Guest Reviews

Le Calao: "Superb."

We can’t praise this restaurant enough. It has only recently opened and there are a few minor details that need sorting (like no bread and butter plates for the delicious and generous servings of complimentary home made rolls) but the main thing is the food, and that is exquisite. The ambiance puts you immediately in a good mood and the staff are attentive without being over the top. The Lao menu is extensive and is quite difficult to trawl through unless you have a good knowledge of the dishes and how big or small they are. I had pork stew not realising it was more of a soup. My mistake, but delicious just the same. Two nights later we went again and stuck to the Western menu. My wife had a repeat of the French Onion Soup followed by the Mushroom Ravioli. I had the Pumpkin Soup and Roast Pork Knuckle. All dishes were beyond compare and a testament to the Chef’s expertise. A delicious red and white house wine each topped off a beautiful night and at a surprisingly reasonable price of US$70. Remember, the Ravioli is to die for.

Tugu Bali: "Aesthetic delights"

"Hotel Tugu is a different hotel than most, and for me - better. Why? I stayed in a suite, more expensive than my custom but I loved the space, the views, the lily pond below and the style of accommodation. The idea of Tugu is that it houses a collection of antique Indonesia art - which I loved - and the hotel itself is designed to be congruent with the art it houses. So you have a place with a quality of history, of character and of class - all at the same time. It is comfortable, the facilities are excellent, I ate extremely well and most noticeably, I was so well looked after by all of the staff there. I would happily return, and that is my best recommendation."

The Hue House: "Spectacular Restaurant"

The unforgettable moment when you enter the Hue House restaurant. The decor is just amazing with the old Hue house, reminds us of the past Hue imperial. The food has a good variety to choose from frm wrap, rolls and lots of BBQ variety to choose from. The food is just amazing and the taste is authentic. The service is good up to standards.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Magnificent hotel experience in Nepal"

Beautiful. Exceptional level 10 service. To die for views! Quiet get away - absolutely worth the uphill trek to experience. Loved everything about it and will absolutely return next trip to Nepal! Marcus and his team will make you feel welcome, and you will be spoiled!

Manda De Laos: "Romantic dinner by the pond"

We stayed at Maison Dalabua (same property) and were lucky to get reservations the first night of our stay. Great food (Laotian with a French touch). Good cocktails and all at very moderate prices - maybe not for local standads (one can eat cheaper in town) but considering the quality of food very reasonably priced.

Neeleshwar Hermitage: "South India trip- part of year long trip with young son"

This is really a gem of a place, the cottages are tastefully done, the bathroom is superb, the service impeccable and the food and attention to detail is excellent. The pool is lovely and my son and our friends really enjoyed our stay here. For sure a must visit and I am certainly going back again sometime soon.

Blackitch Artisan Kitchen: "An unforgettable experience"

A truly unique and distinctive experience at Blackitch Artisan Kitchen. Chef Black's philosophy around food and ethics comes through in all his dishes - local, creative, artisan and balanced. His food is innovative, experimental and he has a real flair for flavours. Chef Black explained each of his dishes as they came to the table and the processes - the majority of the food is organic and handmade. I was fascinated to hear about the fermentation processes and work he'd gone through to create the dishes - an unforgettable evening !

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Total relaxation (plenty to do if you want it?!) therapy for body and soul"

