Aman Poll and Questions 2010 onwards
Mar 8, 2010, 2:48 am
#91
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Thanks, vuittonsofstyle.
Anything I need to know consider with regards to the climate in December for any of these three particular properties?
If we wanted to make a excursion to the Taj Mahal, from which resort would you recommend? I'd imagine we could do it from either Aman New Delhi or Amanbagh. Aman reservations said it was a four-hour trip from Amanbagh. Not sure we want to do an eight-hour trip for what would amount to only a few hours at the Taj Mahal.
Anything I need to know consider with regards to the climate in December for any of these three particular properties?
If we wanted to make a excursion to the Taj Mahal, from which resort would you recommend? I'd imagine we could do it from either Aman New Delhi or Amanbagh. Aman reservations said it was a four-hour trip from Amanbagh. Not sure we want to do an eight-hour trip for what would amount to only a few hours at the Taj Mahal.
It can be really quite cold in December, so take some warm sweaters and jackets for the evenings. It gets particularly cold in Ranthambhore.
Mar 8, 2010, 3:40 am
#92
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
I personally think it's crazy to think of doing an excursion to the Taj Mahal, but if you want to get up at dawn, then the best way is to get the train from Delhi to Agra - Shathabi Express (sorry about spelling, but not at home right now) and then back again.
It can be really quite cold in December, so take some warm sweaters and jackets for the evenings. It gets particularly cold in Ranthambhore.
It can be really quite cold in December, so take some warm sweaters and jackets for the evenings. It gets particularly cold in Ranthambhore.
Aman will gladly with a supplement of USD 250 on your Aman India journey package make the detour via Agra (Taj Mahal) and Fatehpur Sikri - both an absolute must - on your Aman Delhi to Amanbagh transfer. Taking the train without assistance with bags is nonsense.
I left at 0730 and in less than 4 hours was in Agra for a visit to Taj Mahal, then a nice vegatarian buffet lunch at the Taj Hotel (now called gateway) and then on to Fatehpur Sikri. Leaving Fatehpur Sikri at 4 PM the road till Amanbagh was surprisingly good and I arrived by 6:30 PM.
Make sure to have a Terrace Haveli suite at Amanbagh and transferring to Aman-i-khas pass via Amber Fort and Jaipur.
Return from Aman-i-khas to Delhi is convenient and pleasant by train in a private compartment. You will be on time for all evening departures from DEL or another delightful night at extremely well managed (Henry Gray) Aman Delhi.
Mar 8, 2010, 4:00 am
#93
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,068
Aman will gladly with a supplement of USD 250 on your Aman India journey package make the detour via Agra (Taj Mahal) and Fatehpur Sikri - both an absolute must - on your Aman Delhi to Amanbagh transfer. Taking the train without assistance with bags is nonsense.
I left at 0730 and in less than 4 hours was in Agra for a visit to Taj Mahal, then a nice vegatarian buffet lunch at the Taj Hotel (now called gateway) and then on to Fatehpur Sikri. Leaving Fatehpur Sikri at 4 PM the road till Amanbagh was surprisingly good and I arrived by 6:30 PM.
Make sure to have a Terrace Haveli suite at Amanbagh and transferring to Aman-i-khas pass via Amber Fort and Jaipur.
Return from Aman-i-khas to Delhi is convenient and pleasant by train in a private compartment. You will be on time for all evening departures from DEL or another delightful night at extremely well managed (Henry Gray) Aman Delhi.
I left at 0730 and in less than 4 hours was in Agra for a visit to Taj Mahal, then a nice vegatarian buffet lunch at the Taj Hotel (now called gateway) and then on to Fatehpur Sikri. Leaving Fatehpur Sikri at 4 PM the road till Amanbagh was surprisingly good and I arrived by 6:30 PM.
Make sure to have a Terrace Haveli suite at Amanbagh and transferring to Aman-i-khas pass via Amber Fort and Jaipur.
Return from Aman-i-khas to Delhi is convenient and pleasant by train in a private compartment. You will be on time for all evening departures from DEL or another delightful night at extremely well managed (Henry Gray) Aman Delhi.
