Very nice report!
I know how you feel about the Mandarin Oriental (which is not to be confused with the Marina Mandarin
) I had a friend stay there and was apalled by the overall quality. It wasn't a very 'warm' hotel - the staff really weren't as courteous and welcoming as I would have liked, and the rooms were nothing special either.
Considering that they spent a horrendous amount of money on the renovation, I don't understand how they couldn't have done any better - the architect must have had an infactuation with the color
black (you probably know what I mean)
I really, really didn't like it....