Where are you going next?
May 16, 2019, 9:12 am
#3781
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 167
When in November are you going? I was in Cambodia last year during Water Festival, an annual event when the flow between the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake reverses, and it was an amazing experience. I stayed at the Rosewood and the service was excellent, with staff helping my fiancé and I navigate Phnom Penh at the busiest time of year. The Festival is November 10-12 this year.
But looking forward to the property and seeing the city.
May 16, 2019, 10:32 am
#3784
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
May 16, 2019, 10:33 am
#3785
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
May 16, 2019, 10:49 am
#3786
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
May 16, 2019, 10:51 am
#3787
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 92
May 18, 2019, 5:00 pm
#3789
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
UPDATE on properties I have visited since my previous post:
Autograph Hotel Saint Louis: B. The room was nice enough, but there was little to no service. Was given an upgrade to a suite with a somewhat awkward layout and a very strange balcony. No bath tub in the bathroom is an auto-negative, especially in a suite.
The Grand, Stockholm: A. First time I can recall having enthusiastic service in this hotel. Someone even asked if they could help with the bags! Was given a nice upgrade. Hotel has a wonderful gym, spa and the bar in the lobby is dynamite.
Ritz-Carlton, Budapest: A. One of my favorite RC properties. Top notch club. Was given an upgrade to a suite (have received upgrade to suite every stay here). Very helpful staff, great location.
HT6, Rome: A-. Not "luxury" but my favorite place to stay in Rome. Right on the river, easy walk to Trastavere and to the tourist area, but without being mobbed outside the door. Was upgraded to a duplex suite. No gym.
A Casa del Principe, Naples: B. DEF not luxury, but was easy and right in the centro storico. Delivered what I expected for the ultra low price, clean.
Hotel Poseidon, Positano: B. Wonderful staff, too cold to use the unheated pool. Great restaurant and wonderful view from the pool deck for cocktails. The rooms are VERY dated, something nice about the faded 50's elegance though.
Palazzo Belmonte, Santa Maria de Castellebate: B-. Frustrating because of the possibility. Was upgraded to a suite, the grounds are phenomenal. Not everything was open yet as it was early in the season. The Prince was in residence, met him briefly in the courtyard, nice enough older man. No gym, or really any facilities. With a competent manager, some $ and the right know how this could be an amazing property.
Hotel La Pineta, Acciaroli: B+, not much in the way of options in this tiny town, but this hotel had 2 pools, nice rooms and extraordinary staff.
Softiel, Algiers: F. I don't like Sofitels, and this is quite simply the worst Sofitel in the world (I dare you to name a worse Sofitel property). No options in Algiers.
W West Beverley Hills, LA: F. This property was so bad, that after 2 hours of arguing and non-stop headaches, I told them to cancel my reservation and I walked out and booked a new hotel from my uber. I am currently staying at the recently opened 1 Hotel in LA which so far is fantastic.
Autograph Hotel Saint Louis: B. The room was nice enough, but there was little to no service. Was given an upgrade to a suite with a somewhat awkward layout and a very strange balcony. No bath tub in the bathroom is an auto-negative, especially in a suite.
The Grand, Stockholm: A. First time I can recall having enthusiastic service in this hotel. Someone even asked if they could help with the bags! Was given a nice upgrade. Hotel has a wonderful gym, spa and the bar in the lobby is dynamite.
Ritz-Carlton, Budapest: A. One of my favorite RC properties. Top notch club. Was given an upgrade to a suite (have received upgrade to suite every stay here). Very helpful staff, great location.
HT6, Rome: A-. Not "luxury" but my favorite place to stay in Rome. Right on the river, easy walk to Trastavere and to the tourist area, but without being mobbed outside the door. Was upgraded to a duplex suite. No gym.
A Casa del Principe, Naples: B. DEF not luxury, but was easy and right in the centro storico. Delivered what I expected for the ultra low price, clean.
Hotel Poseidon, Positano: B. Wonderful staff, too cold to use the unheated pool. Great restaurant and wonderful view from the pool deck for cocktails. The rooms are VERY dated, something nice about the faded 50's elegance though.
Palazzo Belmonte, Santa Maria de Castellebate: B-. Frustrating because of the possibility. Was upgraded to a suite, the grounds are phenomenal. Not everything was open yet as it was early in the season. The Prince was in residence, met him briefly in the courtyard, nice enough older man. No gym, or really any facilities. With a competent manager, some $ and the right know how this could be an amazing property.
Hotel La Pineta, Acciaroli: B+, not much in the way of options in this tiny town, but this hotel had 2 pools, nice rooms and extraordinary staff.
Softiel, Algiers: F. I don't like Sofitels, and this is quite simply the worst Sofitel in the world (I dare you to name a worse Sofitel property). No options in Algiers.
W West Beverley Hills, LA: F. This property was so bad, that after 2 hours of arguing and non-stop headaches, I told them to cancel my reservation and I walked out and booked a new hotel from my uber. I am currently staying at the recently opened 1 Hotel in LA which so far is fantastic.
May 18, 2019, 5:12 pm
#3790
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,048
W West Beverley Hills, LA: F. This property was so bad, that after 2 hours of arguing and non-stop headaches, I told them to cancel my reservation and I walked out and booked a new hotel from my uber. I am currently staying at the recently opened 1 Hotel in LA which so far is fantastic.
May 18, 2019, 5:18 pm
#3791
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
The W West Beverly Hills should be ashamed of their title considering how far they are from actually being in Beverly Hills. This hotel should only be stayed at if you need to be at UCLA early in the morning and you want to walk there. So many other good choices within a 10 minute drive.
May 18, 2019, 6:45 pm
#3792
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I am a very infrequent LA visitor and wasn't aware. Yes, it is in Westwood, not BH. Apparently the building was UCLA dorms in the 70's and that for sure comes through in the rooms. They were horrible and the staff/manager were unbelievably bad. I am VERY pleased with my decision to walk and stay elsewhere.
Last edited by bhrubin; May 19, 2019 at 9:47 am
May 19, 2019, 9:00 am
#3793
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
That W completed a $25 refresh in 2016. It clearly wasn’t enough. More like putting more lipstick on a pig. The service there has been pleasant, but the constant HVAC issues were enough to make me switch to the SLS Beverly Hills—even with one of my clients being just down the street across from UCLA. The SLS costs more...but it’s far better.
May 19, 2019, 9:49 am
#3794
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
So, during the 2+ hours of them wasting my time halfheartedly trying to fix this problem, eventually the manager agreed they would refund my reservation and I could go elsewhere if I so chose. I took this option, left and booked another hotel. Now, 2 days after the fact they have decided that since they offered to show me another room they have decided they will charge me the full amount. UNBELIEVABLE. You can't say "OK, we will refund your $, you can go." Then two days later be like "loljk, we're charging you 100%." I am so livid right now. Need to find the bonvoy lurker.
I’m sorry this happened to you, but you’re making me very pleased that I moved my business to the more expensive and yet so much better SLS.
May 19, 2019, 10:47 am
#3795
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
You need to contact the original manager who agreed they would cancel and refund your res. Hopefully you got that name. After that gets resolved, I would ask for a courtesy 30K points for the time and trouble after the fact for having to handle yet something else that the hotel didn’t do properly the first time.
I’m sorry this happened to you, but you’re making me very pleased that I moved my business to the more expensive and yet so much better SLS.