Report on my stay at Aman Sveti Stefan
Sep 20, 2018, 8:55 am
#166
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 181
I heard from one of the managers while I was there last week that Sven is arriving in November and Jane and Tapa will be out by the end of the month. I stayed in 18 and it was great; the terrace was large (had two loungers + a table large enough for breakfast; we had it in room twice over our three night stay) with great views to the Southeast. It was also very private as it's on the edge of the island, and *I think* it's next to the Sveti Stefan Suite (the one that comes with a private pool). The duplex set up was a little annoying at times (I wished they had a separate toilet upstairs, and perhaps also a phone downstairs in the bathroom) but aside from that the room was spacious and extremely comfortable.
Last edited by Fc912; Sep 20, 2018 at 9:04 am
Sep 21, 2018, 2:01 am
#167
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Wow that sounds incredibly incredibly awful. I can’t even think of a worse situation. My kid is at a summer camp in the woods and it’s probably a better setup....
i thiught the Tibbles were in charge there. I’ve never encountered them but have heard nothing but good about them....I can imagine Montenegrins aren’t super service oriented but this is inexcusable. There should at least be some sort of service recovery....
fdw
i thiught the Tibbles were in charge there. I’ve never encountered them but have heard nothing but good about them....I can imagine Montenegrins aren’t super service oriented but this is inexcusable. There should at least be some sort of service recovery....
fdw
Sep 30, 2018, 11:43 am
#169
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG Platinum, AA 2.0 MM, DL Plat, Hertz Plat, LY Gold
Posts: 1,602
[left]
I am here now and very much agree with your sentiment. We love the hard product and agree about the F&B staff (Chef is wonderful) but pretty much everything else here is a bloody mess. I'm glad to see this post and know we aren't the only ones who feel this way....
Overall, I'd have to say that its certainly been our most disappointing Aman stay and we'd even consider leaving if there was another good option nearby....
I am here now and very much agree with your sentiment. We love the hard product and agree about the F&B staff (Chef is wonderful) but pretty much everything else here is a bloody mess. I'm glad to see this post and know we aren't the only ones who feel this way....
- We had sent an email in advance of the stay reminding them of some requests (nothing out of the ordinary). Pretty much all of them were completely ignored. They did rectify them pretty quickly once I reminded them though.
- Most of the staff here is indifferent, if not rude. They seem to want to be elsewhere and make it quite clear. I understand the necessity of hiring locals, but it shouldn't be this way even if its a cultural thing.
- Pool service consists of a "server" who makes it clear that he's just there to take lunch orders. He never offered water or anything else and got annoyed when we asked if he could help move an umbrella.
- Turndown service literally just means your sheets are turned down and a gift placed in the middle of the bed. They wont as much as move something from the bed or even clean the room slightly. Even a Champagne Bucket with melted ice wasn't removed. Housekeeping during the day cleans the way you'd expect at a Holiday Inn Express on I-95.
- Other than by the Executive Chef, we have not been addressed by name once. Even more bothersome if being constantly asked by security at the entrance if we are guests. Spa and beach attendants have no clue either.
- Beach SERVICE consists of being handed a semi-cold bottle of water and nothing else. If you ask for menus you receive them but if you want to order something you need to shout across the beach to the attendants or go to the towel station to place the order.
- Waited a half hour for a car to drive us from Spa back to the Island and nobody was willing to apologize or take blame.
- Do not disturb sign in private sauna rooms at spa is constantly ignored by cleaning staff. They walk in without even a knock.
- We were dropped off at boat dock without any instructions as to where Queens Beach was. The Security Guard just motioned in the general direction with his finger when we asked him how to get there.
Overall, I'd have to say that its certainly been our most disappointing Aman stay and we'd even consider leaving if there was another good option nearby....
Thanks to everyone here for encouraging me to take this up to the next level.
There may be issues with individual properties, but the brand still seems to have its head on straight.
Sep 30, 2018, 3:10 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
who did you hear from? glad both OPs got recovery (similar to cheval and jani threads)
sep 9 >
sep 9 >
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Oct 2, 2018 at 6:55 am
Apr 15, 2021, 7:15 pm
#171
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 716
Bumping an old thread because my wife and I are traveling to Croatia/Montenegro in late June and are evaluating properties along the coast.
