TheBrownPrince

Park Lane seems to do this extremely well. The service is amazingly personal.
Upon checking in, the front desk officer asked if I needed help with plans for the evening. I said I was already going to watch Kiss Me Kate. I retire to my room after the show and see my chocolate on a Kiss Me Kate themed plate. I smirked and thought to myself, "now that's just showing off." They're listening!

offerendum

Good excample for good service. Always had a good experience at PL.

MikeFromTokyo

I'll never understand the criticism of FS servive as too "formulaic" or their decors as "fuddy-duddy." That is certainly far from my experience with Four Seasosns. The best properties exude character, and are quintessentially of the place, whether the are historical hotels or contemporary landmarks. There are a few boring FS properties, but to be fair those are mostly in lower yielding North American markets where the competition isn't that great either. There are also outlying properties like Sydney that are unimpressive, but most other hotel groups have their weaker properties as well.

As a very regular guest at some FS properties, I can say that service is often outstanding, and anything but "formulaic". I often enjoy friendly chats with staff members who are simply a pleasure to interact with at all times. Some have made my stays by remembering a small detail, such as a favorite wine or something else that I may have only mentioned once before. Others have gone out of their way to make sure I am upgraded to the exact rooms or suites I prefer - I am talking about specific room numbers and often multi category upgrades - as soon as they see my booking pop up in their system a month out (or so they have told me, and I believe it because they always get it right).

If that's a formula of some kind I certainly love it. But, I don't think the magic is part of a formula. It's just what happens when great people are really good at what they do.

simpletastes

Possibly slightly off topic, but why are North American markets lower yielding? And why it seems luxury and style (when it comes to airlines and hotels) can mostly be found in Western Europe and Asia (and Africa)?

Ericka

We've had a number of good FS stays over the years, but the ones that have really blown us away have been the most recent stays....when we've had our young son with us.

These are some exceptional family hotels.
- FS George V
- FS Peninsula Papagayo
- FS Sultanhamet

MikeFromTokyo

My favorites are:

Paris George V
Hong Kong
Geneva Hotel des Bergues
Maldives Kuda Huraa
Maldives Landaa Giraavaru
Tokyo Marunouchi
Koh Samui
London Park Lane
Boston
New York
Beverly Hills
Milan

Formerly Bangkok (now Anantara Siam)

I am looking forward to the Nam Hai and Cap Ferrat.

I miss Terre Blanche, still sad it left Four Seasons.


For example Atlanta, Westlake Village, San Francisco, Baltimore, Seattle, St. Louis. I am not deriding the properties or the cities, but the fact is that while these hotels may be best or among the best in town, these markets are less developed and cannot achieve the rates seen in New York, Beverly Hills, Boston, Washington D.C. etc..

The point is that hotels need to be viewed in context of their locations.

DetailsIM

FS Maui - for us it was our first luxury hotel. The serenity pool is hard to beat.

FS Boston - Great service. Two examples:

One time we arrived and the wife was sick. Waiter at the Bristol where we had lunch sent up a pot of tea to the room. He saw us the next day and asked how she was feeling.

Second example: We were there in the winter and it was freezing out. We had parked our car in the garage at the public garden. As we were checking out the gentleman behind the counter asked if we needed a car service. We said no we were parked across the way. He went to get the person who drives the house car. He wasn't to be found (perhaps quick break). So he got the keys himself and drove us over to our car so we didn't have to walk in the blistering cold.

LindaTerrill

For anyone having to endure a trip to Disney ​​​​World, the FS Orlando is the best (only) truly luxury option, and the service is top notch. It's located on Disney property and shuttles to all the parks are included. Spacious rooms (rooms with 2 Queens for families available), beautiful suites with large balconies overlooking the Disney fireworks, and a great water park for the kiddos.... while mom and dad chill at the adult pool. The Kids For All Seasons Program is very good, too. After exhausting yourself in lines at the park in the morning, enjoying the afternoon in this sane, luxury property is the way to keep mom, dad and the kids relaxed and happy. "Character" breakfasts a few mornings a week are offered (reservations a must), but alternate buffet breakfast is offered in the lobby bar to escape the little princesses.

jp-mco

Our favourite Four Seasons is Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat. We've stayed twice; once in the Rooftop Suite in the main building and the second time in one of their pool suites in The Residence. Both excellent but the pool suite really has that wow factor - especially in August when the pool is the perfect place to relax.

Club Dauphin gets too busy during high season which is why we chose a pool suite where it was much more relaxing. One day we hired a cabana and it was a terrible experience; no service whatsoever, flies everywhere - not a luxury experience at all. Total contrast to the cabanas at Hotel du Cap which were perfection!

Staying at FS Orlando next week - I wonder what it will be like!

bsdstone

I couldn't agree more with you about Sayan...some of my fondest memories come from that hotel!

Ruth4325

Four seasons Georges V in Paris is an outstanding hotel. I've stayed there a few times and once when it was my 10th wedding anniversary they upgraded us to their top suite which was phenomenal. They also arranged a motorbike tour of Paris by night for us using two of their dispatch riders as there was no organised trip such as this in Paris at the time. Great memories.

FS Mauritius at Anahita is also excellent and the staff take great care of the guests. The only downside is little or no atmosphere at night in the bar...bit disappointing.

FS Toronto was ok...felt just like a big corporate hotel to me.

Staying at FS Vail in a few weeks...have heard good things and the kids are looking forward to the hot chocolate concierge at the heated outdoor pool, while us adults are in it for the ski concierge and spa treatments.

Eujeanie

Our Spanish-style casita at Troon North in Scottsdale was not typical FS decor at all.

Kagehitokiri

simpletastes, owners are huge factor, as well as local costs.

the best properties usually have good owners, and invest a lot.

MikeFromTokyo

What is a typical FS décor, I wonder? Are people referring to a sedate color scheme, like the rooms at FS New York and in some other more business oriented properties? I think that is more of a stereotype, because in fact globally Four Seasons hotels have a wide range of décors that often are very well done and are of the place.

Kagehitokiri

clearly most of "Best FS Properties" will be less 'average'
"Best FS" may include visiting property, rather than location

when selecting 'best' in location, averages are not a factor