Guest Reviews

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "Outstanding service, Incredible experience"

"Having heard so much about the safari of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park was the highlight of our trip and I am so glad we chose to do it with Noel Rodrigo's Leopard Safari. Dhanu and his brilliant team was nothing but exceptional in their service. The passion they had was remarkable and hospitality they gave was incredible. Having only 2D1N, Dhanu did his best to show us as many animals and as much of the park as possible. His knowledge of everything was really admirable and he has amazing eyesight! He could easily spot a tiny bird/animal just by driving past. Something that I was struggling with even with my binoculars. We were really really lucky having able to spot leopards on both our drives and an elephant as well who crossed right in front of us. Besides the good drives and good service, the food provided was amazingly delicious. Authentic Sri Lankan food, eaten the right authentic way. The tents and toilets were also way above my expectation of ""camping in the wild"". Definitely couldn't have asked for a better safari experience than the one Dhanu and his team gave us."

Maduzi Hotel: "Refreshed, rejuvenated, renewed"

"Was supposed to stay in another hotel w friend but through a last min change of plans, I made an impromptu booking for Maduzi as it fits my criteria of budget, proximity and also safety. The best things abt Maduzi: 1. Flexible check in timing allowed me so much more time to explore the city upon arrival. I'm impressed that at 7am, my room was ready and boy, the next point is the surprise I received. 2. Huge rooms are apparently something which Maduzi rewards her guests with as I had such a huge disappointment w another hotel the night before. Below are some photos to justify my claims. No kidding. Not only does the hotel set up instruction manuals for the various hotel amenities in the most interesting way through the form of comic strips, the management is set to impress and pamper the guest w: a. A huge walk in wardrobe B. A personal jacuzzi tub C. An impressive powder room beside the wash area D. Thoughtful mini bar in room refreshed on a daily basis E. A huge (I mean humongous!) deluxe bed that swallows you up F. Boss sound system. No kidding ok! G. Your personal coffee making machine in the room.... *hey management, you are just so into spoiling your guests are u?? I'm soooo loving it! 3. Location wise, how could the management have understood a girl's heart so well???? Besides being right opposite TERMINAL 21 (and that means you are near BOTH BTS AND MRT), Maduzi is also very well situated near the sukhumvit area. The strategic tie in w Oasis spa which provided 2 way transportation certainly made a girl's day shine brighter than a diamond. 4. Breakfast options are far from the same old same old boring buffet spread. Call me a bore, i was really expecting the normal fare such as toast, cereals, porridge blahx3. Imagine my surprise when a full selection of different cuisines presented as a full meal was offered. Not wanting to disappoint the usual crowd expecting a buffet spread, Maduzi offers a petite line of fresh fruits, yoghurt, mini croissants, cheese and salami platter tucked in a corner elegantly waiting for guests to help themselves in a delicate manner. What is this you call? Superb fine dining to help kickstart your day without the unnecessary extravagance. 5. As a solo travelled, safety is my top priority and while many other accommodation choices were presented which could be more convenient eg, on top of shopping malls et al, a girl just needs a safe haven for a personal quiet retreat yah? Enters Maduzi whose outlook appears to be a normal apartment along the road but is securely gated to ensure guests privacy and security at all times. I like it that the gates are well maintained by the diligent guards and it's not a flashy entrance for the guests but more reflective of a place which embraces personal retreat. The already-superb but can be better areas which I hope Maduzi can improve on is as follows: 1. May I have a swimming pool pls? It's impt that one can chill both body and mind at the same time and it's a pity I can't swim in such a nice place to enjoy the view and clear my head. 2. Blame it on myself for gg back late (~9pm) on a Saturday night. The road outside Maduzi may be a tad quiet and there was a guy behind me who splashed water on me as a prank. Thkfully it was a short walk and I was able to reach the hotel v quickly. May I suggest that a tuk tuk svc or pick up svc be made available for lady guests as a value added svc? The ladies will truly appreciate the kind thoughts of having their interests at heart. Last but not least, I just want to shout out in desperation, 'Why aren't there enough time for me to retreat in my room despite the late check out at 8pm?' My sincere thanks to the hotel management once again for allowing me to have this little enclave to chill, relax and refresh my mind. I truly wish I had more time to spend in the hotel just to enjoy its facilities which I didn't have time to explore eg the TV room, my welcome drink which I didn't cater enough time to claim and oh yes, time for another unwind session in the jacuzzi. Till the next time we meet again, you shall always be the best destination in BKK and I'm sure to come back again for more."

