Where are you going next?
Apr 25, 2019, 9:40 am
#3751
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 1,643
Thanks. I know both properties well, having stayed previously at Kinloch Lodge and having dined previously at Three Chimneys. Kinloch still has a 1* restaurant; Three Chimneys lost its star but has a great new chef and recently renovated. I think Kinloch is the better bet for us, but I do want to have dinner at both if the schedule permits!
Glad you know Three Chimneys! We also like Airds Hotel in Port Appin and Glenapp Castle (another Michelin victim this year).
Apr 25, 2019, 10:54 am
#3752
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
This would be just like my college hotel choices if you just eliminated all of the above and substituted:
June:
Youth hostel Salzburg
Ex Communist dorm Budapest
Youth hostel Prague
Floor of roach motel Amsterdam
Just kidding. Have a great summer! I am a little envious.
June:
Youth hostel Salzburg
Ex Communist dorm Budapest
Youth hostel Prague
Floor of roach motel Amsterdam
Just kidding. Have a great summer! I am a little envious.
Apr 25, 2019, 10:56 am
#3753
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
And two trips I left off, will be visiting my boyfriends parents in Wales, as well as visiting him as he studies abroad in Japan and in Beijing. Hope to pick yall's brains about the best places to stay in Japan as we tour, or the best that two college kids can afford haha!
Apr 26, 2019, 7:38 pm
#3754
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Looks like I get to visit the Santa Barbara circuit in full!
Tomorrow we will have lunch and visit at the newly reopened San Ysidro Ranch, and also have visits at the new Rosewood Miramar (close to full capacity already), the Four Seasons Biltmore (also close to full capacity), and the Belmond El Encanto. Only the FS isn’t allowing our dog, Macallan, into the bar/restaurant area. The nerve.
Any specific things you want me to check while I’m on property, please do let me know! We will try to see rooms and suites if available, and likely will have a snack or drink at all but the FS.
Tomorrow we will have lunch and visit at the newly reopened San Ysidro Ranch, and also have visits at the new Rosewood Miramar (close to full capacity already), the Four Seasons Biltmore (also close to full capacity), and the Belmond El Encanto. Only the FS isn’t allowing our dog, Macallan, into the bar/restaurant area. The nerve.
Any specific things you want me to check while I’m on property, please do let me know! We will try to see rooms and suites if available, and likely will have a snack or drink at all but the FS.
Apr 28, 2019, 1:12 pm
#3755
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
May Ojai Valley Inn. St Regis DC & St Regis NYC
August Hotel Talisa
September. Andaz Papagayo
October Belmond Miraflores, Belmond Sanctuary, Tambo del Inka, Palacio del Inka
November. Phoenician Residences
December TBD
February- March Park Tower Tokyo, Amanoi, FS Nam Hai, Aqua Mekong, Amansara, St Regis Hong Kong
August Hotel Talisa
September. Andaz Papagayo
October Belmond Miraflores, Belmond Sanctuary, Tambo del Inka, Palacio del Inka
November. Phoenician Residences
December TBD
February- March Park Tower Tokyo, Amanoi, FS Nam Hai, Aqua Mekong, Amansara, St Regis Hong Kong
Apr 28, 2019, 11:35 pm
#3756
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
May Ojai Valley Inn. St Regis DC & St Regis NYC
August Hotel Talisa
September. Andaz Papagayo
October Belmond Miraflores, Belmond Sanctuary, Tambo del Inka, Palacio del Inka
November. Phoenician Residences
December TBD
February- March Park Tower Tokyo, Amanoi, FS Nam Hai, Aqua Mekong, Amansara, St Regis Hong Kong
August Hotel Talisa
September. Andaz Papagayo
October Belmond Miraflores, Belmond Sanctuary, Tambo del Inka, Palacio del Inka
November. Phoenician Residences
December TBD
February- March Park Tower Tokyo, Amanoi, FS Nam Hai, Aqua Mekong, Amansara, St Regis Hong Kong
Apr 29, 2019, 6:00 pm
#3757
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
I know that I am being obstinate on this one since your aesthetic so closely aligns with mine and you warned me about this hotel. But (believe it or not) this is my very first trip to DC and the location appeals to me and I have noticed that the reviews have been much better the last 6 months. Plus I made the reservation so long ago on points and have SNAs attached. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
You can definitely tell me "I told you so" if it turns out bad. If it does it will be my first subpar St. Regis experience. I haven't stayed at as many as you (this will be my 9th I think) but I have had great visits so far.
