Guest Reviews

MesaStila: "one of the best"

I have traveled extensively all over the world and this is probably one of the most amazing 'hotels' ever. Each room is it's own private house, a house that was bought somewhere in Java and moved to the property and then carefully renovated and modernized. Amazing. Property is just beautiful and the pool and spa area perfect. Nice touches like free afternoon tea with enough food that one has to think about not eating too much. People so nice and courteous.

The River Resort: "perfect place for holidays!"

"Very nice place in front of the Mekong. Friendly people in the restaurant, in the whole resort. Romm very quiet, clean. Breakfest and food very good. Beautiful sunset-tour on the Mekong with a guide from the hotel, a drink and snacks. Massage very good!"

Tugu Bali: "So good I don’t want anyone else to know about it!"

"Had my 10th Anniversary there and it was utterly magical. The staff looked after us so well, they made every effort to make sure that we had the best experience and it worked! Food was delicious, rooms were stunning and the view was incredible. They couldn't control the weather unfortunately so our rooftop sunset meal was just a rooftop meal but the setting was so glorious it didn't matter. I will never forget my time there and look forward to many more <3"

Sanak Retreat Bali: "With humanity, kindness and perfection in mind"

Most guests stop for 2 to 3 days and all regret not to have remained in sanak longer...and they are right. My son ( 8 years old) and I set base for 8 nights and had the most wonderful experience. The weather is light and sunny when it is raining in Ubud. The location is lovely with a great clear view of paddy fields and mountains. The villa, we stayed in 104, are discretly nested away from one another and are perfectly appointed . Dining outside sanak is not an option but that is fine as the food is reasonably priced but above all delicious. The spa just dreamlike is excellent . But what makes the difference is sanak staff under the stewardship of Sebastian that makes you feel like family. Efficient with a smile, kind and attentive, ibu jero delighted us with her cooking class, gusti her husband took us to a memorable school visit and berli was just the best guide, caring and so funny. We left with sadness but above unforgettable memories of special place away from what bali has now become.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Wonderful stay"

I wish I could have stayed longer - 4 Rivers is truly one of the most refreshing havens that I've had the fortune to stay at. We had an amazing time in the excursions, meeting communities who are clearly engaged and involved by 4Rivers in their business model. Enjoyed the firefly ride and mostly just staying here and being offline, enjoying every day just reading, swimming, and exchanging banter over good food.

Sanak Retreat Bali: "Amazing"

"Out of many places of wonderful Bali this is my personally all time favorite. We arrived to our bungalow at a magical moment while the sun was setting, extraordinary view over the rice-field and the valley. The spa is wonderful, you can get a massage in a open massage room surrounded by rice field. The food was ok but overpriced, would not recommend to eat there often. We walked up to the village above and had a wonderful time. The rooms are beautifully decorated in a Balinese stile and you can buy the art from the walls, we found out it was cheaper to buy it there than at the Seminiak market."

Maison Polanka: "Stay here for wonderful personal service. Deserving of a 7/5 rating not merely 5/5"

