Guest Reviews

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "a superb hotel – with great attention to detail and outstanding service"

"We have been to India many times and have been fortunate to stay in many wonderful hotels. But by any comparison, the Neeleshwar Hermitage stands out as among the best for its perfect combination of outstanding service, food, location and attention to detail. Rarely do even the best hotels in the world get all of these right, every day. Our main interest is in seeing and experiencing everyday life in India. For us, one of the attractions of Neeleshwar Hermitage is that there is a lot to see locally and it’s easy, with the help of the hotel, to get about. We found the manager immediately understood what we wanted to do, and was very helpful with the ideas and arrangements to enable us to make the most of our 6 day stay. You don’t have to go anywhere of course, and when it is hot and the skies blue (as it was when we were there) it is tempting to head to the pool and stay there. It is a beautiful pool. It’s also very well situated, overlooking a long, wide sandy beach that is also used a lot by the local villagers. The design and materials throughout contribute a lot to the feeling of a very relaxing, comfortable place to stay. And it is extremely well thought through, to maintain that special ambience. The tables in the main restaurant, for example, are fixed in position, each with their own ceiling fan directly overhead, and there is a lot of space between them. This means you feel like you have a lot of space and privacy, and makes it feel very peaceful. The tables are similarly well placed a good distance apart in the excellent seafood restaurant by the beach. Juices, beers and local wine are all readily available wherever you are but there is no formal bar, either by the pool or in the main lounge area, which again helps to keep things quieter than it can be in some places. Smoking is not allowed anywhere, indoors or out. All of these elements are important, but it’s even better: we found the service, without exception, to be outstanding. Every single person got it exactly right. They also work very well together. It may be an informal beach hotel, but there is great attention to detail. This is not a hotel that is particularly easy to get to. We flew from Mumbai to Mangalore, and from there it is about a 2 1/2 hour drive. But if you like India, and don’t mind some dusty, bumpy roads, there is always a lot to see on the way. The Neeleshwar Hermitage seems to attract people who are looking for peaceful surroundings. Only as we were leaving did we see one very demonstrative guest, who had just arrived, waving a mobile phone by the pool. The rest was a beautiful silence, in what must be one of the best hotels in southern India."

Le Calao: "Superb service, lovely view and delicious dishes."

Can't rate this place highly enough, it was just a perfect evening and that's saying a lot, given how picky I am about service & presentation. Service was attentive and earnest but not overbearing. Food was delicious and well-presented. Wine list was quite sufficient to meet our tastes and the dishes we'd ordered. Finally the view was lovely towards the river, the fairy lights were pretty and the building itself is quite something. We wanted a nice, hassle-free romantic dinner and Le Calao delivered a truly lovely evening.

Tugu Bali: "Charming Hotel – really makes you want to stay in Bali"

This boutique hotel is Bali at its finest- excellent service, gorgeous rooms, wonderful food, and traditional Balinese antiques incorporated flawlessly into the property. We were warmly greeted upon arrival by Putu, who was more than attentive and helpful for the entire duration of our stay. He made sure everything was ready for us, including our drop-off to the airport, and even gave us a tour of the art around the properly. Our room was comfortable, spacious and charming, complementing the rest of the hotel with antique art pieces on display right in the room. Every member of the staff greeted us with a smile and accommodated every small request. Extra perks make this boutique hotel special- like the freedom to have breakfast wherever we wanted. We chose to have our breakfast in a cabana overlooking the beach and every detail was taken care of, plus the food was delicious! This hotel made our Bali experience thoroughly enjoyable and we would definitely visit again.

Rachamankha: "Destination: Another world"

This is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. Architect designed as a labour of love. The inspiration for the buildings has been gleaned from chinese courtyard hotels, roman peristyles, palladian, and 20th century modern. The result - perfection. I immersed myself in the architect's thinking, enjoying an afternoon in the library surrounded by his architecture, art and design books, and enjoying a glass of brandy. Every angle and line in this small boutique complex is simple, harmonious and peaceful. The hotel is hidden behind a series of courtyards, taking you deeper into the private and serene inner sanctum of the hotel. The main courtyard has the rooms leading off either side and at the end, and looks like it may have been built 600 years ago.There is a central "longhouse" style open area where we enjoyed a glass of wine at the end of each day, lounging on the sofas and browsing the art books and the decorative displays. The rooms are spacious, clean, comfortable and well appointed. Nice bathrooms, lovely furniture, modern TV and audio, and more art books :). The pool is beside the main courtyard and behind the library. This pool area is a little more modern, resort hotel in style, but still beautifully designed. The pool is bright and clear, and refreshing. A house at the end of the pool provide towels, and upstairs you can have a massage. There is a restaurant and a boutique at the front of the hotel. There are many cafes, restaurants, sights, and shops within walking distance, the hotel being not far from the wall and close to several temples. A tuk tuk will take you further if it is too far to walk. However, I really didn't want to leave.

