Inle Princess Resort: "Paradise in the middle of another paradise."
"The hotel lays on the lake, and you need to get there by boat. The trip is so relaxing you starting getting into the rythm. The last part of the trip, has to be done rowing, they do not allow the noise of the boat motors bother their customers. It is just incredible. They preserve the customer rest and we even got a note from the direction apologizing because a monastery nearby had night prayers due to some festivity. The room we got was facing the lake directly. We woke up in the morning with the amazing views, and even some ducks feeding right below us. We enjoyed the best sunsets and dawns from our room porch. We visited in December, one of the coldest months there (around 18-20 ºC) but we got the option to light our chimney (yes we had one) and warm up there. The restaurant was spacious and the food amazing. They service was super educated, we got a waiter very young that clearly was being trained and we could only praise the teacher and the pupil. We did not fully use the rest of installations, but we really enjoyed our stay. I would come back if I could."Inle Princess Resort: "Gem of the lake"
"We just returned from a four night stay at the Inle Princess Resort. What a treat! This resort, which sits on the northeast corner of Inle Lake, is locally designed, owned and run. And it shows, from the local crafts that are made on site to the quiet efficiency and welcome of the staff. We arrived via Heho airport by road (about 60-90 minutes and ~$50 US). The road entrance is modest, giving no clue of what lies behind the low key security gate. The grounds are spectacularly but sympathetically landscaped, with stands of bamboo framing lotus filled lagoons. The rooms are absolutely unique in design. You might want to avoid the Mountain rooms only because they are a bit smaller with less spectacular views. Any of the other rooms will exceed your expectations. The dining is lakeside, serving a mix of excellent local and Thai style fare and goreng. The views from the restaurant patio are tranquil, with boats approaching the jetty required to row (almost always Inle leg oar style) with engines off. The pool is otherworldly. We spent a good deal of our time exploring the lake. One of the lessons we learned was that the locally sourced goods in the crafts shop at the Inle Princess are not only superior quality but are priced very fairly. I am lucky to travel widely. The spa is the finest with the kindest and most skillful (Shan) therapists I have encountered. The setting alone will draw you out of your highly strung world. A couple of words of caution to high maintenance travelers. The hot water can run out quickly, so shower efficiently (many rooms have private outdoor showers). And service (e.g. by the pool) can be slower than you will find at Four Seasons. They just don't rush. The food and drinks are wonderful. So relax and enjoy. There is simply nowhere remotely like the Inle Princess. If you are looking for a slice of Myanmarese heaven on earth, this is it. If you are looking for chain resort style service, stay somewhere else."Talabgaon Castle: "fantastically beautiful place"
We stayed in the hotel in March 2016 with friends. it is absolutely awesome place, the building of the hotel unimaginable beauty, vast numbers itself, a large area, the silence all around, a large outdoor pool with a mini-waterfall and fountains nearby, peacocks walk, chipmunks running around, there are stables and a golf polo. I liked very much. Clean, quiet, the staff is calm, friendly, home, too. Atmospheric and quiet.The River Resort: "Sérénité, luxe & gentillesse"
Très bel endroit, luxueux et très bien entretenu, magnifique jardin, double piscine, spa, quand on en a assez des guesthouses un peu sommaires, endroit idéal pour s'offrir un moment de luxe. Lits géants et salle de bain extérieure et intérieure. Mékong à perte de vue depuis presque tous les bungalows et quelque oiseaux rares dans les arbres.4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "NOT SO EASY TO REACH – BUT HARDER TO LEAVE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET"
"One of my favourite hotels worldwide. Second time I've stayed here, and, 2 years on, the high standards are still maintained. Also it has become a more affordable option if you shop around on booking sites, making it better value. The service, the food, the uber-glamping ""tents,"" the friendliness of all staff and the unique and unbeatable location are superb - even more so when one considers the challenging logistics entailed in running a luxury boutique resort 30 minutes downriver from the nearest road. This is a place to go to relax. And if that is your intent, that is how you will leave...and then some! Special mention to Piphos on reservations for her rapid and efficient handling of my requests, and Paulo and Luz for their ever friendly and helpful service. My only minor criticism is that the onward taxi transfer prices are noticeably marked up from what you can arrange yourself. I don't readily award ""excellent"" in my reviews - I think the rating is seriously over-abused by TA reviewers. But this one is well deserved. Stayed February 2017, traveled solo"Bali Jiwa Villa: "Pure Relaxation & Satisfaction"