Mar 9, 2010, 12:23 am
#94
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 142
Thanks, vuittonsofstyle.
If we wanted to make a excursion to the Taj Mahal, from which resort would you recommend? I'd imagine we could do it from either Aman New Delhi or Amanbagh. Aman reservations said it was a four-hour trip from Amanbagh. Not sure we want to do an eight-hour trip for what would amount to only a few hours at the Taj Mahal.
If we wanted to make a excursion to the Taj Mahal, from which resort would you recommend? I'd imagine we could do it from either Aman New Delhi or Amanbagh. Aman reservations said it was a four-hour trip from Amanbagh. Not sure we want to do an eight-hour trip for what would amount to only a few hours at the Taj Mahal.
The Taj.... it's one of those places which can be either utterly infuriating... when glimpsed through five hundred other tourists in the mid-day boiling sun... or utterly magical - when you visit at first light, maybe a couple dozen other visitors in the whole vast complex. Sit on the steps of one of the old ruined mosques and watch the white marble changing colour in the rising sun... catch a sense of the melancholy strangeness of the place... it was built to be the saddest monument on earth, after all. Amarvilas is the way to go, for a night at least. In the evening, perfect cocktails on the terrace, and the Taj in the distance and the sunset, seemingly all to yourself. Moments that make your trip to India.... Daytrips... well, Aman would handle them brilliantly, but I still think they're to be avoided if at all possible. Never underestimate how tricky and tiring traveling in India can be - four hours on the road there is not like four hours in most other places.
Mar 9, 2010, 6:20 pm
#95
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
Some photos and details on The Aman Spa @ The Connaught from an online article:
http://www.etbmice.com/article.asp?articleid=3855
Some nice Amangiri pics here :
http://www.lakepowellrealty.net/2010...amangiri-tour/
http://www.etbmice.com/article.asp?articleid=3855
Some nice Amangiri pics here :
http://www.lakepowellrealty.net/2010...amangiri-tour/
Last edited by paul2; Mar 9, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Mar 13, 2010, 3:10 am
#96
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
[QUOTE=behuman;13533189]Aman will gladly with a supplement of USD 250 on your Aman India journey package make the detour via Agra (Taj Mahal) and Fatehpur Sikri - both an absolute must - on your Aman Delhi to Amanbagh transfer. Taking the train without assistance with bags is nonsense.
You have done it, have you? We had plenty of assistance - much more preferable than spending hours on the road, given that the OP was just visiting Agra for the day, not doing a major tour, which, if you include Fatehpur Sikri, would be incredibly tiring.
I do not endorse the concept of travel that is all about ticking the boxes - been here, done that. You see nothing if you rush around India in a whirlwind of sightseeing tours. You need to stop and look up and smell the flowers, but then, I have only been travelling to India for 30 years, so what do I know.
You have done it, have you? We had plenty of assistance - much more preferable than spending hours on the road, given that the OP was just visiting Agra for the day, not doing a major tour, which, if you include Fatehpur Sikri, would be incredibly tiring.
I do not endorse the concept of travel that is all about ticking the boxes - been here, done that. You see nothing if you rush around India in a whirlwind of sightseeing tours. You need to stop and look up and smell the flowers, but then, I have only been travelling to India for 30 years, so what do I know.
Mar 13, 2010, 6:44 am
#97
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
Amanyara Trio Free At Last?!?!?!?
Anyone heard of this armed robbery? I'm not sure what is more disturbing...the fact that it happened or the fact that whoever did it has not been brought to justice.
http://www.tcweeklynews.com/default....lynews&he=.com
Is this even a legitimate news source?
Anyone heard of this armed robbery? I'm not sure what is more disturbing...the fact that it happened or the fact that whoever did it has not been brought to justice.
http://www.tcweeklynews.com/default....lynews&he=.com
Is this even a legitimate news source?
Mar 13, 2010, 8:43 am
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
wow. makes me wonder about other hotel security. while some countries having little/no liability would be good, there are still other factors. presumably the "best" would be regions where the conflicts/terrorism are far enough away, but close enough to have security with it in mind.
