Guest Reviews

Jing’s Residence: "The best hotel we have stayed at anywhere!"

"My husband and I just checked out from a two day stay at Jing’s Residence, and I must say it was the most enjoyable hotel we have ever stayed at in the world. It is not overly opulent nor extravagant, just perfectly designed, with exceptional service, and every detail is taken care of. Imam and his team could not have been more accommodating and attentive, and were never overbearing or fussy. Afternoon tea was a wonderful experience, breakfast was excellent, and the in room local snacks were very much appreciated. The hotel itself is exceptionally beautiful. Furniture and artwork has been very tastefully selected, and the outdoor spaces are as well maintained as the indoor ones. The location couldn’t have been better, steps from the sights and shops but in a very quiet and peaceful part of the old city. I couldn’t recommend this hotel more, and not only should it be where you stay during your time in Pingyao, you should come to Pingyao just to stay here!"

Villa Song Saigon: "Postmodern Colonial Style Perfection"

"In district 2, Villa Song is perfectly located along the Saigon river with scenes of the rural outskirts and industrial trade by cargo ship directly before you, to give a sense of location and culture. Being slightly out of the centre of the city and right on the banks of the river, means the air there is a slightly more fresh. Villa Song is a mightily impressive building, reminiscent of a palatial colonial outpost, yet it is only a few years old. The service is exceptional and the catering is world class. The outdoor bar and dining area is truly lovely. You can only be made to feel special here and although we only stayed 2 nights, my Husband and I found this hotel to be faultless. A nice touch was the complementary mini bar, including water, juices, soya drinks and beer, and fresh tropical fruits. The fixtures and fittings are top quality too, solid and robust and classically designed...everything for your comfort. We adored our stay here."

Glenburn Tea Estate: "Paradise – what more could you ask for?!"

Glenburn looks, tastes and feels like paradise. It is a truly amazing place where you feel cocooned from the rest of the world. From the moment we were warmly welcomed by Ranjan, Angela, George and Kim we felt like part of the “family” and thanks to the excellent company from the remaining guests we had a wonderful stay. Our one regret was that we hadn’t stayed longer! We were staying in a room in the water lily bungalow. A short walk, we enjoyed the privacy that this afforded us from the main building. The rooms are gorgeous and the views have to be seen to be believed. Waking to sunlight breaking over the summit of Kanchenjunga and enjoying it from the comfort of your 4 poster bed is an experience we will never get to repeat! The walking is amazing - both through the tea estate and the colourful villages that house the tea workers with everyone you meet friendly. You don’t need to leave by vehicle once you arrive - indeed the road is so bad you should do all your excursions from the town of Darjeeling before you arrive! We were sorry that the recent civil unrest in Darjeeling had had such a devastating effect on the tea production here. The food was first class and the team went out of their way to cater for our vegetarian diet. If we had stayed longer we would have left a stone heavier! We loved our “bed tea” a great touch. People should note that evening dinner is served “en famille” with other guests which may not suit everyone. Overall a wonderful experience. All our fellow guests had been before and we soon understood why. Location, service and luxury - what more could you ask for. Thanks to all the team there.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "Glamping with a Conscience"

I love travelling and always chose to camp, and as it's in my bucket list, I went to luxury style of camping. And man,i was shocked!
This lodge is more than just camping! They are so enganged with the preservation of the flora & fauna in this rainforest,and they are very involved in community projects, amazing!
Of course i asked about what things i could do during my 2 days stay.
And they suggested that I visit a place called Kokong knong (not sure of spelling!)
4Rivers team are raising funds to build a proper classrom for more than 30 students in this village. Guess what? This village is almost 2 hours away (by boat) from 4rivers floating lodge,but they were so thoughtful of the people here!
The 2 days is the most fulfilling, most fun camping experience i have ever had.
Now, I changed my bucket list. I am now looking for places that have the same passion and uniqueness as this lodge. I love camping!

