Guest Reviews

Satri House: "How charming"

We stayed in Satri House for one week in August. This charming and luxury boutique hotel is quite unique with its "feels like family home" spirit. The hotel is composed of an ancient colonial type house surrounded by recent houses -but you can hardly tell, since the recent constructions look very much as if they had always been here. The decoration is tasteful in every details. The pool cools you down when it’s too hot. The staff is extremely helpful and smiling. And the food is just as great and tasty. Of course, all this has a price, higher than the many guesthouses in Luang Prabang, but it is worth any cent. And Luang Prabang is such a charming city. We are counting the days before we come back.

Maisons Wat Kor: "Heaven hidden outside of the town for discerned traveller"

A hidden hotel with a beautiful pound and an amazing local architecture. What make this hotel different are the number of rooms, only very few rooms - each bungalow has 4 rooms , they all looks the same and could be the set for a movie. Rooms are large and nice bathroom. The life of the hotel is around the pound and the kitchen. You will feel more in somebody house rather than an hotel here. The hotel is few minutes away from the town, but the tuktuk will take you there through a small village.

Slow Villas and Spa: "The best hotel experience ever!"

"This is a perfect place for those who are looking for privacy and piece. The villas are very nice decorated, rustic and chic at the same time. Some nice details makes a big difference: the soap is hand made, very nice hand messages around, map full of handwriting messages and recommendations, the baby cot is made of bamboo. They have bikes available to ride around the island, the breakfast is ordered the day before (and it has options for all tastes) and served in the comfort of your Vila. Julie, the co-owner is a sweetheart herself and all the staff is super nice, always willing to help and in super good mood. We felt treated like a family. The only issue was having to log in all the time to the Internet, but when done, it worked quite well. They didn't have a coffee machine when we were there, but it was already ordered. Highly recommend. The price was worth it. And the prices there are quite ok, not overpriced."

Dewakan: "Fine dining with lots of local flavours, something really different"

"Inexpensive ingredients but the amount of effort put in to make it look so fine. Worth the dining experience. Unlike the usual Western style where you get rosemary / fennel / thyme, we get typical ingredients that can be found in Asian dishes, eg. cumin, ulam, green curry paste, local flowers. The 5 courses lasted from 8pm till midnight and staffs were already tired by then. It was so obvious we could tell it from their expressions and all. Well I feel bad for making them stay up, but then again, we don't decide when the dishes should come out so..... either buck up on serving time or.... improve on being professional even if it's till late. Don't get me wrong about service, they are pretty good in that, taking extra time to explain to us, repeating when we were a little too chatty about it. They are nice people, students learning I believe. Maybe it's better to be there earlier so it could end by 11."

Misool Eco Resort: "Umweltfreundliche, entlegene Taucherlodge in paradiesischer Umgebung"

"Andrew und Marit, heutige Besitzer der Misool Lodge, haben aus einer Vision eine Realität gemacht. Wo einst ein Camp von illegalen Haifischern stand wurde eine traumhafte Ökolodge geschaffen: nicht luxuriös im herkömmlichen Sinne, aber von höchstem Niveau: Hütten, Restaurant, Tauchbasis sind perfekt. Beim Bau wurden Treibholz und umgefallene Tropenbäume verwendet, das Riff wurde (im Gegensatz zu den meisten Malediven-Inseln) nicht angerührt. Inzwischen hat die ""no-take"" Zone eine Fläche von 220 km2, und eigene Patrouillen sorgen dafür, dass illegale Fischer gestellt (und manchmal auch verhaftet) werden. Die erstaunliche Erholung der Fischbestände (um bis zu 600%!) wird wissenschaftlich dokumentiert. Es wird viel für die umliegenden Dörfer gemacht, und über 100 Personen haben Arbeitsplätze bekommen. Die Hütte war geräumig, die Klimaanlage überflüssig da es nie wirklich heiß war. Es gab einige interessante Vorträge. Das Essen war leicht und schmackhaft, die Betreuung freundlich. Die Tauchbasis hatte für jede Hütte eine eigene ""work station"" mit mehreren Steckdosen, auf 4-6 Taucher kamen jeweils 2 Tauchguides. Die Tauchplätze waren meist nur 5-10 Minuten entfernt. Die Unterwasserwelt prachtvoll mit tausenden Fischarten und Korallen, meist etwas trüb durch Plankton. Ein Höhepunkt war Magic Mountain, eine Putzstation für zwei Mantaarten, die uns umkreisten. Das Preisniveau war sehr hoch, und wir mussten für Leihausrüstung, Tauchen, aber auch Internet, Wäsche und Getränke zusätzlich bezahlen. Aber es hat sich gelohnt! Ein Wermutstropfen war das durchwegs graue und teils regnerische Wetter im Januar. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Tugu Lombok: "Magical – Inspiring – Spiritual Almost."

