Originally Posted by
sthubbar
My company is looking to take 3 couples, and one 4yr old, on a luxury retreat. I can do all the booking to get the nights/stay credits.
We are considering Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia, December 29th - January 3rd.
For up to $1000 / night budget, which location and SPG property would you recommend?
Be aware this is high season, particularly in the tourist areas.
I've done all 3 extensively over the years, and am actually at Le Meridien Bangkok right now, after Singapore and Malaysia and Bali.
Singapore is weak for Starwood, and comparatively expensive.
If you're city people, Bangkok is the best option. I personally like Le Meridien, Plaza Athenee/Le Royal Meridien, and SGS the best, and probably wouldn't consider Westin, Aloft, Four Points as luxury. ROS or StR or W may be worth consideration. The 4 year old complicates things and kids are thankfully entirely outside my life, but I don't think I'd want a 4yo near any of the Starwood properties (outside; inside they're fine) except maybe the ROS and StR and W. SGS/WGS, LM, Aloft, and 4Pts are all in very uh "commercial" or "professional" parts of the city.
If I wanted non-city, I'd probably go to Bali (Indonesia). I just did most of the properties there; I'd probably go with the Laguna (Luxury Collection), or possibly St Regis (if I had the budget). Le Meridien is also worth consideration. Westin is great for the kid, not as good for everyone else. Didn't try the W. Sheraton is nice but not luxury, it's in the "city" there, with lots of surfers.
I personally am not so big on Malaysia (10x more so if you're ethnically Chinese, although I'd rather not go down this line of discussion...). I like the Sheraton Imperial and Westin and Le Meridien (and Aloft, but non-luxury) in KL, but it just doesn't feel like a great vacation destination. I haven't yet been to the Malaysian beach resorts, but AFAICT none of the Starwood resorts in Malaysia are exceptionally good.