Guest Reviews

Rachamankha: "small and cosy boutique hotel close to the city"

Rachamanka, part of secret retreats, is a very special place in Chiang Mai. You are close to many attractions, but in the moment you 'll pass trough the door you are in a peaceful oasis. The whole hotel is decorated with antics and artworks of the regions. Everything is very tastful and well chosen. The staff is nice and obliging. The pool is a nice place to spend the hot time of the day. The library has many interessting books about Chiang Mai and the entire region and culture. breakfast is served in a cosy courtyard and there is also a small bar for a drink in the evening. We have not eaten in the hotel, so we cannot say anything about the food, breakfast was delicouse and offered a great choice.

MesaStila: "A Perfect Getaway"

"My wife and I live in Jakarta, and have recently begun to enjoy finding scenic getaways around Indonesia that allow us to enjoy beautiful surroundings in moderate comfort. There is absolutely nothing moderate about MesaStila. From the moment we stepped out of the car into their grounds it was a wonderful experience for the entire three days we were there. We took the Honeymoon package (although our actual honeymoon had long passed) as it encompassed pretty much all the activities we wished to do plus an airport transfer, saving us the stress of finding the location of the resort ourselves. I highly recommend booking a transfer from the resort itself . The package also included a romantic dinner for two and a traditional massage at the in-house spa. GROUNDS: Beautifully gardens and modern facilities set within colonial architecture. The best part is that it offers an unobstructed view of Gunung Merapi that is beautiful at any moment of the day. The vast 22hc of grounds allows for leisurely strolls through the coffee plantation, and even when the resort is fully booked there is a distinct sense of privacy. ROOMS: Although rustic in design, there was no sign of dust, dirt or any critters that traditionally inhabit wooden beams. There was an old charm in the room, but the modern amenities and plush bed made for a very comfortable sleep. ACTIVITIES: Pretty much the best part of the whole trip. Every day there are scheduled activities that are free to join for all guests. My wife and I enjoyed doing an hour of Yoga every morning before breakfast. Every day at 10am there is also a coffee plantation tour which was very enjoyable, especially for coffee lovers like me. In the afternoon there are usually traditional activities like Janur, Batik and Pencak Silat. There are also more rigorous activities available - the 5km powerwalk was a great way to see the surrounding villages while building a good sweat. Paid activities like horseriding and the bicycle tour are readily available and well worth the small fee. There's also the spa: the massage we had there was heavenly. FOOD: Ok, maybe THIS was the most enjoyable part of the trip. What I respect is that although the resort has a captured market (there's no other food easily available around the resort), they are sincere in providing quality food at a reasonable price. The JavaRed restaurant cooks up some of the best local cuisine I have ever tasted. Book a stay here as soon as you can. You won't regret it!"

Locavore: "Spectacular Food, Great Cocktail Pairings, Beautiful Service"

"This is absolutely a place to be highly recommended. We went for the seven course meal with cocktail pairings and were definitely not disappointed. The restaurant is located on a busy street in the center of Ubud but inside its an oasis of quiet and style. Before the actual seven course meal started several amuses were served, all highly innovative, delicious and interesting. The menu changes regularly and I think there's little point going over the individual dishes but here's a couple of things to note: - There's a seven and a five course meal. If you are not a big eater five might be more than enough since there will also be some amuses and extras. - The restaurant does an all-vegetarian variety of the seven/five course meal. In case you can't choose, it's perfectly fine to have one and your partner the other. Courses are served at the same time but do come with other cocktail pairings. - The cocktail pairings are really a treat. However don't think of them as regular cocktails, more like smaller/less potent versions (so you won't be completely drunk at the end of the evening). - If you rather have wine with your meal the restaurant has an interesting wine list. - - Cocktail pairings for two equal roughly two bottles of house wine to give you an indication of prices. - We paid about four million Indonesia Rupiah (or four hundred Singapore dollars). For that we had two cocktails to start with, one veg and one non-veg seven-course meal, plus cocktail pairings. Absolutely worth it."

Cuca: "One of the few favourite restaurant in Bali for me"

Was wondering where to eat in Bali, i know there are so many sorts of restaurants everywhere and some a just a letdown....so wife recommended why don't we try Cuca, since some of her friends said good things about it. Since we are staying in Uluwatu, so it was not that far for us to get over there. We arrived slightly over 2pm and the restaurant was empty, i asked my wife are you sure this place is good? We were greeted and showed to our table...each table is separated by a curtain for privacy, so we decided to choose the table closest to the full view of the kitchen. Everyone was busy, apparently there is a close event that night. So we were the only guest. Our waitress was this pleasant looking girl that was very attentive and took time to explain the menu. We decided to try the tasting menu, i think was about 7 sharing courses. I won't go through the menu, you have to come and try it out for yourself...my only verdict is "One of the few favourite restaurant in Bali for us"

Rice & Zen Boutique Resort: "Stop Searching….Seadance is PERFECT"

"Stayed here for 4 nights in March 2017. From our pick-up by Tum at Samui airport to drop-off by Poy at the ferry, everything was five star. Poy, Faith, Tum and all the Seadance team are true professionals of the hospitality trade. Seadance has luxurious beachfront villas, amenities are excellent with a great infinity pool which has a swim-up bar. Food here is top class and is very reasonably priced as are drinks. Beautiful and secluded coral beach with real crystal clear water. You should book this resort. I would definitely stay here again. Stayed March 2017, traveled as a couple"

