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Best Luxury Collection hotel in the world -- what are your favorites?

Old Mar 30, 2019, 11:07 am
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Best Luxury Collection hotel in the world -- what are your favorites?

Old Oct 29, 2017, 8:35 pm
  #1  
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Best Luxury Collection hotel in the world -- what are your favorites?

Looks like I started somewhat of a trend with the W thread, but I'm curious to hear what the best of each brand is, even as we get into the lower-end ones.

Other threads:
- W: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Le Mridien: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...worldwide.html
- St. Regis: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...worldwide.html
- Luxury Collection: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Tribute Portfolio: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Four Points: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Westin: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Sheraton: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Design Hotels: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...favorites.html
- Aloft: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star...favorites.html

--

My favorite Luxury Collection might also be one of my favorite hotel in the world altogether… the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

The Prince Gallery is mind-blowingly great on so many levels….I've stayed there three times now and reviewed it twice:
- http://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revie...ollection-1686
- http://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revie...ioi-suite-1987

(hi @lost_in_translation - I hear you switched to SPG because of how awesome this one is)

The design of the hotel, throughout all the common spaces and the rooms… the F&B, the platinum benefits, the mind-blowing views, the attention to detail and perfect japanese service… all together makes it my favorite hotel in the world.

I've had good experiences at a few other LCs: SLS Los Angeles comes to mind. Beyond that, I need to stay at more LCs….not sure I can think of many.

Last edited by helvetic; Dec 17, 2018 at 1:56 pm
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Old Oct 29, 2017, 9:34 pm
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Since no one else will probably mention it, I'll throw the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit out there.

The Andaman is breathtaking, but could use a boost in the food and beverage department. I'd still go back in a heartbeat.

Haciendas in the Yucatan! Santa Rosa was probably our favorite. Also enjoyed Campeche's central location.
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Old Oct 29, 2017, 9:38 pm
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Gritti Palace, hands down, for me.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 12:49 am
  #4  
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The Luxury Collection is my preferred Starwood brand, and while there are not many stand out true luxury hotels in the collection, they're mainly interesting and often surprising. I also like that many have a significant historical component to them which is often honoured to this day.

In a rough order, I would highlight the following:
The Gritti Palace: Simply the best Starwood hotel I have been to. A class above in terms of hard product and service. Platinum upgrades to luxury suites are worth thousands of dollars a night
The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit: The hard product does not deserve to be in this list, but the best in class service and Starwood recognition means it sits near the top
Hotel Imperial, Vienna: When I mention properties of historical significance, this is one of the only places which outdoes the Grande Bretagne. You can expect "concierge running outside chasing down a taxi for you" level service. The medium to higher suites are palatial
Hotel Grande Bretagne: Europe's equivalent of the SGS. The hard product is strong, the soft product is exceptional and sitting in the middle of Athens has been *the* hotel of note for decades
The Hotel Metropole, Belgrade: This hotel is only here because it is so surprising to see a near perfect modern city luxury hotel in Belgrade, of all places. Great value and Platinum recognition
The Naka Island: It's a bit rough around the edges, but the Naka Island offers villas with private pools and great service for half or less of what you'd get from other brand names
With condolences to... The Astir Palace, Athens. I will miss my summer weekends at the playground of the Athens elite (and other upper middle class criminal types)

I'd like to visit many more on the list, but in particular:
Hotel Marques de Riscal: Beautiful architecture, excellent food and wine
Caresse, Bodrum: The photos look amazing, and the reviews from SanDiego1K cannot have been more positive
Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian: A luxury hotel in the world's greatest food city. It always seems to be full whenever I'm in town
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 3:28 am
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Originally Posted by Sam P. Goodman
Since no one else will probably mention it, I'll throw the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit out there.
Oh I was absolutely going to mention it. Agree!

In addition also Naka island, was quite impressed with service for SE Asian standards.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 4:17 am
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Im thinking about starting the favourite Four Points thread

I too, find LC to be my favourite brand, because so many properties are unique. Some of my favs would be:

Convento do Espinheiro, Evora
Tambo del Inka, Peru
Hotel Paracs, Peru
Havienda San Jose, Yucatan
Hacienda Temozon, Yucatan
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 5:04 am
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My experiences. (Very few locations)

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Sheraton Grande Laguna, Phuket (Gone)
The Naka Island, Phuket
Vana Belle, Koh Samui
Hotel Kamp, Helsinki (Gone)
Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg
Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens
Mystique, Santorini
Hotel Danieli, Venice
The Gritti Palace, Venice
Palace Hotel, San Francisco
The Park Tower Knightsbridge, London
The Royal Hawaiian, Waikiki

The winner for me are The Gritti Palace and Mystique.

