Just finished a several night stay over new years, and I have mixed feelings, but mostly good ones.

We were greeted at the airport (part of the standard amenities). Transfer was via BMW X5 and was friendly and efficient. Driver asked permission to use phone to call front desk as we approached the entrance. (this was the only time throughout our stay that the driver asked permission to use the phone...not a big deal, though).

Check In

Upon arrival at porte cochere, we were greeted by manager on duty, who welcomed us and introduced us to our guest services representative. No drink, towel, etc...like one would find at Asian hotels in this class. Offered a brief tour of the grounds and facilities, then escorted to our room for in-suite check-in.

Room

Due to the sold-out holiday, we were not upgraded. But IMHO, the standard suites are much more than sufficient, and based on what we were told, the next 2 categories up are not substantially different. It seems you have to book 3 categories above "standard" to get something really special, and by that time you are up to $1500+ per night. Bathroom was quite large, as was the his & hers closet area. Bath amenities were private label for Amangani, but both my wife and I would rate them as good as BVLGARI or L'Occitaine. Outdoor deck was very spacious, but it was a bit too cold to use it. Fireplace was a nice touch, but I really can't stand the remote-control fireplace concept. In-room media was mediocre (small Dell-brand LCD TV), but included a DVD player and small stereo.

Location

Hard product is quite impressive, with extensive use of stone, wood, and floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly frame the grand vistas from every room in the property. Wide hallways, tall ceilings, chairs and couches everywhere...the property is really quite welcoming and comfortable. Only area I would consider too small and/or cramped is the gym, which is one of the smallest I have ever seen in a hotel.

Concierge

Front desk staff (aka guest services, or something similar) seem to be omnipresent and are a genuine delight to talk to. They are all very cheerful and go out of their way to interact with guests - perhaps even share a joke.

The bar is rarely staffed, but the front desk people are happy to help pour your favorite drink. For more complex mixology, the bartender is summoned from back of the house. Quite a selection of specialty liquors, including some house-made concoctions like vanilla-infused vodka. Wine and beer were reasonable, but I found mixed cocktails to be exorbitantly expensive ($17+ for most). The bartender made quite a big deal about his special drink menu, but after trying 3 of his favorites, we were not very impressed.

Dining

The Grill is the only restaurant on-premises. For breakfast (included in Virtuoso amenities), you have a choice of a miserly buffet (blah) or a handful of menu items. We tried 3 menu items and the buffet and have to say that breakfast is among the least inspiring of any 5-star hotel anywhere. Thankfully, they redeemed themselves at lunch and dinner, offering some very tasty treats. The lamb reuben and the hamburger were both exceptional, but the highly-touted elk chili is not that special. Dinner was mixed, with entrees and desserts that were exceptional, but side dishes and appetizers were uninspiring. If there was a single negative service experience in the hotel, it would be here in the Grill. Breakfast and lunch took an hour, and dinner took nearly 3. Water glasses regularly went empty, and I had to request soft-drink refills several times per meal.

Spa

The spa was another mixed bag. The hotel was at full occupancy for the holiday, so spa treatments were completely full the entire weekend by the time we arrived. They were able to squeeze in a couple treatments when they had cancellations, but they were at very inopportune times. IMHO, if you're going to operate a 5-star spa and you know you have full occupancy, either inform your first time guests to book treatments in advance, or hire extra help for the holiday! On the positive side, the treatments themselves were of very high quality.

Transportation Services

Shuttle service to and from the ski resort is complimentary (during daylight hours). However, car service to town and to the ski resort after-hours costs an arm and a leg. As such, I would strongly recommend renting a car, especially if you want to explore the national parks.

Overall

We considered Rusty Parrot and Four Seasons instead of Amangani. Rusty Parrot made some big waves a few years ago when they won "best hotel in America". We decided to try their restaurant one night, and it was one of our top-5 dining experiences of all time (competing with several Michelin-star establishments on our list I might add). However, we toured the hotel after dinner and, while the service may be exceptional, the hard product is Marriott quality at best. Plus, if you came to Jackson to ski, Rusty Parrot is a solid 40-minute drive to the slopes. Four seasons is slope-side and priced slightly less than Amangani. It is much larger and attracts a more high-strung "shi-shi" crowd.

If you're a hardcore skier with a 5-star budget, you should look seriously at Four Seasons, for convenience if nothing else. However, for a great all-around place to stay located conveniently between the town and the slopes, Amangani is hard to beat - despite its few shortcomings.