Guest Reviews

Dewakan: "Fine Dinning"

My children organized a birthday dinner for me at the Dekawan restaurant located at the KDU campus in Glenmarie. A real fine dinning with special attention to details as every course is explained before we eat. A quiet and nice place. We enjoyed our dinner and had a good family gathering.

Les Maisons Wat Kor: "Fantastic place !"

"A really place, quite ans sophisticated in a very quite area, next to Battambang, Beautiful décoration in traditional khmer houses. The atmosphère in the evening with the small lac illuminated is Wonderfull. Also we loved the restaurant : very good and cheap. It is better to stay there than to go to Battambang. Can be good for a long stay to enjoy the area."

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.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Luxury eco resort"

I stayed at this lodge and loved it. The whole set up is fantastic from the staff, the food and the views. I truly enjoyed the kind hospitality of the owner. He is a very warm host. The food is organic and out of this world. Will definitely return.

tugu lombok: "Paradiso"

This place stunned me. The grounds were beautiful and peaceful. The staff was great and very helpful. Every single thing I ate at the resort was a total culinary pleasure. Breakfast on the beach, candlelit dinner on the rooftop, fresh juice by the pool. We went in the down season and it meant that we felt basically alone. Our room and private pool were so enchanting and the recovered and traditional artwork all over the resort really makes this place something special. Probably one of my favourite places I've ever stayed if you just want to escape. There is also a number of interesting things to do around the resort like visiting the Gili Islands or the volcano. A++

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Ethical safari company and wonderful staff; game safaris are a bonus! A++++"

