Luxury Hotels/Resorts Highly Regarded ... but you were unwowed
Jan 19, 2019, 9:40 am
#91
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mem
Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium
Posts: 984
I agree with you 100%. FS Florence has stunning public spaces.
Jan 19, 2019, 1:14 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
qatar acquired 2016, opened 2011 - st regis - starwood (from CIGA)
qatar acquired 2013, opened 2008 - FS - local developer
famoushotels.org/hotels/grand-hotel-florence
most properties are pretty mixed here, over time. it is interesting when opinions vary based on style including service, especially for properties that are less mixed. variation avoids boring.
room category is one of the biggest differences especially in historical properties.
qatar acquired 2013, opened 2008 - FS - local developer
famoushotels.org/hotels/grand-hotel-florence
most properties are pretty mixed here, over time. it is interesting when opinions vary based on style including service, especially for properties that are less mixed. variation avoids boring.
room category is one of the biggest differences especially in historical properties.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jan 19, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Jan 19, 2019, 8:06 pm
#93
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,007
Ive been reading about FS Firenze on these forums for years as one of THE best or Not to be missed properties. I didnt choose to stay there, preferring Lungarno, during a stay few weeks ago, basing my decision on the photos of decor Ive seen online. We did, however, celebrate NYE with them and then came back the following day for brunch, along with a short lunch a few days prior to that. NYE was nicely organized but service was bad and food subpar. But none of that spoiled the celebration. To summarize, would not stay there, always giving preference to Lungarno, but would definitely come back for brunch.
Jan 19, 2019, 11:15 pm
#94
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
Jan 20, 2019, 2:06 pm
#98
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: France
Posts: 971
FS George V Paris: didnt stay but had drinks/lunch, but really wasnt fond of layout, vibe, and the stiff formality.
The Bristol Paris: didnt stay, but despised the incredibly dated room/suite decor and furnishings, felt almost like I was staying at French grandmas house.
FS Florence: didnt stay but had lunch, not impressed by the public spaces layout or horrible greenish decor and furnishings, felt out of place and not modern/classy at all, spa facility was confusingly and poorly laid out, as well
FS Istanbul Bosphorus: didnt stay but had lunch/drinks, despised the sterile marble mausoleum ambience, ridiculously overpriced
The Bristol Paris: didnt stay, but despised the incredibly dated room/suite decor and furnishings, felt almost like I was staying at French grandmas house.
FS Florence: didnt stay but had lunch, not impressed by the public spaces layout or horrible greenish decor and furnishings, felt out of place and not modern/classy at all, spa facility was confusingly and poorly laid out, as well
FS Istanbul Bosphorus: didnt stay but had lunch/drinks, despised the sterile marble mausoleum ambience, ridiculously overpriced
I fully agree with you about le Bristol and I actually never understood the praise.
FS Florence was a unique experience. Pierre invited me there for my birthday. He had booked a junior suite. At check-in when they saw my ID they decided to upgrade us to the Presidential suite of the Conventino. I was blown away. FS has been consistently generous with upgrades over the years, this one was very unexpected and most appreciated!
FS Istanbul Bosphorus was disappointing. It is indeed overpriced and bland.
Feb 7, 2019, 7:29 am
#102
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
- FS Hualalai on what was to be the day of Cisco arrival. 24 hours before my check-in date, they emailed me saying they would not honor my guaranteed AMEX FHR late checkout that I had confirmed with them upon booking because that was the day that Cisco was arriving. It took a half dozen calls to straighten it out (they initially insisted I forfeit the security deposit for short-notice cancellation when I said I would not be staying because it did not align with my flights).
-Montage Palmetto Bluff - The incident where my toilet needed plunging at 1am because dead roaches were backing up out of the toilet, but housekeeping didn't have a plunger anywhere on property. I had to drive two hours roundtrip to the nearest 24-hour Walmart (!) getting back to the hotel at 3am to plunge the toilet. I complained to the manager, and they offered a perfunctory apology but no service recovery.
I've also stayed there about a dozen times under the same profile, and the check-in desk always asks me whether it's my first time. I suppose this passes for being proactive and being attending to any questions guests might have, but they should know me by now.
Incidentally, these are still my two favorite resorts in the United States, which goes to show the level of service that one can expect in this country.