Apr 29, 2019, 6:24 pm
#3758
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I know that I am being obstinate on this one since your aesthetic so closely aligns with mine and you warned me about this hotel. But (believe it or not) this is my very first trip to DC and the location appeals to me and I have noticed that the reviews have been much better the last 6 months. Plus I made the reservation so long ago on points and have SNAs attached. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
You can definitely tell me "I told you so" if it turns out bad. If it does it will be my first subpar St. Regis experience. I haven't stayed at as many as you (this will be my 9th I think) but I have had great visits so far.
You can definitely tell me "I told you so" if it turns out bad. If it does it will be my first subpar St. Regis experience. I haven't stayed at as many as you (this will be my 9th I think) but I have had great visits so far.
Apr 29, 2019, 7:22 pm
#3759
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
Apr 30, 2019, 1:09 am
#3760
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Heading to France next week. We may stay at the new Belmond Cadogan the night before, although having been there for a drink and a look around, I feel I've already learnt that I'll prefer The Connaught.
- Domaine des Etangs
- Royal Champagne
- Villa La Coste
- La Bastide de Gordes
Apr 30, 2019, 1:26 am
#3761
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
I'll never understand devotion to the St Regis, especially after the Marriott acquisition. I stayed at the Osaka one and it was a solid 7/10. The rest of my stays have been thoroughly unremarkable.
Villa La Coste, under the other hand: devotion. My only complaint is the loss of their Michelin star restaurant. Other than that, I'm going to explore a long term stay contract with them.
Villa La Coste, under the other hand: devotion. My only complaint is the loss of their Michelin star restaurant. Other than that, I'm going to explore a long term stay contract with them.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:18 am
#3762
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
In Osaka, I’d be curious where you’d prefer over the StR? The RC is horribly dated and feels more like a nursing home with all the blue hair and formality. The Conrad and IC are wonderful hard products but much larger hotel operations with quite disappointing service and much less impressive F&B. I’ll take the StR there any time. And that’s why the StR commands the highest rates in Osaka.
IMO the Marriott acquisition of Starwood has done little to change StR, actually. And I’d know, being that I’ve been staying at StR properties for much of the last decade and continue to do so.
IMO the Marriott acquisition of Starwood has done little to change StR, actually. And I’d know, being that I’ve been staying at StR properties for much of the last decade and continue to do so.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:24 am
#3763
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
In Osaka, I’d be curious where you’d prefer over the StR? The RC is horribly dated and feels more like a nursing home with all the blue hair and formality. The Conrad and IC are wonderful hard products but much larger hotel operations with quite disappointing service and much less impressive F&B. I’ll take the StR there any time. And that’s why the StR commands the highest rates in Osaka.
And my comment re: Marriott acquisition has less to do with the impact it has had on StR, and more to do with how much I refuse to do business with Marriott as a business (unless I absolutely have to).
Last edited by RichardInSF; May 4, 2019 at 9:07 am Reason: consecutive posts by same member
Apr 30, 2019, 9:54 am
#3764
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I don't think there's anything better in Osaka, but I don't grade these things on a curve unless the pricing is notably different. If I'm paying sub-$300 for a property and receiving 5 star service (but not on par with a grand dame hotel), that's a 10/10 for me. But if I'm paying $600+/per night, the property is asking me to compare it to other stellar properties around the world, and my judgment will be a bit more harsh in that regard. When I stayed at the Fairmont Ghirardelli Square and paid $1k+/night, I gave it a 1/10 because I had just paid $1k/night at the Crillon and the service just wasn't comparable. But then again, the FGS is among the better properties in SF, which is probably a note as to how bad SF is as a hotel market.
Anyone will pay much less for 5 star luxury in Southeast Asia and will pay much more for the same in Paris or New York or Tokyo. Even among the exact same brands.
Either way, your earlier surprise about the St Regis brand stands in stark contrast to the fact that the St Regis is the top hotel or one of the top hotels in markets as varied as New York, San Francisco, Mexico City, Osaka, Miami, Atlanta, Moscow, Istanbul, Houston, Bora Bora, Florence, Rome, Mallorca, Punta Mita, etc.
Apr 30, 2019, 10:02 am
#3765
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
There's no need to be bitter about it. Except for StR NYC, which will always be a classic institution, the StR is just cookie cutter luxury and I don't see the point in spending $$$ on it unless it's really the best hotel in its city. I've traveled a lot and that's really only been the case in Osaka.
And by the way, StR Florence is a joke. I'll happily pay twice the price to stay somewhere else (which I did, at the Four Seasons).
And by the way, StR Florence is a joke. I'll happily pay twice the price to stay somewhere else (which I did, at the Four Seasons).
