I think the air conditioning is solved by getting a powerful system and having the power infrastructure (generator, solar, etc) to back it. A lot of places will skimp on this part. Right now, I'm at a modern hotel built in 2013 and owned by one of the leading Korean chaebols but even their system can't cool down the bedroom when the blinds are open and it's a sunny day. It was a big problem this summer. The truth of the matter is their system probably wasn't designed to go to Arctic 17 degrees Celsius that the panel shows and whatever unit they chose was probably judged to be adequate enough but not bhrubin enough. That Thai hotel that said their system would break below 23 degrees definitely didn't install a good enough system for that kind of environment.

If you want 3 figures or even 6 figures a night then you should be able to cater to needs and desires. A remote location doesn't mean much these days. Just another excuse as others have illustrated in this thread.

Just thinking about these tropical climates and the immense differences in temperatures and humidity between building and environment... it takes a toll on the structures. Not saying it isn't possible, but it requires very elaborate environmental control systems and architecture. I think it takes more than just a powerful condenser unit for our A/C needs. It means serious investment.

The Brando is a wonderful example of what can be done in terms of 'natural' A/C. Especially since the system these days is able to deliver impressive results.

Sad to hear about Laucala. Any knows who is doing interim?

Just returned from Laucala for my birthday. Petra Trapp is the general manager for the front of house. When we landed we were the only villa occupied out of the 25 so we were well taken care of by the 450 staff. Service, warmth and enthusiasm unrivalled. Air conditioning made the bedroom like an ice box! The resort is closing for renovations for much of October. I can't wait to return again.

I would hope the service was exemplary with 450 staff serving 1-2 guests!

many here like properties that are not like regular hotels. such properties can have very high costs (not rates) and be unprofitable regardless of high rates. i would always like to see more such properties. i dont really care if regular hotel rooms have lower rates, which they may not over holidays.

Laucala now has competition in Fiji -- similar experience, better pricing: Kokomo Island:

https://www.kokomoislandfiji.com/dow...fact-sheet.pdf

I vaguely seem to remember that it was me who 'sent' you to Anjajavy . . .

I don’t think anyone here was the reason we went to Anjajavy, but I certainly aopreciated your review and commentary on it! So thanks again for that!

Of course, the air con at Anjajavy worked as well as advertised.

We obviously have different requirements and expectations when it comes to remote luxury, despite the fact that we both enjoy remote locales—and that’s ok.

You refer in previous posts to people demanding amenities, whereas I see properties advertising amenities and then not delivering on them. Your opinion is based on a false equivalency to my mind.

That looks promising! Anyone planning a trip? Please do report back if so. I might think about it for next year.

You would think I'd learn from going to relatively new openings, but alas, stupidity was breed into me - we've decided to go in August for a few nights, just before returning to Laucala.

Cheetah_SA rather than bhrubin >
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxu...l#post21523044

posted Jun 30, 2010 > >
Kokomo >
think i heard from other(s) via PM, cant recall

@MacMyDay, looking forward to a comparative review of Kokomo and Laucala (of contemporaneous stays), especially given some of the patchy reports on Laucala!

I'm afraid that review will not be forthcoming. You would not want to see a comparison between an Airbus 380 compared to a penny farthing, which is what you would get in Laucala vs Kokomo. This is not to say that Kokomo is a bad resort, it's just in a different league and even feels from a different era than Laucala. Laucala may have celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, with Kokomo just celebrating their first, but the latter already feels dated. I was hoping and expecting so much more from the latest-and-greatest, but the hard product couldn't put up a fight against a bound and beaten Cheval Blanc Randheli or The Brando, both of which are nearing 6 years old and similarly priced. We even found ourselves unfavourably comparing the majority of it to Miavana. Start comparing it to Laucala and it'd be like watching Megatron fight Bambi. The problem is that it felt cheap; cheap materials, cheap rooms, cheap facilities. The room a particular let down; failing to deceive that it was poorly thought through and badly maintained.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1842/...caba5a8d_b.jpg
Looks like Long John Silver had a car boot sale

I get it: parts are rustic, but you can do rustic and be classy, see Messrs Island, North and Laucala. The story around Kokomo was Lane Walker coming in to save the day with $100m to complete the abandoned property, but I cannot help but believe that's a nice story rather than the reality. I fail to see see where the money went, other than on marketing boffins coming up with the innovative named restaurant: Walker d'Plank. And deciding how many stars they should have whilst rewording what all-inclusive means. Alcohol is an optional daily supplement of $150 per person, so I think they've taken the all-inclusive name in vain a bit there.

Their key differentiator is that the service truly was fantastic, with it being superior to Laucala on my 2016 stay, and so far on our current stay. Far superior. Truly wonderful, caring service throughout from everyone; GM down. When I told him my thoughts on the hard product, it broke both our hearts. I just don't consider amazing service enough reason to visit a property that takes over 24 hours for us Brits to get to and charges $3600/n for their standard room category. Sadly, with that the case, it means Kokomo has already peaked - it cannot get any better. No one became a billionaire by wasting money, so I doubt he'll want to restart all over again and build it to a competitive level, no matter how wonderful my feedback is.

It's a good property, it's just not a great one - and at these prices, it needs to be.

Thanks for the review (as always!) and the great photos.

Macmyday - Did you dodge the weather and ever get to Hawaii?