"I will start with the summary: tranquil garden, great room, excellent F+B, attention to detail, but the wonderful staff is what made our stay in Siem Reap a truly memorable one (in addition to the the magnificent ruins, of course). The small touches such the chilled towels in the car and upon our return to Maison after each of our trips were truly appreciated. They provided a mobile phone with Maison's number preloaded in directory, another thoughtful and helpful detail. We found the staff not merely polite and helpful but genuinely concerned about our well-being. Maison arranged tuk-tuk rides for our trips into the center of town and the drivers were courteous. Our car/van driver was friendly and informative on the ride back to the airport, making us feel welcome in Cambodia even as we were about to depart. We cannot remember all the names of all who took care of us but special thanks to to Kathy and Sorpana (?) at reception for all their attention to us. Of course, we cannot say enough about Francis. From the initial email exchanges to our actual stay he remained on top of everything. We appreciated his meeting us at the airport on our late night arrival, something we did not expect. Initially I had considered one of the larger hotels but chose to look for a boutique hotel instead. I chose Maison based on both excellent reviews and the compelling back story as told on the hotel webpage. Several email communications with Francis were promptly answered; he readily addressed concerns about airport transfers (a hotel van is available; recommended as tuk-tuks and taxis may not know the hotel or its location) transport to the town center (tuk-tuks that the hotel apparently has an arrangement with and will wait for you at your destination in town). Maison Polanka is located on the east side of the Siem Reap river in a quiet secluded neighborhood (the nearby Po Lang Ka pagoda is what presumably gave name to the road and hotel), about 9km away from the airport and 2.5km from the markets in downtown Siem Reap. The Angkor National Museum is the closest site of interest within very easy walking distance less than 1km from Maison. Of course, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are much further away 6.5km and 11km respectively. We rode the hotel van for our tour of the temples and took tuk-tuks to town. The hotel grounds are meticulously maintained, heavily wooded and thus shaded. There were flowering plants everywhere including orchids and butterflies were flitting around from bloom to bloom. There were just a few rooms. The largest accommodation was the Khmer House, a stand-alone building. We had booked the the Yellow Room in the ""Maison"" which also housed the Green, Orange, and Purple Rooms. Francis told us that Maison could accommodate at most 15 guests and that the entire hotel has been booked in the past for family reunions. Check-in was smooth; we had the first of many culled and scented wet face towels to freshen us up. We were also given glasses of chilled fruit juice while we waited to complete check-in. We were then led to the Maison building and askedo leave our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. The Yellow Room lived up to what the hotel website promised, as did the entire property. The decor was rustic with sophisticated touches. A small plate of sliced fresh fruit had been left on the desk for us to enjoy. The amenities were as listed on their website. The bathroom was actually on a higher level with a short flight of stairs curving up from the far corner of the room. We had no issues with the stairs but it could get wet and slippery. Having traveled with my elderly parents I have become more acutely aware of the need for secure handholds; a single handrail at the corner where the stairs make a left turn on the way up would a world of difference. The bathroom was spacious. The shower stall was large and even had a small tile bench along the wall. I do not recall how textured the floor tiles were but I did not see a rubberized bath mat with suction cups that other hotels sometimes offer. Again, a small handrail at the level of the threshold of the shower would help steady anyone stepping out of the shower. Not that the the edge of the shower was raised very high, just a couple of inches perhaps. The bed was comfortable and we slept well on both the nights during our stay. There was a narrow balcony that we never ventured out on. We had our meals at the ""Sala"", the open-sided communal area by the pool that served as lobby, living room and dining room. What I had initially thought was the reception desk turned out to do double duty as a bar. There was an adjacent area with couches and armchairs clearly meant as a lounging area for those not interested in relaxing by the pool. As one might expect for a kitchen serving such a small number of guests the menu was not extensive but our meals were well-prepared and delicious. The young ladies serving us were attentive but not hovering over us. We had our not had dinner by the time of our late arrival but I had made arrangements with Francis beforehand and, once we had freshened up, dinner was quickly prepared for us. Should our travels ever take us back to Siem Reap we will definitely be staying at Maison Polanka again."

Mathis Retreat: "Mathis Retreat Ubud Bali"

it was my First time in Bali and I was looking for special experience. Mathis Retreat is in Ubud Bali and is the Perfect place to enjoy Bali with all activities it has to offer and Perfect to RELAX with intimacy. I strongly recommend Mathis Retreat at affordable price.

Rachamankha: "An Oasis of Peace"

"My wife and I stayed for just one night at the Rachamankha hotel at the end of our wonderful holiday in Laos (courtesy of Pandaw) and Northern Thailand. It was just perfect, from the large beautiful room, to the restful swimming pool, to the bar and dining room. Its close to the main temple, and also for last minute souvenir shopping, the ""walking street"". The quality of service was outstanding, and our evening meal, just a light one, tasted amazing. I almost didn't want to write a review, as I would like this place to stay as it is, an oasis in the midst of a vibrant city. When we come back to ChiangMai, as I hope we will, this hotel will be a no-brainer of a choice."

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "Quaint Resort"

Wonderful resort with picturesque view...away from city noise and busy life, you enjoy beauty of nature. On the shore of Arabian Sea the resort is very peaceful... spacious rooms with open courtyard bathroom , overlooking sea what else one can ask for. Cordial, friendly and efficient staff ... always smiling and ready to serve you . Variety of food not much but what they give you is all fresh, healthy and tasty. They have infinity pool almost connected with beach. Lot of greenery and different variety of flowers keep you happy. Onam festival was near so they did amazing flower decoration. If someone wants calm holiday then this is the perfect choice.