The Cabochon Hotel and Residence: "Luxurious Cabochon Hotel"

"My husband and I stayed at the Cabochon Hotel for a week and we enjoyed every moment. The hotel itself is beautiful - well appointed guest rooms with a lot of space, a soft bed, and a living room you can move around in. The hotel is wonderfully filled with curiosities, mementos and art that delighted us at every turn. We made use of the fabulous library, happy hour cocktails, the lounge area, the restaurant, and the roof top pool. All were exemplary. But the most special mention must go to the staff. Each and every person we had the pleasure to talk with was helpful, polite, courteous and went out of their way to assist us. The Cabochon is a special hotel. If you want to be in the heart of Bangkok, but in a quiet street close to excellent shops, restaurants and the BTS, and you are looking for a luxurious, relaxed and quiet stay, then this is the place for you. We recommended this boutique hotel and are already planning our return trip. Special added mention to the Quince restaurant on the same street and the Thann day spa one street over."

Cuca: "Best meal I’ve had in Bali"

"這位廚師的手藝讓我不得不打個卡紀錄。口感味道層次都抓的剛剛好，有才華的廚師。雖然擺盤soso但完全得到歪嘴雞認證 One of the most splendid meal I've ever tasted since Budapest's Onyx and Dubai's Ossiano. I will definitely come again and recommend all my foodie friends to try. Very talented Spanish chef. If I must have to pick one flaw, that would be the setting of the dishes."

Maisons Wat Kor: "The most charming hotel"

We stayed here for 3 nights during our honeymoon recently and it was a highlight! What a beautiful hidden gem, we just loved it. The staff here are so incredibly friendly, we were sad to say goodbye to them. The whole place was very relaxing and we enjoyed spending some time by the peaceful swimming pool area, as well as enjoying a massage in the serene pavilion that overlooks the pond. The food choices were a little bit limited, but we understand that this is only a small hotel and they take great pride in creating local dishes from home-grown produce etc. We visited Battambang town several times during our stay by tuk tuk, which only cost a few dollars and could be easily arranged from the property. We can see what Angelina Jolie stayed here - we can't wait until we can come and stay again!

Maison Polanka: "Just the best!"

We stayed here for 3 nights. The grounds, the staff, the rooms, the attention to detail, everything is perfect. Off the main drag of Siem Reap is this oasis of a hotel. You enter through the sliding gate to see a beautiful garden and staff waiting to meet you. As you walk along the path with a staff member you see the open air dining area, the pool and the few buildings that house your perfect room. Don't miss Maison Polanka

Villa Song: "Great Boutique Hotel"

Our stay here was very short but we very much enjoyed the attentive service and the wonderful terrace by the river. Very relaxing. A perfect spot for drinks and dinner. A nice change to the hotels downtown.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Paradise for our family vacation in Thailand"

"We stayed at the Golden Buddha in April for 3 nights and my only regret is we weren't there for our entire 2 week vacation. In planning our trip I was non-committal to any one place concerned we would be stuck somewhere that didn't turn out as we expected, but had I only known. Our family of 5, kids aged 13, 11 and 9, stayed in the Baan Lucy which was beachfront and the perfect distance to the clubhouse and the bay. The house was lovely but when we come back, which we are definitely doing, I may look at one of the larger houses that had a bit more sitting/lounging area. We loved staying on the beach with the sunset and the breeze, but the back houses looked lovely as well. The arrival is something our family will never forget. Golden Buddha is not easy to get to and after a 3 hour drive from Phuket and a 90 minute ride on a pretty rough long tail, we pulled into paradise. The bay is great for kids of all ages as well as the grown ups. Pizza bar, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, swimming. It is a great way to spend the day. The beach is also beautiful and swimming is very nice- soft soft sand and great shelling. The food is over the top- very local and authentic but also sophisticated. There are a ton of families at the resort, for good reason, but could possibly be overwhelming for a couple on their honeymoon, although the clubhouse has an upstairs that was more dedicated to adults. Really a top notch resort in an unbelievable location. Almost hate sharing as it seems like a hidden gem in Thailand. Such a great experience after spending time in Bangkok, Railay Beach and Phuket. Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"