We were lucky enough to experience 1 night at the hotel everyone was talking about, the lovely Sal Secret Spot.
The small hotel is one of a kind, with a spectacular design Sal Secret Spot consists of a small amount rooms which a choice of standard, superior and suites. Our small standard bungalows had a double bed, TV, mini fridge and bathroom. The design of this place is just stunning with a white theme and a spacious pool area, were the pool flows off into a waterfall with one of a kind round beanbag like large stepping stones in the bottom half to also enjoy. Luscious greenery surrounds the pool making the place picturesque, it was impossible to get a bad photo here as the place just speaks for itself. Sal secret Spot also has a lovely little cafe fit with some of the kindest staff you will meet. Amongst the stepping stones there was a bed for guests to enjoy for those who wanted to relax or read it was a little hideaway in the centre of the hotel and was a very peaceful spot to sit/lie down. The little hotel is perfect for couples or small families with older adolescents. Not to mention a quick 1km walk to Bali’s famous Bingin beach we highly recommend you give this place a visit, I promise you, you will want to return just like us. As they say “This eco friendly resort is ideal for people who want to meet with nature without excluding the first-class comfort”. Rating: 4/5
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Arriving at paradise, I can assure you will be greeted with the upmost warmth while the staff give you a welcome drink, a gorgeous little flower assortment and a refreshing cool towel.
Maca Villas was the perfectly spacious Villa for two, with our bedroom connecting out to our own private swimming pool and the sound of the trickling waterfall. The Villa was fit with a lounge room going on to a bedroom and decked out bathroom which even had a TV to enjoy whilst in the bath. The place itself had a main swimming pool which all guests were welcome to enjoy, connected was also Soham Wellness Centre were all Maca Villa guests were able to enjoy a fully decked out gym with everything you could possibly imagine. After your gym session you could enjoy a steam room, spa, sauna, ice or warm pool session. The inclusion of Soham was an excellent feature as travelling in hotels it is rare to find such an incredible centre with everything imaginable available at your leisure. We were lucky to experience a 1 hour massage just as we woke up and it was amazing ! You can’t pass up a spa day at this retreat, it was super relaxing and the staff were super kind and did everything they could to make you feel comfortable. Breakfast was delivered to your villa at the time in which you chose, the breakfast included a large variety from the buffet and was perfect to wake up to. The villa also had 24 hour room service, a personal butler, laundry and dry cleaning services, free doctor on call, a free shuttle bus to Seminyak and so much more. Everything was in easy reach, 2 minutes up the road was a long stretch full of shops, restaurants and cafes. Our experience at Maca Villas was short but phenomenal, we couldn't thank them enough for having us and their service was amazing. We will definitely be back and we can not wait ! Overall Rating: 4/5 With a 17m pool, not only a rooftop but a rooftop with a yoga studio overlooking a stunning green meadow with cows, five bedrooms, and a perfectly interior designed villa it honestly could not get any better.
The owners Saba and Jesse were two of the kindest people we've met on our trip, from explaining were to go, fun activities to experience and having a fitness class with Saba this villa was one of the highlights of our trip. The villa was so gorgeously designed with every part being designed carefully and intricately it was definitely one of the most amazing villas we have come across on our trip, with incredible green surroundings. This villa is perfect for large groups or families at any age, the pool even had floating bean bags which were super relaxing. Each room was fit with large and comfortable doubles beds and top quality air conditioning to ensure you were comfortable at all times. This villa was made for a relaxing holiday and that is exactly what it provided as any extra services that were needed were provided, including massages or even a personal training session on the rooftop. Walking upstairs you had a very large rooftop area, with access to bedrooms and a area designated for fitness or yoga overlooking a vibrant green paddock with cows and the calming noises of nature. The incredible staff were super lovely, making delicious meals including a large variety for breakfast and a fresh chicken salad for lunch. They were there to help and assist in any situation and were always walking around with a smile. The location was excellent, as this area is a lot quieter compared to others and has much less traffic with beach clubs, restaurants, cafes and shops just a short 3 minute motorbike ride or 10 minute walk away. Overall our experience at Villa Saba 10 was beyond our expectations, we can highly recommend this villa if you are travelling in a larger group to Bali with flawless service this villa is something you should definitely experience for yourself. Rating: 5/5 Metropole Bangkok is an elegant hotel located within Thonglor, a popular and higher-end area of Bangkok. With only a 10 minute drive to the BTS sky train accessibility to all of the popular suburbs and is simple. The hotel was absolutely beautiful! Very classical and luxurious with a modern twist. At the Metropole you see a lot of checked tiles, spiralling staircases and historical Thai artwork of Bangkok over the years. It's a very slick and clean hotel too the which makes it an idyllic place to stay.
The apartment room we stayed in had everything you could have possibly need without taking up too much space or not providing enough space. There was a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and small living area. The kitchen had a microwave, a stove and all of the required cooking utensils which gave you the option to cook your own meals. A washing machine and iron were also in the room and for your convenience there was also a laundry service. The facilities at Metropole included a gym, pool, restaurant and spa. The gym at Metropole overlooked the beautiful aqua pool. Surrounding the pool were stunning lush, green vines the which hung down from the walls as you swam passed. Chow just next door was metropoles connecting restaurant with various choices available and a two breakfast packs. The hotels spa was an absolute stand out and we could not speak more highly of it - you must go! (Check out our blog post about our experience The design of this hotel was a massive standout for our stay, it was a place in which you would have to experience for yourself as words would not sum up the originality and unique design of the complex. From check-in to check-out we had not one bad thing to say about this hotel. We think this complex caters perfectly for couples, friends or individuals on business trip. With an elegant touch the moment you walk into Metropole you feel like a Queen. Overall: 4.5/5 As soon as we pulled up to Manathai We knew that our time here was going to be amazing! We were greeted by the most generous staff members who, after our smooth checking in process Showed us to our suite. The door unlocked and we were wowed Immediately - this room was incredible!
The suite was elegantly designed and styled with a white, blue and green colour scheme. Its walls held up Thai artwork and the tables were filled with Thai ornaments. Surrounding the room were white panelled doors which led you to tiny balconies all revealing their own individually decorated flower beds - it felt as though we were in France! The bedroom and living area were both interconnected and this meant you could completely open up / divide the room using the glass sliding doors (perfect for if someone wanted to sleep and the other wanted to stay up watching TV). The bathroom in the suite was gorgeous! It was made up of marble tiles and had a huge bath which overlooked the entire room when the white shutters were opened. We were lucky to have clear blue skies on the days we stayed at Manathai. Due to the marvellous weather we spent the majority of our time by the beach / pool soaking up the sunshine. The beach is Immediately across the road where Manathai's facilities continue on. Here, there are one of two pools, the gym, kids club and the Waterline restaurant (1 of 4 Restaurants at Manathai). We ate our dinner at this restaurant which was beautifully lit up and right on the beach front. After a relaxing day we were treated with a 60 minute aroma massage at the spa resorts which was divine! Following this we went for a short walk to Lamai beach the which is one of Koh Samui's most popular beaches. Along this beach there are ample beach clubs and on Sundays Lamai has huge markets, the which you must go to! It was perfect once we had finished her to Easily walk back to the resort without needing to spend money on a taxi. After a sleep we did not want to end we made our way to breakfast. Take note all Aussie travellers ... Manathai Koh Samui has vegemite in their breakfast buffet! Our stay at Manathai Koh Samui was something we never wanted to be over. The resort had it all: the rooms, the facilities, the location and most kind staff members. Rating: 4.5 Located on a peaceful island not far from Krabi (Koh Lanta) is a resort named Crown Lanta. The resort showcases stunning panoramic views of both the steep mountains and the sparkling ocean. Crown Lanta is far less populated with tourists than most islands and this creates the ultimate tropical getaway.
