Report on my stay at Aman Sveti Stefan
#106
In fact they were managing Amanpulo until at least end of 2015. We had two fab stays at Amanpulo during their tenure, and interactions with both Jane and Tapa were fantastic - they were always present, responsive and caring, the epitome of perfect GMs. I find it very hard to believe that their work ethos would have declined so dramatically. Of course it's no excuse, but the Balkans are still a very difficult region for high-end hospitality in terms of staff education and morale....
#107
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
It seems the OP hasn't emailed Tapa/Jane directly, which might explain the delay. Hopefully, that will now be sorted.
#108
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
I was shocked because I see nothing but glowing reviews on here. I don't know if the glowing reviews are people not wanting to disagree with the popular opinion, emperor's new clothes style, or if this was really an anomaly. I will say that the room (#45 was lovely) and all the staff in the bars/restaurants made an effort. The front desk, management and house keeping however, were horrible. I can go into more detail if needed, but a basic list of complaints:
Day 1
- Car dropped us in front, porters took bags as we walked to the island. Luggage piece was was left in a puddle all clothing soaked. No apology even.
- After check in, pile of pubes found in room 45 bathroom. Asked for maids, they cleaned but no apology.
- On check in, blinking error light on aircon. AirCon broken, guy came to verify it was broken but it was never fixed during entire stay.
- Passport taken not returned and never returned until we went to hassle them 12 hours later since they forgot they had it.
- My gf stepped on broken glass in the main pool on the island. The shard was on the bottom of the pool.
- In the Gym, all TV's broken on cardio equipment. Never fixed during our stay
- Was out of room 6-10pm, didn't do turndown until we got back, came into room then to inconvenience us.
- Left dirty clothes on the ground. House keeping never put them away, left them sitting in a pile for 3 days. I left them there just to see if they'd ever clean them up.
- Tried to close drain in the tub, bathtub drain fell off, and shower head leaked and wouldn't fully turn off.
- No one manning the spa desk to make appointments, couldn't find anyone to direct us to fitness from boat dock. They seemed perplexed we asked where fitness was, as if they didn't know there was a gym.
Day 2
- We asked for extra water day 1, when they finally cleaned, housekeeping inexplicably took away the extra waters.
- AirCon still not fixed
- Clothes still not picked up
- Cardio TV's still broken
- At lunch we learned of wasp infestation at all restaurants and food was terrible at the piazza restaurant. They had to burn coffee grounds to TRY to keep the wasps at bay, but it didn't work and they were relentless.
- Everything very slippery and dangerous, water sitting for days never mopped up.
- Turndown again not done while we were away. Waited until we returned late at night and we had to go elsewhere and wait while they "cleaned"
Day 3
- Wasp infested dinner, waiter admitted the entire island is infested, no disclosure and they haven't rectified the problem. He said in previous years they had to move breakfast from the terrace because of the wasps, but now the entire island is infested, both restaurants and they can't find the hives and eradicate them. This was VERY unpleasant, as there were swarms of wasps and no table was safe. Bad, overpriced food is one thing, bad, overpriced food with a side of wasps is another.
- Overcrowding everywhere due to selling day passes and letting outsiders use the restaurant. Often no spots available at all by the pool since there were so many people around. Outside guests letting their children run around the Milocer side pool naked or in dirty diapers. Far cry from the peace and solitude of other Aman properties.
This was so far below the standard of the Aman group that I was shocked. Honestly, the service was below the level we received at the Hilton in Podgorica. It's a lovely setting, but the management and service is abysmal. This was a lovely room on a lovely island with 3 star service and an unforgivable wasp infestation. Based on this stay, I would never return and I would (and have already) cautioned others not to waste their time and $ on this property. Curious to hear if anyone else has been this month.
Day 1
- Car dropped us in front, porters took bags as we walked to the island. Luggage piece was was left in a puddle all clothing soaked. No apology even.
- After check in, pile of pubes found in room 45 bathroom. Asked for maids, they cleaned but no apology.
- On check in, blinking error light on aircon. AirCon broken, guy came to verify it was broken but it was never fixed during entire stay.
- Passport taken not returned and never returned until we went to hassle them 12 hours later since they forgot they had it.
- My gf stepped on broken glass in the main pool on the island. The shard was on the bottom of the pool.
- In the Gym, all TV's broken on cardio equipment. Never fixed during our stay
- Was out of room 6-10pm, didn't do turndown until we got back, came into room then to inconvenience us.
- Left dirty clothes on the ground. House keeping never put them away, left them sitting in a pile for 3 days. I left them there just to see if they'd ever clean them up.
- Tried to close drain in the tub, bathtub drain fell off, and shower head leaked and wouldn't fully turn off.
- No one manning the spa desk to make appointments, couldn't find anyone to direct us to fitness from boat dock. They seemed perplexed we asked where fitness was, as if they didn't know there was a gym.
Day 2
- We asked for extra water day 1, when they finally cleaned, housekeeping inexplicably took away the extra waters.
- AirCon still not fixed
- Clothes still not picked up
- Cardio TV's still broken
- At lunch we learned of wasp infestation at all restaurants and food was terrible at the piazza restaurant. They had to burn coffee grounds to TRY to keep the wasps at bay, but it didn't work and they were relentless.
- Everything very slippery and dangerous, water sitting for days never mopped up.
