Thank you for the comprehensive and thoughtful reply. If the Peninsula's pool is as nice as the Maybourne's - and indeed, it has more of a resort feel, which I would enjoy at this point in our stay - it may be a better choice for us. It is also the less expensive option, and while I'm happy to pay more for a hotel if it's worthwhile, all else being equal possibly it's silly to pay more between these two. I love art deco and part of my love of the Maybourne group is the wold world charm of Claridge's; I appreciate their more recent offerings skew somewhat more modern, and while I would like to see the Maynourne Beverly Hills, I haven't quite worked out how I feel about the post-modern touches. And while I have only stayed at a Peninsula hotel once, I would say this was the only hotel I have stayed at in which the service was every bit as good as Claridge's. So not an easy choice.
I appreciate this is often a little subjective, but did you have a favorite between the two? Thanks again for your helpful perspective in any case.
Originally Posted by
nick_a
You're right that the Peninsula rooms are certainly not as new as, say, the Maybourne's or the Waldorf's. That said, I personally didn't think the Pen rooms or HP are particularly run down or in dire need of refresh, at least not the room I stayed in July 2022 (Villa Studio). But I think more than anything it's an aesthetic preference. 1) the Pen is more "classic," more Parisian/Georgian with some Art Deco touches, like the pool, while The Maybourne is very much like other Maybourne properties: very high-end mid-century modern. 2) The Maybourne is, like the Waldorf BH or the Wilshire, a grand hotel, whereas parts of the Peninsula - especially in the villas - feels more resorty with some outdoor green spaces. The pools at both are fun, but I think we slightly preferred the Peninsula's. Dante at the Maybourne is a great place to grab a drink and is a bit more lively, but the Peninsula library bar is classic dark-wood style, and particularly good for a night cap (if that's your scene). Can't really speak to service at the Maybourne as we didn't require much of them, but I broke my foot they day before arriving at the Pen, and they were very accommodating. Our experiences at other Pen properties have always been good.
If you're in the mood for something a bit more lively, maybe younger, and "cool," the Maybourne is the move. If you want somewhere more lowkey and where you can have High Tea on a Sunday, go with the Peninsula. They are both lovely hotels, and I don't think you can go wrong at either.