As with 2017, I thought it would be nice to review the highs and lows of the past 2018 year. I hope we might do this for every year!

For me, this was a very SPG/Marriott centric year as I tried to maximize my Ambassador elite status and benefits before the August 18 integration.

THE HIGHEST--

1. Suiran Kyoto (May 2018): one of our all-time favorites*, near perfect stay, unique authentic Japanese ryokan/Western hotel hybrid experience, incredible Arashiyama location, amazing F/B, salivating for next stay
2. St Regis New York (March 2018): one of our all-time favorites*, near perfect stay, Table 55 perhaps our most memorable F/B experience ever, incredible concierge team, unquestioned top choice for us in NYC
3. St Regis Florence (Oct 2018): one of our all-time favorites*, made us love Florence when Belmond Villa San Michele never did, incredible F/B, authentic Florentine experience, amazing concierge, also vastly preferred over FS Florence (unless you want a pool)
4. Ritz-Carlton Kyoto (May 2018): if not for Suiran would be among our all-time favorites, near perfect stay, incredible F&B, amazing suite/decor, slow start but concierge came through big time, amazing service recovery
5. St Regis Punta Mita (Jan 2018): one of our all-favorites*, second stay even better than first, incredible service/responsiveness, amazing F/B, amazing beachfront villa with private pool, felt like a second home
6. St Regis San Francisco (July, Sept, Nov, Dec 2018): one of our all-time favorites* and most visited luxury hotel for us in USA, stayed 4 times in 2018, always upgraded to my preferred Metropolitan Suite, always treated like super VIP, great F/B, concierge has 100% success rate even for Michelin 3* bookings, love SoMa location, amazing bar, proximity to so many amazing restaurants, my one home away from home
7. Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho (May 2018): almost amazing enough to be one of our all-time favorites, amazing hard product almost as impressive as Aman Tokyo, excellent soft product, incredible Ambassador recognition/treatment, incredible concierge, very good F/B, a few English language issues, and yet still more impressive to us than Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, and Four Seasons


THE HIGHS--

8. St Regis Houston (Dec 2018): a regular favorite, always excellent and supremely comfortable stay in upgraded Astor Suite, always incredible service, a bit dated hard product, always great F/B, excellent location for me, way better than Four Seasons
9. St Regis Osaka (May 2018): a little dated but extremely comfortable hard product with generally excellent service and F/B, love the bar, Italian restaurant worthy of 1 star, tremendous Ambassador recognition, excellent location. some concierge flubs but good recovery
10. SLS Beverly Hills (Oct 2018): world class F/B, nice renovation with amazing suite, amazing Ambassador recognition/treatment
11. La Bandita Townhouse Pienza (Oct 2018): a true gem and unique boutique hotel in beautiful location, shockingly good hard product, wonderful charm/hospitality, wonderful service/concierge
12. Ritz-Carlton Boston (March and April 2018): just beats the W by a hair, wonderful F/B, excellent service recovery after air con fail, feels a bit higher end than W, nice renovated hard product (except for bathroom)
13. W Boston (April 2018): great hard product, great soft product, nice service, great Ambassador recognition/treatment, a very nice W
14. St Regis Atlanta (April 2018): beautiful but dated hard product now being renovated, great service recovery after check in and air con fails, amazing sense of place, amazing public spaces/lobby/restaurant, incredible F/B, more character and better location than Four Seasons


MIDDLE OF THE ROAD--

15. St Regis Bal Harbour (Oct 2018): nice but dated hard product, many service fails, nice location, good Ambassador treatment/ recognition and service recovery, air con issues, incredible Royal Suite upgrade, amazing beach service
16. Atlantis by Giardino Zurich (Oct 2018): spectacular hard product let down by shocking uneven service, air con fails and management misses, incredible F/B, beautiful retreat feel/location, would give second chance but risky
17. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco (Nov 2018): nice hard product and soft product, curious air con fail, rigidity to service, decent Club, OK location, very friendly staff, excellent F/B, unwillingness to accommodate large dog while FS and StR do, I still vastly prefer the St Regis
18. Four Seasons Atlanta (Atlanta 2018): chic and modern hard product, good central location for business, disappointing wifi, good F/B, not much in the way of public spaces/lobby, preferred the StR location by far, pleasant for work stay


THE LOWS--

19. Ritz-Carlton Dallas: overpriced, terrible air con, terrible and unacceptable wifi, not impressive bar/disappointing drinks, truly great Fearing's restaurant, I would pick W Dallas next trip, not worth it