GLENBURN TEA ESTATE: "Outstanding"

"We stayed 3 nights for a family birthday celebration. We were 5 adults. It was a wonderful respite after travelling the rough roads of Sikkim. I agree with the earlier reviews and experiences and won't repeat the wonderful activities available. We did the walk to the river which we really enjoyed. On arrival (after being met with cool refreshing flannels and homemade lemonade) I lay down on a wooden bench by river and within seconds a lovely man appeared with pillow and large cushion for bench. I enjoyed a snooze while lunch on the barbecue. Wonderful care and our needs were met before we realised we had a need. Lovely lovely people. We chose not to dine communally but enjoyed wonderful candlelit family dinners on the terrace of our bungalow, served by a lovely gentle caring man. The drive into Darjeeling is long, bumpy and slow. I would recommend you don't waste a day of your precious time in Glenburn. Rather spend two nights in Darjeeling before or after Glenburn. We would have liked at least another night in Glenburn. It really is worth the journey in. "

Satri House: "Great place to stay in Laos"

"Satri House in Luangprabang is centrally located. It's a very quaint hotel, first class with lovely rooms and a very, very accommodating staff. Customer service is excellent. Would highly recommend this hotel! Though the hotel is old, all the rooms, courtyards, restaurants, etc. have all the modern conveniences while still retaining the traditional charm. Room Tip: All rooms are good. No elevator due to this being a UNESCO building but staff carries all the lugga."

Villa Song Saigon: "Affordable luxury"

"What a way to end our engagement holiday. Stunning venue, amazing food, staff go over and above to make sure you every need is met. A wonderful place to relax from the hustle and bustle of HCMC! We were given a free late check-out which was much appreciated given our long-haul flight didn't leave until 9 pm the next night. Thank you so much! "

Tugu Lombok: "Spiritual bliss"

The lanscape was beautiful. The interior designs of each building as well as the gardens area were levely. The building and grounds transported me back in time. I felt as if I was sitting on the grounds of an old temple that had been uncoverd after years of nature at work covering the sacred site. It was a wonderfully spiritual experience

Tugu Malang: "Excellent service!!!"

"The Tugu hotel is a hotel, but at the same time it's also a museum. We stayed here for 2 nights and we had an amazing experience. Because of the low season we could choose our room. The staff was incredible. No question was ever too much to answer and everything was arranged with a smile. Every staff member knew our name and the small talks during breakfast and dinner gave our stay a personal touch. When you stay at the hotel you get a free tour of the hotel/museum and a good explanation of all the artifacts. For us this was a nice bonus, because it helps you understanding some of the history of Java. There are spa facilities and we've booked the 4 hour couples retreat. It was very relaxing: massage, bath with fresh rose petals, scrubbing, manicure, pedicure, washing en drying our hair, tea,... and after all that (really took 4 hours) there was a 4 course dinner, again with some personal touches (all included in the price). What can I say about the food? One word: super! There are so many things to choose from for breakfast and dinner. Local food, street food, western food, chinese food,... Last but not least is the Tea Time Experience in the afternoon. Every day between 16pm and 17pm (or 18pm) you can enjoy a nice cup of tea with fresh made Indonesian snacks. If you stay at the hotel you should certainly try it once. Kept all things in mind this hotel is one of our top 3 of all the hotels we've been in the world! I certainly hope to visit this hotel in the future during one of our next journeys. Thanks to the staff for making this a very pleasant stay. Joni & Jens (J&J)"

Supanniga Luxury Bangkok River Cruises: "Lovely relaxing cruise on the river"

I have done the Shangri La cruise, a cruise on one of the big party boats and this Supanigga cruise, I have to say this was the nicest with by far the most authentic Thai food. The staff who served us were charming and discreet and one did not feel ripped off as people have mentioned on other cruises. There was a free flow of bottled water and the drinks were not overly expensive. I would not recommend this cruise for young kids but for a romantic evening for a couple or an adult family or friends group it isn’t ideal. A nice touch was the crew singing happy birthday to my brother and a lady at the next table with a candle stuck into the mango sticky rice dessert. I thought this was far better than serving a cake for a birthday meal as usually one is too full to eat the cake anyway. Overall a big thumbs up to this cruise

Arumdalu: "Isolated natural beauty"

I visited with my wife for a weekend getaway from Jakarta, and found this to be a wonderful tonic for hectic traffic and work stress. It is isolated, and the drive from the airport is about an hour and 15 minutes, which is something to consider. However, we were very happy to be met by the resort's driver, and William, who took us on a short visit to the town for local coffee and noodles, which were great! The resort itself is still relatively new, and the staff's knowledge of English was limited, but their attentiveness, service, and friendly demeanor made us feel truly welcome. The facilities are wonderful, with private (one bed) Villas with lovely open floor plan, private plunge pool surrounded by views of forest and natural sounds. The beach is white sand and you can literally be the only people on it, which is amazing for Indonesia, but there are lots of little jellyfish in the ocean, so be careful. The food was wonderful, and the chef quickly took in our pescetarian dietary preference and began to create delicious offerings for us with fresh seafood and veggies (some grown on the premises). It is pricey, but is a wonderful luxury getaway spot.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Gorgeous setting with friendly staff"

After staying at an eco-lodge with few amenities, 4 Rivers was exactly what we needed. The tents are large and comfortable, and the staff are very attentive. We love having our own little private part of the dock to sunbathe or jump in the river and the scenery was absolutely stunning. We had a lot of fun on the excursion to a nearby waterfall and on a sunset cruise down the river. Our only complaint was that the food was a little hit or miss. We had an excellent meal the first night we were there, but we weren't as impressed with some of our other meals. Overall, we were very pleased with our stay and would absolutely recommend it to those looking for a luxurious haven in the middle of the jungle.