We were welcomed to Crown Lanta with a chilled, traditional drink and cold towels before being escorted to our room. Modern, slick and spacious it consisted of all the essentials for a relaxing holiday: a comfortable bed, bathroom, couch, outdoor dining and outdoor lounges. Sliding glass doors opened up to reveal a huge shared lap pool which when followed lead you to a bar and lots of sunbeds. On our first night we relaxed at the resorts’ reggae bar where we sipped on cocktails and had a bite to eat. The reggae bar had a great vibe not to mention we were able to sit in cosy, cushioned rooms or tree houses overlooking the most stunning sunsets. Numerous facilities, free of charge equipment (bikes, kayaks and snorkelling gear) and a travel desk all contributed towards ensuring our days were jam-packed with lots of exciting activities. The facilities at Crown Lanta consisted of 2 restaurants, 1 cafe, the reggae bar, a gym, 2 swimming pools and the infinity spa. The Peak restaurant was where we ate our delicious breakfast buffets each morning whilst taking in the panoramic view of both the mountains and the ocean. On our final night at Crown Lanta we made a reservation at the cliff restaurant where we indulged in a seafood BBQ buffet. It was a beautifully arranged buffet with twinkling fairy lights scaling the trees and soft acoustic music blending into the background. There were tables and tables filled with freshly prepared meals and ingredients and whilst this buffet was labelled "seafood BBQ" it was not solely seafood. The foods ranged from Thai cuisine to Mexican and everything else in between. The resorts' chefs were all on show and using ingredients we selected they would whip up a delicious dish - so quick and fascinating to see. Our experience at Crown Lanta was filled with the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. We explored beaches, markets and tourist attractions as well as lounged around by the pool soaking up the sunshine, not to mention we ate some fantastic food! Rating: 4.5 Koh Samui’s well-kept secret, 'The Nest' is a private and luxurious group of villas tucked away just off of the main road. With just a 2 minute walk to the beach, a 4 minute drive to the Big Buddha and a heap of restaurants in between you are guaranteed to be right amongst the action.
When we first arrived at The Nest we were greeted by both Charlie and his wife (the owners) who showed us all around the area. The Nest is a well-designed group of villas all of which surround one gorgeous main pool. Each villa was a comfortable size and included a bedroom, wardrobe, bathroom, mini bar, TV and desk. In the morning we would step outside our room where we enjoyed a delicious poolside breakfast. Our breakfasts were an assortment of croissants, cereals, fruit, juice and coffee – all of the good stuff! The location of The Nest was absolutely perfect. Being down a small side street off the main road we were able to appreciate the peace and quiet as well as the hype of the main road. On this road there were restaurants, convenience stores and of course the beach! Also, only a 4 minute drive away from The Nest is Koh Samui’s Big Buddha which we highly recommend you visit! The views here are absolutely picturesque plus it’s so close from the villa! Charlie and his wife also kindly informed us of the go-to restaurants in the area which were both delicious and affordable. They also provided us with suggestions regarding what to do during the day and night and how exactly to get there. We spent one of our days exploring the island where we visited the fisherman’s village (less than a 10 minutes’ drive away). Here there were endless shops, markets and great restaurants which were right on the beach front! Our stay at The Nest was certainly well enjoyed! We were able to appreciate some downtime whilst also exploring the island with little taxis/tuk tuks needed. The owners were both so lovely and it was great to receive guidance from Koh Samui experts. Overall we rate our stay at The Nest a 3.5/5. Kaleane Villas, located in the quiet of Krabi creates the ultimate, peaceful getaway. Built on stilts within a lake and also at the beach front this is the perfect location for all people!
The villa we had the pleasure of staying in was named Issara (one of the Kaleane villas) and it was architecturally fascinating! Issara is built on stilts within a lake filled with beautiful lily pads and ravenous fish. Through winding mangroves you can see The Andaman Sea as the villa is built on the beach front too. Within the Andaman Sea there is a direct view of various different Islands which are simply picture perfect. We were lucky to have one incredible sunset during our stay and with the mangroves, the ocean, islands and this stunning sunset you could imagine just how breath-taking the view was. Issara sleeps up to 8 people and contains four bedrooms each with their own bathroom, a kitchen with drinking water (rare), a living area, an outdoor dining area, a stunning spacious pool with spa and a large grass area. The styling of the villa was modern and also included a Thai twist, particularly in the kitchen/living area. The walls in this huge room were a stunning yellow colour which made the room pop plus the inclusion of wood within the detailing reinforced that you were in fact in Thailand. An amazing attribute of Kaleane Villas was the peacefulness you felt due to the isolated location. You could lay on a sunbed by the pool with the warm sun on your face, listening to the breeze within the trees and the waves rolling to shore. Kaleane Villas contrast from accommodation in Aonang, and whilst there is not much distance in between them (this is good for island hopping) all the loudness and chaos