The Cleveland (of all places) Renaissance has a great lounge, with nice people and very good food.

Best international with a great view - JW in Hong Kong. Great view of the harbor.

It was a great view. They were building another high rise between the Marriott HK and the Harbor, when I was there 6 years ago. IT looked like it would be directly in front of the view from my room, which was next to the lounge.

Random comment about the San Mateo lounge, which I was just at this past week...it was nice, but the hotel literature (in the room) said that, among other things, they had a computer terminal with Internet access in the lounge. When I went looking for it, and questioned the lounge attendant, he looked at me like I was from Mars. He said, "well, we have this computer here (at the attendant's desk), but it's not for guest use."

It's always fun to be made to look like a moron. I told him explicitly what the hotel literature said, and that perhaps they should cross that fact off if it's not true.

It would be a great benefit of lounges, I think!

Hello FTers,

I would like to pit in a plug for the staff at the Philadelphia (downtown), they are always very accomodating.

I'll second that. And the Philadelphia Downtown's Concierge Lounge is open on weekends -- a big plus for me, since I stay there only on weekends!

Bruce

Although I haven't been there in awhile, I remember the food at the Boston Copley Plaza Marriott as being outstanding. Fresh seafood and the works.

Torrance Marriott, Ca has the best staff that have been there for many years and know all the regulars. Also open on the weekends.

Va.SqF and Bruce, I'm really happy to hear good things about downtown Philly, since our biggest show this year is HQ'ed at that hotel. Any further comments/advice about that property?

How can any of you say that any lounge which has an 'honour bar' is a good lounge?

I don't see how you can compare a lounge which offers a free hot-breakfast, a free bar with full range of drinks all day and all day snacks with the majority of US lounges which offer you a very limited range of drinks for a couple of hours a day and charge you the res of the time; expect you to tip the server and only offer food for a couple of hours in the evening.

The majority of US lounges are significantly inferior to those in Europe and Asia.

Nick

I agree completely -- up to a point. The international Marriotts have much better lounges than the domestic ones do. They are open longer and have MUCH better food. Still, for those of us who travel mostly within the U.S., the question of which domestic lounge is best is still of interest.

Bruce

The majority of US lounges are significantly inferior to those in Europe and Asia.

Absoultely agree with Nick on this! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

JW Marriot in Seoul

No Question - International concierge lounges in general are better than those in US/Canada.

However - the best lounge is in the new Marriott in Rio. It has a view of the beach, fantastic light, great food et al.

Actually, the hotel (which opened a few months ago) is all around an excellent property. It's right on the Copacabana and is excellently managed with fantastic customer service.

Stay at a Ritz Carlton "club" floor to see what a true lounge experience can really be. 5 food and beverage presentations daily (they go from around 6am-10pm continously, and longer at some locations) - complimentary beverages, including champagne and top shelf liquors - and a staff that is really there to assist you.