a belated birthday trip for my partner) – we were very touched. - It is really good value for money. While it’s not the cheapest hotel around, it certainly delivers much better bang for your buck than you’d expect for similar boutique properties, especially if you can find a deal through a third party website. Bathrooms are fully equipped with toiletries, toothbrushes and other bits you may have forgotten, hairdryers, and in-room Nespresso and minibar is complimentary (albeit with a selection that’s a bit spare), and the value-add of the boat shuttle to town that I mentioned previously takes it to the next level. Thank you to everyone at the Villa Song for a wonderful stay! The next time we visit, we will definitely be indulging ourselves with a stay at one of your beautifully appointed suites. We can’t wait."

Poring Hot Spring Nature Reserve: "A lot of adventure activity"

"Poring basically has a lot of activities can be done. U can hike in Poring Hot Spring to reach the 2 waterfalls there. Kipungit waterfall can be reach out around 20 minutes from the entrance of the Poring Hot Spring and Lagganan Waterfall can be reach by 2-3 hours. The view and the nature absolutely beautiful. The track consider moderate to difficult to some area but it's really worth it. We can also climbed for a canopy walk in Poring Hot Spring with a very minimal payment and also payment for the camera or gadgets. The canopy walk is a great experience for those who is acrophobic or alto-phobic that want to challenge themselves on the high place. The trail going to the canopy walk quite easy with elevated small steps provided but it's quite challenging for those with knee problems and unfit for it. You need to climb around 500m towards the canopy walk and it took around 20. Consist of 5 canopy walk and each one around 175-200 Meters long and 41-43 Meters in height, which is higher than a 8-floor building. The entrance to Poring Canopy Walkway is about 835 Meters away from park entrance. It is open from 9am to 4pm daily. The walkway is an elastic structure, so it will bounce and swing when we walk on it. Some find this thrilling, while some think it’s scary!!!"

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "What a wonderful cooking (and eating) experience"

"I visited Thahara Inle Heritage to take part in a culinary class with my group of seven; we were joined by another couple who also took part in the class. The head chef/director introduced himself and described the mission of Thahara Inle Heritage and the culinary school. We were provided a cup of herbal tea as well as an apron and a booklet containing the menu we were going to prepare along with the recipes for each item on the menu. We went through the gardens to select vegetables, and returned to the main classroom to start cooking. Each person was assigned one of the culinary students to assist with the cooking. I enjoyed learning about the goals of the students and how long they had been at the school. When I visited, there was 43 culinary students. I learned that the typical term is nine months for the students. I also loved sampling one of the ginger cookies that had been prepared by students. At each station we had two burners, as well as several ingredients which included turmeric, ginger & garlic, fresh crushed tomatoes, rice flower, fish and chicken. We started with a fish and eggplant soup by adding the fish to boiling water, then julienned the eggplant and added that to the water. After adding spices, we mashed the Gish and eggplant and returned them to the water. For each course, we followed the directions of the head chef (with the assistance of student chefs) to create a string bean salad, chicken curry and crispy tempura vegetable balls. We were then seated for dining and served our own dishes. Everyone enjoyed the food and the great experience. We were each given the menu and recipes as well as an apron. Such a great experience that supports Thahara Inle Heritage and provides participants with lasting memories. Stayed March 2016, traveled solo"

Tugu Lombok: "Simply the best"

The best hotel we have ever been to (and we have been to a lot of 5 stars). Wonderful for honeymoon and any romantic vacation! Simply perfect! A spa with the best massages and treatments ever. One little minus for the fitness room, which is really nothing in comparison with the wonderful rest. Beautiful property, great beach, amazing food. You will regret not having seen this hotel, honestly.

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Amazing Experience on Peacock Safari"

Fantastic. Despite not seeing any leopards (which is very unlucky so we have heard) my family and I had a lovely time. The food was beyond delicious, the staff were so attentive (one staff member per guest) and while it was camping, the set up made it feel very luxurious. The 5am wake-ups were a challenge but were balanced by the yummy breakfast we received on return, and the fun of the safari. We stayed over NYE and the staff made sure to make it a special evening- celebrating a "Singapore" NYE with Moet at 9pm due to our early wake up the next morning. We were even treated to an amazing "leopard dance" by Silva. He was a staff member who is an ex dancer and it was phenomenal!

The Hue House: "Great place for authentic Hue cuisine"

Very nice rooftop view with the great astmophere, can make you feel like you're in Hue. The food was so awsome and exotic with stranger names like Cao Lau, com Am Phu... The owner is very funny and friendly.

NEELESHWAR HERMITAGE: "Perfection!"

Quiet, relaxed, pampered, healthy and delicious food. The rooms were extremely comfortable and clean. Wonderful little touches such as flowers on the beds and towels. Always flowers in charming stone basins around the property. Service was superb. Morning yoga jumpstarted my home practice. Perfect get away!