"This was a trip we took with the family. One big room for my sisters and me and the rents in another. The place, from the minute you walk in you are greeted by kind staff, and the door grabs young transports you to another time! The little things like going in at night and preparing your room is just one of those things that make the trip extra special. By the second day they know how you like your tea, what your child wants, and how you take your eggs. If you are looking for a true eco-touristic place that is honest about what it presents, this is the place! There is so much more than a simple hotel! Its a true experience!"

The River Resort: "A lovely oasis!"

After a couple of days of slightly "gritty" travelling, it was a great joy to arrive at The River Resort. Lovely rooms, great river views. I had a very good massage in the spa and enjoyed some really fresh and delicious food. A lovely place to re-charge your batteries!

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "Only one word: OUTSTANDING! A 5-star experience in Myanmar"

"After our trekking trip from Kalaw to Inle, we desperately needed some comfort, nice food and a good night sleep....and we couldn't have asked for more during our stay at Inle Heritage! This was - by far - the best hotel we have stayed in during our 2-week trip in Myanmar. The rooms are spacious and furnished with great taste and top standards, the view on the lake is stunning. There are only 6 rooms in the complex and the staff is extremely lovely and super-attentive. Importantly...the food is absolutely STUNNING: we had 2 dinners and breakfasts during our stay and everything we ordered was outstanding - I don't think you can find a restaurant with such high quality anywhere else in the country. Vegetables are taken directly from several lovely gardens cultivated by the staff and you can really feel the freshness of every ingredient. There are several other ""luxury"" accommodations on the lake, but none of them offers such a high level of hospitality and food - combined. We would choose Inle Heritage again and again!!! Yes, while in the room, you can hear the noise of boats passing by, but this didn't disturb us at all and the noise significantly decreases after 8-9pm in the evening. The hotel also offers complementary ear plugs so we could sleep like babies during both our nights. Last but not least, Inle Heritage is a non-profit organisation that looks after the cultural and natural heritage of the Inle Region, aiming at developing tourism while maintaining the original Burmese culture and way of life, and respecting nature. Given how quickly the lake is developing (with both pros and cons...) we were very happy to stay in a place that is run in a sustainable way and under these grate values. Don't miss it!!! Stayed December 2016, traveled as a couple"

Rachamankha: "Beautiful Rachamankha"

"My husband and I spent our honeymoon at Rachamankha during Christmas and New Year 2013, and we were thrilled to be able to return again in November 2016. We have so many wonderful memories of the hotel from our first trip and these were definitely added to on this visit. Something about Rachamankha speaks to me - it is elegant, unpretentious, immaculate, welcoming and just so beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. The gardens and grounds are immaculately maintained, the pool area is lovely, the restaurant, bar, library and courtyards are elegant and simple, and the rooms are comfortable, spotlessly clean and have everything you need. The attention to detail is wonderful. Breakfast options include a buffet with the usual suspects of breads, pastries, fruit, yoghurt, cheese, cold meats, etc., as well as many items from the menu, cooked to order. My favourite is still the banana pancakes and hubby loves the congee. Lunch and dinner options are great too, if you feel like staying in. And there is a great drinks menu with lots of cocktails, wines and other goodies. Rachamankha isn't for everyone. If you are holidaying with small kids, or you're looking for a party, then there are plenty of other wonderful options for you in Chiang Mai. But, if you're like us, and you're looking for simple elegance with comfortable surroundings, and a quiet relaxing holiday, then Rachamankha is definitely what you're looking for. In closing, I must give thanks to the staff. They were lovely, helpful and kind. The service was efficient, prompt and polite, and the staff really do take a huge amount of pride in their work. Every single team member from the security guards at the gate, the gardeners, the restaurant staff, the front office team and housekeeping are just wonderful! Again my thanks to Wanida, who is a true gem. We can't wait to return! :)"

Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Incredibly outstanding, as always!"

The owners Carole and Johannes are incredible. The staff incredibly professional. The food... Mind blowing and completely unlike anywhere else in the world! Extremely innovative menu. If you find yourself in Siem Reap, do yourself a favour and book in here (in advance due to its understandable popularity). The best meals I have eaten in all of Asia!