-Park Hyatt Maldives - Trying to upsell us at every turn. Interrupting a breakfast with my wife to push us to make spa reservations. Not so subtle insisting that we check out the gift shop.
-Amansara - Was sublime when Sally was there, felt a bit more like a sales pitch our last visit. Staff members listening in on private conversations I was having with my party and then approaching us in the dining room (including the GM and assistant GM at different meals) to see if that meant we were interested in purchasing some dime-and-dozen marked up Buddha figurines that you see in all the tourist traps around Siem Reap. I understand Aman is supposed to be like you're staying over with family, but two things I don't like about family visits are (1) eavesdropping; and (2) relatives pushing their own agenda, and it felt like both.
-Montage Palmetto Bluff - The incident where my toilet needed plunging at 1am because dead roaches were backing up out of the toilet, but housekeeping didn't have a plunger anywhere on property. I had to drive two hours roundtrip to the nearest 24-hour Walmart (!) getting back to the hotel at 3am to plunge the toilet. I complained to the manager, and they offered a perfunctory apology but no service recovery.
I've also stayed there about a dozen times under the same profile, and the check-in desk always asks me whether it's my first time. I suppose this passes for being proactive and being attending to any questions guests might have, but they should know me by now.
Incidentally, these are still my two favorite resorts in the United States, which goes to show the level of service that one can expect in this country.
-Park Hyatt Maldives - Trying to upsell us at every turn. Interrupting a breakfast with my wife to push us to make spa reservations. Not so subtle insisting that we check out the gift shop.
-Amansara - Was sublime when Sally was there, felt a bit more like a sales pitch our last visit. Staff members listening in on private conversations I was having with my party and then approaching us in the dining room (including the GM and assistant GM at different meals) to see if that meant we were interested in purchasing some dime-and-dozen marked up Buddha figurines that you see in all the tourist traps around Siem Reap. I understand Aman is supposed to be like you're staying over with family, but two things I don't like about family visits are (1) eavesdropping; and (2) relatives pushing their own agenda, and it felt like both.
Last edited by blueheronNC; Feb 7, 2019 at 7:39 am
Feb 7, 2019, 8:07 am
#103
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
-Park Hyatt Maldives - Trying to upsell us at every turn. Interrupting a breakfast with my wife to push us to make spa reservations. Not so subtle insisting that we check out the gift shop.
-Amansara - Was sublime when Sally was there, felt a bit more like a sales pitch our last visit. Staff members listening in on private conversations I was having with my party and then approaching us in the dining room (including the GM and assistant GM at different meals) to see if that meant we were interested in purchasing some dime-and-dozen marked up Buddha figurines that you see in all the tourist traps around Siem Reap. I understand Aman is supposed to be like you're staying over with family, but two things I don't like about family visits are (1) eavesdropping; and (2) relatives pushing their own agenda, and it felt like both.
When was your Sara stay? I am very curious if I understood you correctly... the team was listening in on your conversation and then Astrid made an appearance to inquire if you would like them to get you art? Doesn't sound like the Astrid I know and it seems as we are missing something. Really would love to know more. Thanks!
Feb 7, 2019, 9:50 am
#104
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,028
- FS Hualalai on what was to be the day of Cisco arrival. 24 hours before my check-in date, they emailed me saying they would not honor my guaranteed AMEX FHR late checkout that I had confirmed with them upon booking because that was the day that Cisco was arriving. It took a half dozen calls to straighten it out (they initially insisted I forfeit the security deposit for short-notice cancellation when I said I would not be staying because it did not align with my flights).
Feb 7, 2019, 9:54 am
#105
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United 1K; AA Platinum
Posts: 326
When was your Sara stay? I am very curious if I understood you correctly... the team was listening in on your conversation and then Astrid made an appearance to inquire if you would like them to get you art? Doesn't sound like the Astrid I know and it seems as we are missing something. Really would love to know more. Thanks!
This was latter half of 2018. Our tour guide said bookings (Siem Reap generally) were way down for the winter season unexpectedly and everyone was feeling pressure. I wonder if this has something to do with it. Back in 2014 under Sally, the experience was peaceful and ethereal from wall to wall. Not once did we feel like we were at the losing end of someone's referral commission under the table.