Amanresorts Thread 2019
Jan 13, 2019, 4:49 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,598
Has anyone met Pantelis K? Just realized he is now GM at Wella. Going through possible 2019 sojourns and unsure if Galla and Wella are quite ready. Sean seems focused on Galla but I fear Wella needs some love as well.
Jan 13, 2019, 5:01 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: London
Programs: Avios
Posts: 166
Ha! You should have seen the look of horror when I revealed the birthday surprise! But it was actually him that ended up extending our time with the the photographer!!
Jan 13, 2019, 5:33 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: BER
Programs: Amanjunkie, LH SEN
Posts: 750
We combined Galla, Cape Weligama, Tea Trails and Wella, and it was a fantastic trip (of course with some service hiccups, but no bigger issues).
As long as you are aware that Galle is not Tokyo, that Amanwella is not Amanoi, and that Sri Lanka is touristically not so advanced like f.e. Bali.- but it is a fresh and much less packed country with a great vibe and fantastic, unobstructed nature!
So: whilst Weligama was, beside the great villa size and the spectacular pool, a bit under expectation - therefore Tea Trails and the Amans were brillant, all three in different ways!
PS: Take Cinnamon-Air Waterplanes for most connections, only Colombo-Galle/-Weligama could be easily and very conveniently done by car. By taking car into the mountains, you lose way too much holiday time...
PS2: In Colombo, Shangri La was new & good, especially if you book club floor.
Last edited by deer; Jan 13, 2019 at 5:39 am
Jan 13, 2019, 7:54 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,506
BTW: May I ask how much you paid for it? Would be an idea when I am there with my photo-addicted better half - even if it is only pleasure for one.
Jan 13, 2019, 8:02 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: London
Programs: Avios
Posts: 166
We were quoted 2 -2 ˝ hours at 850.00€ plus 24% tax. By the time we extended the time it was just over 1000€ as I remember
Jan 13, 2019, 11:04 am
#36
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,298
Yeah, just came back from Sri Lanka. Sean is the country manager, mainly to be seen at Galla, Pantelis is the manager at Wella.
We combined Galla, Cape Weligama, Tea Trails and Wella, and it was a fantastic trip (of course with some service hiccups, but no bigger issues).
As long as you are aware that Galle is not Tokyo, that Amanwella is not Amanoi, and that Sri Lanka is touristically not so advanced like f.e. Bali.- but it is a fresh and much less packed country with a great vibe and fantastic, unobstructed nature!
So: whilst Weligama was, beside the great villa size and the spectacular pool, a bit under expectation - therefore Tea Trails and the Amans were brillant, all three in different ways!
PS: Take Cinnamon-Air Waterplanes for most connections, only Colombo-Galle/-Weligama could be easily and very conveniently done by car. By taking car into the mountains, you lose way too much holiday time...
PS2: In Colombo, Shangri La was new & good, especially if you book club floor.
We combined Galla, Cape Weligama, Tea Trails and Wella, and it was a fantastic trip (of course with some service hiccups, but no bigger issues).
As long as you are aware that Galle is not Tokyo, that Amanwella is not Amanoi, and that Sri Lanka is touristically not so advanced like f.e. Bali.- but it is a fresh and much less packed country with a great vibe and fantastic, unobstructed nature!
So: whilst Weligama was, beside the great villa size and the spectacular pool, a bit under expectation - therefore Tea Trails and the Amans were brillant, all three in different ways!
PS: Take Cinnamon-Air Waterplanes for most connections, only Colombo-Galle/-Weligama could be easily and very conveniently done by car. By taking car into the mountains, you lose way too much holiday time...
PS2: In Colombo, Shangri La was new & good, especially if you book club floor.
Dear Deer ,
What has changed at Galla and Wella since the “change “ ?
any physical improvements at Galla in particular, every thing was a little tired when I was last there .
the nice but overrated manager SF , is a resourceful manager but any huge improvements ?
The suites at Wella ought to be knocked down .
Jan 13, 2019, 11:35 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: BER
Programs: Amanjunkie, LH SEN
Posts: 750
Dear Deer ,
What has changed at Galla and Wella since the “change “ ?
any physical improvements at Galla in particular, every thing was a little tired when I was last there .
the nice but overrated manager SF , is a resourceful manager but any huge improvements ?
The suites at Wella ought to be knocked down .
Galle is not Tokyo or London, and Amanwella is not a new rich superposh super-hardware place, but the Geoffrey-Bawa-Inspired design is still cool and nice. Nothing for posers, just a relaxed place with a great fun beach!
Jan 13, 2019, 12:33 pm
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,598
Sean is nice indeed, but what is your 'overrated' assessment based on?
Jan 13, 2019, 1:46 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,506
Jan 13, 2019, 5:18 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Enroute to ? & likely flying in ' A ':)
Programs: TPPS, UA, EK ...; Marriott BONVOY , HH, GP, GC..
Posts: 4,217
No hardware improvements in the last years, but very nice laid back vibe at both resorts. And very special atmosphere at Tea Trails.
Galle is not Tokyo or London, and Amanwella is not a new rich superposh super-hardware place, but the Geoffrey-Bawa-Inspired design is still cool and nice. Nothing for posers, just a relaxed place with a great fun beach!
Galle is not Tokyo or London, and Amanwella is not a new rich superposh super-hardware place, but the Geoffrey-Bawa-Inspired design is still cool and nice. Nothing for posers, just a relaxed place with a great fun beach!
Looking forward to catching up with Sean F & his wife , L .
He may not be outwardly ‘ gungho ‘ like some of the seasoned AMAN GMs , definitely not perfect 10 , but does get more done behind the scene .
.. wonder too about the “ overrated assessment “
Jan 14, 2019, 9:08 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,051
Jan 14, 2019, 10:58 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
Regarding Vlad:
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.
Jan 14, 2019, 11:27 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
Regarding Vlad:
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.
Jan 14, 2019, 11:29 am
#45
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 393
Regarding Vlad:
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.
Yeah -- He more or less says exactly that in the quote in the final paragraph. The wish list is all big cities. Have we reached a consensus here as to whether (big city) Aman Tokyo is an 'Aman' and successful? I'm still skeptical and leaning towards 'no'. And ASP is a disaster -- that is the only other big city Aman in the present inventory. I wish Vlad good luck in HK. His chances of being successful with the Aman concept in that city are zero.