Where are you going next?
Oct 6, 2016, 10:31 am
#2311
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Here, there … you know how it goes.
Posts: 1,518
Oct 6, 2016, 10:26 pm
#2312
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I go to the IC Marseille each year at that time and the weather is almost always excellent. I'm looking forward to the next trip which is coming up. W Barcelona too. Maybe Hotel de la Cité in Carcassonne too.
Oct 15, 2016, 9:02 am
#2315
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 3,317
Next up:
Doha, Qatar (not sure where I'm staying yet)
--
Siam BKK (staying)
Mandarin Oriental BKK (siting)
Peninsula BKK (siting)
--
The Strand, Yangon
The Strand River Boat, Myanmar
Aureum Palace Inle, Myanmar
--
The Reverie, Saigon
Doha, Qatar (not sure where I'm staying yet)
--
Siam BKK (staying)
Mandarin Oriental BKK (siting)
Peninsula BKK (siting)
--
The Strand, Yangon
The Strand River Boat, Myanmar
Aureum Palace Inle, Myanmar
--
The Reverie, Saigon
Oct 15, 2016, 9:17 am
#2317
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 3,317
That said, some agents just went there the other day - agents whose opinions I trust very much - and they were surprisingly happy with the product.
Those same agents visited the Park Hyatt and said they had the worst hotel food/hotel restaurant meals of their lives.
Will be interesting to check it out, that's for sure.
Oct 15, 2016, 9:37 am
#2318
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Gosh, that is good to hear, as every time I have stayed at The Gritti, both before and after its refurbishment, I have been horrified by the food and service. The same applies to the Cipriani, both during the Biennale and out of season.
I totally agree about Aman Canal Grande - it is by far the best in Venice, both in accommodation, food and service. The suites are not all too historic for comfort. Some are relatively minimal.
I totally agree about Aman Canal Grande - it is by far the best in Venice, both in accommodation, food and service. The suites are not all too historic for comfort. Some are relatively minimal.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post27349332
We truly had easily comparable service and food/beverage to any Aman I've yet visited (10 and counting!). And while the Aman Venice is more beautiful (e.g. stunning!), the Gritti's Riva bar terrace is not something to be given up lightly for anyone who loves cocktails with a view IMO!
Also, here are a couple photos of our lunch visit and tour at the Aman Venice for perspective.
https://s26.postimg.cc/qpau48ajd/14...34413761_n.jpg
https://s26.postimg.cc/6kh9yrgpl/14...14259326_n.jpg
Last edited by bhrubin; Oct 15, 2016 at 9:47 am
Oct 15, 2016, 10:44 am
#2319
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
December:
The Phoenician (Scottsdale)
Enchantment (Sedona)
Amangiri
MO Las Vegas
February:
Debating MO Barcelona or MO Paris
March:
Al-Bustan Palace (Muscat, Oman)
Alila Jabal Akhdar (Oman)
Park Hyatt Dubai
September:
W-A Shanghai / Aman Shanghai if open in time
Peninsula Manila
Amanpulo
The Phoenician (Scottsdale)
Enchantment (Sedona)
Amangiri
MO Las Vegas
February:
Debating MO Barcelona or MO Paris
March:
Al-Bustan Palace (Muscat, Oman)
Alila Jabal Akhdar (Oman)
Park Hyatt Dubai
September:
W-A Shanghai / Aman Shanghai if open in time
Peninsula Manila
Amanpulo
Last edited by callmedtop; Oct 15, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Oct 15, 2016, 11:44 am
#2320
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
There are few places where I'd recommend you reconsider, but the Peninsula Shanghai was perhaps our best city hotel stay ever, surpassing slightly, perhaps, even our recent Gritti Palace stay in Venice. I'd highly recommend it over the WA, for sure...and I rarely recommend any luxe hotel (e.g. Aman) right after it opens!
And most people I know tell me the PH Dubai isn't so great...as a warning. Which is why I'm sticking with the StR Dubai in Feb.
Oct 15, 2016, 11:46 am
#2321
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Oct 15, 2016, 12:56 pm
#2322
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
I am dying to hear about your Dec experience at Amangiri...so please do share! Just be aware that the MO Vegas may be the best in Vegas but still isn't up to same standard at all.
There are few places where I'd recommend you reconsider, but the Peninsula Shanghai was perhaps our best city hotel stay ever, surpassing slightly, perhaps, even our recent Gritti Palace stay in Venice. I'd highly recommend it over the WA, for sure...and I rarely recommend any luxe hotel (e.g. Aman) right after it opens!
And most people I know tell me the PH Dubai isn't so great...as a warning. Which is why I'm sticking with the StR Dubai in Feb.
There are few places where I'd recommend you reconsider, but the Peninsula Shanghai was perhaps our best city hotel stay ever, surpassing slightly, perhaps, even our recent Gritti Palace stay in Venice. I'd highly recommend it over the WA, for sure...and I rarely recommend any luxe hotel (e.g. Aman) right after it opens!
And most people I know tell me the PH Dubai isn't so great...as a warning. Which is why I'm sticking with the StR Dubai in Feb.
I'm a (somewhat ashamed) Vegas lover, and have typically stayed at the Wynn Tower Suites, so I'm actually not sure how I feel about staying at the MO. I know it isn't quite to "brand standard", but figure I'll try a less-touristy option since we'll be exhausted after these wedding property tours and me finishing up a pretty intense trip the week prior (week in NYC -> directly to PHX).
