Guest Reviews

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Exactly what I needed"

"After a hectic week in KL a stay at the Blue mansion was just what I needed. It has a magic atmosphere as if you step back in time the grounds themselves are perfect and the room I stayed in was amazing (Liang room). It was calm and relaxed during the day and I had the pool mainly to myself. The breakfast was yummy and service was always very helpful and accomodating. I also recommend highly to dine at the restaurant upstairs Indigo the room is equisite and food superb. It is a place that is probably more suited to couples without kids as it has that sort of vibe, so if you want a romantic get away I recommend a stay. I would love to return again with my husband in tow. Stayed January 2017, traveled solo"

Mathis Retreat: "Small, classy, boutique hotel with very lovely staff"

"My husband and 20 month year old have just returned from a lovely relaxing stay at Mathis retreat. We chose to be picked up and dropped back at the airport by the Mathis team as this meant our little one could travel in a baby seat (we didn't lug one all the way to Bali). The staff were very friendly and the hotel was great - I don't think the pictures of the bungalows on this site do justice to the decor of the rooms - they were very large and tastefully decorated. The bath was so large that all three of us could fit. Karine helped coordinate a few activities from the hotel- one day we went on a hike through the jungle, lunch with locals and a stop at a more friendly monkey park (Sangeh). Another time we went to Lake Bratten and looked at the wonderful rice terraces at Jatiluwih and tasted the local coffee overlooking other lakes. Karine also organised, on our behalf, a cycling tour of the local rice paddies and villages and ensured their was a baby sized helmet provided. The huge advantage of organising all of our activities through the hotel meant that we could use the hotel's baby seat. We ate at the restaurant (Terracotta) numerous times - breakfast is amazing - overlooking the rice paddies. Dinner was also beautiful - lights in the rice paddies and lanterns floating on the pool with delicious food. So good, we ended up doing a cooking course at the hotel for lunch one day. The staff were wonderful, very helpful with our little one and friendly. Nothing seemed to be a problem. The pool has a large shallow section that is suitable for little ones and the hotel's duck's were also very popular with our child and others' children. Another tip: There is a great path through the rice paddies and small village streets from the hotel into Ubud - certainly worth doing the walk early one morning so you can catch the Udud local food markets. Room Tip: The bungalows by the pool were great as the baby monitor was in range. We were in the pool relaxing..."

SUKOON HOUSEBOAT: "Sukoon means peace on heaven of 🌍"

Kashmir’s beauty can leave you gasping for air, yet amidst such splendor, exists one tiny, wondrous place to stay. Of all things, a houseboat on the Dal Lake would be the most idle place to take in Kashmir’s beauty, with the looming snowcapped peaks -far away yet so near and the lotuses floating at arm’s length on the Dal.

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.

jing: "Personal"

"It's a 5 star all around. Excellent: accommodations; staff; and food. Central location. Everything worth seeing is walkable. Accommodations induced pickup and delivery at the rail station. Provided good information on what to see and how best to see. Language communication no problem. A must stop on a China visit. Stayed March 2016, traveled as a couple "

CHAKRABONGSE VILLAS: "The perfect oasis in the heart of Old Bangkok"

"I have used tripadvisor to plan trips for years, but our magical time at the Chakrabongse Villas has finally inspired me to write a review of my own. We could not have found a more perfect place to spend the final 3 days of a 2 week trip to SE Asia. Atom, the manager, and her staff were incredibly warm, welcoming, and helpful in making our stay in Bangkok so special, and upgraded us to the Garden View Suite, which was lovely. Tucked away in beautiful, lush gardens right on the banks of the Chao Praya river and directly across from Wat Pho and a short distance to the Grand Palace, the Chakrabongse Villas, is truly a hidden gem. Being in the heart of Old Bangkok meant that we could return to the hotel for a quick dip in the gorgeous pool to cool off from the infamous Bangkok heat before heading out for the next excursion. I highly recommend arranging to have dinner at the Chakrabongse Villas for an unforgettable experience - the dinner we had with a private table set up on the terrace right next to the river was the most romantic, and one of the most delicious, we've ever had (the owner is a descendant of the Thai kings Rama IV & V so the dishes are from the Royal Family's own recipes). We also enjoyed our tour of Bangkok's canals in the Chakrabongse Villa's own long tail boat. If you are looking for the perfect boutique hotel that offers a peaceful, historical oasis in hectic and hot Bangkok, then I cannot recommend Chakrabongse Villas highly enough. Thank you, Atom, for helping to make our stay so extraordinary. "

Cheong Fatt Tze – Blue Mansion: "Cultural Hotel"

"Very much enjoyed this hotel/museum. The staff were attentive and informative . The free bikes a great idea . Well located. The female receptionist (song?) was extremely helpful with tips of where to go and advice . Review collected in partnership with this hotel "

The Apsara Rive Droite: "ideal location, lovely rooms"

"One of the first truly boutique hotels to open on the middle of the old UNESCO quarter of Luang Prabang, it is still going very strong. I was welcomed by a nice basket of fruit. Staff was genuinely happy to see me again. Rooms are very large and decorated in a very Indochine style with a twist of modernity. A lovely place to relax and to use as a base to explore this charming small town. Breakfast is included and is lovely. A choice of Asian or Western with fresh fruit and orange juice. Has a very good restaurant, one of the best in Luang Prabang. Prices are very easonable. Stayed April 2017, traveled solo"

Locavore: "VERY fresh and different"

"My BFF and I went straight to this restaurant for lunch after landing in BAli at 10am. Took us about 45 min to get to Ubud and we walked over from Sens Hotel and Spa to get there in time for our 1pm lunch reservation. Took us about 2.5 hours to finish the multitude of courses! The food was different and oh so very fresh. First time I had deep fried tempura style leaves and other assortments of dishes. I have tried Andre in Singapore before but the way locavore did the dishes were so different. The herb they seem to used allot is Tamarind, it was featured in quite a few of their dishes. Their cocktails were also nice. My friend had the ROJAK cocktail and boy it really did taste of rojak but in a super refreshing way. there are 2 menus only to choose from, either Vegetarian OR Meat & Fish. :) Price difference is about 100K IDR between both."

Inle Princess Resort: "Wonderfully relaxing"

We felt at home as soon as we arrived at this lovely resort. We had a lake view chalet close to the boat dock but there was no noise disturbance as boats are not allowed to use power engines when approaching the resort. The room was spacious and had everything that we needed. We loved sitting out on the verandah and taking in the lovely views. The resort handicraft centre is great if you want to try your hand at pottery, Shan paper making, weaving or a range of other handicrafts. The food is very good and the service excellent.