Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "First ever safari….amazing"

"Me and my partner visited leopard safari last week it was AMAZING!, Saj our guide was so knowledgeable any questions about the animals he would answer withsuperb detail. The tents are comfortable and at camp you really feel at ease. We stayed one night so had two game drives both were Amazibg I would highly recommend"

Sukoon Houseboat: "A superbly spiritual and idyllic destination"

This is a houseboat location on Lake Dal, Srinigar. It has been upgraded in the last three years and is an excellent experience for anyone looking for tranquillity in this kind of environment. Recent political disturbances will affect current travellers and will not be recommended by the UK foreign Office but once the troubles settle down again it will still be the perfect Kashmir experience. The service and courtesy is outstanding

Samanea Beach Resort: "Great place"

The pier is the star attraction, best place in Kep to experience sunset and because of the small amount of rooms available the resort is never crowded, there are always available beds around the pool. All in all affording a feeling of exclusivity rarely experienced at larger resorts.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "like paradise"

One of the most beautiful places on this planet. no cars, no streets ... no stress . Great for yoga. The Resort is not easy to reach but it`s worth the effort. The food at the clubhouse is delicious. I am coming for the fourth time now.

Jing’s Residence: "Luxury hotel in the middle of an ancient walled city"

"Stayed here for two night during our tour of China. Unexpectedly luxurious hotel in the middle of Pingyao - also very expensive particularly when compared to any other hotel in Pingyao. Having said the above the service was faultless and the hotel was clean and comfortable - which considering the coal dust in the air must have taken some doing. Breakfasts were OK but the evening meals were very good indeed."

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Enchantingly Memorable"

"We (family of 4 with kids 8 and 11) spent 2 nights at Noel's camp. This included 4 Safaris. Both Noel and Cecile were our hosts, a lucky thing as they are not always present at the camp. Tent - we are not campers and had just come from several days in Amanwella, so ""glamping"" was the intention. We got the aircon tent, a semi-permanent structure that runs on solar power. Very comfortable, and the AC was a key feature during the stifling dry heat of the day, and also made it a lot easier to fall asleep at night. There were a few quirks here and there but when glamping, you factor that into the mix. Overall the tent delivered beyond expectations. The one observation I will make is on security - nothing happened and there is a safe in the room, but the tents are zipper operated (no locks). The camp site is not that far from village areas. I would advise to bring 2 padlocks to lock the zipper clasps together at the 2 entrances (front flap and back flap leading to the bathroom). Your valuables will be secure enough in the safe but I didn't like the idea that someone could unzip and enter while we are asleep at night. To be clear, none of the camp staff are an issue, but it's outsiders who know the price of staying at this camp who could get ideas. Food - spectacular. They source organic and fresh from the farmers in the area, and their talented chef put together very flavorful breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It was all local cuisine, and there was always spicy plus non spicy varieties to ensure the kids would be fine. Your taste buds will be in for a real treat. Camp ambience - charming. The volunteers (especially Christina from Spain) entertained the kids with games. They also organized the building of an insect hotel which the kids loved, and also had them participate in tree planting to show the importance of giving back to nature when you leave a carbon footprint. Both entertaining and educational. Meals were communal style and made for enjoyable conversation. Breakfast and lunch under a thatched roof, dinner under the stars. Yes you will now and then see a small lizard or mantis or other creature on your armrest or the table... to be expected in a wildlife park. Safaris - prime time to see stuff is at dusk and dawn, so the AM departure is before 6AM and the PM outing is from 3pm to 6:30pm. On our first two outings, we saw numerous spotted and barking deer; eagles, kingfishers, peacocks, many other birds; mongoose; crocs; elephants. Watching 2 alpha deer bucks clash was neat but we still had not seen what we came for - leopards. The third outing was the charm, and we watched a large leopard lounging in the grass. I don't quite know how to describe the feeling of watching a beautiful and free animal in its natural habitat. All I can say is: a zoo ain't the same. My iphone camera shots won't do it justice. Fortunately, Noel was our guide and when you combine a passion for wildlife with an 8kg-supersonic-Nat Geo-caliber camera lens, the results are amazing. Attached are 2 of his pics of our leopard. As a bonus, we also spotted a young sloth bear. Noel is very knowledgeable and gave us valuable insight and commentary during the rides. His Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were properly decked out, and I noticed in the park many other outfits carrying tourists in rickety vehicles (one was even lopsided due to different sized tires). Also must credit Noel for truly trying hard on safari #3 to spot a leopard. He badly wanted for us to spot one before we depart, and made it his mission. There are no guarantees but it helps when your guide badly wants you to leave happy. We did the 2 night package and I highly recommend it. Had we done 1 night, we would have missed out on safari #3 which was the highlight. After safari #4, we had our fill and were ready to head off so the format was just right. I guess you could get lucky on a 1 night stay but your chances go up much more on the 2 nighter. There are some who do a day excursion from their beach resort, and this would be a mistake as you would arrive past dawn and leave before dusk, i.e. be on safari while the animals are asleep in a hidden shade. This is an eco-minded camp run by owners who are passionate about wildlife and conservation, and keen to impassion others by delivering on client experience. If you visit a big city like London or Manhattan, the hotel you choose plays a part but the city itself largely makes the experience. At a wildlife park, the hosts who run your camp and guide your safaris largely make for good vs bad experience. Is this value for money? I will answer same as when someone asks me that about my Porsche: I won't describe it as value for money but will just say, it's worth every penny."

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Peaceful and Perfect"

We spent five days at the Hermitage and the end of our visit to Kerela. It was the perfect end to our holiday. Our cottage was clean and comfortable. The grounds are beautiful and the situation stunning. The food in both restaurants was superb and some of the best we have had in India. The staff were all helpful and charming. My husband had some fantastic shirts and trousers made by the 'in house tailor'.

Rak Ko Jae Seoul: "Amazingly beautiful place"

Stayed in Rakkojae and found it a very serene and beautiful place.. breakfast was perfect (the traditional breakfast is esp good)... room was clean and spacious though there were a lack of hooks to hang our clothes.. the only problem is walls are paper thin (typical of a traditional lodging) so we could hear almost every single sound that's transpired in this place.. apart from that, service and room were impeccable. :)

Tugu Malang: "An utterly awesome delight!"

"I spent 2 nights at the Hotel Tugu Malang in late May. I readily admit that I am not accustomed to luxury, and I won’t say whether any of you who are would find the Hotel Tugu Malang to be so, but I was delighted by my experience at this hotel, which I found utterly awesome! The bowl of fresh, peelable fruit – replenished each day and complete with a finger bowl holding water and a freshly cut blossom -- was just one sign that I was in a very, very nice hotel. ☺ My room was lovely and was delightfully furnished. Hot water was plentiful and the water pressure was excellent; my mini-fridge was nicely stocked, as was the tray with an electric kettle and French press; there were even washclothes among the many toiletries in the bathroom, which had lots of counter space, a bath with shower, and a window (with blind and drapes) into the bedroom. And if my balcony was tiny, it was still large enough to offer a small seating area and lovely view over the hotel’s pool area. It wasn’t just the room that wowwed me: The daily high tea held an impressive range of treats served in a delightful setting. The hotel’s spa offered a free 15-minute introductory massage. The breakfast (included in my rate) was generous and delicious. The restaurant offered dinners in several different cuisines and even had a decent selection of wines (if at prices reflecting the rareness of wine in Java). The hotel holds some remarkable artifacts, which can be seen on a tour of the property. And last, but certainly not least, the staff provided exceptional service – kudos one and all! My only very small niggle: The pool is not well separated from the restaurant, so I felt simultaneously “on display” and disruptive when I took a dip while diners were enjoying their meals. Just a small thing...."

The Village House: "Your own little village"

"I loved our stay at the Village House! First, just to make it clear, the Village House is NOT in the actual city of Kuching. It’s in Santubong Village, which I believe was about a 30 minute cab ride from Kuching. I didn’t experience much of Kuching, but I can tell you that being outside of the city felt very nice to my girlfriend and I. As we arrived during low season, my girlfriend and I had this wonderful little place virtually to ourselves. The rooms are not large and somewhat basic, but they were still comfortable. If you are a late starter or like to lounge in your room during the day, the rooms do get quite hot. A better option is to read, work, or internet surf by the pool and take an occasional dip to keep cool. The pool….beautiful. It’s not huge so I am unsure what it is like in high season, but my girlfriend and I shared some wonderful experiences there, including taking a swim during a tropical rainstorm. The design of the property is wonderful and it really does give you a feel that you are in your own village. It is well maintained and cared after by the staff. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, even for my sometimes demanding partner…oi! But I digress…they always did a nice job arranging transportation. We actually arrived when the governor of Sarawak had passed away so several companies stopped running in acknowledgment of the passing. This left us stranded on one excursion. But the staff stopped what they were doing and provided us transportation themselves. That was very kind and we were very grateful. Activities are not too far away. As a matter of fact, for some you are much closer than you would be in Kuching, like the Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching Wetland National Park, Mt. Santubong, and the AMAZING Bako National Park. I highly recommend the Village House for your stay, especially if you are looking for a peaceful little haven. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"