- Turndown again not done while we were away. Waited until we returned late at night and we had to go elsewhere and wait while they "cleaned"
Day 3
- Wasp infested dinner, waiter admitted the entire island is infested, no disclosure and they haven't rectified the problem. He said in previous years they had to move breakfast from the terrace because of the wasps, but now the entire island is infested, both restaurants and they can't find the hives and eradicate them. This was VERY unpleasant, as there were swarms of wasps and no table was safe. Bad, overpriced food is one thing, bad, overpriced food with a side of wasps is another.
- Overcrowding everywhere due to selling day passes and letting outsiders use the restaurant. Often no spots available at all by the pool since there were so many people around. Outside guests letting their children run around the Milocer side pool naked or in dirty diapers. Far cry from the peace and solitude of other Aman properties.
This was so far below the standard of the Aman group that I was shocked. Honestly, the service was below the level we received at the Hilton in Podgorica. It's a lovely setting, but the management and service is abysmal. This was a lovely room on a lovely island with 3 star service and an unforgivable wasp infestation. Based on this stay, I would never return and I would (and have already) cautioned others not to waste their time and $ on this property. Curious to hear if anyone else has been this month.
#109
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 22
A guest has the right to be resepcted, but also employees - even in Montenegro - have the right to be respected, they are not slaves. In this case a good GM should defend his employees, even if he or she looses revenue. There might be some people, who don't like smoking, but this is no reason to publish such pictures, smoking is not a crime.
#110
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,587
There are complains, that drones are flying over the property and at the same time a picture is published with the clear face of an employee. And than this picture is described as "awful", "disgusting" and it is said, that "this guy schould be thrown overboard immedieatly".
A guest has the right to be resepcted, but also employees - even in Montenegro - have the right to be respected, they are not slaves. In this case a good GM should defend his employees, even if he or she looses revenue. There might be some people, who don't like smoking, but this is no reason to publish such pictures, smoking is not a crime.
A guest has the right to be resepcted, but also employees - even in Montenegro - have the right to be respected, they are not slaves. In this case a good GM should defend his employees, even if he or she looses revenue. There might be some people, who don't like smoking, but this is no reason to publish such pictures, smoking is not a crime.
If you knew a thing about Aman, you’d know how they treat their team and guests alike. It is perfectly natural for many here to take a photo of various team members of Amans around the world doing what they love most, only in this case he is caught smoking. Don’t you think on his behalf there is also an element of lacking respect? Aside from health issues, don’t think it is very respectful to engage in such behavior in front of guests. Treat others as you want to be treated.
Since the GM has yet to reply at all, you cannot really comment on him and her either.
Generally I wish this would be resolved, as I remember J&T T from various stays and always fondly, in Aman fashion.
#111
There are complains, that drones are flying over the property and at the same time a picture is published with the clear face of an employee. And than this picture is described as "awful", "disgusting" and it is said, that "this guy schould be thrown overboard immedieatly".
A guest has the right to be resepcted, but also employees - even in Montenegro - have the right to be respected, they are not slaves. In this case a good GM should defend his employees, even if he or she looses revenue. There might be some people, who don't like smoking, but this is no reason to publish such pictures, smoking is not a crime.
A guest has the right to be resepcted, but also employees - even in Montenegro - have the right to be respected, they are not slaves. In this case a good GM should defend his employees, even if he or she looses revenue. There might be some people, who don't like smoking, but this is no reason to publish such pictures, smoking is not a crime.
Also when I said he should be thrown overboard it was of course not serious, it was a joke.
When you say it´s not a crime to smoke it´s not 100% true in every country but that´s not the point. It is for most people inappropriate for hotel staff. If it would have been during my stay I would have complained and if I would be the responsible manager it would be a reason to fire this guy. And I wouldn´t have bad feelings about it for a second.
But back to the hotel: For me a stay so far didn´t work due to location (not too simple to reach), I always decided different. After all reviews I still think the hardware is well worth a visit and perhaps the price they claim.
#113
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
I just caught up with this and agree it was a horrible experience. Sadly, I think that this typifies some of the Amans these days - less so in Asia, but elsewhere, for sure. The early days of SS were superb, especially when Jean-Pierre Baratin opened the resort. Kevin Brooke went on to do a good job, but last time I was there, it did seem to have changed - Russian weddings, drones over the beach and a lack of direction throughout. As Pausanias says in a later post, he was there at the beginning of Aman in 1988 and it was wonderful (I was also there back then), but like him, Iwould not wish to be there at the end.
#114
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
It may/may not be a crime to smoke in the open in Montenegro, I'm not sure. But I'm guessing it is probably against the employee rules/handbook/guidelines to smoke on duty.
#115
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
I just caught up with this and agree it was a horrible experience. Sadly, I think that this typifies some of the Amans these days - less so in Asia, but elsewhere, for sure. The early days of SS were superb, especially when Jean-Pierre Baratin opened the resort. Kevin Brooke went on to do a good job, but last time I was there, it did seem to have changed - Russian weddings, drones over the beach and a lack of direction throughout. As Pausanias says in a later post, he was there at the beginning of Aman in 1988 and it was wonderful (I was also there back then), but like him, Iwould not wish to be there at the end.
#119
Quite amazing they would be so diligent and accommodating in this case but absent in other ways...
Last edited by Aventine; Sep 8, 2018 at 11:44 am