Your favorite hotels in 2012
Sep 20, 2012, 5:31 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,174
Best, In order, this year
Capella Lord Howe Island NSW Australia (Number 1 life-time favorite):-::-::-:
Lizard Island Resort:-::-:
FS Sultanahmet:-:
Tom Tom Suites Istanbul:-:
Halekulani Honolulu:-:
Lizard Island Resort:-::-:
FS Sultanahmet:-:
Tom Tom Suites Istanbul:-:
Halekulani Honolulu:-:
Sep 24, 2012, 11:23 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sydney
Programs: UA/EK(Gold) CX(Diamond) Marriott Gold Accor Platinum Hilton Diamond Shangri-la Jade
Posts: 585
These are the hotels which I tried for the first time in 2012 which I would be happy to revisit:
Raffles Singapore
Le Crillon
FS George V
Raffles Singapore
Le Crillon
FS George V
Sep 25, 2012, 3:32 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,550
Lots of choices so far this year. I'd go with:
1. STR San Francisco (multiple stays this year....it's really grown on me)
2. RC-NYCP
3. RC Moscow
There are plenty of possible honorable mentions in the FS/RC/MO/etc universe, but these three stuck out.
Keep in mind this is just my experiences in 2012; I wouldnt usually rate the STR SFO > RC NYCP.
1. STR San Francisco (multiple stays this year....it's really grown on me)
2. RC-NYCP
3. RC Moscow
There are plenty of possible honorable mentions in the FS/RC/MO/etc universe, but these three stuck out.
Keep in mind this is just my experiences in 2012; I wouldnt usually rate the STR SFO > RC NYCP.
Sep 26, 2012, 4:29 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 102
Lots of choices so far this year. I'd go with:
1. STR San Francisco (multiple stays this year....it's really grown on me)
2. RC-NYCP
3. RC Moscow
There are plenty of possible honorable mentions in the FS/RC/MO/etc universe, but these three stuck out.
Keep in mind this is just my experiences in 2012; I wouldnt usually rate the STR SFO > RC NYCP.
1. STR San Francisco (multiple stays this year....it's really grown on me)
2. RC-NYCP
3. RC Moscow
There are plenty of possible honorable mentions in the FS/RC/MO/etc universe, but these three stuck out.
Keep in mind this is just my experiences in 2012; I wouldnt usually rate the STR SFO > RC NYCP.
Sep 26, 2012, 6:18 am
#36
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,550
plenty of positive thoughts here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-new-york.html
and here with report of a recent stay:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...roperty-4.html
and dozens of more threads...just do a search. My specific views on my last stay are in the second link.
Perhaps you're itching to tell us a story of a bad experience there? We're used to that sort of thing here. As you know if you'e here often, in this forum you'll find complaints about the RC-NYCP, FS-GV, the Amans, you name it!
It doesnt hurt anyone's feelings nor will it on its own dissuade me/anyone from thinking less of the hotels we've logged dozens of stays in.
So if that's the case....you may fire when ready.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-new-york.html
and here with report of a recent stay:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...roperty-4.html
and dozens of more threads...just do a search. My specific views on my last stay are in the second link.
Perhaps you're itching to tell us a story of a bad experience there? We're used to that sort of thing here. As you know if you'e here often, in this forum you'll find complaints about the RC-NYCP, FS-GV, the Amans, you name it!
It doesnt hurt anyone's feelings nor will it on its own dissuade me/anyone from thinking less of the hotels we've logged dozens of stays in. So if that's the case....you may fire when ready.
Sep 27, 2012, 9:45 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 408
And the worst stay so far in 2012 at a "luxury" hotel: The Sacher Salzburg -- shower in tub, which wildly fluctuating water temperatures; in-room internet only picks up a signal if you are sitting on the toilet; dilapidated rooms; terrible service ("May I use your fitness center while I wait for my room to be prepared?" "No, the fitness center is only available to guests who already have their room key.")