Hotel Tugu Malang: "Amazing hotel amazing staff"

"Our stay at Tugu owned hotel in Blitar was our first introduction to the chain. Knowing little about the area prior to our arrival in Indonesia we thought we might as well stick with the same chain for our subsequent Malang visit and we are happy we did. We were utterly impressed by the quality which we think deserves some publicity for others to experience themselves, especially for travellers who seek out low key (read: reasonably priced) and independently owned boutique accommodation. From the moment we arrived until the time we departed friendly staff were around to ensure our comfort. Tugu hotels contain local history. But what stood out for us is how they made us feel comfortable. An early morning incident exemplified why our praise of the chain. Unbeknownst to the staff the team of a visiting official had a very loud sound system test at 3 in the morning across from the hotel. Upon inquiry staff was immediately on hand to relocate us to another room for a few hours of quiet rest. This was followed by numerous apologies by different staff we encountered next day in each corner of the premise. The ultimate apology was when we were upgraded to an incredible suite for our second night despite our assurance that we were alright in our original room. We travel extensively and stay at many different hotel/Airbnb accommodations. Such a response stands out and is cherished. And one more thing. On top of the great service they offer afternoon tea offering local tea and coffee and assortments of local sweets and treats. To us that’s what sweet memories are made of."

Labyrinth: "Creative twist on Singapore favorites!"

"I had my eye on trying Restaurant Labyrinth for a while, but only decided to go after seeing the owner/chef profiled on the Food Heroes series (which is currently on Krisworld on Singapore Airlines). He was so passionate about showcasing a new twist on Singapore food, we had to try it. We visited on a Saturday night. All the guests appeared to be local. We tried the tasting menu. On an overall basis, the food was superb with very inventive twists to Singapore favorites. I loved the texture and the taste of Bak Chor Mee which was actually squid noodles with scallop, and also liked the Har Cheong porridge and the kaya butter toast. The beef satay however was a bit of a let down after all the other dishes as it didn't seem to have a lot of taste. Portion sizes were fine and I was very full at the end of the meal. The beverage menu was short. Service was pretty average however given the type of restaurant and prices, as was the ambiance. Overall, the restaurant was worthwhile trying for a special occasion for a unique twist on Singapore food."

Jing’s Residence: "Pingyao’s Best Hotel"

The best location in old Pingyao. The hotel is a quiet oasis in the heart of Pingyao. It's rooms are well appointed and very clean and tidy. The hotel facilities are well laid out with a lovely restaurant, bar, spa and quiet reading areas. Its sensitive use of the ancient architecture is a pleasure to relax in, either inside or outside in one of the quiet courtyards. The staff are always there when you need help, but never intrusive or overly attentive. The style is friendly and welcoming. I will recommend this wonderful boutique hotel to all my friends.

Tugu Malang: "A unique museum hotel"

I was staying here after a long motor ride from Surabaya and spoiled myself with all the beautiful interior furniture that has been chosen carefully. Some vintage and antique wall wood working and painting make this hotel looks like a museum with all the art being put there. Every room and chamber has its own design. Mixture between Javanese, Balinese wood furniture and old colonial building. A unique bathroom with vintage stainless bath tub and sink, also nice packaging of the amenities put another credit for this hotel. Some of the room is made for a real museum with all the ancient chinese ceramic pottery, bronze sculptures, silver dining set, small statue aged hundreds years which decribe the owner must be a filthy rich collectors. But I don't really like the part of the hotel which made as mediteranian middle east concept that seems bland and unmatch comparing to the other parts of the hotel. In the afternoon they serve various local tea and coffee, herbal drink and traditional snack for free for the guest staying in the hotel. Overall, I am quite satisfied staying there even only one night. Worth the value of money.

Misool Eco Resort: "Beyond beautiful"

"As a long time diver in the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef, I was amazed at the diversity and abundance of the: soft and hard corals, the fish, sharks, nudibranchs, clams, starfish, mantas etc at Misool. The colors are amazing. I had to remind myself that the reefs were real and not computer generated. Everywhere you looked there was a different coral and an unfamiliar fish/animal. We stayed in a Water Cottage built above the water on stilts. Each night we slept to the sound of water rippling against the pilings, in a very comfortable king size bed surrounded by a canopy of mosquito netting. There were few mosquitos near us though others reported some. Food is abundant, delicious, amazingly varied and served family style so you get to know everyone there. You walk along boardwalks surrounded by flowers to diving, presentations and the dining area. We felt pampered our entire time at Misool, by the diving staff, the kitchen and wait staff, house staff, the management and the astounding beauty of the place. Equally impressive is the work the owners of Misool do protecting the reefs, providing jobs / job training and education to the community. The beauty and health of the reefs at and around Misool is do in large part because of the work that Misool does in protecting the reef with it's ""no take"" zone, employing local men to patrol and monitor fishing, as well as the recycling programs that keep the waters clean and also teach the children about the value of their ocean. Misool is a very special place, most of the people who were diving with us were returning because they love it. We also hope to return."