Our travel group from Alumni Holidays International, AHI, had a truly wonderful time at Zhiwa Ling. We stayed there for two nights, from Tuesday, October 23 to Thursday morning, October 25, 2007. We came there for the first time just for lunch upon our arrival in Paro on Sunday, October 21, and what we saw made us look forward to the two days we were going to be able to stay with you towards the end of our time in Bhutan. It was a very restful and peaceful time, and we enjoyed all the amenities Zhiwa Ling offers immensely. There were so many thoughtful special touches from beginning to end. I, as the representative of our university's alumni association travelers among the AHI group, noted the care you bestowed on each individual traveler, especially our oldest alumnus, who is 92 years old. We enjoyed all our meals that gave us a chance to sample Bhutanese specialties along with more familiar "Western" food, and the great variety of dishes offered. A dinner with musical accompaniment was a thoughtful touch; we very much enjoyed listening to the dramyen and the dulcimer-like instrument the musician played in the dining room to for the guests as we admired the mural of the Blessings of Old Age on the entry wall. I know that some of our younger travelers also enjoyed the fact that they were able to climb up to see the Tigers Nest Monastery because you had gotten the necessary permissions. When I had been in Bhutan last in 2004, my son wanted to visit, but had not gotten the right permit and was very disappointed that he had to turn around at the gate. All travelers enjoyed being able to use internet services at Zhiwa Ling, and to connect with home this was esp. important for some Californians, as this was the time when the wildfires devastated the region. So, all in all, we loved staying with you and will certainly recommend Zhiwa Ling to other travelers who intend to visit Bhutan in the future.

Bhutan is truly a hidden jewel -- a beautiful country, hidden away, and filled with spectacular scenery and the most welcome, wonderful people. Zhiwa Ling was the last stop on our trip -- it is a true luxury hotel, unusual in this country that has only recently opened itself to visitors. As a new hotel, Zhiwa Ling has wonderful amenities. Our room was enormous, with a private balcony overlooking an emerald mountain, a sitting area and a desk area. Very luxurious and comfy. The hotel is comprised of several different buildings spread about the property, connected with walking paths to the main building. The main building contained some fascinating architectural details, including ancient beams and features. There's also a small museum, which we enjoyed visiting. Our meals were delicious, and the service was friendly, warm, and excellent. We've stayed in many luxury hotels around the world, and this one ranks high in my memory, for its combination of service, quality, setting, and location. It's amazingly close to the famous "Tiger's Nest" -- you must make a visit!

I visited all of the major luxury hotels because I knew I was coming back and wanted to know my choices were. Zhiwa Ling was the best in my opinion. The hotel has lots of grounds and is spread out. The value was hands down much better.