"Summary: If you want a unique and special experience – come and stay here! Seeing a leopard is just a bonus! The safaris, the camp, and the team are brilliant. The company is ethical, environmentally-minded and the staff is knowledgeable, professional and passionate. You will not regret glamping, going on safari and generally having a brilliant time. I would recommend Noel Rodrigos Leopard Safaris to anyone and everyone! We went on a few safaris during our time in Yala but Leopard Safaris was so superior in every sense of the word! My only regret was not staying longer!!! I recently stayed with my husband and 8-year-old son. After a short drive from the pick area, we got received with a warm welcome and a cold towel. Well, Noel Roderigo’s Leopard Safaris, you had me at cold towel.... it continued to get better and better from there. We got a fresh coconut drink and then shown to our tent. The tent Hailing from Australia we are very used to camping. Often, we just throw down a swag or a very thin mattress on the ground. Glamping is the ultimate in camping – you get a real bed and awesome amenities. You get the excitement of camping with the creature comforts. It makes the entire experience so special. The fact that everything is ecological friendly makes this experience even more unique. The fact they have NO plastic made me so proud of them! What a wonderful thing to do and it just shows that Noel walks the talk of eco-tourism! I would say that getting the tent with the a/c is probably a good idea during hot times of the year. We got the unairconditioned tent and we did sweat a bit. Each ‘bedroom’ and the main area did have a small fan and you did get some air flowing through the tent too. If I had to have one criticism, it was the tent zips. I can see how this would be a hard thing to maintain. Sometimes when you closed the tent the zip would pop open. You could do it but you had to have a few goes. Cuisine Wow, just wow! The meals were some of the best we had during our 2.5 months in Sri Lanka. The chef also made a non-spicy variety for our super fussy son. Our son didn’t eat it but that is no reflection on his cooking ability, as our son doesn’t eat much other than bread! Following each meal, there was an interesting explanation of the ingredients or the meals. They were all traditional Sri Lankan meals and utterly delicious. If you do not cope with spice, as one of the other visitors didn’t, you might want to mention this. It was hot and spicy but that is the way we love it! Each meal was different and the selection interesting. The amount of food was generous. They also source all food locally. Each meal was set up at a different location within the camp and it was beautifully decorated each time. Our son absolutely loved making the string hoppers with the traditional press. You do need to realise you are eating under the stars, literally, and I had bugs come say hello. I am not sure why they decided I was the most exciting. But if you fear bugs, I would say maybe you need to go to a more sterile environment! The camp The entire camp was rustic, practical but also gorgeous. There were many areas just to relax and wind down. At night, it was utterly beautiful - You had small lights guiding you everywhere in the camp at night. The lounge/bar area was beyond beautiful during the day but at night, it was light up with candles and was perfect. We got some light snacks, again delicious and wound down with a wine or beer. Its a really nice way to relax prior to dinner. My husband did open the portable A/C unit in this area and did end up jumping about 10 feet into the air when a small brown snake sprung out of the unit at great speed! It was just exciting and great to see that nature was so chilled it popped in for a swim. It could be free and wild even in the camp! The snake was not dangerous. They were building a new addition - a pool! That will be an unreal addition! I can imagine how relaxing that will be. Ecological and ethically minded tourism Everything about Leopard Safaris is well thought out and has a purpose, yet looked awesome too! You can feel good about staying here. Often I feel a little sick when I see water in plastic bottles, here they stored in glass bottles in the camp and in metal bottles on game drives! What a novel idea! It really should be the NORM!! Electricity is from solar panels and a dual battery system in their safari jeeps. When they are driving it will recharge a battery, how cool is that?! I looked around and everywhere was “reduce, reuse and recycle”. You drink from jars, the basins are upcycled from pots, the fences and bridges are from fallen branches etc. etc.I could go on and on about these examples. As I said before, there is no plastic anywhere! You even had a sink that filtered the tooth paste you spat into the small basin! Our son also got to plant a tree in the camp. It was a lovely touch and great to teach kids about carbon footprint in a practical sense. Plus in the future, you can come visit ‘your’ tree. The company also funds a number of environmental and community programs. Just prior to our safari I was reading about them giving aid to those affected by the 2017 floods - transporting supplies. Again, they walk the talk! It is so refreshing to see! We did have one somewhat unnerving experience. The farmer next door used a VERY loud firework to scare away the elephants 4 or 5 times. We had a mobile to call the team but I think maybe they should have called us to say, “don’t worry the world is not ending”. It was so loud! Plus, I could hear the elephant breaking the trees and I am unsure how close it got but the farmer needed to set off way too many to scare the elephant away. It added to the excitement but I am not sure how great that is for the elephants. We got told it was an unusual occurrence though, as the fence near the camp had been broken a few days earlier. Safaris As I said, the safaris are just the bonus! Even though the leopard did elude us, I know we were very close a number of times. It didn't matter though (well I did want to see one!) but we saw countless other animals and birds, and we had an utterly wonderful experience. A highlight was a crocodile trying to climb a tree to get away from an angry buffalo! The Jeep – was very comfortable, drink bottles, cold drinks in an Esky, snacks, guide books and binoculars. It was well maintained and comfortable. Our Naturalist/Guide – Saamera He is a wonderful person and guide. He is so passionate about wildlife conservation and it really showed. He is very engaging and has excellent English. He is well versed and well educated about wildlife. I really enjoyed talking to him at length about conservation during our meals. He has the world’s most sensitive ears and was constantly on the lookout for signs of leopards and all other wildlife. It was great that he also didn’t talk all the time. Silence is golden at times. He had the mix right. If we asked a question, he answered with knowledgeable answers. Again, comparing to other “guides” we met who clearly made up the answers. The driver – Praneeth He was such a great driver. Actually, he was amazing! He drove at a reliable speed and it was comfortable. I felt like he could have a lot to offer in terms of guiding too, he clearly knew his stuff. He heard so many noises and looked for tracks, and knew all the cues. Other jeeps you can just see screaming around the place with no purpose. The team Saamera and Praneeth worked together and would discuss where to go next if they heard a noise that meant leopards were near. You could tell they liked working together. I feel bad I do not know everyone’s name but everyone was great! I guess my only criticism is – where are the chicks at? Maybe they are a distraction? Haha. Either way! I think having some females around the camp would be great! All that said, I would have loved to have met the “Master” himself, Noel! In his absence, his team does a great job. Conclusion We did a 1-night safari with 2 game drives and I really wish we did 2 nights. 1 night was just not enough! I cannot wait to return to see the leopards that did elude us! We were so close several times hearing many warning calls. I would love to return one day soon and even try out the Wilpattu glamping location you offer. I already know the level of care, service, and diligence will be sensational. Thank you, Noel, Saamera and the entire Leopard Safaris team! You are head and shoulder above 99% of the other operators out there. Please do not ever change your spots!"

Maison Polanka: "Perfect relaxation"

Maison Polanka is one of the most beautiful hotels we have visited. The Khmer house was like a second home, a bit removed from the rest of the hotel, lovingly decorated and extremely comfortable and relaxing. The best feature is the incredibly friendly and helpful staff, nothing is too much and every wish or question is dealt with immediately. The location is a bit outside the main part of Siem Reap but there is a great restaurant within easy walking distance. Transport is easily organised via the hotel but just walking outside would probably also enable one to catch a remork within minutes. Tours and transport might be cheaper when organised elsewhere but for us convenience was most important and we thought the prices offered by the hotel were very reasonable indeed. Highly, highly recommended.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Wonderful retreat to experience the peace that is northern Kerala"

"The approach is a bit inauspicious, but once you enter and are greeted by the scented garland, er person who places it over you and then brings a refreshing wash towel followed by coconut water still in the nut, you know you've entered a place that won't leave you wanting. This was my second stay because it provided a perfect respite from the vibrant and fun chaos that goes with visiting India and their cities in particular. The peaceful place that allowed me to relax and unwind before returning home. The Hermitage's layout is charming, with winding foot paths connecting the villas that are surrounded by nature. The bungalows are solid, spacious, comfortable, well furnished, with options for cooling (open windows & ceiling fan or closed windows and just ac). Staff are friendly and helpful, the Arabian Sea is swimable with a wide beach and the pool great as well. The on-site food is pretty good and they'll turn up the heat if you want it that way. And if one wanders off site, on foot or by bike, you'll experience the charm and warmth of the surrounding farming & fishing communities. When visiting India and you want a calm, 'oh this adventure had to end sometime, but let's end on a serene note', Neeleshwar is a wonderful place to unwind and just be. I'll be back again!"

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "I’d give it six stars if I could!"

Stayed for seven nights in January 2017 after a mammoth ‘Golden Triangle’ tour in the north. In summary, I’d have to say that it’s a beautiful, relaxing hotel made extra special by the staff, who were unfailingly happy, welcoming and helpful. The resort itself would best be described as barefoot luxury - this isn’t a place to come and dress up for dinner, and all the better for it. If you want to truly relax in beautiful surroundings with attentive staff, this is the place for you. As we’ve moved to another so-called 5-star resort not 45 minutes away, we’ve begun to appreciate the Neeleshwar’s unique brand of laid-back, relaxing luxury even more. The rooms themselves are lovely - spacious, full of natural materials (including a coconut palm in your open-air bathroom!). I agree with other reviews that suggest tea-making facilities in the room would be beneficial, but the verandah service also meant that you could phone for tea/coffee and it was delivered to your verandah in minutes - at a cost of around 400 rupees/£4.50 for two people, often accompanied by cake or cookies, so the hotel is certainly not over-charging for the service. The grounds are beautiful - it truly is like walking through a tropical jungle to get to the pool/beach. The pool is stunning - large, quiet, plenty of loungers, no noise! Food in the two restaurants was faultless. Try the aloo gobi, if available - it certainly shames the mush we get served in Indian restaurants in the UK. The spa and treatments were both excellent, and reasonably priced. Again, the spa is not one of these with annoying chill-out music on a perpetual loop, but total silence - so peaceful! There are some local attractions, but we found it hard to pull ourselves away from the place - the furthest we ventured was an hour on the complimentary bikes to visit the fishermen hauling in their catch. Please also visit the shop early on in your visit - it’s not one of those typical hotel gift shops selling tat, but it actually has some really nice, reasonably priced items that you’d actually want to buy. Not to mention a tailor sitting there amongst bolts of material, happy to run up anything from a pattern or your measurements as you choose the fabric. Go visit - you won’t be sorry, and we usually avoid this type of thing like the plague. My final comments are reserved for the staff - I don’t know how they select them, or what training goes into making them what they become, or whether they’re all just naturally lovely people (probably), but they’re probably the nicest staff we have ever come across, and you can see by my reviews that we’ve stayed in some world-class hotels (I offer this just as a comparison, not a boast!) - these are the nicest people we’ve ever met in a hotel situation, and they go out of their way to ensure you have a peaceful, happy break.

Inle Princess Resort: "Lovely in every way"

The Inle Princess was just lovely; and the staff was eager to please in every way. The thatched roof bungalows were very well done and the grounds were meticulous, peaceful and enchanting. I'd recommend a bike ride to the nearby vineyard. Also, bring warm clothes for the very cold nights and mornings.