Guest Reviews

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "How big, how blue, how beautiful"

"It was a really special experience to stay at this restored turn-of-the-previous-century mansion. There's not a lot more to write about its significance as a building, or the amazing history within its walls that other reviewers have not mentioned, so I'll concentrate on the rooms. Not only is the building an exquisite example of heritage conservation at its finest, the boutique hotel they've managed to operate in this amazing building is tasteful and thoughtfully executed. Comfortable but traditionally designed, the rooms are a true oasis after a day of walking around George Town. Breakfast service was prompt and friendly. The food, while actually not as exciting as the true street fare Penang is famous for, was top quality. Lovely staff, one helped me out big time by lending me a wifi dongle they had for the duration of my stay. I stayed at CFZ Mansion for two nights and I hope that the next time I return, I will be able to stay longer . Stayed December 2016, traveled solo"

The Apsara Rive Droite: ""

Superb lunch sat with gorgeous view over Nan Khan river. Quiet street away from the busy old town. Beautiful presentation, fresh unusual flavours without too much added spice. We tried the yellow pumpkin, eggplant, bamboo, green bean curry- wonderful. Also lemongrass and coriander fishcakes on cucumber salad. Delicious.

Inle Heritage Stilt Houses: "A treasure island on the lake"

"My aunt and I stayed there for one night. Our lovely room is clean, well-decorated and luxurious. The staffs, students from the vocational training center, are very friendly, helpful and they make sure that we are having the best stay. The bed is very comfortable. Lodging asides, breakfast was very delicious. Many thanks to our host Ko Min and staffs for the hospitality. I would definitely recommend it to others. Stayed March 2016"

VILLA SONG SAIGON: "Old School Elegance"

"Wow - what a place. Right on the river. To catch a ride to the heart of District 1, there is no shuttle bus. There is a shuttle boat - a speed boat. You ride up the river, past all the barges and little tugboats - past all the major waterfront development as you approach the heat and noise of Ho Chi Minh City. Villa Song is located in an exclusive old part of the city, tucked away on its own - by the water. We had a room overlooking the river. It was amazing to look out and see a container barge floating by so close. The restaurant is world class in my opinion. The chef has some great ideas about ingredients and presentation. The pool is a bit small and cramped but who cares. This is Saigon, baby. The staff were friendly and professional. We had a late checkout - no problem. The experience overall was flawless. Highly recommended. "

Villa Song Saigon: "Luxury stay in District 2"

"The most important thing for travellers to know is that District 2 is a fair ways from the centre of HCMC. However, the free shuttle boat ride along the river to the central docks was one of the highlights of staying at Villa Song. On the way back (the last return boat is around 7pm) you can easily hail an Uber for less than $10USD. When we first checked in, we were given room 101 which was small and dark. After speaking with the front desk, we were quickly moved to a room on the 3rd floor that was much bigger and full of light without any questions asked. That generally sums up the service: excellent. The included breakfast is also a real highlight, although recommend waking up early as it gets very hot by 9am. The hotel can also help organize boat trips to the Chu Chi tunnels with La Reve where the boat picks you up right from the hotel. Room Tip: Nothing on the 1st floor"

Rachamankha: "My favorite"

"My second visit to his wonderful hotel. The rooms are simple and roomy and the building feels like a piece of history. Lovely staff and a great bar. Best gin and tonic in Thailand? The local Thai breakfast option was delicious and interesting. Definitely worth a try as it's so different to what we expect from Western breakfast. Pool is quiet. No kids! Great!"

Rakkojae Seoul: "Ticked all the boxes for us"

