KatW

Various threads and posts here address junkies (or similar aficionados) of this, that, and the other group of luxe establishments: Aman, Peninsula, Four Seasons, COMO, Auberge, Belmond, St. Regis and so on.

My bent is that of the non-junkie. It's not that these brands lack attraction so much as I am wanting to stay in the best hotel/resort wherever I am going and no single brand holds this distinction everywhere.

I confess also to being amused by the little squabbles here as to brands better than thou. Which I understand because there are better hotels than others but that is, I'm certain, a different discussion.

Are you a Non-Junkie too?

MacMyDay

Similar thread here discussed this: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...v-variety.html

Like many discussed in that thread, I too do not have a guaranteed hotel when going somewhere. Unless work related, I'm often going somewhere for the hotel, more so than the location itself, so may start by looking at the usual-suspects (Aman) and where they are based, but then I'll look around for alternatives. Case in point: I wanted to go to Phuket due to Amanpuri, but ended up at Iniala after researching the area.

KatW

Thanks for that earlier link, MacMyDay, interesting.

There is brand loyalty, then there's addiction. (junkie). There are those who travel a locale simply because there is an Aman (or fill in the blank). Then there are those who choose a particular hotel because it is in the top ranks and the brand may be reliable. Then, there are those who just want the best hotel, brand be damned. Then there are those, many of us I expect, who juggle all of that for a choice that works best for the place, time and occasion.

MikeFromTokyo

This is what I do. My loyalty to certain brands like Peninsula and Four Seasons often leads me to consider them first, but I always choose what works best for the time, place and occasion.

I don't use the term junkie unless perhaps referring to an actual drug addict.

Kagehitokiri

KatW, another great thread.

amanresorts is the only "brand" that has any appeal to me whatsoever. that does not mean i have brand "loyalty" nor am i "collecting" or even prioritizing aman properties. not having the budget to do them all in order makes the decision not to do so very easy for me. if i had the budget, i have no idea how i would be choosing properties and travel destinations. would be extremely difficult.

so i am one of those here primarily interested in independent properties. personally, i am especially interested when even smaller than (almost all) amanresorts, with inclusive rates. safari style is also of interest, and something that is not limited to africa/asia.

part of my interest is a result of coming to conclusion that i generally want to avoid "normal" luxury "hotels" & "resorts" and that kind of experience. obviously in cities this is much less possible (if not impossible, besides rentals) and i certainly visit cities for various reasons and occasions.

part of how i view experience - some of us here prefer properties with extremely few guest rooms/villas. the fewer the accommodations, the higher the price. having amenities/offerings on par with hotel with 10 times the number of accommodations also means higher price. some of us appreciate and prefer those values. (in other words, the alternative of having lower prices can generally mean having many more smaller guestrooms and fewer amenities/offerings.)

speaking of higher prices, a number of luxury properties do not generate profits because of operating costs, regardless of even high prices. some owners (especially individuals) develop for reasons unrelated to profits. some even use Net Operating Loss as a tax strategy. in terms of brands, only casino brands do not care when their hotels lose money, because their profits come from gaming/gambling, and they give free rooms to gamblers.

as for brands, there are no brands for these kinds of things, even amanresorts has always had some with residences. some of aforementioned owners may brand a property (with management contract) and brand they choose may have little to do with brand itself.

preferences - some preferences are almost impossible to be a uniform brand standard
uniqueness - majority of the most unique properties are independent, rather than brand
best branded - some best regarded are so regarded because different from rest of brand
independent - some here who like Relais & Chateaux like that it's not brand, plus dining
not independent - limiting choices to virtuoso/FHR/etc often limits to branded properties

regarding property selection, i once selected property partly because of location, but reason i cared about location turned out to be inapplicable. for a few places like new zealand and africa (both have unique kinds of properties, many not about profit) selection is almost always the destination then property. perhaps maldives sometimes too.

re threads, 5khours asked 'how often do you return to same places, vs new places'
some regulars to properties and/or brands are based in and/or do business in the area

in 1991 amanresorts had 3 properties - amanpuri, hotel bora bora, amandari
(interesting neither hotel bora bora nor amandari were conceptualized by zecha)
in 1991 Gallivanters coined "Amanjunkie" to describe regular guests, mainly at puri.
KatW, would you say "junkie" is more of an american term, vs british/european?
before founding Gallivanters Guide, they worked in advertising/marketing industry

some here targeting point hotels (and RC in the past) are business travelers.
seems some brands treat some business travelers (here) somewhat poorly.
some compare brands based on how they deliver published agent benefits.
FS has always seemed to put a lot of emphasis on service to regular guests.