In Shanghai, I know the W-A isn't the go-to option, and I've heard only praise of the Pen, but as a student these days, this is my attempt at budgeting. I've got almost 400K Hilton points from my consulting days that I need to use up, and having stayed at the W-A Shanghai before, I know I like it enough that it'll suit just fine. I think it's a notch above almost every other W-A / Hilton property. My fiance doesn't care much about where we stay, but she is obsessed with the new Aman Shanghai property. Since we're not sure when we'll make it back to Shanghai, we're prepared to deal with growing pains if it is indeed open by next September.
Similar situation with the PH Dubai - enough Hyatt points to offset the cost quite a bit. I'd love to try some other properties, but at ~$600++ a night for the ones I'm interested in, don't think I can justify it right now. I stayed at the PH Dubai a few years ago and I liked it enough where I would return. There were more than a couple service lapses, but the property itself is quite nice. Combine that with Hyatt Diamond and it's a easier decision.
Oct 15, 2016, 1:00 pm
#2323
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We are VERY excited for our December Amangiri trip. We'll be touring a number of places in the PHX/Sedona area so looking forward to sharing my thoughts on them (Phoenician, Royal Palms, Sanctuary, Enchantment, and L'Auberge). We're also staying at Enchantment, which I forgot to mention earlier. One night PHX, one night Sedona, one night Amangiri, and two nights Vegas.
I'm a (somewhat ashamed) Vegas lover, and have typically stayed at the Wynn Tower Suites, so I'm actually not sure how I feel about staying at the MO. I know it isn't quite to "brand standard", but figure I'll try a less-touristy option since we'll be exhausted after these wedding trips and me finishing up a pretty intense trip the week prior (week in NYC -> directly to PHX).
In Shanghai, I know the W-A isn't the go-to option, and I've heard only praise of the Pen, but as a student these days, this is my attempt at budgeting. I've got almost 400K Hilton points from my consulting days that I need to use up, and having stayed at the W-A Shanghai before, I know I like it enough that it'll suit just fine. I think it's a notch above almost every other W-A / Hilton property. My fiance doesn't care much about where we stay, but she is obsessed with the new Aman Shanghai property. Since we're not sure when we'll make it back to Shanghai, we're prepared to deal with growing pains if it is indeed open by next September.
Similar situation with the PH Dubai - enough Hyatt points to offset the cost quite a bit. I'd love to try some other properties, but at ~$600++ a night for the ones I'm interested in, don't think I can justify it right now. I stayed at the PH Dubai a few years ago and I liked it enough where I would return. There were more than a couple service lapses, but the property itself is quite nice. Combine that with Hyatt Diamond and it's a easier decision.
I'm a (somewhat ashamed) Vegas lover, and have typically stayed at the Wynn Tower Suites, so I'm actually not sure how I feel about staying at the MO. I know it isn't quite to "brand standard", but figure I'll try a less-touristy option since we'll be exhausted after these wedding trips and me finishing up a pretty intense trip the week prior (week in NYC -> directly to PHX).
In Shanghai, I know the W-A isn't the go-to option, and I've heard only praise of the Pen, but as a student these days, this is my attempt at budgeting. I've got almost 400K Hilton points from my consulting days that I need to use up, and having stayed at the W-A Shanghai before, I know I like it enough that it'll suit just fine. I think it's a notch above almost every other W-A / Hilton property. My fiance doesn't care much about where we stay, but she is obsessed with the new Aman Shanghai property. Since we're not sure when we'll make it back to Shanghai, we're prepared to deal with growing pains if it is indeed open by next September.
Similar situation with the PH Dubai - enough Hyatt points to offset the cost quite a bit. I'd love to try some other properties, but at ~$600++ a night for the ones I'm interested in, don't think I can justify it right now. I stayed at the PH Dubai a few years ago and I liked it enough where I would return. There were more than a couple service lapses, but the property itself is quite nice. Combine that with Hyatt Diamond and it's a easier decision.
Totally agree on using your points for the WA Shanghai and PH Dubai. If you got 'em, use 'em...especially with luxury level properties like those. Totally makes sense!
Though if you have more Hyatt points to burn, we far preferred the PH Shanghai next after the Pen. (We weren't fans of the RC and really didn't like that WA...but to each, their own!) Especially if you're Diamond!
Enjoy!!!
Oct 15, 2016, 1:07 pm
#2324
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
^^^
Totally agree on using your points for the WA Shanghai and PH Dubai. If you got 'em, use 'em...especially with luxury level properties like those. Totally makes sense!
Though if you have more Hyatt points to burn, we far preferred the PH Shanghai next after the Pen. (We weren't fans of the RC and really didn't like that WA...but to each, their own!) Especially if you're Diamond!
Enjoy!!!
Totally agree on using your points for the WA Shanghai and PH Dubai. If you got 'em, use 'em...especially with luxury level properties like those. Totally makes sense!
Though if you have more Hyatt points to burn, we far preferred the PH Shanghai next after the Pen. (We weren't fans of the RC and really didn't like that WA...but to each, their own!) Especially if you're Diamond!
Enjoy!!!
Love to hear the disagreement on the WA - goes to show you that choosing a hotel certainly isn't one-size-fits-all!
Oct 15, 2016, 3:15 pm
#2325
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,439