Guest Reviews

The Village House: "A quiet pool of calm; a haven in the jungle. R&R and lovely, friendly staff."

"My boyfriend and I returned to a cold England today after staying at the Village House for five days, after a rather hectic two-week exploration of Brunei and Malaysia. The Village House, and the surrounding area was the ideal relaxing end to our holiday There are plenty of places to explore nearby; two beautiful beaches, local villages where the people are very friendly and day trips further afield to see national parks and nature, or to explore the jungle or local culture. (...) The staff are all incredibly friendly, helpful and eager to please, and we built up a good rapport with them during our stay there. It's clear they have great respect for the place and hope guests feel the same way. The room was VERY clean, with cleaners coming in twice per day, and there is a library and TV room, with wifi, for guests to use, in addition to the beautiful swimming pool and relaxation areas with hammocks, sun loungers etc. We had absolutely no complaints, and would recommend anyone to stay here (...)"

Golden Buddha Beach Resort: "Secluded paradise"

"The resort is a collection of bungalows and a clubhouse built along a pristine stretch of the Andaman coast, along with a more protected bay for swimming (there's a great beach bar on this end). If you're arriving by sea (and not by jeep from the pier) the boat drops you off in the bay, and you wade through the water onto the beach, which sets the tone for the stay. Most of the baans are open air, as is the clubhouse, and you wake up and fall asleep to the sound of waves, the wind, crickets (or whatever the local variant), lizards, birds, and monkeys. Likewise, although the west-facing beach doesn't have any lounge chairs or umbrellas, we were often the only people sitting on our towels under the shade of palm trees, watching scuttling crabs and the receding tide. It truly is designed to bring you as close to nature as possible without actually camping on the beach. The people at the resort are all lovely - Massi, Duang, and all the folks who worked in the clubhouse and the bar are professional and friendly. A special thanks to P'Wam, the head chef, who gave me a great cooking class. The food is uniformly delicious, fresh, and varied a lot from day to day. We were there for four days and didn't see the same dish twice at dinner. Breakfast is plentiful. Everything, from the food to the drinks, was fairly priced and great value considering how difficult it must be to provision the place. A few things that might be helpful to know before going: The waves on the long stretch of beach are quite wild and we didn't find it possible to swim, but it's great for strolls and lying around. If you're going in peak season with kids, don't count on being able to hang out at that beach with them. The bay side was quiet when we were there (in mid December, we felt we had the run of the place) but I can imagine it getting quite crowded around Christmas. The mosquitos and black flies are no joke. I showed up without any DEET and had to buy some immediately, and use it constantly, and even then I was bitten. If you tend to attract bites, plan on covering up and using DEET in the morning and evening. In retrospect I wish we had gone for a beachfront baan as they probably had fewer bugs than ours, which didn't get as much breeze. Our baan was beautifully maintained and felt very private, with an outdoor bathroom and decks. Note that the water is from a well and gives off a strong sulphurous odour, which keeps showers short and eco friendly. All in all, a truly special place that runs seamlessly despite its remoteness and the encroaching jungle and sea around it. We enjoyed our time there and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it or go back."

Sandat Glamping Tents: "Loved it!"

My boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves and try glamping. We absolutely loved it! We stayed in a rice hut (Barong) and it was amazing. Staff were really friendly and always happy to help. Although the location is a little far out, the shuttle service acted like a personal driver for us! The road leading to Sandat was a little bumpy, but not a big issue at all. Breakfast was great as well. The whole experience was lovely and the quiet of the surrounding rice fields really made out stay more relaxing. The only drawback would be the wifi which was a little temperamental.

Villa Song Saigon: "Villa Song – a boutique gem with a surprisingly nice pool"

great place - friendly staff - good attention to detail - really nice pool and all next to the river plus a free boat ride to the city takes about 15 mins Great garden / restaurant bar/grill 5 mins taxi ride away called The Patio if you don't want to dine by the river at the hotel

Maison Polanka: "Refined, authentic, peaceful boutique hotel"

"Amazing stay at Maison Polanka. You step into a luxurious garden and a heaven of tranquility here. Everything is done to make you feel welcome; from the unpretentious French owners and their insights on the local life to the kind and attentive staff. The room (actually a fully detached house with a private outdoor living room) is decorated with incredible style. The food is worthy of any great restaurant in town. They helped us book experienced guides to visit the temples and had a Tuk tuk on stand-by for all our trips. A must stay place to visit the area! Stayed April 2017, traveled with family"

Tugu Bali: "Unique property. Wonderful staff"

This boutique hotel is impressive. We were wowed from the moment we arrived. The hotel is a museum and houses an impressive collection of art and sculpture. Ask Ari for a tour as he's a wealth of info on the history of each piece. We choose a Dedari suite with a private plunge pool, an amazing outdoor shower/bath that overlooked a private coy pond and the most comfy hotel bed I've ever slept in. The hotel is a two minute walk to the beach. I walked the beach each morning but preferred to lie by the swimming pool and enjoy the serenity. The staff are attentive and kind and the service is exceptional. Sri was outstanding and really took care of us during our 3 day stay. The restaurant menu is substantial. The food is delicious. You can order a meal anytime and eat it anywhere on the property. There's also afternoon tea. The Japanese restaurant is in a Chinese temple reconstructed on the property and is beautifully decorated. Thursday night is cultural dance night and not to be missed. We also tried the spa - seashell facial, pedicure and Balinese massage. It was the best massage I'd had in all of Bali! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I highly recommend the Tugu. I would definitely choose this hotel brand again! Thanks to Jenny and Ari and the team for the wonderful vacation.

Manda De Laos: "A delight for the senses!"

This restaurant is stunning. The setting is gorgeous, from the décor to the ponds with flowering lotus, the lighting to the perfect service - warm, attentive and discreet, if the dining was to be half as good as the setting then we were in for a truly special night...and the dining was perfect. Beautifully presented dishes, authentic local flavours... fresh, aromatic and delicious, truly 5star Laos dining in every respect but with homestyle warmth in the service style. The perfect place to explore and enjoy Laos cuisine.

Rachamankha: "Such a great place"

"We were very surprised by the quality of the staff ans hotel itself. Buetifully planned, very well maintained witch charming atmpsphere of an old ""monastery"" type of building. Staff is vert well trained, good English, very helpful and attentive. Rooms are of good size, nicely decorated, very high ceilings, perfect AC, good shower. Breakfast really with plenty of choice both on buffe and menu. Location is quiet, in a tiny street but very close to main attractions. Wifi OK. Nice pool, well maintained greenery. Very much recomendable place. Stayed January 2017, traveled as a couple"

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "a Charming and nostalgic elegant retreat in Penang"

"This is my 3rd stay at Cheong Fatt Tze in 10 years Not only the building is beautifully restored and maintained, but a lot of efforts have been put to improve comfort in the rooms (new refurbished) and facilities (new garden and pool , new bar...) The Manager Daniel has done a great job with him team for attention to service and friendliness Impressive improvements. congratulations to all... We will be back!"

Muang La Lodge: "A magical property in a hidden oasis"

"Muang La Lodge was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Everything was splendid - the onsite hot spring baths, magnificent views, swimming pool on a private island in the river, well-appointed, luxurous rooms and wonderful variety of food. The staff were impeccable - the two young French managers, Raphael and Matilde, were outstanding in their work as our hosts, and the local staff who supported them couldn't have been more friendly and delight to be around. Every morning I awoke to the sound of the river going by and loved watching the scenes of natures beauty right outside my door. The little pet monkey, Cookie, who was rescued by the owner as a baby, was a great source of fun and delight for me also. We did some incredible tours of the local area through the Lodge guides. An absolute MUST if you are there. It made for one of the most special travel experiences of my lifetime. Travelling to the high country tribal villages was a as educational as it was magnificent. If you are after a holiday with a difference, this is truly the place to visit. I would recommend this journey to everyone."