It’s a rare experience – stepping into a hotel that makes you pause, look around, take a breath and go “wow”. Here are seven – lucky you.
Unique Accommodation
For those seeking something different on their holiday to Asia, unique accommodation options can transform just “bed and board” into an unforgettable experience. Far from your ordinary hotels and apartments, Asia’s more unusual accommodation ranges from jungle-clad treehouses to luxury “glamping” tents, and from staggering design hotels to eco-retreats under the stars. Our experts have scoured each of our destinations for those properties at which you can’t help but marvel, and bring a whole new dimension to any trip.
At ETG, we’re not interested in bland, could-be-anywhere resorts. Every hotel we feature on our website has its own distinct identity – so when we describe unique accommodation, you know it’s the most special and unexpected of them all.
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Across AsiaLatest Travel News and Views from Asia
New Hotels in South & Southeast Asia – The Hotel Hub
Product Director, Melissa, provides her round-up of the most exciting new hotels in South and Southeast Asia. From luxury tented lodges in the wild to exclusive island beach resorts – she passes on her top recommendations for places to stay on your next trip.
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What are the hotels like in Bhutan? There aren’t just luxury hotels in Bhutan. We go in-depth on the varied accommodation options in Bhutan.
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CURIOUS ABOUT SRI LANKA? Head to our website for more ideas and information about travelling to Sri Lanka. Alternatively, get in touch on 0207 924 7133 or fill out an…
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Discover our top ten favourite hotels in rural India that allow you to reveal the fabric of this magical country.
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DO YOU WANT TO STAY IN A HOTEL WITH AMAZING VIEWS? Head to our website for more ideas and information about travelling to Asia. Feel free to let us…
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In our ‘Travel Tales’ series, we invite our travellers and colleagues to share their most memorable holiday experiences. ETG travel consultants regularly visit their specialist destinations to ensure our advice is fresh,…
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We’re incredibly excited to share a sneak peek of Koyao Island Resort’s new luxury tented accommodation. Perched on a hill overlooking the stunning, island-dotted Andaman sea, it’s an awe-inspiring place to relax. The tents will be opening later this year; a potential place to stay for Christmas 2017 at the latest.
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Nestled in the dense forests of Ulu Muda forest, The Earth Lodge is one of the most unique and remote lodges in all of Southeast Asia. It provides an adventure guests will likely remember for the rest of their lives. Here, co-founder of Experience Travel Group, Tom, reviews his Earth Lodge experience.
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Ait, one of our in country partners in Laos shares his latest experience for nature lovers. Involving some moderate level treks and spending night in the trees in your very own hanging spherical basket, it’s an unusual experience of a lifetime.
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Guest PostsSri LankaSustainable Travel
An Insight on Gal Oya National Park in Sri Lanka
by Guest PostFounder of Gal Oya Lodge, Sangjay, shares his tips for travelling like an ‘insider’ in Gal Oya National Park – home to herds of elephants, crocodiles and various bird life. From joining local naturalists on wildlife research missions, to walking with Vedha chiefs through ancient forests, to enjoying boat safaris spotting elephants – he details how to make the best of your visit.
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Kevin, owner of Jim’s Farm, between Dambulla and Kandy shares stories about his life on the property. From the annual cultivation and harvest of coconuts, spices, pepper, cinnamon and mangoes, to the welcoming of calves and chicks, staying here lets you get an unprecedented insight into a rural way of life.
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Guesthouses in The Maldives are the latest accommodation style to arrive in the country and they allow visitors to stay on local islands, gaining insight into Dhivehi culture. There are a large variety of them on offer, from basic rooms in simple houses, to grander hotel-like constructions, each providing very different experiences. They’re not homestays as such, but usually run by locals who’ll provide home cooked food and various insights into the heritage of this thousand-isle country.
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From intriguing overnight cruises down the Mekong, to boutique colonial hotels brimful with history and character, Vietnam boasts some fantastic places to stay whilst visiting the country.
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Across AsiaLatest Travel News and Views from Asia
5 Reasons to go to Indochina this year
by Guest Post & Amelia CurranVietnam, Cambodia and Laos – collectively known as Indochina – offer history, culture and nature in abundance along with mysterious sights like the Angkor temples, colonial towns such as Hoi An and spiritual cities like Luang Prabang. 2016 brings some fantastic excuses to start planning your holiday to this beguiling region of the world. Here we feature the highlights.
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Philippa Kaye, our ‘on the ground’ travel expert in Delhi, says everyone travelling to India should stay in a homestay. I was surprised because for me ‘homestays’ conjure images of quaint local houses, with pretty basic conditions, in remote rural locations – they certainly weren’t for everyone. I went to investigate myself to resolve the great Indian homestay conundrum.
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Peter Hohenhaus is author of Dark Tourism, a leading authority on the subject and a many time client of Experience Travel Group. Aside from his specialist subject, ‘Dark Tourism’ (see…
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During my current trip to Sri Lanka, I was fortunate enough to head off to Yala National Park’s Block 1 on a camping safari with Kulu Safaris. Led by the…
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We know that we are definitely doing something right by the sudden arrival of monkeys to both our forest and farming area. Where we previously grew fruits for years without any hassle, the pesky buggers have re-appeared from neighbouring jungles and are feasting on our papayas and other sweet fruit.
Eco Lodges offer guests a much deeper insight into a destination and can make the difference between a good holiday and an unforgettable experience. From the inclusion of local communities, to the design of the accommodation itself, its the personality of the accommodation that makes your stay much more insightful.
Co-founder of Experience Travel Group, Tom Armstrong, discovered the hidden riches of Malaysia. On an in-depth research trip, he found some fantastic experiences you could include in your holiday, the Suka Suka Homestay is but one example. Here he reviews his time with Aziz and family, the hosts – I hope you’ll feel inspired.
Javana, owner of one of our most popular boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, Horathapola kindly shares his insider insights into his property.
Co-founders Sam and Tom recently visited the off-the-beaten-track region of Mannar, Sri Lanka with travel photographer Damon Wilder. Situated in the northwest of the country, it’s a flat, wild west kind of landscape with an overlooked culture and identity. Here Sam reviews the new holiday experiences we have in development on the island:
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaSri LankaSustainable Travel
Abode Gets Longlisted for World Responsible Tourism Awards!
by Sam Clark
We’re delighted that our favourite Sri Lankan eco-tourism project Abode Tours Community Homestay has been nominated and longlisted for the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards.