Bungus,

some of the mix-ups you describe certainly shouldn't happen. Overall a bit harsh, though I understand that a bad start can color a whole trip. Not so sure about the whole meeting the manager thing, but he should know that you stayed at Amans before.

I can only speak of my own experience at Amanjena last february and maybe I was just in awe of the Ed Tuttle design, but I loved it. I read one of the latest Gallivanter reports in the library of Amanjiwo where they raved about Amanjena and said that it got much better after a recent management change. My stay was with previous management.

I can't comment on the hamam, didn't use it. I would argue though that in general that spa facilities is not Amans strong suit, Banyan Tree and Six Senses are way ahead there.

I think ngfan, my new found alter ego, mentioned in his remarks from Sri Lanka that he was disappointed that there was not so much merchandise to buy and I agree, our home is full with stuff from Banyan Tree and they do a great job there, Aman is surprisingly not so much into that.

On another point you made, we received a preliminary bill the night before our departure, which is indeed helpful, however I didn't get one at Amankila and Amanjiwo.

You don't have this natural kindness like in Bali, but I was very impressed with the Amanjena staff. They have a certain pride about them that really impressed me and were very professional and efficient, light years better than everything else we had in Morocco. On our first day we were asked twice for our room number, but never again after that, and those who we had met earlier called us by our name. It is not like Amankila, but I can't complain. The communication worked flawlessly, we never saw housekeeping and where ever we went, they already expected us. On one day we played golf, we left the pavilion shouldering our golf bags, a staff member saw us and almost tripped while rushing to get our bags. They packed our bags full with bottles of water, which we otherwise would have had to buy at the golf course. Our encounters with staff members were very pleasant and one of them was very eager to improve his German by talking with us.

I have to say that dinner at the main restaurant was wonderful. The whole atmosphere is one of my greatest memories. I loved the African music and our waiter was so unbelievably good, it still amazes me.

It was my wife's birthday and she got a great cake with nice singing from the whole restaurant staff. When we returned to the room , there were candles everywhere, and rose petals in the bath. She really appreciated that.

The only thing I didn't like was the drop-off at the airport, no Aman rep there, our driver organized a porter and that was that, they should improve on that.

P.S. Just in case somebody has not seen it, my trip report incl. Amanjiwo and Amankila is complete and up in a different thread.

Michael