Guest Reviews

The Samar: "2nd stay and always so nice!!!!"

"I was back in Siem Reap in May and stayed again at The Samar with a group of friends. The staff remembered me and my habits... and this time they propose us to experience other activities such as a picnic on a platform on the Tonle Sap, some puppet show... lot of creativity and attention to details... it made us feel we were not just in a hotel, but staying with friends sharing their secrets with us to make us discover their area. Nicely done... and the hotel has not changed in a year. Excellent maintenance. and rates are very reasonable and maybe even lower than many for a better quality."

Villa Song: "You Have to Stay HERE!!"

"Apologies for the late review but I had to get around to writing a little something about this wonderful hotel. We stayed her in July for five nights. We arrived at about 9.45pm after a seven and a half hour flight feeling a bit 'blah' only to be told that the kitchen had remained open for us to order dinner. How cool was that? So our first night was spent by the river, looking over at Ho Chi Minh, thinking ' we make the right choice here'! Our entire stay was really faultless. Friendly staff, lovely food and fabulous pool staff made our first stop off in Vietnam a 100% success. We arranged our private tours to Chu Chi Tunnels and a day trip around the city through the hotel and they were super choices. I remember now, on this cold dark November evening in Dublin, how lucky we were to have visited the wonderful, lively, exciting city of Ho Chi Minh and if your lucky to plan a trip there, stay at the Villa Song, its absolutely perfect. Thank you to everyone there for making our stay so lovely,"

Rachamankha: "A true oasis in the old city"

"A beautiful hotel, going into the hotel grounds means truly leaving the city behind, in a lot of ways it is a world of its own, so peaceful. The pool is wonderful, pictures don't do it justice. The staff are so friendly and provide excellent service. Breakfast was amazing. We had diner at the restaurant one night (we did want to experience something of the outside Chiang Mia on the other nights!) and it was wonderful and excellent value for a restaurant of this quality. I would definitely be wanting to say here again if we get back to Chiang Mia. At first we found it difficult to find our way walking to central Chiang Mia given the entrance is off what seems like a series of lanes. We found the best was to walk across one road and into what is the back entrance of the largest temple in Chiang Mia. Walking through the temple grounds and out the front entrance helped get our bearings for the location of the hotel. The hotel is a fair way from the night markets (about a 30~40 minute walk) although transport is cheap and easy to find if you don't want to walk, of course the hotel can book a taxi, or go the front of the temple or out to the cannel to find a way tuk tuk."

Inle Princess Resort: "Perfect balance between East and West"

"We loved our two nights at the Inle Princess and wish we'd had longer. Approaching the hotel in a canoe with a local oarsman foot-rowing was the start to a wonderfully relaxing and romantic stay. It is always tricky getting the balance between traditional style and atmosphere on one hand and modern needs on the other. I think they get it just right. The hotel is a series of traditional Burmese wooden houses with verandas, tiny gardens and an additional outdoor shower cabin. We had a lakeside view with wonderful sunsets. It is all beautifully landscaped with paths (lit by small lights at night) winding through trees. There's a pool and a spa where you can get a treatment and enjoy another stunning view. To our surprise there were no insects,apparently they come with the better weather. None even around lights in the garden. August turned out to be not a bad month to go - very few tourists, no bugs and (apart from an occasional downpour) good weather. All the staff were smiley and helpful and the whole place had a peaceful atmosphere. Our room and bathroom were large. The wash area was tucked away separately so the bathroom was basically a large room with a tub in the middle. The lighting was quite dim,so anyone putting on make-up would have a challenge not looking like a painted clown. Contrarily the curtains were quite thin so light streamed in once the sun was up. Large bed was very comfortable. We only ate Asian food and it was pretty good. Stick to cocktails, forget wine. Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the lake will leave an enduring picture in my mind. I could have done without canned music which clashed with the atmosphere but I think it was only breakfast and in the bar. A day on the lake visiting floating islands and local craft-making was a delight. We had a tropical downpour and ponchos and umbrellas were immediately produced. We were on a tight schedule mixing work and holiday so couldn't have the 3 or 4 days we would have liked. For charm and a distinctive atmosphere this hotel deserves a good rating."

Mathis Retreat: "Mathis Retreat Ubud Bali"

it was my First time in Bali and I was looking for special experience. Mathis Retreat is in Ubud Bali and is the Perfect place to enjoy Bali with all activities it has to offer and Perfect to RELAX with intimacy. I strongly recommend Mathis Retreat at affordable price.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge: "One of a Kind!"

"I have never been to a place like 4 Rivers Floating Lodge. We were amazed by the spectacular view, the tranquility, and the over-all ambiance of the place. The travel going to the hotel was a little long from Phnom Penh but everything was worth it. I highly recommend 4 Rivers floating Lodge to people who just want to escape to a world of peace and quiet. The staff were great. I also loved the food that was served.But what I'm truly impressed about is that the operations of the hotel is sustainable and environmentally sound. Kudos. Stayed March 2017, traveled with friends"

Cabochon Hotel & Residence: "Hidden Gem"

"My husband and I stayed at the Cabochon Hotel over the Easter Weekend in April 2015. We found the hotel through The Secret Retreats website, and this being our first trip to Bangkok and Thailand, we decided to try something a little different from the standard Hyatt and Four Seasons of the world. Our experience with Cabachon started before we even left home. I had a couple of questions in terms of transport from the airport and booking at a restaurant we had been told was a must. I emailed the hotel asking for advice, and had a response within a few hours, not just with advice, but a restaurant booking confirmed at an exclusive restaurant over the Easter weekend on the date/time we had wanted - WOW! (...) The location of the hotel is great, located close to the sky train and shopping area's, easy to catch taxi's and massage parlours and great restaurants within walking distance. It's definitely our hotel of choice for Bangkok, and we'll most certainly be back."

Maison Polanka: "Wonderful place to stay"

We stayed at Polanka in early April and it was wonderful. All of us (2 adults, 2 boys 11 & 15) loved it. Julie & Kathy helped us arrange everything (guides, tickets to the Circus, cooking lessons) and had great suggestions for shopping & places to eat. The property is an oasis of calm; the food is fantastic (the chef who gave my son & I our cooking lesson is marvelous); and the swimming pool is the perfect antidote to hours of walking through the temples. The owners of the hotel are long-time supporters of local artists and the entire property shows a deep connection to the local community. We can't wait to go back.

tugu lombok: "A slice of tropical paradise"

"In a 3-week adventure around Bali and Lombok, the Tugu Lombok was our absolute favourite place that we stayed, hands down. The resort is stunning, the grounds are impeccable, the rooms are extraordinarily beautiful. The beach is white sand and turquoise waters. Every meal we ate (in both restaurants) was absolutely delicious. The breakfast spread is fantastic (with a particularly amazing fruit plate) and the assortment of snorkelling equipment, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards is a great way to pass afternoons on the water. Things are laid out so that you never feel crowded. But by far the best thing about Tugu Lombok is the staff. Everyone, from Sharon, the GM, and Henry, her right hand man, to the spectacular restaurant staff, spa team, housekeeping staff, and security, were the epitome of hospitality. The staff are professional, knowledgeable, and polite, and everything they do is heartfelt and done with a smile. They anticipated our every need before we even expressed them and made us feel enormously welcome during our entire stay. We can't recommend this spot enough to anyone travelling to Lombok (and even if you're not, you might want to change your plans to include the Tugu). One small note on rooms - we had read through previous TripAdvisor reviews and decided to take the overwhelmingly consistent advice to splurge on a Bhagavat Gita suite and we were completely blown away by the beauty and design of these extraordinary villas. "

Tugu Lombok: "A truly magical place"

"As someone who seen many many hotels cities, countries and places I can truly say that this hotel left an ever lasting positive impression in my head. A secluded serene place of beauty. Ideal for romantic getaways or personal getaway from noise, crowds and hustle. Extremely attentive staff. Great spa and an overall warm place to reconnect with your inner self."