"Thank you Mr Kim for a wonderful stay in your beautiful 130 year old Korean house. After visiting the National Folk Museum (15 minute walk), I felt like we were staying in one of their exhibits. Just the same – amazing. The location at Jongno-gu was perfect as we are into history so we could walk to the two main palaces, as well as Insadong. Meyongdong is just a short taxi ride away or the metro just 5 minutes’ walk. Also the Airport bus is just near the metro Anguk. There are lots of restaurants around, the difficulty is choosing which one. The underfloor heating was very warm and the beds on the floor very comfortable. The Korean bath was a unique experience to us Australians. But the most amazing part of our stay was the Korean breakfasts – both very tasty and something different every day – YUM. We used the sauna once, and it was hot, so if you are into saunas you will be very happy. We only lasted 10 minutes. The service was never intrusive, just a little hello, and someone popped out to see what you wanted. Mr Kim was always willing to help and make suggestions. Access was very easy, but you really have to phone ahead to announce your arrival to get through the front gate. We had our taxi driver call ahead and Mr Kim was waiting outside. Once you have the access code, you can come and go whenever you want. You can also pre-order dinner which we did on arrival night and we were presented with an amazing feast – really a mini buffet of Samgyetang Korean Ginseng Chicken and all the side dishes. An excellent idea after a long flight from London and transfer through the Seoul traffic. Again thank you Mr Kim and your wonderful assistant who made our stay at RakJoJae very comfortable."

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Luxury eco resort"

I stayed at this lodge and loved it. The whole set up is fantastic from the staff, the food and the views. I truly enjoyed the kind hospitality of the owner. He is a very warm host. The food is organic and out of this world. Will definitely return.

Heritage Suites Hotel: "Respite amid the bustle of Siem Reap"

"We enjoyed our stay at the Heritage Suites. Service is top notch, with water and a cool towel in the car that meets your flight. The staff were friendly and helpful, and liked to practice their English. Our room was spacious, with a seating area separated from the bedroom by a curtain. Turndown service brought fresh water and clean towels. It was quiet and the room was secluded from other rooms. Breakfast was great, you could order everything or one thing! Everything we tried was delicious. We took tuktuk into town for dinner, there was almost always one waiting, and the front desk would call for one at peak times. While the location is a little far from pub street, we enjoyed being away from the crowds. We chose the hotel because we wanted quiet and to make sure we had a good guide to tour Angkor and the surrounding Wats. The hotel arranged our driver and guide for 2 days. Our guide, Chan spoke good English. He was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the temples, culture, and history from him. The driver was cordial and knew when to offer cool towels and water. We exchanged email with the hotel tour desk before our arrival to ensure we saw the key sights we were interested in. Our one suggestion would be for Chan to be a little more communicative about what was next, so we would know whether to bring snacks or water with us. "

Misool Eco Resort: "Umweltfreundliche, entlegene Taucherlodge in paradiesischer Umgebung"

"Andrew und Marit, heutige Besitzer der Misool Lodge, haben aus einer Vision eine Realität gemacht. Wo einst ein Camp von illegalen Haifischern stand wurde eine traumhafte Ökolodge geschaffen: nicht luxuriös im herkömmlichen Sinne, aber von höchstem Niveau: Hütten, Restaurant, Tauchbasis sind perfekt. Beim Bau wurden Treibholz und umgefallene Tropenbäume verwendet, das Riff wurde (im Gegensatz zu den meisten Malediven-Inseln) nicht angerührt. Inzwischen hat die ""no-take"" Zone eine Fläche von 220 km2, und eigene Patrouillen sorgen dafür, dass illegale Fischer gestellt (und manchmal auch verhaftet) werden. Die erstaunliche Erholung der Fischbestände (um bis zu 600%!) wird wissenschaftlich dokumentiert. Es wird viel für die umliegenden Dörfer gemacht, und über 100 Personen haben Arbeitsplätze bekommen. Die Hütte war geräumig, die Klimaanlage überflüssig da es nie wirklich heiß war. Es gab einige interessante Vorträge. Das Essen war leicht und schmackhaft, die Betreuung freundlich. Die Tauchbasis hatte für jede Hütte eine eigene ""work station"" mit mehreren Steckdosen, auf 4-6 Taucher kamen jeweils 2 Tauchguides. Die Tauchplätze waren meist nur 5-10 Minuten entfernt. Die Unterwasserwelt prachtvoll mit tausenden Fischarten und Korallen, meist etwas trüb durch Plankton. Ein Höhepunkt war Magic Mountain, eine Putzstation für zwei Mantaarten, die uns umkreisten. Das Preisniveau war sehr hoch, und wir mussten für Leihausrüstung, Tauchen, aber auch Internet, Wäsche und Getränke zusätzlich bezahlen. Aber es hat sich gelohnt! Ein Wermutstropfen war das durchwegs graue und teils regnerische Wetter im Januar. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"