Mar 14, 2010, 6:19 pm
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
Amankora have posted this on facebook:
http://www.cooleremail.net/users/debbiechi/Master_030910$Torunn.html
http://www.cooleremail.net/users/debbiechi/Master_030910$Torunn.html
Last edited by paul2; Mar 14, 2010 at 6:57 pm Reason: correction from Kagehitokiri...thanks!
Mar 14, 2010, 6:50 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
(missing an "L" on the end >)
http://www.cooleremail.net/users/debbiechi/Master_030910$Torunn.html
(discussing philanthropy)
http://www.cooleremail.net/users/debbiechi/Master_030910$Torunn.html
(discussing philanthropy)
Mar 14, 2010, 6:55 pm
#101
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
Mar 19, 2010, 5:24 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13353090-post51.html
aman has now blocked the ability to look at the old pages... 
from my post i can only gather this - during tsunami discount @ amanpuri > 2BR from $900 and/or 3BR from $1350.
ive learned from failing @ copy/paste many times. also used to having websites/browsers/etc break links.
found some financial numbers for amanresorts:
2009 - "down 20%"
march 2008 > march 2009 revenue $1.2B net $365MM
march 2007 > march 2008 revenue $1.3B ebitda $793MM net $568MM
march 2006 > march 2007 revenue $315MM ebitda $218MM net $90MM
...
2000 - revenue $61MM ebitda $30MM (ebitda per room = $75K, vs $4K for FS)
1999 - revenue $50MM editda $15MM
(29% > 44% margins
)
and another interesting article http://www.forbes.com/global/2000/03...46a_print.html
they should have bought a villa 
aman has now blocked the ability to look at the old pages... from my post i can only gather this - during tsunami discount @ amanpuri > 2BR from $900 and/or 3BR from $1350.
ive learned from failing @ copy/paste many times. also used to having websites/browsers/etc break links.
found some financial numbers for amanresorts:
2009 - "down 20%"
march 2008 > march 2009 revenue $1.2B net $365MM
march 2007 > march 2008 revenue $1.3B ebitda $793MM net $568MM
march 2006 > march 2007 revenue $315MM ebitda $218MM net $90MM
...
2000 - revenue $61MM ebitda $30MM (ebitda per room = $75K, vs $4K for FS)
1999 - revenue $50MM editda $15MM
(29% > 44% margins
)and another interesting article http://www.forbes.com/global/2000/03...46a_print.html
Harald and Waltra Jrgensen, a retired German couple, proudly call themselves junkies. Each year for the past nine, they have come to Amanpuri and stayed for ten weeks.
they should have bought a villa
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Mar 19, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Mar 19, 2010, 5:48 pm
#103
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
and another interesting article http://www.forbes.com/global/2000/03...46a_print.html
they should have bought a villa
they should have bought a villa While aman sveti stefan (phase 2) continues slowly it seems that Four Seasons and Banyan Tree are working on projects in Montenegro :
(Page two)
http://www.mipa.co.me/userfiles/file...Letter_ENG.pdf
The tapas lounge at Aman New Delhi might sound strange but the food looks good: http://tomostyle.wordpress.com/2010/...w-delhi-india/
Last edited by paul2; Mar 19, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Mar 19, 2010, 6:15 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
FS came up in FS thread/etc, tivat port or something? ah, porto montenegro.
nothing on montenegro in BT financials, but found stuff on web, moving to upcoming hotels >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13584261-post264.html
nothing on montenegro in BT financials, but found stuff on web, moving to upcoming hotels >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13584261-post264.html
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Mar 19, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Mar 22, 2010, 5:36 am
#105
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Well found Kage and interesting.
The tapas lounge at Aman New Delhi might sound strange but the food looks good: http://tomostyle.wordpress.com/2010/...w-delhi-india/
The tapas lounge at Aman New Delhi might sound strange but the food looks good: http://tomostyle.wordpress.com/2010/...w-delhi-india/