Guest Reviews

Villa Mathis: "Excellent Villa, total luxury and fabulous helpful friendly staff – the best"

"We stayed as a family group of 4 adults. The rooms and layout are unique, not like any hotel I have stayed in. We had our own private chill out area and pool, total luxury, very beautiful tucked away in the gardens. very secluded but with access to main hotel pool and restaurant area. The staff were magnificent and the rooms lavishly designed, spacious with lovely bathrooms, very special. This is a honeymoon quality destination."

Tugu Malang: "More than excellent!"

"My husband and I had the pleasure of staying 3 nights at the amazing Tugu hotel in Malang. What a wonderful time we had! The goodness started immediately at check-in: we were upgraded to a suite and received a welcome massage. Such a wonderful room with a very comfortable (and a bit squeaky) bed. Large bathroom with bath and great amenities, 2 sitting areas and coffee, tea, water and fresh fruit in the room. Lovely pool, with comfortable lounge chairs. Lots of arts and antiques throughout the entire hotel, including our room. Wonderful spa with great massage. Everyday tea time with delicious snacks, we will miss this at home! We did not take the breakfast but went to to the hotel's bakery instead, where they sell delicious sandwiches. We booked a Bromo tour at the hotel and this was a great experience as well. Experienced driver, nice guide and a packed breakfast. Nothing but good things about this hotel, I would recommend it to everyone! Above all I think it's the lovely staff who creates exactly the right atmosphere: it's a luxury hotel but with a very personal and relaxed touch. If we ever go back to Malang we will definitely stay here again."

Muang La Lodge: "Its a long way from anything but so worth the trip"

"We booked this hotel some time ago, aided in no small part by a series of excellent reviews on this site. It was then with some consternation, that we read a couple of rather damning verdicts that were just posted prior to our arrival. Had we made a big mistake? Had something gone wrong? Reading these reviews a second time, one got the impression that one in particular was blaming the hotel for just about everything that was occurring in the world, so we carried on regardless. We are glad we did because this is a wonderful hotel, in great settings, much attention to detail, superb food, and lovely staff. I very rarely give out 5* on a review, saving it for a truly lovely experience, and this was one of them (...). The hotel itself is small, only 10 rooms, set in beautiful grounds next to a fast moving , but shallow river, the sound of which makes a lovely background and soothing effect. It is also situated next to a natural hot spring which they have used for 2 hotel use only hot tubs and another which is shared with the locals. We witnessed Monks and local children turning up in the evening for a soak which was wonderful to see. The hotel is very focused on using as many local provisions as possible, which again we liked, as it shows commitment to the environment. They bottle water from the river for drinking use too. (...) The staff are super friendly, and of course only a few speak English, but there was never a problem because of that. As for niggles and improvements , of course there are always some, which I have suggested to the management so as not to be misunderstood by readers as complaints, because I have none really. I only wish I was rich enough to afford a helicopter for the trip here, because I would visit often. Its a beautiful experience and I cannot recommend it enough."

Sanak Retreat Bali: "boutique hotel vraiment paradisiaque"

Second hotel of our trip and probably one that will give us the best souvenir.Bungalow all wood without airconditioning but full of charme.Situé the middle of rice fields and their habitants.Grenouilles toads and butterflies libellules.Restaurant very nice with the staff at the small soin.Superbe balcony view from our bungalow over the rice fields and the countryside.

Villa Song Saigon: "Top class!"

"We recently stayed at the Villa Song for the first leg of our honeymoon in beautiful Vietnam. After a choice of two rooms, we opted for a suite with balcony overlooking the river at the front of the hotel - what a fab choice! The hotel oozes charm and elegance with stunning French colonial decor and a relaxing pool area away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Food and service is exceptional with a particular thanks to the front of house team and Freddie the restaurant manager who made us feel very welcome. This really is a gem of a hotel..we hope to return again one day."

Supanniga Home: "Nice stay in Khon Kaen"

We had the Velu Villa. It is a nice modern villa of 2 rooms. The garden of the Supanniga is very nice with a lot of squirrels (so nice) but too many mosquitoes (less nice)...the staff were friendly and breakfast good. We will go back there certainly.

Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris: "THE highlight of our trip and one of the most unique experiences we have had to date"

"We recently spent a night at Noel Rodrigo's Leopard Safaris, and the entire experience left us awestruck and amazed. To place things in context, this is an actual campsite that is located next to a national park full of leopards, elephants, crocodiles, deer, wild boar and other forms of wildlife. If you're looking for a sanitised, 5-star luxury resort with all the modern conveniences that accompany such indulgences, this is not for you. If you have a sense of adventure and wish to be close to nature, however, you will find that Noel Rodrigo's has everything you will ever need. Our host and wildlife guide for our stay was Pradeeth. He is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the wildlife in the park. He was also responsible for ensuring that our stay was comfortable and that all our needs were being met. From the moment we set foot in the camp until we left, we were made to feel like royalty. Pradeeth was supported by a team of discreet but attentive staff. We didn't manage to catch their names or speak very much to them, but this team of employees are the ones responsible for ensuring that everything in the camp runs like clockwork, and a big shout out goes to them. We were also introduced to Sajith who, much to his chagrin, has been promoted to management and no longer takes drives into the park as often as he used to. He did manage to sneak a drive in with us in the afternoon, thankfully. Sajith and Pradeeth are extremely knowledgeable about the park and it was awesome having them by our side during the drives, pointing out things we would otherwise miss. From the distinct call of a distressed deer sensing the presence of a leopard (those calls gave us an indication of where to head towards) to the paw tracks left by a passing porcupine, they made the park come alive to us, and made us attentive to even the smallest of things. Despite being a campsite, and sleeping in actual tents (think: glamping), Noel Rodrigo's had everything we needed. The accommodation was comfortable and the tents came fully equipped with safe deposit boxes, cupboards, flushing toilets and hot showers (on demand)! There is no air-conditioning, but all rooms are equipped with fans, and it does get cool in the evenings. Besides the wildlife and game drives (more on that later), the other highlight of the stay was the food. We were treated to scrumptious spreads every single meal. Beer, wine and gin & tonics were also readily available at NO extra cost. Everything was covered and there were no hidden costs. We dined al fresco every meal - literally out in the open, under the spreading canopy of a huge tree. Dinner was served under the stars, and the dining area was lit by hurricane lamps and candles. It was really special. The game drives were awesome. It could be because we were there during the off-season, but we mostly felt that we had the entire park to ourselves. We were fortunate enough to see 2 leopards during our first, afternoon drive. Pradeeth insisted that we woke up at 4:45am for our second, morning drive so that we could be the first to enter the park. This sacrifice paid off as we spotted another leopard that morning, and it was no further than 10 metres from us! Besides leopards, we also spotted elephants, deer, wild boars, peacocks, jungle fowl, mongoose (mongeese?), hares, kingfishers, crocodiles, hornbills, storks.... I could go on and on. The other thing that set Noel Rodrigo's apart was its emphasis on eco-tourism. We had the honour of being the first two visitors to take part in their new tree planting campaign (ask them about it). We were invited to plant a tree at the camp at the end of our visit in order to reduce our carbon footprint. It was a special gesture, and made us feel that we had invested a part of ourselves at the camp. We promised to return to see our wood apple tree. It also shows how the folks at Noel Rodrigo's genuinely care about the environment and nature. For this reason alone, you should consider Noel Rodrigo's over all the other safari options at Yala. We will be back soon. And until then, we sincerely hope that Noel Rodrigo's continues the good work it is doing over in Yala."

Talabgaon Castle: "ABOVE & BEYOND our expectations!!"

"First and for most , sorry it's taken this long. We were there in late March 2015. We had the pleasure of experiencing the absolute grandeur of 'Talabgaon Castle' through our tour company 'Trinetra Tours'. Don't be put off by the drive to the place, as it seems endless. But, wait till you get there....... Words fail me about the grandeur of the place. This is somewhere you would go......just to 'chill' and enjoy the surroundings. We were a large group of 12 and every room was special. Mr Dalpat the owner, organized some Rajasthanie folk dancing for our entertainment, during dinner and it is something we still talk about. Thank you! We had a perfect night in every way. Staff and service could not be faulted and in short it's worth the trip. Do something different and experience the grandeur."

Rakkojae Seoul: "A secret oasis in the middle of a bustling city – a gem"

"An exquisite traditional house (hanok) set on a side street off Bukchonro road in the center of the Bukchon neighborhood. Set around a quiet courtyard, there are four beautiful rooms – each different. We had the smallest room, but with it came a dark wood porch jutting out into the courtyard and it was here where we had delicious breakfasts (one morning: mackerel, kimchee, pickles, a delicious seaweed rice porridge and barley tea.) You can also arrange to have a Korean dinner – we had a delicious one of Galbi, lots of small dishes (panchan) and chapchae. To unwind even more there is a small sauna tucked into the hanok – woven mats on the floor and patterns of cherry blossom trees, an excellent way to relax after a long day of exploring. To top it off the host is incredibly sweet, friendly and helpful. Mr. Kim provided with all sorts of ideas and recommendations as we planned our adventures. A true hidden gem in a great bustling and modern city. Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: "Tranquility and service at its finest"

"I stayed at the lodge with my son and husband for three nights, and it was a highlight in our trip to Nepal. The location of the lodge is high in the mountains and away from the city. It is cooler than Pokhara City, peaceful, and the air is fresh. You will get to see magnificent views and its tranquility is simply inspiring. We stayed at cabin 7 and it was perfect for us in terms of privacy, space, and amenities. It has a balcony from where we could see the Annapurna Himalayas, beautiful sunrises, and get glimpses of birds, butterflies, and all kinds of insects (I got lulled to sleep by insect sounds in the evening). Our stay there was a relaxing pattern of glorious sunrises and sunsets (we were very lucky in this regard), nice but challenging hikes, and afternoons of reading, writing, chess and the Nepali game of “tiger and goats” (which the staff taught my son to play). We also enjoyed the pool (it is unheated but is a cool respite in the afternoon after our hikes), which has its own surreal view of Machapuchare and the Annapurna ranges. The staff members are wonderful. They are very attentive and accommodating and I really like how engaging they were with my son (who is 8 years old and very inquisitive). When my son found the library and the display it had, one of the staff kindly explained the specimens (e.g. snakes and insects) and tools (e.g. fish traps); and, I appreciate very much that the staff was quite knowledgeable (as affirmed during the hikes we had with him as our guide where he was able to tell us more about the people, places, flora and fauna, etc. in Nepal). You will definitely feel that Marcus and the staff members are doing their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible. My family is vegetarian and one of the compromises we’ve long accepted when traveling pertains to food. However, the food we were served at Tiger Mountain Lodge was simply delectable! I cannot state this enough. Each dish was delicious and I went so far as to ask for a recipe from their kitchen. The juices were always fresh, the ingredients top-grade, and you know you’re not served anything from a can. Aside from the location, service and food, I also want to highlight their advocacy for responsible tourism and accountability to the community where they are (especially within the context of developing countries like Nepal). I am supportive of the various ways in which they lessen the impact they have on the environment (e.g. minimizing the use of water bottles, not using liquid shampoos, etc) and also how they are building relationships with locals and are taking part in improving people’s lives there. I would definitely recommend the Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge to family and friends."