Mie Cafe: "Chef’s recommendation"

We ended up trying this restaurant from the recommendation of the head chef of Lecuisine Wat Damnak (another review), and we loved it. Cozy fine dining restaurant, where we ended up trying some of the a la carte dishes instead of the degustation menu. Really enjoyed the food (new Khmer dishes) and atmosphere, and even despite a heavy rainstorm, which caused a semi-flood in the outdoor seating area. Made it extra cozy.

Satri House: "Excellent Place to end our trip of Laos"

"If you are considering a trip to Luang Prabang do yourself a favour and consider this hotel. We spent 4 nights here at the end of a tour of Laos and would thoroughly recommend this Boutique hotel. The grounds are beautiful, including a swimming pool and the rooms elegant, as one would expect from the former royal residence of Prince Souphanouvong. Our junior suite had a large bedroom, wardrobe area, huge bathroom with bath, separate shower and two washbasins and a separate loo. Plus an outside private balcony which overlooked the lilley pond. In the evening the staff would come in, prepare the nets around our four poster bed and put drinking water by the bed. Staff were all polite and service very good. Our package included breakfast served until 10.30 which was cooked freshly to order and of a good standard. Although a choice it is basically eggs, bread, cereal, yoghurt and tea/coffee, or noodle soup. We stayed over New Year where there was a Gala Dinner, including local dancers, floating candles and a small disco, which was very nice and in keeping with the surroundings. Wifi available free in rooms and ok by pool, but found it dropped off in the front courtyard. There is a spa should this be of interest to you. The hotel is situated about 5 minutes walk along the main road to the start of the Night Market and if you want to go to the river it is a 10 minute walk, all very easy, however there was always a Tuk Tuk or taxi outside the gate should you not wish to walk. There are also Bicycles for guest use if you wish. The flight path goes over the hotel so there are a few planes overhead during the daytime, but not that many or that noisy that it interferes with your enjoyment of the stay."

MesaStila: "Have made plans to come back"

"We were impressed by the resort from the moment we arrived - and it only got better. The service level of the staff was exceptional, without being intrusive. Mbak Lily was very helpful during our stay, and everyone else we met there was equally hospitable. We enjoyed our room with the view of the Mt. Andong - breathtaking view to wake up to. Room was spacious and comfortable, furnished with antique Javanese pieces. Just beautiful. Food was excellent - wine collection can be improved though. We enjoyed the Coffee Plantation Walk and the Yoga class, and would like to try the Mountain Trekking on our next visit. One of the many highlights of our stay was the Hammam Spa, which is definitely not to be missed!"

Villa Song Saigon: "Great place to stay with easy boat access to downtown Saigon"

"Stayed in the family suite for just a night at the end of a 4 week trip across Asia. Villa Song was one of the best surprises of the trip, Great Boutique hotel, nice breakfast, decent massages and really convenient private speedboat to connect to downtown Would definitely stay again"

Talabgaon Castle Heritage Resort: "Beautifully restored haveli"

"A peaceful period hotel in a slightly remote setting. The gardens are enchanting, the pool side very inviting, the staff very warm and cordial. To top it off the food was really good and served in different settings in the various outdoor locales that the hotel boasts. Don't opt for the Burj rooms though. The deluxe rooms are good..And the suites are very royal though pricier. A big thank you to Mr Yogi, the manager, Mr Hemendra ( F&B) and Sandeep for taking such good care of us. And wishing Mr Dalpat Singh Rathore the very best for this venture in the future. Thank you"

David’s Kitchen: "Great food, wonderful host, fantastic experience"

This was a gem. David greeted us when we arrived and appeared genuinely interested in where we came from. Menu offered a broad range of dishes from local Thai to European fare. If you have guests who have different tastes, this is definitely the place to go. Service was personalized and attentive. Food was tasty and absolutely delightful. Great selection of wine and the bartender was accommodating to my partner's request for a specific drink mix. Chill environment amidst the high energy of old Chiang Mai. Reservations highly recommended.