Guest Reviews

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!!"

Inle Princess Resort: "Charming hotel in a beautiful place"

As part of our trip around Myanmar, we spent two nights at the Inle Princess Resort. We arrived at night, meaning we didn't see the grounds until the sun came up the next morning - it was magical. Little bungalows either directly overlook Inle Lake, or two sweet ponds covered with lotus flowers within the resort. The rooms may be a little dated but are very well maintained and truly charming - lovely painting on the walls no matter where you go in the resort. There is also an in-room fireplace for the winter-time where staff can keep a fire going all night! Beds are very comfortable, all the amenities are there and should you seek more the staff will go out of their way to accommodate you. The out-door shower is fantastic! Especially during a rain storm... very romantic. The food is delicious, all locally sourced and prepared either Myanmar style or Western. I had dietary requirements as I have allergies and they were very helpful. Truly very delicious- don't miss the tofu dish on the Myanmar menu, and you must try Shaan noodles for breakfast. The pool is also adorable, set in the middle of rice paddies. Delightful. Our stay was really wonderful, and visiting Inle Lake was a magical experience within itself. Probably our favorite hotel from the entire trip. Thank you!

Samanea Beach Resort & Spa: "Excellent stay, highly recommended, amazing staff!"

Highly recommended resort, rooms very comfy and spacious, outdoor shower, nice pool. The staff is amazing, always ready to help and bring drinks/fruit. Restaurant excellent, very tasty food! Very peaceful and quiet.

Amata Lanna: "Charming oasis in busy area"

"Already fell in love with this historical building and courtyard at the time I arrived. Very lovely architecture with extremely welcoming staff assisting upon checkin. This boutique hotel has 12 rooms and everyone in the hotel tries to make you feel like home. Rooms and hotel area are spacious, very comfortable and clean. Location is perfect as it is just block away from the Big C supermarket, The night Bazaar, Saturday market and also very convenient access to major spots of Chiang Mai. And yet you don’t feel like being in such a busy area once you walk into the hotel - a great escape from the busy town. If you’re looking for an unique stay in good location, this is a place you would love"

The Island Lodge: "Wow"

"We started our day with a jolt. We had asked for a bicycle tour in the Mekong area, and started on 1A, one of the busiest roads in Vietnam. That lasted about an hour, and we almost died several times from close encounters with scooters, trucks and the like. This is not what we had signed up for. After that, to end the day at The Island Lodge was like a bit of Heaven. The hotel was small, unexpected, welcoming and a haven of calm. I don't get the rating systems. This hotel is rated three star. I would rate it much higher. The next day we stayed at a three star in Vinh Long. What a dump that was. Going from Heaven to Hell. And kudos to owner Michel. We like wine with our meals. Good and reasonably priced wine is hard to find in Asia. Leave it to a Frenchman like Michel to have an excellent house wine that is both good tasting and reasonably priced. And the meals were very very good. We only stayed one night. We wanted to stay more (you have no idea; near death experiences engender an appreciation for the finer things in life) and will be back. If you have the opportunity, do stay here. Stayed February 2017, traveled as a couple"

Chakrabongse Villas: "Four nights in Bangkok, and we could not wish for a nicer hotel"

"This year I turned 60 and decided on a holiday in Thailand, of course I had to include Bangkok. I found this amazing small characterful place not far from the Royal Palace and Wat Pho. The staff are the most helpful I have come across on the holiday. The room is lovely, Moroccan in style, the Mali room, like home from home for me as I have a lot of Moroccan influence in my house. It is the best place of our holiday. The grounds are peaceful and well kept with a salt water swimming pool. There are wonderful small touches everywhere with orchids and water lilies. The dining area is in a pavilion next to the river with a view of Wat Arun. The food was excellent and the wine list very good. I would stay here every time in Bangkok. The staff are knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble."

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Romantic Nighttime Dining"

"We enjoyed this restaurant so much we ate there twice. The setting is pretty amazing, with colorful paper lanterns over an outdoor terrace overlooking the Nam Khan River. Even though there was a road between the terrace and the kitchen, it is very quiet and I didn't even notice any traffic during our meal. The food itself was amazingly good, especially the coriander fish cakes. Stayed November 2016, traveled as a couple"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Perfection"

"My wife and I love Thailand, and we wanted to find somewhere secluded, away from the touristy areas and bustling beaches. We fortunately stumbled across what can only be described as paradise and perfection. The Golden Buddha beach resort is a mix of golden beach and tropical jungle. Nature in its purest form. And how it should be. The majority of the staff come from the local village and surrounding area, which makes the experience so much more enjoyable, beaming smiles and five star service abundant. Massi the manager and Valerie the owner are absolutely fantastic, and the place is clearly run with happiness, joy, care and love! Nature as I have mentioned is abundant; Monkeys, colourful birds, geckos, butterflies and much more blend seamlessly into the background; along with the various lodge accommodations. We stayed in sea blue 2 . Which for a couple was perfect. The sound of nothing but the sea waves and birds singing. The beach on both sides of the island is very easy swimming, no currents. The sea is warm and refreshing. The sand is like shortbread and a wonderful golden colour. Most of the time we had the beach totally to ourselves as it's so private. If you want a place to totally unwind, be at one with nature; a place which cares about its eco sustainability and local people, then this is the place for you. We stayed for 3 nights but I personally feel 5-7 nights would have been even more pleasurable. All in all a 10/10 experience and we have already made plans to return."

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Authentic Khmer dishes in wonderful setting"

Well reviewed by many travel writers, we chose this and booked months ago as it is very popular and the owners do close the restaurant for weeks at a time. Tasting menus A and B which you can try one of each as a couple - superb. We chose the fan cooled upper floor rather than the AC ground floor that catered more for those that wanted a modern restaurant. With the windows open even on a rainy evening, it was fresh and lush. Food was fabulous and really tested our understanding of Cambodian food. We were welcomed by Carole and her chef husband visited each table when he brought the fruit selection that ended each menu and you had the chance to talk to - a lovely personal touch.

David’s Kitchen: "Great food prepared with love"

We ate at David's kitchen twice in a week. Discovering David's Kitchen was a wonderful treat! Lovely food and great service! Thank you David to you and your staff for a great culinary experience .