FS and aman have had emphasis on hiring; aman also emphasized training.

[aman design is also unique. as are some of their locations, even today]
[aman relied on GMs, as regent did. this is not something that chains do]

peninsula, como, and i think auberge - own equity in their properties.
st regis - SF, NY, osaka still owned by starwood, rest are managed.

schriste

Isn't this just being a best hotel Junkie?

Kagehitokiri

"Amanjunkie" has a lot of context, including usage in 1991 (25 years ago)
also a lot of context to discussion by aman guests here (some for 28 years)
if i had known about luxury/aman, i would have started in 1990s, oh well

popular/etc usages & meanings can/do change over time, especially online

bhrubin

^^^

I couldn't agree more. I may be an Amanjunkie and "luxury hotel on points-junkie", as well, but I always consider my options and choose what I think is best.


^^^

I actually think we're all on the same page. While many consider themselves to be Amanjunkies, including myself, I still think most will consider an alternative in certain locations where there comparable luxury options at different prices.

Amanjunkies developed when Aman resorts were only in remote locations without any real luxury competition. That hasn't been as true for some time now.

So we're all "luxury junkies" with subsets of junk preferences.

KatW

I do like that, bhrubin: "luxury junkies" -- perfect. Subsets, love it.

I confess I tend to carefully consider R&C properties anywhere with striking distance of my destinations.

FlyerEC

+1

" Junkie " term in hotel context is peculiar to Amans , with their " Amanjunkies " polo / T shirts .. Only given by each Aman property ( more or less we have stayed at more than once ) .

Always wondered though , that perhaps it isn't the best term to have for the top in " class " even back then .. Had own category - none like it before !!
And , I only wear those Amanjunkie tops at Amans

From what I know , no other hotel has " xx junkie " stuff , thank goodness . Really do not care for the word ..

Best & depends on location & type of trip

lb8001

+2 - iagree with many of the points both bhrubin and Kage make. I've had really good experiences at most all of the "luxury" brands and also have had mediocre ones at all of them - due to my junk preferences not always being met

KatW

There is a St. Regis Junkie thread.

Kagehitokiri

agreed. well said. i think sometimes only seems to be 'different page' because text/forum.

i believe this is another example here related to british communication style, as has come up in discussions of several british GMs. similarly, various posters here (from several countries) have very distinct communication styles.

related to meta-discussion of how amanresorts is discussed here.

"Amanjunkie" has been quoted in many if not most of published articles about amanresorts over ~25 years.

another part of context is amanresorts historically not spending a fortune on advertising like everyone else.

aman doesn't sell those shirts like everyone else.

SeeingtheWorldfromIndy

+3
For me, the ultimate decision is based upon location, price, timing, etc.
Business travel results in loyalty status (125 nights plus with SPG for 3 straight years) that makes it easier to have amazing experiences at certain properties for incredibly cheap prices (double upgrades, bottles of wine, bespoke experiences, etc).
Having said that, I think we are all looking for truly memorable experiences in new parts of the world....(written while sitting in a suite at Hotel Bristol in Warsaw...great property).

Pausanias

I visited my first Amanresort in 1990 and became, perhaps, one of the early Amanjunkies. I wouldn't describe myself as such anymore as I don't make an effort to visit each and everyone as they open, though I did many years ago - I went to Amanpulo and Amangani within six months of opening, for instance. Next year I'm going to Sri Lanka and will not be staying at either of the two Amans. They have rather lost their appeal to me nowadays.

I consider myself a Four Seasons devotee, though only in cities like Hong Kong. I don't fancy any of the resorts.