MesaStila: "A peaceful sanctuary"
"MesaStila Resort and Spa is very serene and quiet; it is lovely for a getaway to do some writing, reading and relaxing. Our room (Aroum Villa) also had an outdoor day bed area which had the view of Mt Andong which was terrific. The room came with a bath tub which was nice to soak in and just while the time away. The room also had all the necessary amenities to make it a comfortable stay. The staff also made our bed and refilled the water twice a day. We also had complimentary fruits, and desserts in the evening. I would definitely recommend this to friends who are intending to have a short getaway, and I must say the staff at the resort made the stay very comfortable; they were attentive to our needs, and made us feel at home. We had a cycling trip to Candi Umbul and Grabag market, and our guide Nur made the experience very worthwhile. We also had a Sunrise tour at Borobodur and it was breathtaking. The tour guide, Latiff, provided many insights into the culture and philosophy of the Buddhists, and shared information about Indonesia as well. My friend and I didn't manage to try the Hammond spa (which was award-winning) and we would love to do so when we next visit MesaStila. One minor quip I had was how the menu was the same for the 4 days we were there; if there could be more variety, it would have made the resort experience perfect. My friend and I particularly liked the Indonesia dishes (at dinner) and the breakfast menu - A recommended dish would be the Nasi Goreng (fried rice). You can choose either red or white rice for the said dish, and we had the red rice option; I must say, it was a pleasant surprise! I particularly liked the muesli at breakfast - the breakfast was hearty and kept us filled for the day. I can go on about how lovely our experience at MesaStila was, but I'm afraid my words would not do justice to it; you would just have to experience it. They have thought out activities to keep their guests occupied (as the resort is situated rather far away from the city area) and have gone the extra mile to make the experience unforgettable for their guests. Lastly, I would recommend having tea at the Club House; it is calming and relaxing and the pastries went well with their wide selection of teas (and coffee). I truly had a reinvigorating time at the resort; I invite you to experience the same."Le Du Wine Bar & Restaurant: "Hard to find, worth the search"
"The restaurant space is clean, comfortable and a bit minimalist in design. The food is creative an superb. We like to select wines that do not typically appear on wine lists and we chose a glass of Cremant de Jura to start. Dishes of note included large river prawns with pork belly jam and shrimp paste, an incredible sous-vide pork jawl and an aged beef tenderloin. We finshed by sharing a duck egg custard with rice powder. All presented as creative interpetations and generally suggestive Thai flavors. Chef Ton oversees all and appeared to inspect every dish before they went to the table. Despite his resume, Chef Ton is quite young and should be heard from in the future. A tip to find Le Du if you go: when you turn off Silom Road onto Silom 7 Alley go to the end of the alley, to the T and you will find Le Du on the kleft."Maduzi Hotel: "Home again"
"I've been coming here on business several times a year for 5 or 6 years. A small boutique hotel just off the main drag. Things have evolved but the friendlyness and quality remain. This tranquil oasis with 24 hour service remains a global favourite. With 24hour bar and coffee service and flexible check out a boon to the business traveller. Everything happens at its own tranquil pace be that breakfast, check in or coffee. Nothing is to much trouble."Tugu Bali: "Hotel meets art museum"
"Hotel Tugu surprised us! Canguu has gotten busier and built up but you step inside Hotel Tugu and it is like stepping into an oasis back in time. The rich artwork everywhere you turn is a photographers dream! The hotel is more than happy to give you a tour for free and I highly recommend it. Hearing the history behind each art piece and painting makes the experience that much richer. The rooms are like staying in an old wood Balinese villa. If you are looking for a modern Marriott, than this hotel would not be for you (and you would be missing out on a one of a kind experience), Lots of character and amazing views. The service is great! You can eat anywhere on the property at any time. I highly recommend you check out all the nooks and crannies. There are many more dining spots than you may think at first blush. They also have numerous one of a kind specialty drinks that do not disappoint. The Japanese restaurant is a reconstructed ancient Chinese temple. Good sushi and better pictures so bring your camera to dinner!"Tugu Lombok: "Best ever hotel, would make it 10 stars if I could"
"This is by far the best hotel I have ever visited. First, the settings are absolutely amazing: we spent 4 days there, and were still discovering a piece of art or statue here and there. Our villa was delightful, so are the two pools and restaurant, and the gardens as well as the beach.... absolutely everything is stunning! I took over 300 photos of the grounds, and do not want to delete any. Attention to art and detail is everywhere. Next, customer service was also perfect: from the moment we walked in (and even before as they actually pay attention to nice to have requests at the time of reservation) everybody actually cared about our wellbeing. As an example, our flight was canceled because of a volcano, and hotel manager stayed late at night to make sure we could get a boat to Bali, and booked all taxi for us. Thank you to the full team, I hope we will come back. I will definitely recommend your hotel to friends and family."Jing’s Residence: "Deserved No. 1 spot on Tripadvisor"
"If you are visiting Pingyao I really can't imagine there is a better place to stay. We stayed for 2 nights. The location is excellent, just 1 minute walk from the main intersection so you're close enough to the hustle and bustle but not right in it. It was really nice being able to easily get back to the residence to freshen up and relax before heading out again (you kind of need to do that in Pingyao). Stepping through the inconspicuous wooden doors you literally step in to a little oasis that you wouldn't know is there. The staff are exceptionally attentive and well trained; There are only 10 or so suites so it's quiet, spacious and very comfortable. Of course the house and rooms were perfectly clean and we had two great nights sleep in large, clean, comfortable beds. I visited with a friend but I would love to return with my family someday. It also helps that Pingyao itself is an amazing place to visit. "Maison Polanka: "Our favourite place ever!"
We have never enjoyed a place to stay - anywhere we have travelled - more than Maison Polanka. This is like staying in someone's home - or the home you might dream about having one day. With large, beautiful gardens and an elegant swimming pool, but only a handful of rooms so it's very peaceful never feels crowded even with other guests around. We also had the best Cambodian food of our trip in their restaurant, which is really just a few tables outside by the pool, but outshone anywhere else we ate. Off menu, they were kind enough to make a special noodle soup (nom banh chok) one day for us for lunch - it was delicious and worth making a special request for (in advance). We stayed in the Khmer House as a treat, and it was beautiful and spacious, though I think anyone would be happy with any of the rooms they have. But the best part of Maison Polanka are the people who work there who are warm, welcoming and willing to help with everything, from tour planning, surprise afternoon cakes by the pool, and a wonderfully memorable trip to the Road 60 night market for a dinner of insects, stuffed frogs and other more familiar foods! Our thanks in particular to Cathy, Chan, and Vong! Don't bother looking anywhere else in Siem Reap, just stay here!Nimmu House: "4 nights of sheer bliss"
"We spent a bulk of our stay in Ladakh at Nimmu House and it truly was the best decision ever. We stayed in one of the tents which was super spacious and extremely comfortable. The property itself is a picture-book-kinda pretty and we just loved hanging out at the patio or napping on the hammocks. But what makes Nimmu feel more like a home than a house is the fantastic team running the place. From the manager to the chefs to the wait-staff down to the housekeeping and gardeners, everybody is just really nice and welcoming and ready to help if needed. The best part about our stay here however, was the food. After some pretty average meals in the rest of Ladakh, the meals at Nimmu were just fantastic. Do yourself a favour and don't book just a single night here. Ideally, once you're done sightseeing and roadtripping, stop by here for at least 3 days of R&R...you won't regret it. The only one piece of feedback we had for the management/ owners was to invest in better power back up. With frequent power cuts, it's a must."Sukoon Houseboat: "Pure Bliss"
"The best way to recover from stressful trekking in Ladahk. SUKOON is pure understated luxury .From your beautifully appointed stateroom with dream beds to the attached bathroom with both full sized tub & separate rain shower every comfort is assured. The amazing food is individually prepared by a top class chef. All staff are helpful, attentive & polite. I fully recommend SUKOON Houseboat as standout accommodation which will be the highlight of your trip to Srinagar."Satri House: "Fantastic boutique hotel"
Great service, well maintained, and smoothly run boutique hotel located just 500m from Luang Prabang downtown. Very friendly and discreet service, rooms in good shape and a fine breakfast restaurant as well as good pool and spa services. We'll be back.
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!
