Amanwella

Stayed there some time ago (November/December 2008) but was left disappointed. Actually disappointed isn't the right word because with Aman this is supposed to be a relative term and a disappointment by Aman standards could still pass the test of good elsewhere. Unfortunately, my stay there was average by any standard making it feel a whole lot worse given the anticipation I had for an excellent stay.

My arrival at the resort was underwhelming - greeted by a nervous junior member of staff who was barely audible and seemed to want to quickly usher us to our room via the charming little rickshaws they put on as their buggy offering. Things got better when we met Jonathan Blitz - more Aman like except he informed me that unfortunately he had been called away and would not be around for the duration of my stay. Perfectly acceptable I thought and should not affect service levels given that we were at Aman and given that Jonathan had briefed his team to make a special effort to ensure we were comfortable in his absence - I was wrong.

Long delays on food orders both in restaurant and on room service requests, very average fare when food did actually arrive, DVD's that didn't work, sliding doors in the room that were stiff and therefore hard to open, uselessly positioned plunge pool that was often uncleaned and without sun - therefore never used, need to repeat requests on at least a couple of occasions and muted responses when they did come. All this was negative enough but was made worse when feeding back to the management on check out. It took an age to check out, the bill was wrong when it did come and my comments were met with the kind of response that you might expect at a lowlier hotel a sort of "we know about the service levels and we are working on it". Well I'm glad that you are but that does not help me because there is no way I will be making the arduous journey to Tangalle for the privilege of staying somewhere distinctly average ever again.

Oh and no spa - overall a real shame and let down and I can't help but feel that my positive sentiment for the Aman brand have been damaged as a result. I can no longer take for granted that just because a property is managed by Aman that it will be good. Due diligence is required.

I would have been positively fuming had I been paying the full rack rate but luckily I wasn't. I do note however, that the new rack rate is significantly discounted no doubt in recognition of the lack of quality and maybe as a means of filling the resort - we were virtually one one of only two or three couple staying there on our visit.

I hope they have fixed the bugs I faced during my stay but I doubt it given that there just seemed to be a real lack of quality throughout. It's hard to put my finger on it but I guess even if things went smoother during my stay I may have still come away thinking that the property was average. My previous experiences at Aman in Bali and Marrakech had inspired not a feeling of efficiency but of magic and of beautifully anticipated needs and wants - I just don't think that magic can be replicated here despite the beautiful backdrop.