To Mr. Harper's defense: he usually posts direct links to third-parties on twitter (here: to Ritz-Carlton) and does not comment them. And he admits that he is relatively new to the concept of twitter (not surprising for his generation).
Surely you can't make a definitive statement like that about Mr Harper after just browsing a few websites ?
Surely you'd have to be a subscriber of his to know this definitively?
I'm a Harper member, but I don't really read the hideaway reports, at least not regular basis. I only do when I'm looking for some specific information.
I haven't read any other reports mentioned in this topic, so I won't be able to compare.
I can't comment on how quick Harper "updates" his info, but I like reading his hotel reviews, and they sometimes post some interesting trip itineraries on the hideaway reports that are worth reading.
Harper however does prefer some certain types of hotels (less chain hotels), and most of them are in the US, so if you like what he likes, I think you'll find his reports useful.
Funnily enough, I discovered A Rare World only last week. I like the brother's attitude and their past experience of high-end hotels. Do they take their own photographs? If so, they are very good.
Also, does anyone know how long they have been operating?
Interesting. I've just ordered the preview copy. I'm assume they are travelling with their partners and not just pitching up at hotels as two young guys travelling together - I'm not sure that their experiences in that regard would be similar to those of most potential readers!
I'm still waiting for someone with young children in tow to start reviewing top end properties, although in reality - because a 2-year old has totally different interests to a 10-year old - that is a niche that is hard to fill.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earthman
Surely you can't make a definitive statement like that about Mr Harper after just browsing a few websites ?
Surely you'd have to be a subscriber of his to know this definitively?
Yes, you can, if you just go through all his twitter posts. That's what I did.
Interesting.
I'm still waiting for someone with young children in tow to start reviewing top end properties, although in reality - because a 2-year old has totally different interests to a 10-year old - that is a niche that is hard to fill.
An impossibility of course, given things like school holidays. Nobody is going to drag children to hotels/resorts every month and then report on it. In this case, I think you have to rely on feedback from this Forum.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle
Funnily enough, I discovered A Rare World only last week. I like the brother's attitude and their past experience of high-end hotels. Do they take their own photographs? If so, they are very good.
Also, does anyone know how long they have been operating?
On their website the MacGeachy brothers state that in May 2003 they founded Mint Lifestyles, a membership club with annual dues of US$ 35.000, which they successfully sold in early 2009, and then they moved on to their next venture: A Rare World.
By page 3, I'm rather worried that they never realised that Iberia does not have horizontally flat beds, that they have never actually done a SA safari before but are about to recommend lodges and that they thought the Urban in Madrid was 'awful' when I thought it had quite a few nice touches, not least the archeaological stuff in the glass cases in the suites. I'm also not sure that David Hasselhoff wetting his hotel bed after a drinking session counts as 'news'.
The tone is interesting, seemingly pitched at people who have come into money but are beginners in spending it - eg a tip that you shouldn't worry about taking a jacket to a hotel because it won't insist you wear one for dinner, and a reminder to take your prescription medicine with you when going travelling in Africa, and that you shouldn't pack a ball gown for a safari! There is also an implication that their readers will be heading to SA for the World Cup next year, which I seriously doubt. It is also difficult to imagine Harper or GG ever writing of the Montage Beverly Hills: "When the hotel opened ... we were convinced that it would be our favorite in town, and possibly even the world."
It will be interesting to see how it settles down. Given that their SA trip was 23 days, they won't be repeating that sort of thing on a regular basis. And, on a positive note, I haven't seen a comprehensive review of SA game lodges for a long time so the preview copy is worth reading for that alone.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raffles
Interesting. I've just ordered the preview copy. I'm assume they are travelling with their partners and not just pitching up at hotels as two young guys travelling together - I'm not sure that their experiences in that regard would be similar to those of most potential readers!
I'm still waiting for someone with young children in tow to start reviewing top end properties, although in reality - because a 2-year old has totally different interests to a 10-year old - that is a niche that is hard to fill.
That would be a very narrow business model for both the top-end hotels and the professional reviewers. After a few years the target group will move on. No need to build brand / subscriber loyalty.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raffles
I'm also not sure that David Hasselhoff wetting his hotel bed after a drinking session counts as 'news'.
The tone is interesting, seemingly pitched at people who have come into money but are beginners in spending it - eg a tip that you shouldn't worry about taking a jacket to a hotel because it won't insist you wear one for dinner, and a reminder to take your prescription medicine with you when going travelling in Africa!
I thought so, too. In particular regarding dress code. As I pointed out in earlier threads, I don't understand how people can proudly wear flip-flops in top hotels. The two brothers admit to doing so.
That would be a very narrow business model for both the top-end hotels and the professional reviewers. After a few years the target group will move on. No need to build brand / subscriber loyalty.
I'm not suggesting 100% of every issue of my ideal publication cover family places - just the occasional one slotted in. As it is, you often find reviews mentioning that a place has a kids club but (as they don't take kids) there is no detail as to what is offered, to what ages or how good it is, which is a bit of a waste. You would never do a review where the restaurant or spa went unvisited and uncommented.
Yes, you can, if you just go through all his twitter posts. That's what I did.
How on earth could you derive even a half opinion on what his guide is like by reading 1 line references to largely other peoples articles on twitter?
He could twitter on 3 cylinder diesel engines and it would be almost as good a guide to what he writes in his subscription journals, ie not much use at all.
One line that he has been in a place or seen an article on a hotel does not give the same information as his extensive views in his journal for heavens sake.
Congrats on having the time and patience to read all of his tweet's recently though,I only had the patience/lack of boredom to do the first few pages...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earthman
How on earth could you derive even a half opinion on what his guide is like by reading 1 line references to largely other peoples articles on twitter?
...
Ejaculatio praecox, Earthman. I was only referring to AH's twitter page, not his guide.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrophyCollector
Quote:
Originally Posted by paul2
I follow Andrew Harper on twitter and I'm suprised at how often 'old' news is presented as brand new. Recently AH 'introduced' us all on twitter to GHM as if it is a brand new hotel group. Today AH tweeted about the new Ritz Carlton brand 'The Reserve' and its first hotel at Phulay Bay, Krabi. There was no mention that it was a makeover of the old Tubkaak Resort as reported on FT last year :
Launch of new Ritz-Carlton brand - The Reserve.
After browsing the various websites:
To Mr. Harper's defense: he usually posts direct links to third-parties on twitter (here: to Ritz-Carlton) and does not comment them. And he admits that he is relatively new to the concept of twitter (not surprising for his generation).
See the post I quoted at the top of this page.
you said 'after reading...websites' and all of his twitter.
my point is,one isn't qualified to judge unless one has read the substantive work
A few here have as they subscribe-you haven't .
Fwiw,I'd go with galavanters-best of the bunch fromwhat I hear from various posts here and from subscribers.
Having seen most of these via subscribers-thats my particular view.
I'm still waiting for someone with young children in tow to start reviewing top end properties, although in reality - because a 2-year old has totally different interests to a 10-year old - that is a niche that is hard to fill.
IME, kids really don't care about hotel amenities. They have as much fun at a FS pool than at a holiday inn pool.... as long as there are other kids around to play with. Luxury hotels are all about pleasing us parents....
of his tweet's recently though,I only had the patience/lack of boredom to do the first few pages...
