KatW

Await with interest your comments on Laucala post re-opening after the cyclone. We are headed there for ten days next May.

Pausanias

If your only experience of Fiji is Laucala - well, that makes me rather sad as Fiji is a great travel experience as is the entire South Pacific. These hugely expensive offshore resorts only offer in my view a sort of microwaved/bottled/sanitized/Disneyfied experience that makes travelling halfway round the world and back not a particularly meaningful thing to do. Anyway, Macmyday, I'm looking forward to your account of this place. Perhaps I should change my name from Pausanias to Vicarious.

Kagehitokiri

Pausanias, that is really not a good argument, and you do cruises

one reason why it's not: please name the laucala equivalent in / closer to EU

not "halfway round the world and back" from west coast US/CA, asia, AU/NZ

laucala rates include inner reef scuba diving and motorized watersports (etc)
laucala is 3000+ acres with farms/horses (only orpheus and wakaya compare)

which Pausanias has mentioned as part of why he does cruises

KatW

In our decrepitude with various issues, Laucala is just the ticket. Does not have to be so for all.

bhrubin

We all can respect that YOU like to see more than just a place like Laucala when visiting Fiji...but it is inappropriate to assume your taste is the same for everyone else. Judge Laucala on its own merits, and let people decide what they want to do for themselves.

KatW

Your view, Pausanias, is valid, assuming you have experienced Laucala. Yes, it is a curated experience and likely its sheer luxury factor sets it apart from other Fiji experiences; I expect most know that going in. Nevertheless I am expecting healthy helpings of Fiji even if these are carefully selected and presented.

Jim is in moderate-stage dementia so upscale traveling is a necessity. I'm just ordinarily aging but yet appreciate lashings of comfort. This is explanation not apology. I am all tickled pink to have ten nights at Laucala. After all, this is the Luxury Hotel forum.

Pausanias

Just to be clear - I have no problem with people going to Laucala and I am looking forward to reading an account of it and seeing photos.

I just wanted to remind people that Fiji is a country as well and that if you fly halfway round the world it might be worth a look, if you are able.

In my experience, I think maybe the only country not worth seeing but worth visiting for the resorts would be the Maldives.

bhrubin

For the rest of this year...

Sept:

SLS Beverly Hills (dinner at Saam at the Bazaar)

Oct:

Gritti Palace, Venice (dinners at Le Calandre, Osteria de Fiore, Quadri, il Ridotto)
Aman Grand Canal, Venice (lunch)
Excelsior Hotel Gallia, Milan (dinners at Berton, Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Alice)
Park Tower Knightsbridge, London (dinners at The Ledbury, Marcus)

Westin San Jose (dinner at Manresa)
Umstead Hotel, Cary NC (dinner at Heron's)

Nov:

St Regis San Francisco (dinner at Saison, Omakase)
W Los Angeles/W Beverly Hills
Peninsula Beverly Hills (dinner at Melisse)

Dec:

St Regis San Francisco (dinners at Quince, Campton Place, Wako)

MacMyDay

I was in The Berkeley on Sunday for a quick drink and a nose around as I wanted to see what they had been doing with their refurb. Suffice to say, I was really impressed, especially how every floor has a different theme, different corridors, and different style of rooms. I can't recall ever seeing something like it anywhere else. I was invited to the pre-opening of The Blue Bar, so had already seen the lobby and it's slowly growing on me, but the Blue Bar and Collins Room (used to be Caramel Room) are big improvements. I've decided to move our upcoming stay at The Connaught to The Berkeley in order to try out one of their new rooms.

Do you have dates confirmed yet? We're having dinner there on the 7th Oct. I would also suggest you try out his new restaurant in St. Pancras hotel: The Gilbert Scott.

bhrubin

We are confirmed for The Ledbury on 7 Oct and Marcus on 8 Oct! Wowzers, we will miss each other by a night! If you're staying at the Berkeley, however, we could perhaps meet you in the bar for a drink or two before our dinner on that Sat, 8 Oct?

stimpy

That sounds good. I popped into the Blue Bar a couple months or so ago and the works were still going on with hallways blocked, etc. But still the service at the bar was impeccable.

chinmoylad

Au contraire, if there is time, I do recommend doing the tour around Male. It's an interesting perspective. Interesting bit of history too to the country.

I wouldn't place it high on the list, but it's more to kill time.

chinmoylad

October 1-3: Aman-i-Khas
October 3-6: Amanbagh
October 6-8: TBC (possibly Lodhi)

Will anyone be around? Drop me a message if you are!

MacMyDay

We'll likely be staying at The Connaught (unless of course, The Berkeley manages to do something amazing), but that's not even a 10 minute cab drive away, so consider it done. I'll PM you to organise the specifics.

As a non-drinker, saying it's my favourite bar in London would normally not count as a glowing reference, but I've been a regular visitor for the last 6 years and love it. The fact that I met my girlfriend there 5 years ago may somewhat bias my view of it.

MacMyDay

The rest of our year now confirmed. At the moment of paying a deposit, there is no going back and I'm committed to the plan. It's a moment of enjoyment at having planned and booked everything, but then boredom at nothing to plan. Onto 2017.

November:

• Four Seasons, St. Petersburg
• Four Seasons, Moscow

December:

• Southern Ocean Lodge
• Park Hyatt, Sydney
• Amanpulo (for Christmas)
• Upper House, Hong Kong
• Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong