Programs: LH Sen, EK G, A-Club Diam, HH Diam, RZGP G, Leaders Club, Vertu Concierge
Posts: 283
Quote:
Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle
The night was inky black and the trees glistened with frost when a young girl turned the sharp corner into Avenue George V from Avenue Marceau, clutching a heavy suitcase.
It was well past midnight, so even the doorman was not to be seen, lurking discreetly in a corner of the lobby. The young girl staggered towards the porte cochère and laid down the suitcase by the steps. It was vintage Louis Vuitton, scuffed with age, but clearly showing its aristocratic lineage.
She flipped back the locks to reveal a newly born child, sleeping peacefully.
When the doorman returned to his post, stamping his feet and blowing on his hands to keep out the chill night air, he saw the suitcase from the corner of his eye and heard a small cry from within it.
It was a little girl who was beautifully attired and cared for, but abandoned, somehow, to the whims of a Grande Dame.
The staff named her Vuitton after the suitcase and, over the years, she went on to put that suitcase to very good use.......
Magnifique! Chapeau ... à la Grande Dame. (Insert: Smiley for a rose)
Programs: AC*E, SPG*P, Hyatt Diamond,HH*G, IC Plat AMB
Posts: 5,337
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
perhaps a single "community" thread here, where nothing is off topic, for people to post about themselves if they would like to, random offtopic things, etc.
there might also already be people in this forum that have posted their background in the FT communitybuzz forum.. there are various compilation threads about who you are, what you do, where you live, etc.
I do have something of this sort in the works. It is a long story but I will keep you all posted.
__________________ I am a poor man, I have nothing, therefore, I give from the heart
The night was inky black and the trees glistened with frost when a young girl turned the sharp corner into Avenue George V from Avenue Marceau, clutching a heavy suitcase.
It was well past midnight, so even the doorman was not to be seen, lurking discreetly in a corner of the lobby. The young girl staggered towards the porte cochère and laid down the suitcase by the steps. It was vintage Louis Vuitton, scuffed with age, but clearly showing its aristocratic lineage.
She flipped back the locks to reveal a newly born child, sleeping peacefully.
When the doorman returned to his post, stamping his feet and blowing on his hands to keep out the chill night air, he saw the suitcase from the corner of his eye and heard a small cry from within it.
It was a little girl who was beautifully attired and cared for, but abandoned, somehow, to the whims of a Grande Dame.
The staff named her Vuitton after the suitcase and, over the years, she went on to put that suitcase to very good use.......
My story is very much the same except that I turned up in an american tourister at the Holiday Inn. I have been working my way up ever since.
Thanks for making me smile
__________________
"Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities" - Frank Lloyd Wright -1932
The night was inky black and the trees glistened with frost when a young girl turned the sharp corner into Avenue George V from Avenue Marceau, clutching a heavy suitcase.
It was well past midnight, so even the doorman was not to be seen, lurking discreetly in a corner of the lobby. The young girl staggered towards the porte cochère and laid down the suitcase by the steps. It was vintage Louis Vuitton, scuffed with age, but clearly showing its aristocratic lineage.
She flipped back the locks to reveal a newly born child, sleeping peacefully.
When the doorman returned to his post, stamping his feet and blowing on his hands to keep out the chill night air, he saw the suitcase from the corner of his eye and heard a small cry from within it.
It was a little girl who was beautifully attired and cared for, but abandoned, somehow, to the whims of a Grande Dame.
The staff named her Vuitton after the suitcase and, over the years, she went on to put that suitcase to very good use.......
A very nice story. I can imagine each scene. How appropriate that the young girl in the suitcase be abandoned at the GV.
I am only surprised that the young girl was abandoned in a Vuitton suitcase. Knowing the occupant as we do surely the young girl would have been abandoned in an Hermes or Prada suitcase instead.
Deer, you are pushing the current Aman threads. What made you an "Amanjunkie"?
Also, I would be very interested in bearbrick.
And revolution.
And QF Lad.
And Musken.
And ...
QF Lad is a partner in business that has expaneded significantly over the last few years. This has meant that I have travelled ceaselessly over the last six or seven years. In fact, when I return home to Melbourne I often don't unpack because what is the point when I am on the road again in two days...Consequently I live out of a suitbag and suitcase (not a Vuitton one though).
When travelling I look for the best hotel in the location I am going to. So I am not a "junkie" of any particular chain or organisation, although Park Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental are strong in the major cities I visit for work. But I do alot of travelling in regional locations in Australia as well, which means that you have to work with whatever is the best accommodation in the market I am visiting - a bit like you in a way TrophyCollector.
I am not into glitz (ie. the thought of staying at large chavvy casino hotels fills me with horror), and enjoy small (ie. Park Hyatt small) hotels in discreet locations with top facilities and service. Suites are good from time to time, but good rooms are fine too. I tend not to stay at "people watching" hotels when travelling for business, but enjoy places like the Hotel Costes when relaxed and on holidays. And hotels on holidays better be good, otherwise I would rather stay at home in Melbourne since I am so rarely there.
When travelling I look for good gyms and good pools. Food should be healthy (a real challenge), but need not be Michelin starred. And because I am in hotels so much, the hotels become my "home away from home" - hence space is important.
So that is some background on QF Lad. I would also be interested in hearing from others, including Londonjetsetter
And BENLEE
And Raffles
And of course Kage.
Last edited by QF Lad; Nov 7, 09 at 4:42 am.
Reason: Typo
A very nice story. I can imagine each scene. How appropriate that the young girl in the suitcase be abandoned at the GV.
I am only surprised that the young girl was abandoned in a Vuitton suitcase. Knowing the occupant as we do surely the young girl would have been abandoned in an Hermes or Prada suitcase instead.
Prada did not exist in those days, but Hermes, yes. No accounting for taste....
Programs: LH Sen, EK G, A-Club Diam, HH Diam, RZGP G, Leaders Club, Vertu Concierge
Posts: 283
Kage, thanks for the links to previous threads. Here is what I found:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dchristiva
My wife was an event planner for her former company. Numerous times each year she took groups of co-workers and clients to luxury hotels for functions. I attended a number of them and got used to "the lifestyle". Now we try as much as possible to continue to stay at these (or similar) resorts. It requires some diligent saving and maximizing points and rewards, but we've enjoyed some pretty nice vacations over the last few years. Could I go back to "lesser" properties? Sure. But as long as I can find promotions or reward stays at luxury properties, I will.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Musken
I first stayed in a luxury hotel during my first holiday with my husband, just months after we had met. Our budget did not allow for too much splurging by then (we lived in different countries and spent all our money travelling to see each other or making phonecalls ), but we wanted to do something very special during our first holiday together and spent one (out of three) nights in Florence in a luxury hotel, full of antique furniture etc. - whereafter we had to sleep in a very small, cheap hotel for the last two nights. Afterwards, I have realised that the hotel we stayed in, was not a real luxury hotel, but this experience opened up our interest for great hotels. Our honeymoon two years later, took us to some great hotels in Italy (La Posta Vecchia, San Pietro de Positano, Santa Caterina Amalfi) and from then on there was no way back, especially after spluring on Amanresorts and Four Seasons around Asia. Not many friends understand us in this matter. They think we should rather spend our money on durable goods instead of "throwing them out of the window", but who cares as long as we know that our holidays together is the best there is!
Quote:
Originally Posted by luxury
A sort of chronology of my fall into the "dark side of the force":
At age 10, the Radisson Hotel in St John, Nfld piqued my curiosity in nicer hotels.
At age 15, JAL Executive Class to NRT on a Japanese Government scholarship reinforced my curiosity of, and desire to somehow continue, grand class travel
-At age 21, my first luxury hotel stay was the Waldorf Towers in New York City (a hotel to which I frequent today).
