Your favorite hotels of all time
Apr 9, 2021, 12:58 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 92
This thread is really interesting. My contribution to keep it going.
City Hotels
1. Raffles Doha
2. Rosewood Hong Kong
2. Peninsula Shanghai
Resorts
1. Four Seasons Sharm-el-Sheikh
2. Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
3. Four Seasons Dubai
City Hotels
1. Raffles Doha
2. Rosewood Hong Kong
2. Peninsula Shanghai
Resorts
1. Four Seasons Sharm-el-Sheikh
2. Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
3. Four Seasons Dubai
Last edited by sandeep.thilakan; Nov 14, 2023 at 11:18 am Reason: Favourites changed
Apr 9, 2021, 1:45 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: NJ
Programs: UA LTG, AA LTG, Bonvoy LTP, IHG Plat, LHW Sterling
Posts: 2,402
The Narita Hilton.
Stayed there at least a dozen times. The shuttle bus from the airport always leaves exactly on time. Always greeted as I get off the bus and welcomed to the hotel. Never have to wait to check in. Everything is always in order and ready to go. Always upgraded to their best non suite room... pleasant, immaculately maintained and comfortable with very good soundproofing and spotlessly clean windows. Excellent shower pressure. Quiet and effective AC. Never hear other guests or door slamming. Enjoy my welcome beer in the bar. Japanese bath and sauna in the basement. Little convenience store in the lobby. Well serviced buffet breakfast will large selection included. Checkout never has a line. Never a billing issue or any problem. Shuttle to the airport always exactly on time. All this and I don't think I have ever paid more than $100 to stay there. It does exactly what I want it to do. I have never left there disappointed with anything.
Stayed there at least a dozen times. The shuttle bus from the airport always leaves exactly on time. Always greeted as I get off the bus and welcomed to the hotel. Never have to wait to check in. Everything is always in order and ready to go. Always upgraded to their best non suite room... pleasant, immaculately maintained and comfortable with very good soundproofing and spotlessly clean windows. Excellent shower pressure. Quiet and effective AC. Never hear other guests or door slamming. Enjoy my welcome beer in the bar. Japanese bath and sauna in the basement. Little convenience store in the lobby. Well serviced buffet breakfast will large selection included. Checkout never has a line. Never a billing issue or any problem. Shuttle to the airport always exactly on time. All this and I don't think I have ever paid more than $100 to stay there. It does exactly what I want it to do. I have never left there disappointed with anything.
Last edited by schriste; Apr 11, 2021 at 10:54 am
Apr 10, 2021, 3:40 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, UA Gold (status match)
Posts: 777
I’ll add a few that are less traveled:
Four Seasons Koh Samui
Singita Sasakwa (nice to see some fans here!) but also Ebony, Sweni (if you like a teeny lodge), and Sabora tented camp. Each special in its own way, so hard to decide.
Four Seasons Koh Samui
Singita Sasakwa (nice to see some fans here!) but also Ebony, Sweni (if you like a teeny lodge), and Sabora tented camp. Each special in its own way, so hard to decide.
Apr 10, 2021, 6:06 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,048
So much of what makes a hotel a "favorite" is going to based on an experince one had there, so I think this is interesting as opposed to the "best" hotel.
For me I would go with:
City:
Plaza Athenee - One of the best all-time complimentary upgrades and, seperately, one of the best all-time service recoveries
Peninsula Tokyo - Have not stayed since 2008 - 2010 time frame, but like it more than the other hotels I have stayed at since then
The Upper House - The view from those suites
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Love the mansion rooms and then having a snack and drink in the garden. A great place to come back to after working
Resort / Leisure:
Amanjiwo
Aman-i-khas
Rosewood Mayakoba
Cheval Blanc St Barths (although I cant actually remember the name of the hotel when I stayed there)
&beyond ngorongoro crater lodge - not for the game viewing but the lodge itself I just really liked
Il San Pietro
For me I would go with:
City:
Plaza Athenee - One of the best all-time complimentary upgrades and, seperately, one of the best all-time service recoveries
Peninsula Tokyo - Have not stayed since 2008 - 2010 time frame, but like it more than the other hotels I have stayed at since then
The Upper House - The view from those suites
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Love the mansion rooms and then having a snack and drink in the garden. A great place to come back to after working
Resort / Leisure:
Amanjiwo
Aman-i-khas
Rosewood Mayakoba
Cheval Blanc St Barths (although I cant actually remember the name of the hotel when I stayed there)
&beyond ngorongoro crater lodge - not for the game viewing but the lodge itself I just really liked
Il San Pietro
Last edited by uclabruin82; Apr 15, 2021 at 9:46 pm
Apr 15, 2021, 7:24 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LIT
Programs: Blinged Out
Posts: 715
These are great lists. I would also add Excelsior Gallia in Milan for their breakfast alone
Apr 16, 2021, 5:09 pm
#38
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, UA Gold (status match)
Posts: 777
So much of what makes a hotel a "favorite" is going to based on an experince one had there, so I think this is interesting as opposed to the "best" hotel.
