Guest Reviews

Satri House: "A hidden gem in Luang Prabang"

"This is an outstanding small boutique hotel off beaten bath in LPQ. The devil is in the detail of every aspect of its modern colonial design aesthetic. I loved the wonderful restaurant offering both Cambodian and French cuisine (The gazpacho is amazing). And BTW, the Satri offers all the extras you'd expect; comfy beds, strong reliable WiFi, pool, free bikes, spa services, outstanding service. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Cuca: "Loved it"

We visited Cuca as part of the Bali Food Safari tour for dessert and we loved it here! Each dish was divine, so fresh, colourful and delicately put together. The service was fantastic too. A must visit for anyone who loves delicious food!

MesaStila: "Flavour of true and sweet Indonesia"

High level place, perfectly managed, top level food, wonderful garden and atmosphere, a rare sample of kindness from all the staff. All the forniture of the place is really antique. The pool view on the forest is unique.Thank you Mesastila.

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen: "Great evening! great dinner"

"David takes pride in his small restaurant, making everything from scratch, you can see a lot of what he is working on on shelves next to the walls. Not only did we have an excellent 10 course meal - which was fairly priced considering the care and dedication that he put in, but he made sure to call us a cab (himself!) and make sure we got off in the direction of our hotel...."

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Serenity in India"

"We were privileged to spend 5 nights in the hotel and 2 nights on the Lotus Houseboat during February. Our hotel stay was truly perfect. It is a very relaxing environment and just what was needed after a busy stay in Mumbai. We were in one of the beach facing bungalows, called Virya (strength!). It was spotlessly clean, with a comfortable bed, quiet and efficient air conditioning and an outdoor bathroom. The food was lovely - fresh, colourful, healthy and tasty. Experiencing real Indian food on our trip was quite a revelation, particularly compared to the version we get at home! I also enjoyed the extensive a la carte breakfasts at the beachside restaurant - much nicer than a normal hotel buffet breakfast. The free yoga sessions each morning were enjoyable, and pitched at a beginner's level, so accessible to all. We both had spa sessions every day, leaving it to the on-site doctor to choose and schedule our treatments. I loved the treatment where oil is dripped onto your forehead - it was so incredibly relaxing. The beach is deserted, and great for long walks. The sea was rough while we were there, so not suitable for swimming. The pool area is serene, and the sun beds super comfy. We found the service throughout the hotel to be exemplary. We really couldn't fault it. Just a little thing to be aware of - the hotel does not serve spirits, and there is only a limited selection of wine and beer available with dinner - so do stock up on duty free before you arrive if this is an issue for you. If I were to rate our 2 night stay on the Lotus Houseboat, I would probably give it 4 stars. Overall, it was a unique experience and we are glad that we did it. The service was again, very good, though a little more formal than at the hotel. We had an on board chef, who prepared the most delicious food. Our cabin was spacious and luxurious. Having seen a handful of other houseboats drift past, I would say that the Lotus is one of the nicest on this stretch of the backwaters. Unfortunately, however, we were unlucky during our stay because there was an issue with the generator. As a result at night it was either like a sauna in our cabin, or very noisy. In addition, there were constant loud explosions nearby (from the nearby naval base?) throughout the first night. It proved absolutely impossible to sleep, and not at all the romantic, serene experience it could have been. The write up you are given in advance about the trips onto land should be taken with a pinch of salt. For example you don't visit an ancient sacred snake temple in the middle of a monkey forest - you are no longer allowed near to the temple. The reality is that you wander through some scrub land to the side of the road to feed some monkeys with vegetables. Not a big deal really, but just a case of over promising and under delivering in some areas. In hindsight we would have preferred instead to have spent more time relaxing on the top deck of the boat. If you do decide to overnight on the Lotus, it's probably best to book the boat on an exclusive basis, as we did. Sharing the limited space aboard with a couple of strangers could be a little awkward! Overall we really had a fantastic time, and would love to return one day. It's a perfect spot for some R & R."

MesaStila: "Wonderful days"

Very relaxing place, with a nice volcanoes and hills view. You can enjoy the restaurant, the spa and the pool. The staff is very kind and can organize meny activities in the coffee plantation or outside.

The Governor’s House: "Perfect Bolthole"

"Beautiful colonial boutique hotel. Smiling charming staff, eager to please. Lovely small intimate dining room with excellent food. Would definitely recommend having dinner here. Our trip was for our 40th wedding anniversary, and 'Happy 40th wedding anniversary' was spelt out in flower petals across our bed...a great touch! Bedroom was charming, and bathroom was clean, stylish and well presented. It's easy to hire a ride into city centre and water front to see the sights. A perfect hideaway hotel, good value and highly recommended."

Rachamankha: "Perfect: it’s quiet and serene and I did not want to leave"

So beautiful and elegant in every way. I have stayed in many wonderful hotels and this was my favorite. The rooms are comfortable and so well appointed you hate to turn out the lights. Great beds, linens and towels. A pool to spend a life by and a restaurant with the best breakfast and lunch I had anywhere in Thailand. All capped off by wonderfully friendly and instantly helpful staff.

The Apsara Rive Droite: "Loved it!"

This hotel is just a 2 min boat trip across the river from its sister hotel Apsara in the old town. You just drop by at their receptions and tell them you whenever you need to cross. Very convenient. Apsara Rive Droite is a little gem with a pool, a nice garden, beautiful rooms and a pleasant little restaurant and bar. The hotel manager (Hann) is the perfect host with his friendly, yet professional style. Even if the hotel is just two minutes by boat fron the old town, it is located in a less touristy area. I quite enjoyed strolling i this neighbourhood too as it gave glimpses into laotian everyday life. This includes the morning alm cermony that takes place on the road just outside the hotel.

SUMMERTIME VILLA: "Blissfully chilled"

We absolutely loved Summertime and cannot wait to go back. The owners have spent a lifetime delivering amazing holiday experiences in India and it feels like they poured all their learning and experience into creating and running this idyllic house.