"From the moment I arrived, climbed out of the boat and waded ashore, I felt I had landed in some parallel universe. I was met, in the water!, by Massi (the general manager) who makes every effort to ensure your stay is everything you want it to be. The Baans are all different in size and style. I stayed in Tarntawan which is perfect for the solo traveller. The room has a comfortable bed with mosquito net, fridge/minibar and tea/coffee making facility. Housekeeping was very efficient and kept everything beautifully clean. The restaurant offers a great balance of casual yet elegant dining. Buffet style breakfast offers a good selection with a fabulous choice of beverages and green teas. There was generally plenty of choice for dinner - I am vegetarian and can honestly say I have never found it easier to eat well, with quality local dishes. I felt food and drinks - a great choice of juices, shakes and cocktails - were reasonably priced (wine is expensive but this is Thailand, not France!). The beaches are stunning, I walked the 10km stretch without seeing another person. The water is really warm and offers safe swimming. I snorkelled a few times but there's not a great deal to see. However, snorkelling trips are available to other islands. Yoga is available twice daily, I did the morning session. A big 'thank you' to Alex who I found to be a great teacher. This totally unspoilt island nurtures the wildlife which is fascinating - beautiful birds and butterflies, and monkeys doing their thing! I stayed for a little over 2 weeks and I loved every minute. My first week coincided with half term and there were a few small children ( it's a good destination for a young family). During the day I just never seemed to see them but they could be a bit much in the evening. You'd think that, with dinner being served until 9.00pm, the parents of infants would eat earlier and be more considerate to both the other guests and their own children! However, this was such a minor issue in the whole scheme of things. The massages are great, lovely at the end of the day. Everyday, I felt privileged just to be at Golden Buddha beach - it was all I could have wished for. A huge thank you to Massi and a great staff team. I can't recommend it highly enough. Stayed February 2017, traveled solo"

Hotel Tugu Bali: "Perfect place to make your dreams come true"

"I walked into the Hotel upon seeing a sign for a cultural dance show. I inquired if the any of the dancers would teach private classes. Before I knew it Edward, the Director of Sales was designing a package of classes for me with Widia. She is one of their massage therapists, who has 40 years of Balinese dance experience and a degree in Balinese dancing. He even suggested that I could perform in their cultural performance as a guest with a beautiful Balinese dance costume and makeup. Edward was reading my mind! After creating my custom package I danced for a few weeks. The stage I took lessons on was in the very center of the lobby. I think I was quite a novelty to the staff. Who is this Western that had traveled to Bali to take extensive classes? They greeted me by name when I arrived every day. Edward informed me that was rare. Guests would visit and request the costumes and makeup, but never a package of dance classes. Various members of the staff, ranging from the hotel manager to restaurant staff would take the time to encourage me by telling me I was doing good. Widia was so patient and assured me I was not the worst student ever taught. The night of the performance the entire staff made me feel special. I'd performed many types of dance performances in the past, but it was entirely different. My dance was the first of the show. I was dancing with my teacher, Widia, and her friend, Tina. The dancer after me had won Best Dancer in Bali. Talk about creating a fantasy. Only in my dreams could I have imagined being the opening act for the country's best Balinese Dancer. Edward took lots of photos of me and Ari, one of the managers, acted as my videographer. The fact that so many of the upper-level employees of the hotel got involved in the granular details of my experience speaks volumes about their service. Even though I spent many, many hours in the hotel, I was not staying in one of the rooms. Most hotels would have treated me like chump change. In comparison to most hotel guests, I only paid a tiny fraction for my classes. No one ever treated me as I was any less than the person occupying the most luxurious suite. Afterwards, Ari gave my friend and me a tour of the honeymoon suite, which I had requested. What I thought would be a 5-minute glance turned into a very, very extensive history lesson. I learned more from Ari than any tour guide in Bali. My entire experience with the Hotel Tugu was beyond amazing. Their customer service is unparalleled. A testament to the importance they place on customer service is the fact they have a staff of over 120+ for just 22 rooms. You might not be as interested in taking dance classes, but if you have a unique request this is the best hotel in the world to create a fairytale experience. They would be perfect for creating that surprise proposal or anniversary celebration (their honeymoon suite has a private pool, a private gazebo that sits on a lily pond, and exquisite antiques). Can't say enough about this dream factory. They are the best!!!!"

Villa Song Saigon: "An excellent small hotel with everything you need"

We have just returned from Vietnam, having had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Villa Song was a delight. Overlooking the river, an oasis of calm in an otherwise frenetic city. The rooms had everything one might need, the hotel had a good sized swimming pool and an excellent restaurant. The staff were delightful and nothing was too much trouble. A shuttle boat into the city centre got around most of the traffic problems. All in all, full marks.