London Luxury Hotel
Jul 19, 2015, 2:34 am
#256
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
To sum it up: from a real luxury perspective (incl. crowd control), there are currently 3 hotels in London.
* Bulgari
* Savoy
* Ritz
Sorry to hear about the Lanesborough going down.
* Bulgari
* Savoy
* Ritz
Sorry to hear about the Lanesborough going down.
Jul 19, 2015, 3:39 am
#257
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
I will gladly pay a premium for FS Park Lane or The Connaught before I set foot in the Savoy or even go near the Ritz. Don't know about Bulgari but I have little desire to try it.
Jul 19, 2015, 4:55 am
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,523
A jacket doesn´t make someone high class - especially as they look like "Schweinchen Dick im Konfirmationsanzug"...... So "Jacket required" is no guarantee to hold unwanted persons (however the definition is) out. Advantage of Ritz is, that it´s relative inexpensive.
Jul 19, 2015, 7:11 am
#261
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: AC SE MM, too many others
Posts: 1,407
I agree with this. The Savoy continues to crawl with tourists in the public spaces, and the Ritz is just tired.
Jul 19, 2015, 11:17 am
#262
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
As a Londoner, I can say this post is simply wrong. I'm also not sure what crowd control there is at the Savoy and the Ritz in particular... The Bulgari keeps British people out, but that's because they typically don't hang out with the undesirables you get in Knightsbridge.
Jul 19, 2015, 11:19 am
#263
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
I am not sure why the Savoy is getting a lot of stick in this forum. I have stayed there twice and will be staying again this coming week. In both past two stays, the experience has been exemplary. Love the huge suites and the F&B and service.
In contrast, I just checked in to Rosewood London and it's awful, just plain downright awful
No help with luggage on arrival. Booked arrival service but no in-room checked-in. No welcome amenity no letter. Room has no view at all, with white painted walls and wires dangling from the ceiling. Room is devoid of decoration or furniture. The hallways looks like a dungeon maze and so darkly lit that it feels like a haunted mansion. Took them like forever to bring up my luggage. Internet speed is slow to a crawl. Of course, the staff here is patronizing and condescending.
I cannot wait to leave. Lucky it's just for 2 days to try out. What a big mistake!
In contrast, I just checked in to Rosewood London and it's awful, just plain downright awful
No help with luggage on arrival. Booked arrival service but no in-room checked-in. No welcome amenity no letter. Room has no view at all, with white painted walls and wires dangling from the ceiling. Room is devoid of decoration or furniture. The hallways looks like a dungeon maze and so darkly lit that it feels like a haunted mansion. Took them like forever to bring up my luggage. Internet speed is slow to a crawl. Of course, the staff here is patronizing and condescending. I cannot wait to leave. Lucky it's just for 2 days to try out. What a big mistake!
Last edited by BENLEE; Jul 19, 2015 at 11:27 am
Jul 20, 2015, 12:15 pm
#264
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
You? Too shy? Surely not! It is the rooms and suites that have benefited most from the refurbishment - that and the restaurant. Really great food. Best I have ever seen this hotel.
Jul 21, 2015, 12:42 am
#265
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
For us 45 Park Lane is still our hotel of choice in London. The Park Lane suites are fantastic, the food at CUT is outstanding and the service is flawless. We won't stay anywhere else in London... although I have to admit to being tempted by the newly reopened Lanesborough. Any been yet or got some pictures they could share?
Jul 22, 2015, 6:50 am
#268
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: QF Platinum & Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,340
It was almost like the Ritz thought they were running a luxury hotel, but weren't actually doing so.
This is the review I did of the Ritz on Flyertalk at the time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...tz-london.html I doubt that very much has changed since 2012, because it seemed as though little had changed since 1905.
Jul 31, 2015, 10:26 am
#269
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
I just dropped by at the Lanesborough today, which has just completed a multi-million 18 mths renovation. I was shown a few rooms and suites and end the visit with a lunch at hotel's restaurant Celeste. Here are the pic set of the hotel in flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benlee...57656140057270
Sorry, no time to do captions.
Some quick observations
1) The renovation and final touches are still going on. Not all the rooms and suites are ready. Target is August next month to finish.
2) Every room and suite is different, with their own color scheme and layout. It's very British and Classical, and done tastefully ( personal opinion of course ).
3) Lower floor rooms have high ceiling. Higher floor rooms have lower ceilings. The high ceiling rooms are more impressive.
4) The bathrooms are kind of small, even for suites. I guess they are not allowed to modify the building structure to expand the bathroom space.
5) All rooms upgraded with new state of the art touch panel electronics, televisions etc.
6) Security is rather tight at the hotel. I don't think it's a property you can just walk in and sit around unless you are a staying guest, got an appointment or a reservation at their bar or restaurant.
7) Tried the Celeste restaurant and find the food to be rather mediocre. Might be one of those start-up kinks.
8) Published rates for rooms start at GBP770 and GBP1500 for suites
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benlee...57656140057270
Sorry, no time to do captions.
Some quick observations
1) The renovation and final touches are still going on. Not all the rooms and suites are ready. Target is August next month to finish.
2) Every room and suite is different, with their own color scheme and layout. It's very British and Classical, and done tastefully ( personal opinion of course ).
3) Lower floor rooms have high ceiling. Higher floor rooms have lower ceilings. The high ceiling rooms are more impressive.
4) The bathrooms are kind of small, even for suites. I guess they are not allowed to modify the building structure to expand the bathroom space.
5) All rooms upgraded with new state of the art touch panel electronics, televisions etc.
6) Security is rather tight at the hotel. I don't think it's a property you can just walk in and sit around unless you are a staying guest, got an appointment or a reservation at their bar or restaurant.
7) Tried the Celeste restaurant and find the food to be rather mediocre. Might be one of those start-up kinks.
8) Published rates for rooms start at GBP770 and GBP1500 for suites
Last edited by BENLEE; Jul 31, 2015 at 10:31 am
Jul 31, 2015, 10:29 am
#270
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Here, there … you know how it goes.
Posts: 1,518
Thank you. Not to my tastes at all, but I'm sure will be quite nice for many others.