Guest Reviews

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Pure escapism"

"This is a very special place...I felt a bit like Leo DiCaprio discovering his Beach when I arrived here! (In fact its a bay and a beach creating a bit more variety than normal with the shallow bay ideal for any of the younger guests....) Its a 1.5 hour long tail boat trip from Khuraburi to get here, so there is no popping back to the mainland for a spot of shopping during the stay. Still, not sure why anyone would want to...the resort is a great place to unwind - read some books, swim, kayak and just generally chill out. I was in Baan Sea Blue 1 and it was great to be so close to the sea, listening to the waves as I went to sleep and woke up. Loved the design of the house and that they are all individual and well spaced out. The service was excellent - Massi and Teresa were very friendly and professional. The food was very good which is fortunate as there is not exactly a street full of restaurants outside the hotel! Took the half board option. We did the tour to the Surin islands. With the benefit of hindsight I would not advise this as I do not think this was very well done by the operator, Greenview. The boat did not arrive at the resort to collect us until just before 10am and upon arrival at surin took us to the Mokken village which confused most of us on the boat as we thought we were there for snorkelling. It did not help that the guide's english was not great. After the calm of Golden Buddha the buffet lunch with all the other tour groups on Surin seemed like a tourist hell zone. As for the snorkelling, a lot of the corals were bleached. Not enough fins were available for the snorkellers. We left Surin about 3.30pm for the hour trip back. All in all a bit disappointing for THB 3,900 per person. If I had my time again I would have gone to stay on Surin for a night or two to appreciate the islands in a more relaxed way and not taken the day trip. Back at the resort one highlight was taking a kayak out to go up the mangrove river. If you get the kayak 30 mins before high tide you can float with the tide into the river and then float back out to sea as the tide turns. We went as far as we could up the river. On another day we took a kayak to investigate the islands in the bay. I should mention that the sunsets were fantastic!"

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Exceeded expectations"

"Brill stay. Staff,food,views. Staff did all they could to make it a pleasant stay. Tum (resort manager) even came to get us from the airport You do need transport to travel around but we just chilled on site. Private pool is a bonus and self cleaning. Food is priced reasonably. Although its a limited menu the food is tasty. Really recommend 1-1 cooking classes . Take pen paper and make sure cameras charged! Private dining on the beach was fab,Faith was flexible with the menu and made sure it was how we wanted Wednesday is optional social buffet with free coctail hour (you can go for coctails and not have buffet) ,and couple of other nights has goid live music Note that its a shingle beach and only one other hotel next door has access so always quiet. Free kayaking and paddleboarding for guests Make sure you put on deet spray as theres lots of mosquitos at night. Shower wasnt too powerful but sufficient. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

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"

Bassac Mekong Delta Cruises by Secret Retreats: "Peaceful cruise on Bassac III"

We did an overnight cruise on the Bassac III boat on 6/7 Dec 2017. It was an excellent way to see some of the Mekong Delta, combined with some relaxation and wonderful food. The crew were friendly and welcoming and the trip very well organised. The cabins are very small but comfortable and the small ensuite bathroom ingeniously designed. The food was plentiful and delicious. We visited a floating market and a local market and particularly enjoyed the visit to a local village, where we tasted fruit at a local house. Our young guide was delightful and, as she came from the area, she was able to give us a good insight into the daily life on the Mekong. This trip is highly recommended.

Locavore: "Bravo les chefs"

Every year when I visit Bali I always wanted to dine in Locavore, but it was so difficult to book a table. This year we are lucky to get a table for lunch, and we are not disappointed despite of high expectations! The ingredients are very good quality, and we see their efforts to find out many local herbs and vegetables and cook in their way, with perfect occidental culinary skills and amazing combinations. Definitely come back next time when I visit Bali.

Amata Lanna: "Excellent"

Great location, close to the night market and a quick tuk tuk ride to the old city. About a 25 min walk. Great service, clean room, large bedroom and bathroom made with teak wood. Would definitely stay here again!

Tugu Malang: "Relax in luxury"

For a long weekend we traveled to Malang and Mt. Bromo. Hotel Tugu was very well maintained, but the superb service from absolutely the best Indonesian staff. All the meals were presented artfully with an excellent balance of spices. We attended the once monthly cultural dinner with a Central Javanese tale told with music and dance. It was a great experience. The couples 4 hour spa and romantic dinner was a great way to relax on our final full day in paradise. Couple you must stay here if you visit Malang!

David’s Kitchen: "Memorable experience"

The restaurant had a very nice atmosphere, the music was vocal jazz and relaxing. The restaurant created a lovely mood, suitable for couples or even families. The staff was extremely polite and friendly. The food was exceptionally delicious. The beef was tender. The dessert was also special. The service was great. No dissapointment for sure.

The Cabochon Hotel: "Our second stay at Cabochon Hotel"

"I visited Cabochon with my 9 month old baby when I was travelling with him alone and had the warmest stay on my whole journey. Ten month later I returned together with my husband and son. Nothing had changed. Still, the friendliest care one can ever dream of in a hotel. This hide away makes Bangkok seem calm. I could once again start writing about how I love the interior, the breakfastroom, the food. But still, what ones again stayed in my memory was the throughout friendly, helpful, interested and cool staff. Absolutely one of a kind. Thank you Shaubai and you whole team! Malin, Alex and Lode"

Reverie Siam Pai: "A Truly Relaxing Paradise in Pai"

Our stay at Revere Siam was exactly what we needed. It was the perfect getaway, surrounded by nature with a mountain backdrop in a peaceful area of Pai! We went with the elegantly designed villa that had a Jacuzzi in the bathroom, and a big private garden. From the second we entered our villa we could clearly see they put some love and serious thought into designing this stunning hotel. To be honest the entire property was just breathtaking! The staff are friendly and the environment is peaceful! We spent most of our time in Pai at Revere Siam relaxing by the pool, enjoying the Jacuzzi and eating delicious meals (Lamb & Salmon dishes are top notch delicious, so is the breakfast) at their Mediterranean restaurant instead of exploring Pai. This resort is truly a paradise. We will definitely come back here again, no doubt about it!