-At age 23, stayed at my first and second Four Seasons Hotels -- the FS Philadelphia and New York.
-At age 26, experienced Grand hotels in Europe for the first time - des Bergues in Geneva, Le Bristol, de Crillon, and the George V in Paris.
Now, corrupted forever!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by speedbird001
About 30 years ago I stayed at one of the first Four Seasons Hotels; The Clift in San Francisco. They made a point of knowing my name, something unheard of in those days. One night they knocked on my door to deliver freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. I have now stayed at almost 40 FS hotels and most of the major luxury hotels worldwide.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny8444
When I was 6 I started flying F with my parents and staying at 4* and 5* hotels with them on business trips when I tagged along and on family vacations when we all went. It is sad to say that it is hard to go back once you have started. This is the same for flying F at such a young age as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin 1K
In the mid-70's, my father was transferred at short notice, and we lived in an apartment at the Ritz Carlton (not part of the chain) in Montreal for a month. That probably started it, although there was a long period of Westins and Hyatts in my early career.
Luxury did not really return until I was in NYC with my (then) boss, we were very dissatisfied with the Plaza; we were out to dinner with some bankers from Morgan Stanley who suggested the (then) new Four Seasons on 57th. I stayed there next time and was hooked (although I was a bit nervous about submitting that expense report). Since then, business travel, let alone holiday travel, was never the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericka
Interesting thread...
When I was a teenager, my father had an important post that allowed him to travel in F and stay in suites / penthouse suites. I often got to go with him. There were many grand hotels but the Waldorf Towers was an annual event, right before Christmas.
Today, I've got Mr. Ericka hooked as well. We aren't wealthy. And we're pretty conservative with money in other areas. Our approach is to tightly manage our mileage programs so that we can fly anywhere in the world 1st class for free. Then we take a year to set aside fun money for some really nice hotel experiences. Save first. Then spend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raffles
Interesting.
My parents were relatively poor, and 75% of our holidays involved a 90-mile drive to stay in a caravan at the nearest coastal resort. My father never left the UK in his life. I never, to the best of my knowledge, stayed in a hotel with my parents (B&B's, yes).
However, I'd always had a fascination with smart hotels. Years before I could afford to stay in them I used to visit them - I remembering visiting The Oriental in Bangkok when I first went to Thailand, and the grand Banff and Lake Louise hotels when visiting family in Canada. In fact, my first real exposure to a smart hotel may have been my Canadian aunt, who was building manager of the residential arm of a hotel / condo mixed-use complex in Saskatoon.
Honestly can't remember the first 'luxury' hotel I stayed at ... I sort of worked my way up from the Hyatt type places I would occasionally use when a junior banker as I started earning more money. Banker salaries and coming late to parenthood helped.
It certainly became an expensive hobby, though! In 2006 (last pre-baby and pre-pregnancy year), over 50% of ALL money we spent went on travel, although admittedly we were mortgage-free.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanjunkie
It wasn't until I was my early 20's, I think, that I really began to have interest in staying at the better hotels. Probably because of childhood experiences staying in average American hotels and motels, I wanted to experience things beyond that...well, really beyond that. I was based in Asia by that time, and luxury hotels were more of the norm than the exception. Even if you didn't stay in one, there was always dinners at these hotels, functions, meetings, and many of the popular clubs were there, too.
Holidays around Asia were relatively inexpensive, and it didn't take long before I started staying in more upscale hotels around the continent. I had to travel for work a lot as well, and by the time I owned my own company, I wouldn't hesitate to book myself into the nicer business hotels on work trips.
But probably it was when I met my wife almost ten years that I really became fond of luxury hotels. She loved to travel as much as I did, and when you have someone permanent to share experiences with, it seemed to be worth it so much more. We made it a point to try to stay at the best hotel or property in any city that we went for holiday, taking about three or four trips a year, and soon we graduated to only wanting to stay in suites. Probably because of our inexperience, we always wanted to stay in a better room than we did in our previous trip. Many of our holidays were to resort towns around Asia, so villas began becoming an option, as they were quite common and affordable. We started to love the service of these resorts, loved going to spas together and getting massages, loved getting picked up by a golf cart to go to the clubhouse or the beach, and just loved the laid-back atmosphere of these properties, which were an oasis especially since our normal daily lives in were high-stress Asian urban environments.
We had stayed in various resorts around Asia before we came across our first Aman. I was aware of Amanresorts before from reading various articles, but no one I knew had stayed in one, so I didn't really have an idea of why or how they would be better than the resorts that we had stayed at. It wasn't until a friend had their wedding at an Aman did I understand. The villas they rented for the ceremony and the reception were just flat-out amazing. Not just huge and with epic ocean views, but the architecture was truly stunning, even within the villas. Really blew me away in terms of the grandness of the spaces, and opened up my imagination to this almost "fantasy" world, and made me realize it was real and within grasp.
After that wedding, we decided to do our first Aman trip, which was the Aman Bali Experience a few years ago. That was easily our best trip together up until that time, and we have never looked back!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kettering Northants QC
When I was a child and throughout my twenties I would travel and stay in good 3-4 star hotels (obviously chosen by my parents when I was younger).
On my first trip to Asia about 20 years ago I booked a multi center tour using 4 star hotels. About 2 months before we were due to travel we were told our hotel in Singapore was undergoing a bit of refurbishment and were given the choice of paying about £5 a night extra for another 4 star or £10 a night extra for a 5 star - the Mandarin Oriental.
The 4 star hotels on our trip were excellent cw what we had stayed at in Europe and America but the 5 star MO in Singapore (then) was completely on a different level.
With the advent of the internet I now dont do the travel agent tours - we do our own research and hunt for the bargains. I still find it difficult to justify paying huge sums of money sometimes asked for at luxury hotels but where I can get a good price and the extra seems to be worth it we will generally go for the most luxurious hotel we can afford.
I do, however, still believe there are some fantastic non lux hotels 3 star hotels out there that offer 95% of what the most luxurious hotels off for a fraction of the price - I would love to see a thread on "luxurious 3 star finds"
Quote:
Originally Posted by quitecontrary
Coincidentally - my first luxury hotel stay was at Raffles. We were backpacking around SE Asia and had spent a few days in a Chinese hotel (the type where the walls don't go all the way up to the ceiling - not a class of hotel that I'm sure any of members of this board have stayed at) on Beach Road and decided to blow some of our limited budget on a bit of luxury for our last night - we walked down to the hotel wearing our best clothes, checked in at midday and didn't leave the hotel grounds until we checked out the next day. As we were leaving - the large turbanned doorman asked if we needed a taxi - we declined and walked back up Beach Rd to the bus station to take the bus to Malacca.
That time we only stayed in a standard room but the next time we stayed in the Somerset Maugham suite - we had a couple more stays - the last being at Christmas 1988 just before the hotel closed down for refurbishment - we had the Joseph Conrad Suite which cost £75 per night! Even though the hotel was in need of refurbishment (the plumbing especially), it had great atmosphere, something that is lacking especially in the public rooms such as the Long Bar and the Tiffin Room post refurbishment.
On that same backpacking trip we also visited (but didn't stay) more of the colonial era Grand Dame hotels - the E&O in Penang, The Strand in Rangoon (where we had the then famous signature dish - lobster thermidor) The Oriental in BKK, the Peninsula in HKG and the Bela Vista in Macau (now sadly no more and which I am sure was not generally considered one the famous colonial hotels) we have since stayed at the Oriental and the Pen but have yet to return to the Strand or the E&O. Next month we will be staying at another SE Asian colonial hotel - the Metropole in Hanoi.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Revolution
Started when I was 8 yrs old in the late 70's. My parents used to take us to various " Relaix & Chateaux" properties in France and Benelux.
In the late 80's/early 90's we stayed in various FS properties ( Palm Beach, Santa Barbara).
My defining moment was discovering the Amanbali resorts in 1995 after reading an article on new Bali properties in "Travel & Leisure".
A few months later we spent 2 weeks in Amankila, Amandari and FS Jimbaran ( The FS being a big disappointment).
At the Amankila we discovered back copies of the Gallivanter's Guide and became hooked on that publication which has become my hotel bible since then. More Amanresorts followed the year after and since then I have spent a small fortune in those wonderful hotels. Wish I had more money and more time off...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Non-NonRev
My first stays at luxury properties were made possible by possesion of an airline ID card and the fact that some properties extended across-the-board travel industry discounts (one of the better deals was staying at the Club at the R-C San Francisco for $120).
Once I started paying on my own dime, many of my luxury stays have been justified primarily by location. Many luxury properties have prime city-center locations, and they are often very close to the opera houses and performing arts halls that are the centerpiece of some of my trips. So I will pay more to stay at, for eample, places like the (former) FS in Berlin or the Vier Jahrszeiten in Hamburg (both very close to the Staatsoper in either city), and one of my favorites, the Tsachenbergpalais in Dresden, literally across the street from the splendid Semperoper. Also D'Angleterre in Copenhagen, before the opening of the new waterfront theater.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozchinois
It was my first trip to LA and I wanted to stay in the "Pretty Woman" hotel. I recall returning late one night (maybe 2.00am) wearing something very short with a brief top (yes I know I need an e after my screen name) and wondered if the posh guests in the lift with me thought I was a la Julia Roberts. Then I went to NYC and stayed at the Regent Wall St and the Plaza. After that I was hooked.
QF Lad is a partner in business that has expaneded significantly over the last few years. This has meant that I have travelled ceaselessly over the last six or seven years. In fact, when I return home to Melbourne I often don't unpack because what is the point when I am on the road again in two days...Consequently I live out of a suitbag and suitcase (not a Vuitton one though).
When travelling I look for the best hotel in the location I am going to. So I am not a "junkie" of any particular chain or organisation, although Park Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental are strong in the major cities I visit for work. But I do alot of travelling in regional locations in Australia as well, which means that you have to work with whatever is the best accommodation in the market I am visiting - a bit like you in a way TrophyCollector.
I am not into glitz (ie. the thought of staying at large chavvy casino hotels fills me with horror), and enjoy small (ie. Park Hyatt small) hotels in discreet locations with top facilities and service. Suites are good from time to time, but good rooms are fine too. I tend not to stay at "people watching" hotels when travelling for business, but enjoy places like the Hotel Costes when relaxed and on holidays. And hotels on holidays better be good, otherwise I would rather stay at home in Melbourne since I am so rarely there.
When travelling I look for good gyms and good pools. Food should be healthy (a real challenge), but need not be Michelin starred. And because I am in hotels so much, the hotels become my "home away from home" - hence space is important.
So that is some background on QF Lad. I would also be interested in hearing from others, including Londonjetsetter
And BENLEE
And Raffles
And of course Kage.
I have spent FAR too much time reading this forum. It is totally addictive and I am very grateful to everyone who has shared such valuable information. I think I have already avoided some disastrous stays due to clever advice from others here.
I am flattered that anyone is interested in my background, as a relative newcomer. I'm a commercial lawyer in my mid-30's. I travel a lot with work, mostly to New York and Europe at the moment. I developed an obsession with boutique hotels in my early 20's which gradually turned into an obsession with luxury hotels as I had more money to travel. I also travel a lot for pleasure and plan my trips months in advance. I like good views, good service, good food and to feel welcomed (all obvious really). I detest chintz.
I am currently EXTREMELY jetlagged after arriving back from Amankila!
.
