Guest Reviews

TIGER MOUNTAIN POKHARA LODGE: "Fabulous Respite"

"We stayed here after a grueling six day trek, and what a welcome reward it was! From the moment we disembarked from our jeep, up the steep driveway to the property, our entire group was awed. Literally perched on a mountain top, you have sweeping views from both sides of the mountain. The villas scattered around the property work to maintain privacy, while the beautiful common area has little nooks for privacy, or you can choose to sit on the beautiful verandah, to take in the views, have a drink and rest. The dinner, meanwhile, was delicious, with the tables elegantly set in a non-pretentious way. The villa was beautifully decorated, and again, after our hard work and life in a tent on the trek, the luxurious bed and bathroom was so welcomed! It is truly a retreat - either from the demands that wonderful Nepal asks of you as her traveler, or from the demands that your daily life asks of you. I will certainly return - and might just take in one day in Kathmandu, then come directly back to Tiger Mountain Lodge for three days of beautiful relaxation and rejuvenation. "

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Quite simply, wow"

This experience was worth the long car journey and really made the holiday to Cambodia special. We arrived on the 1st October and from the moment we stepped onto the complimentary boat the relaxation began. The luxury of the tents astounded us, I especially wasn't expecting such a decent water pressure from the shower, to be able to lie in bed and just look out onto the river was unique. Another surprise was the variety of fresh food available, the daily changing set menu was wonderful. We did both the fire fly and waterfall excursions, should the weather have been better we would have jumped at the sunset trip too, the waterfall was brilliant fun and exhilarating. However what really made the trip for me was the people and their stories. The activities coordinator had such interesting stories to tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to his island, on the way back from the waterfall, where we met the locals and shared some fresh coconut. Seeing first hand how they live and discussing their hopes for their country was extremely thought provoking. Our last evening will be one I will never forget, from further discussions with staff about their views on the development of Cambodia, to our beautiful dinner over looking the water, I was already missing the resort when the staff all came out to play their guitars and sing for us, it was simply a fantastic experience, one I have not stopped raving about since returning. If you want to experience the hidden side of Cambodia or simply want to get away from it all for a while you really must stay here. Thank you all for making my holiday an unforgettable experience I truly do miss each of you

Le Calao: "Fabulous dinner"

Everything from food to service was as great as is any 2 star Michelin!! Very creative food, unique minority food offering to discover the sample of local cuisine at its best. Dont be misled by the current rating. The restaurant just reopened and has had yet enough reviews. But for us was the best restaurant in town by a long stretch !

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Wonderful safari"

"My husband and I had the most magical 2 nights here and absolutely loved everything about it! We had been warned that the Sri Lankan safaris were very different to African ones and so had tempered our expectations, but there was no need as we had the most amazing time and saw so much wildlife. Sajeet, Praneeth and the whole team were exceptionally knowledgeable and a font of fascinating information and we learnt so much. My husband is the bird enthusiast but after 4 drives spotting the most beautiful birds, I felt the start of a new passion! We were incredibly lucky to see some wonderful leopard sitings, made more special and exciting by the fact that we had two drives without seeing any. However those two drives were just as thrilling because of all the other wildlife that we saw - elephants, land monitors, crocodiles, star tortoise, mongoose, monkeys and the most stunning kingfishers, wood peckers, fish owl, fly catchers to name but a few. The tents were surprisingly comfortable and an evening open shower by moonlight was very special. The food was absolutely delicious with good wines and very atmospheric drinks before dinner and the most charming and friendly staff. Couldn't fault it and highly recommend this camp! Huge thanks as well for the wonderful photos taken by Praneeth that Sophie forwarded! Such great photos and so thrilled to have them as iPhones really don't cut with wildlife photography.... Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

The River Resort: "Great resort! Great location!"

"We were a group of 8, friends and family, and all loved our stay at the River Resort. The resort is stunning. The facilities and grounds were designed thoughtfully, are well kept and beautiful. The rooms were clean, comfortable and had everything we needed. The views of the river from the resort are not to be missed. Best part of all was the team at the resort. Mr. Wech and his team took care of us so well from start to finish. They were nice, helpful and a joy to see every day. The resort location is perfect for exploring southern Laos. All the famous waterfalls and Bolaven Plateau were easy for us to get to by van, Wat Phou was only 20 mins away. The resort's proximity to Champasak Town (2km) allowed us to ride bikes into town, play petanque with the locals, visit all the interesting wats. It was also peaceful to spend the day at the resort, getting a massage, swimming, taking in the views and observing river life. Our group very much appreciated having these options which enabled us to experience Laos on different levels. The resort is luxury without the pretense. We loved our stay. I hope to be back there again."

GLENBURN TEA ESTATE: "Attentive service and superlative luxury"

"We stayed at the end of a 3-week trip around India. What a stunning location high in the hills and quite unlike everywhere else we visited - so quiet, peaceful and unspoilt. We enjoyed the tea and the variety of foods we were served up. We loved relaxing and being pampered. Our room was larger than many London apartments and the bath was literally the biggest in the world. How they got it and all the other furniture down that bumpy road we will never know. We were served 'bed tea' in the morning and breakfast on the verandah with views over the hills and colourful birds swooping in and out of the trees nearby. One morning we took an early walk down the hill to the river, with two bird guides. A stunning walk through the tea bushes. We saw about 30 different species on that walk and were met at the bottom by a table at the water's edge, with our own personal breakfast service. Incredible! Exceptional!! The best part of the stay was the staff. One local young man Ranjan did the tea tour with us and invited us to a wedding at his friend's house. So we all trooped up the hill to a real Indian wedding with great local food and drinks, and a group of smiling people welcoming us strangers into their house. Remarkable. He and many of the other local staff spoke fluent English and were so humble and friendly, I wish I could employ them back in the UK. The resort is managed by a British couple Will and Faye, and currently another Will (I understand that this third team member changes regularly), who were attentive and took care of our every need without imposing on our holiday. They ate with the guests at dinner time and made the trip really special. The two Wills invited me to try fishing with them (unsuccessful but fun!). It's a rare treat to get to stay somewhere so beautiful, and so luxurious, and with such friendly hosts. Thanks to you all!! "

Samuay & Sons: "The only truly serious food in Udon Thani"

"My partner and I have dined at Samuay & Sons half a dozen times since we discovered it almost a year ago. After our first visit I waxed lyrical about the food in a review here, so I won't just repeat myself. Suffice it to say that owner/chefs Num and Joe take the idea of food very seriously indeed, from the sourcing of the best available meats, vegetables, herbs and other ingredients either locally or from specialist sources around the country, to the health benefits of those ingredients, to the flavourful combinations that they dream up, to the creative presentation and plating, and -- at the end of the day -- to the sheer sensory enjoyment of discerning customers. If none of the above appeals to you, and you just want to eat stuff you are used to eating, without any delightful surprises, then don't waste Num and Joe's efforts -- or your own time - just go where you normally hang out and give Samuay & Sons a wide berth. But if you love to be surprised by seriously innovative culinary skills then hasten your way to Ponepisai Road in Udon Thani city and have the best food experience for probably many hundreds of kilometers around. It is beyond me why this restaurant is not rated #1 here on TA, but I guess there will always be punters who come expecting a bog-standard duck laab or som tam and when they can't get it feel cheated. Or the others who think paying 1,000 Baht (my bill on Tuesday) for five plates of the most serious food you'll find north-east of Bangkok too expensive because they are used to eating at Tesco food court or UD Town market. What can I say? A big thank you to Num and Joe who have raised the standard of cuisine in this part of Thailand, and who make my visits to Udon so much more enjoyable!"

SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge: "Amazing food, exceptional service!"

Best restaurant in Yangon! The truffle ravioli is amazing. Great atmosphere. The staff delivers top notch, excellent service. You can tell they've really put a lot of love into this place. Highly recommend!

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Beautiful, relaxing hotel"

"We loved our stay here! This unique hotel is nestled amongst the rice paddies. You feel incredibly relaxed as soon as you arrive here. We got up to do yoga each morning with a local yoga teacher, in the most beautiful setting imaginable - would thoroughly recommend a daily class. He was able to accommodate for all levels of yoga experience brilliantly. We also had a massage on arrival, which was well worth it. We stayed in the rice barns which were beautiful. We could not fault them. The private tents are slightly more 'glampy', and have private infinity pools overlooking the jungle, which are pretty special. The restaurant has a lot on offer, and the cocktails are delicious. The staff are all very friendly. Overall an excellent two nights here, and we left wishing we could stay for longer. Thoroughly recommend booking!"

Satri House: "Great service, beautiful grounds, wonderful experience"

We stayed for 3 nights and were very pleased with the helpful and friendly staff. Our room was large and comfortable and the food excellent. The Hotel is within walking distance of the night market. We highly recommend Satri House.