is removed. A basket with brochures and flyers regarding trips to various islands was available and the staff were more than happy to help organise these too! Each morning we woke to a beautifully prepared breakfast within our villas kitchen prepared by staff. We were served eggs, pancakes, orange juice – all of the good stuff! For any other meals we headed to the restaurant just across the road or an alternative was to walk down the road to the local village where they had ingredients for you to cook your own meals. As you are amongst nature you come across the usual creatures such as geckos which you see everywhere within Thailand – just something to be mindful of. Kaleane was a wonderful tropical getaway and was the perfect space to relax within. The location of Issara was peaceful and away from the loud of Aonang not to mention, it was lovely to be surrounded by both a lake and the sea – something we had never seen before! Rating: 4 Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa, a destination for many well-known celebrities offers a high class and luxurious experience. With a flawless design, endless facilities and a beach right at your fingertips Aleenta is perfect for a quick getaway, a wedding and everything in between. A complete contrast from the chaotic and almost jungle-like vegetation we passed on the drive to the resort we arrived at the ultimate hidden gem. The whole resort provides you with the feeling of privacy and the perfect amount of isolation. Escorted by cheerful and friendly staff we entered our ‘grand deluxe pool villa’… aka paradise. These doors led us through to the most beautifully coloured aqua pool, alongside an outdoor lounge and eating area. In order to get indoors a key card was required and there was also 24 hour security at the resort for that extra reassurance. Unlocking this door brought us to the most elegantly styled bedroom. High ceilings, modern décor, and the most unbelievably comfortable bed! Waiting for us were fresh tropical fruits, a bottle of red wine and a gift from the resorts’ very own shop! We received a tour around the resort by a lovely staff member where we saw all the different styled villas, suites and facilities available. Each suite/villa differed to the other, catering to different sized demographics e.g. couples, families etc. but they were all beautifully styled and shared common themes.
Aleenta has a long list of facilities and activities available which make the isolation of the resort not at all an issue. The facilities available include a spa, gym, restaurants, library, kids club and main pools. The resorts’ spa is phenomenal and has a never-ending list of unique treatments. Some of these include: Chromotherapy Baths (helps cure diseases), an Oxygen Therapy Room with Aquarium Tanks and a Jetlag Recovery room, and this is only 3 out of an entire list! Activities at Aleenta can be a combination of recreational and non-recreational and are definitely worth looking into during your stay! Some these include yoga, Muay Thai and Thai cooking classes – there’s something for everyone. Each morning we indulged in a delicious breakfast buffet (one of our favourites for sure) at the beach front restaurant which was consistently stunning! At night we had a selection of two different restaurants: one consisted of all Thai foods and the other had a variation – all the food was excellent. Aleenta Phuket is literally perfect! The architecture and decor, the facilities, the activities, the beach access – perfect! Celebrity or not you are definitely treated like one. Rating: 5 stars Aonang Cliff Beach Resort is located within one of the most popular towns of Krabi and consists of both breath-taking views and excellent services.
Our room at Aonang Cliff Beach Resort was located all the way up on the eighth floor and was absolutely gorgeous! Modern, white and with a pop of colour, not to mention a spectacular view off of our balcony which showed enormous cliffs and the dazzling beach. Beyond impressed with our room we soon found out that this was only the beginning. This resort itself was huge and consisted of endless different facilities such as infinity pools, 3 restaurants, the infinity spa and a gym! The main infinity pool was absolutely stunning and overlooked the most magical cliffs as well as Aonang Beach! Surrounding the pool was comfortable sun beds under umbrellas right next to a bar, and if this wasn’t enough there were also in water tanning beds ensuring you kept cool whilst tanning (heaven). During our stay we didn’t have time to try all three restaurants but what we did try was definitely impressive. For dinner one night we indulged in a buffet which had everything! We ate traditional Thai cuisine, curries, pasta, salads, fruit, cake, ice cream and this is just what WE ate… there was an endless list of foods to choose from! We left this divine dinner with the fullest and happiest bellies imaginable! We were lucky enough to receive a 60 minute aroma massage at the infinity spa where we were beyond pampered – recommend highly! Any unwanted knots were carefully removed, our backs were cracked with permission and on departure we were given some delicious ginger tea! One of the best massages we’ve had and we left feeling so cleansed. One of many perks of this resort was the ease of accessibility to shops, restaurants, the beach and other islands. During our stay we were able to easily island hop as we were so close to the beach front where taxi boats are available. The staff members at this resort were organised, kind and carried out their jobs thoroughly. We would return from a quick (and delicious) breakfast buffet with a fully tidied room and along the way pass many smiling faces. Rating: 4.5/5 |