Upcoming stay:
The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok - Nov and Dec 2017 (previously stayed there many times when it was Plaza Athenee Bangkok)
Tambo del Inka, Urubamba - Nov 2017

My bucket list:
Al Maha, Dubai
Suiran, Kyoto
The Prince Gallery Kioicho, Tokyo

Last edited by 3rdworldresident; Nov 5, 2017 at 11:50 pm Reason: Add hotel
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 6:51 am
  #8  
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Loved the Westbury (London) - great location, nice rooms

Pulitzer in Amsterdam was quite unique too

PdG in Paris is beautiful

But I will give it to the Augustine in Prague, for the uniqueness of the property (former monastery) and beautiful grounds
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:09 am
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I’ll add the King George (Athens) as my personal favorite. We’ve always enjoyed superb service and I like the boutique-like feel.

Mystique and Gritti Palace rank just behind.

For Continental US, the Nines (Portand) tops my list.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:15 am
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Luxury Collection is my favorite SPG brand because of the uniqueness of the properties, which tend to be strong 4* or 5* in some cases. I've only had one negative experience. The others have been very positive.

In order:
1. The Prince Gallery Kioicho, Tokyo - Great service, great room (Kioi Suite), great amenities
2. Maria Cristina, San Sebastian - Beautiful suite and building
3. Blue Palace, Crete - Nice setting
4. The Andaman, Langkawi - Very neat, secluded setting. Service and food were a bit lacking
5. Palace del Inka, Sacred Valley - Very relaxing and good service
6. Tambo del Inka, Cusco - Neat setting in old palace
7. Hotel Des Indes, The Hague - Enjoyed the decor and location; solid hotel
8. Convento do Espinheiro, Evora - Fine but a bit boring and room was dull
9. The Grant Hotel, San Diego - By far the worst with a terrible, outdated room
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:43 am
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SGS for sure.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:47 am
  #12  
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US Grant, The Nines, and Hotel Des Indes have some very small standard rooms without views, although The Nines has a good lounge.

Goldener Hirsch has some strange rooms and suites that need renovations.

The Bristol (Vienna) has an excellent location and can be a good value, but don't expect luxury or service like the Imperial.

It remains to see what changes will come to LRM Plaza Athenee due to its reflagging as LC.

I liked Convento do Espinheiro, but I stayed before it became affiliated with Starwood.

I'd like to mention the Ivy in downtown Minneapolis. IMO it, LM Chambers, and Westin Edina Galleria would be the best hotels in the state. (At least two share the same ownership/management.)
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 9:26 am
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Al Maha, Al Maha, Al Maha and I will shout out one last time: Al Maha!

Not only my favorite LC but was my favorite hotel in the world. And then I went to Laucala private island .

Writing this from Caresse by the way, where they are doing a fab job for having me ranking Caresse as an honorable #2 on this list. Will let you know the outcome in the next days.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 10:07 am
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Originally Posted by RafKa
Im thinking about starting the favourite Four Points thread

I too, find LC to be my favourite brand, because so many properties are unique. Some of my favs would be:

Convento do Espinheiro, Evora
Tambo del Inka, Peru
Hotel Paracs, Peru
Havienda San Jose, Yucatan
Hacienda Temozon, Yucatan
I just realized I (and maybe others) have left out the Liberty in Boston.

It's one of my favorite US properties despite absence of a pool and lack of a decent gym, as well as aloof staff. But the scene and heritage of the building more than make up for its shortcomings. The rooms are also nice, especially the bathrooms with Molton Brown toiletries.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 11:55 am
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I loved the Al Maha for it is an all inclusive with a good value if you can tolerate the shoulder season of heat. Wonderful privacy and service is quite special as you can get room service whenever and however much you want. Cool activities, etc. Wonderful property and probably only 30-40 others are even around while you are there due to them only have like 20 or so villas I think.

The Grand Bretange in Athens I just came back from last month and was made especially more enjoyable due to a $373 all in price per night incl. breakfast for two during their high season! Great value and I have to be honest made it a much more memorable trip). However, the accolades this property gets certainly is deserved. The old world charm is still there and going to a historic location and staying at perhaps the most historic hotel really made the trip wonderful. Concierge's here really go above and beyond.

There are maybe a few others, but those two really stand out as we aren't listing our life's vacations only the best LC properties.
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