Sep 28, 2012, 3:02 am
#39
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
Sep 28, 2012, 8:20 am
#40
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
And the worst stay so far in 2012 at a "luxury" hotel: The Sacher Salzburg -- shower in tub, which wildly fluctuating water temperatures; in-room internet only picks up a signal if you are sitting on the toilet; dilapidated rooms; terrible service ("May I use your fitness center while I wait for my room to be prepared?" "No, the fitness center is only available to guests who already have their room key.")
Sep 28, 2012, 8:42 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
was aman summer palace ok?
And the worst stay so far in 2012 at a "luxury" hotel: The Sacher Salzburg -- shower in tub, which wildly fluctuating water temperatures; in-room internet only picks up a signal if you are sitting on the toilet; dilapidated rooms; terrible service ("May I use your fitness center while I wait for my room to be prepared?" "No, the fitness center is only available to guests who already have their room key.")
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Sep 28, 2012 at 9:45 am
Sep 28, 2012, 5:25 pm
#42
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 408
In response to Kage's questions:
Wolgan Valley was sensational, but I was there at the tail end of 2011, so I excluded it from this 2012 list.
Aman at Summer Palace was also top notch, so if I were to add 4th and 5th best stays of 2012 to date, I'd put Aman-Summer Palace at #4, and Amanruya at #5. Amanruya's glories were just slightly dampened by its inability to run smoothly at capacity -- housekeeping was really a major problem, never appearing at all on several of the days of our week-long stay. And the staff mostly lacked the tremendous warmth of virtually everyone we met at the 2 Chinese resorts. Staff were much less experienced in English at Amanruya than they were at the Chinese Amans, and never addressed us by name, which was a constant at the Chinese Amans. So by way of contrast, the Chinese Amans are operating at the very highest levels right now, with impeccably trained and endlessly nurturing staff. I was blown away by how personalized the experiences at Amanfayun and Aman-Summer Palace were, even by Aman's highest of standards. I'll try to post a more detailed review and photos soon.
I was only booked for one night at Sacher Salzburg, or I would have left early.
Wolgan Valley was sensational, but I was there at the tail end of 2011, so I excluded it from this 2012 list.
Aman at Summer Palace was also top notch, so if I were to add 4th and 5th best stays of 2012 to date, I'd put Aman-Summer Palace at #4, and Amanruya at #5. Amanruya's glories were just slightly dampened by its inability to run smoothly at capacity -- housekeeping was really a major problem, never appearing at all on several of the days of our week-long stay. And the staff mostly lacked the tremendous warmth of virtually everyone we met at the 2 Chinese resorts. Staff were much less experienced in English at Amanruya than they were at the Chinese Amans, and never addressed us by name, which was a constant at the Chinese Amans. So by way of contrast, the Chinese Amans are operating at the very highest levels right now, with impeccably trained and endlessly nurturing staff. I was blown away by how personalized the experiences at Amanfayun and Aman-Summer Palace were, even by Aman's highest of standards. I'll try to post a more detailed review and photos soon.
I was only booked for one night at Sacher Salzburg, or I would have left early.
Sep 29, 2012, 3:44 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
Groombridge, sorry i should have figured that out considering you said january, like thailand trip. re china aman - wow. comments like that are always especially convenient for anyone who travels near term.
5khours, thread says favorites in 2012 and OP listed a resort.
nice to see ^
5khours, thread says favorites in 2012 and OP listed a resort.
nice to see ^
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Oct 2, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Sep 30, 2012, 9:47 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
My best stays in 2012 so far are (I would give all 10 out of 10): Chewton Glen, Borgo Santo Pietro, Babylonstoren, Delaire Graff, Ballyfin, Frégate, Six Senses Zighy Bay, Saint James Paris (incredible renovation) and finally 7 Singita safari camps where I rate Singita Sweni (6 rooms) as my all time favorite hotel/resort/lodge experience.