My wife really wants us to stay on the SS island, and I think it would be an amazing experience. However, after reading through this thread, I am hitting pause.
Has anyone stayed more recently? I know the pandemic has hampered their operating times, but the prices for this summer appear higher than any other season in any year, and I would expect a near perfect (98/100) or better experience given the price.
As an aside, I tried booking through FHR, and it shows no availability- Meanwhile, the website shows availability for a wide range of dates- anything to that??
My wife really wants us to stay on the SS island, and I think it would be an amazing experience. However, after reading through this thread, I am hitting pause.
Has anyone stayed more recently? I know the pandemic has hampered their operating times, but the prices for this summer appear higher than any other season in any year, and I would expect a near perfect (98/100) or better experience given the price.
As an aside, I tried booking through FHR, and it shows no availability- Meanwhile, the website shows availability for a wide range of dates- anything to that??
Apr 16, 2021, 2:44 am
#172
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
Bumping an old thread because my wife and I are traveling to Croatia/Montenegro in late June and are evaluating properties along the coast.
My wife really wants us to stay on the SS island, and I think it would be an amazing experience. However, after reading through this thread, I am hitting pause.
Has anyone stayed more recently? I know the pandemic has hampered their operating times, but the prices for this summer appear higher than any other season in any year, and I would expect a near perfect (98/100) or better experience given the price.
As an aside, I tried booking through FHR, and it shows no availability- Meanwhile, the website shows availability for a wide range of dates- anything to that??
My wife really wants us to stay on the SS island, and I think it would be an amazing experience. However, after reading through this thread, I am hitting pause.
Has anyone stayed more recently? I know the pandemic has hampered their operating times, but the prices for this summer appear higher than any other season in any year, and I would expect a near perfect (98/100) or better experience given the price.
As an aside, I tried booking through FHR, and it shows no availability- Meanwhile, the website shows availability for a wide range of dates- anything to that??
Depending on what you're looking for, you may want to consider the island or Villa Milocer nearby.
Have you tried using a Virtuoso agent instead? I have some bookings there this summer and there are some buyouts/weddings etc which may be the cause of the dates being blocked out (even if it did show availability on the website for a brief while).
Apr 16, 2021, 9:45 am
#173
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 716
Thank you for checking that- We are going with a newer boutique property down the coast.
There is enough reason for pause on this property in my opinion. Spending $10k and having only a 90% chance or so of a great experience given reviews doesn’t compute with us. For that price, it would have to be at least 98% 5-star versus 3-star or lower.
That being said, I would love to experience the Aman way of doing things in the near future- We have heard amazing things.
There is enough reason for pause on this property in my opinion. Spending $10k and having only a 90% chance or so of a great experience given reviews doesn’t compute with us. For that price, it would have to be at least 98% 5-star versus 3-star or lower.
That being said, I would love to experience the Aman way of doing things in the near future- We have heard amazing things.
Apr 16, 2021, 4:16 pm
#174
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM
Posts: 4,576
https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi
Apr 17, 2021, 4:06 am
#175
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 361
This hotel is opening up in a couple of weeks. It's about an hour and half north of the Aman by car.
https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi
https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi
Checked this out - looks quite nice, but pricing is very ambitious. Summer rates start at EUR 1,525 for the lowest category mountain view room, north of EUR 3,000 for a suite. Not quite sure what clientele they are going for.
Apr 17, 2021, 5:36 pm
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,523
They will (at least at the beginning) have the same target group as Aman. And don't forget, European resorts in Summer are often very pricey. What you saw is quite normal at the usual suspects in Italy or on Mallorca.
Apr 18, 2021, 1:00 am
#177
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
Apr 22, 2021, 12:34 pm
#178
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 35
So far demand for Sveti Stefan seems to remain subdued due to the pandemic. We just had to cancel our stay in May as they informed us that this year they will not be opening the island until June and offered us Villa Milocer instead (which we declined) 
Apr 26, 2021, 10:07 am
#179
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
I'm in the same boat with a May stay - pretty disappointing. Are you considering other properties in Montenegro?
Apr 26, 2021, 10:48 am
#180
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,737