I stayed in Bali Jiwa Villa in May 2015. I know already some places in Bali but this villa is extraordinary. You stay in a place inside the nature, surrounded from lush rice paddies with the panoramic view of Mount Batukaru and stunning sunset. The service of the lovely staff in this villa fulfilled every wish I had. I was served a delicious breakfast and dinner. Also lunch you can get there. Each villa has a private pool, bordering the rice fields...a fantastic atmosphere! I will definitively come back to this place :-D.Villa Song Saigon: "Just what we wanted"
The hotel is situated a little out of the mad rush of HCMC but with the boat shuttle downtown and the pleasant outlook dining on the terrace alongside the river it was a great way to start our holiday. The staff could not have been friendlier or more professional. Their recommendations where to go in the city for money changing etc were spot on. And having an al a carte breakfast of the highest quality was a geat way to start the day. The one dinner we had here was first class and the cocktails were delightful. An indication of the quality of the hotel. It is shutting soon for renovations- the step down to the terrace does need attention- but while thta happens the staff are not laid off but are getting English lessons! And that is only building on an already first class ability to communicate in a foreign language. The attention of the staff to us was a highlight and reason in itself to return -and we shall.Supanniga Eating Room: "Excellent food"
We sat comfortably upstairs and enjoyed a gorgeous, colorful, authentic Thai meal. Traditional cooking and attentive service. This is not fast/ street food... It's the real thing!Labyrinth: "An amazing culinary experience"
"Restaurant Labyrinth got a one-Michelin star in Singapore. As most people do not know what these stars mean, they would naturally associate it to taste and taste alone. Ambience: Comfortable and intimate setting. Tables are well-spaced out for privacy between customers. The size of the table is sufficient for the restaurant's style of service a couple of dishes at a time. Dining cutlery has a nice weight and feel to it, making the dining experience feel more posh. Drink glasses are clean and spotless. The lights are not positioned to the table (purpose-built) hence you have some tables that are more lighted on one end but poorly lit on the other. Moving forward, it would be great if they can get lighting consultant instead of regular general interior designers. Food: Having been to two 3-Michelin, three 2-Michelin and a few 1-Michelin starred restaurants, I would rate the taste as excellent. In fact, the culinary style of food is similar to The Fat Duck by Heston Blumenthal (Bray, England), where it is more of a culinary wonderland than anything else. These types of restaurants let you discover taste experiences that are out of this world. They play not only with flavours, but also texture and temperature. Honestly, I would rate the food at Restaurant Labyrinth better in terms of taste. It is amazing how they made the ""chilli crab"" taste exactly the way it should taste but appearing like the a crab on sand, with cold ice-cream. Your mind will be blown away as your brain juggles the totally new experience to a very familiar taste. Imagine that experience, multiply that with the number of dishes as each course will give you a new perspective. It is such a delight. Service: This is where they lacked a lot. One thing 3-Michelin starred restaurants have in common, the service team makes you feel as though you are the VIP of the day. It is amazing how they manage to do it every single time. Despite having other tables, the staff to diner ratio is amazing. The staff at Restaurant Labyrinth is friendly and warm, but it is not too easy to get their attention as they are busy with other diners. They had to be more reactive (instead of proactive) because they are tied down with other tasks that are ongoing at the same time. Overall: From my dining experience at Restaurant Labyrinth, I would have given them 2-Michelin stars as they were not just ""the best in their category"", but they were ""excellent and worth a detour"". I hope they work on the staffing, the service level and lighting to improve the experience. The food is simply amazing and it is really worth your money and detour (if that applies to you)."Cuisine Wat Damnak: "Delicious"
Delicious food, very tasty herbs and flavour. Quite busy so need to make reservation in advance. They only have two tasting menu but good food. Will be filled after six course atUS$31.
Travel Asia with Secret Retreats
Secret Retreats is a curated community of independent boutique hotel, villas, yachts and river boats keen to share their Asian Homes with travelers, sustainably and responsibly.
Conservation of the environment, culture and traditions of Asia is of paramount importance to all in Secret Retreats.
A community of like-minded hospitality professionals, we offer our guests authentic travel experiences that go beyond typical offerings to unveil the essence of Asia. Supporting the Asia based hoteliers and hospitality professionals and providing incredible holidays in Asia and tailor-made Asia travel itineraries direct to public ad travel agents.
Get inspired and make savings!
By booking direct with Secret Retreats and enjoy peace of mind from our full on the ground support. Contact our concierge and plan then book your Asia holiday now!