For me I would go with:
City:
Plaza Athenee - One of the best all-time complimentary upgrades and, seperately, one of the best all-time service recoveries
Peninsula Tokyo - Have not stayed since 2008 - 2010 time frame, but like it more than the other hotels I have stayed at since then
The Upper House - The view from those suites
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Love the mansion rooms and then having a snack and drink in the garden. A great place to come back to after working
Resort / Leisure:
Amanjiwo
Aman-i-khas
Rosewood Mayakoba
Cheval Blanc St Barths (although I cant actually remember the name of the hotel when I stayed there)
&beyond ngorongoro crater lodge - not for the game viewing but the lodge itself I just really liked
Il San Pietro
For me I would go with:
City:
Plaza Athenee - One of the best all-time complimentary upgrades and, seperately, one of the best all-time service recoveries
Peninsula Tokyo - Have not stayed since 2008 - 2010 time frame, but like it more than the other hotels I have stayed at since then
The Upper House - The view from those suites
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Love the mansion rooms and then having a snack and drink in the garden. A great place to come back to after working
Resort / Leisure:
Amanjiwo
Aman-i-khas
Rosewood Mayakoba
Cheval Blanc St Barths (although I cant actually remember the name of the hotel when I stayed there)
&beyond ngorongoro crater lodge - not for the game viewing but the lodge itself I just really liked
Il San Pietro
Apr 17, 2021, 1:16 am
#39
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,048
The staff at the crater lodge makes it very special for guests, but agree re the game viewing - lacking because it’s a public park and you are limited in what you can see on the roads. We had a nice stay but heard complaints from other guests due to shared vehicles (other guests wanted to be on a different game viewing schedule in a shared vehicle or long waits waiting for other flights to arrive after yours) which IMO is totally unacceptable at that price point.
As for the airport transfer, we were flying in from the &beyon Lake Minyara with another (unrelated) couple so we did not have to wait and I did not even think about it - but agreed that waiting for other flights to arrive would be annoying.
Apr 19, 2021, 3:46 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 489
My top 5 city hotels are.....
1. Peninsula Chicago
2. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
3. Park Hyatt NYC
4. Hotel Bennett Charleston
5. Mandarin Oriental DC
My top 5 resorts are......
1. Stein Eriksen Residences Deer Valley
2. Montage Palmetto Bluff
3. The Greenbrier
4. The Eau Palm Beach
5. The Sanctuary Kiawah Island
Between the two categories the best 5 hotels I've stayed at have been.....
1. Stein Eriksen Residences
2. Montage Palmetto Bluff
3. Peninsula Chicago
4. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
5. Park Hyatt NYC
My best hotel experience of all time was a stay at the Greenbrier.
1. Peninsula Chicago
2. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
3. Park Hyatt NYC
4. Hotel Bennett Charleston
5. Mandarin Oriental DC
My top 5 resorts are......
1. Stein Eriksen Residences Deer Valley
2. Montage Palmetto Bluff
3. The Greenbrier
4. The Eau Palm Beach
5. The Sanctuary Kiawah Island
Between the two categories the best 5 hotels I've stayed at have been.....
1. Stein Eriksen Residences
2. Montage Palmetto Bluff
3. Peninsula Chicago
4. Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
5. Park Hyatt NYC
My best hotel experience of all time was a stay at the Greenbrier.
Last edited by Tonyr4; Apr 19, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Apr 20, 2021, 1:52 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 489
Our stay/room was great in San Fran but I get what you mean. I could have easily added the Four Seasons Downtown NYC as one of my favorite spots. The hotel is stunningly beautiful, unfortunately we had a bad experience there and I only remember that moment when I think of the stay.
Jul 31, 2021, 11:38 pm
#43
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
Not in any special order except to say that The Dorchester is the best hotel I ever stayed in. After that:
George V
Plaza Athénée
Baur au Lac
Four Seasons Washington, DC
Las Brisas and/or Villa Vera (don't worry, at least 30 years ago)
Four Seasons Scottsdale.
George V
Plaza Athénée
Baur au Lac
Four Seasons Washington, DC
Las Brisas and/or Villa Vera (don't worry, at least 30 years ago)
Four Seasons Scottsdale.
Aug 1, 2021, 10:39 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 442
Aug 1, 2021, 11:26 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: NJ
Programs: UA LTG, AA LTG, Bonvoy LTP, IHG Plat, LHW Sterling
Posts: 2,402
Mostly day of arrival and/or night before departure. This hotel is in no way meant to be a substitute for a nice hotel in Tokyo. However I have also used the Narita Hilton as a mid trip logistics base. Night 1, 8 and 15 at Narita Hilton with night 8 used to swap out clothes with stored luggage (and drop off various Knick knacks accumulated during trip). Can then travel very light.
Last edited by schriste; Aug 1, 2021 at 2:10 pm
