Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

No no no no no no no no no no. The FS employees were 'reserving' the lounge chairs and then demanding tips for access. This wasn't a well kept secret and was well discussed at the outside bar. That is where I heard about the nanny trick. We studied this carefully after being refused access on the first day. I was dumbfounded that FS management allowed the practice. Our room looked directly down onto the pool and I watched the process unfold several days in a row. Those FS pool employees were making a $$mint$$. My opinion is that I shouldn�t have to fight AT ALL for a lounge chair at a FS. I don�t during the high season at FS Kona.

Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

That isn't what I remember, but I stand corrected. I would note that self park at this FS is very awkward.

Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

Here is the description from my booking:

FOUR SEASONS MAUI - 890.00 WITH LANAI - OCEAN VIEW KING - LOCATED WAILEA

Your 'partial ocean view' description describes the dark room (cave) much better, although getting any ocean view required leaning out of the balcony in a dangerous manner. Perhaps they�ve changed the description? Or perhaps I wasn�t put in the room I paid for? Added note � there are very few �Ocean View� rooms at this resort. Of the 380 rooms, there can�t be more than 50 that count.

Originally Posted by sabieboy

My only really bad luxury hotel experience. Clueless and dishonest staff for starters. The club lounge was only open from 6-8 pm each day, and I was prohibited from taking a bottle of water to my room. The worst part was the
saggy, lumpy mattress on one of those rickety frames that moves when you do. I dragged the mattress to the floor, hoping for a better sleep closer to the ground. That's when I found the original purchase receipt on it, dated 1999 (the trip was in 2007). When I went down to the front desk (for the third or fourth time, there were that many things to complain about) they said that they had never heard that complaint before and that I couldn't be moved to another room until 1 pm the next day (and the hotel was not full). Suffice it to say that I checked out at 6 am and moved to better hotel that was about half the price.

Originally Posted by Revolution

Park Hyatt Paris Vend�me last week. Overpowering flowery smell in the public spaces, small unpractical room in need of a serious makeover, old carpets, evening turndown missed, overpriced food ( burger at 30� does not come with fries..hello !!??). I hated the decor too. Could not believe Ed Tuttle is responsible for this.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

I agree about everything you say, Revolution. The decor here gives me nightmares. Isn't it interesting what happens to certain designers when they are sans their gurus (Adrian Zecha). Tuttle is a magician when he works with Zecha, but much less so with Hyatt, and no, I do not believe it is all about budget.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

The last time I had an anywhere near decent stay at a Shangri-La was in the 1980s - once in the Valley Wing Singapore (after having screamed at the dismal, dowdy, dark suite they first showed us and demanded to be moved) and in Makati, Philippines, which was, at the time, the best there was and I was pathetically grateful that they had a decent bottle of wine in all-day-dining.

Since then, I feel as though Shangri-La has been hell bent on making my life as difficult and uncomfortable as possible. A suite in Bangkok looked as though it dated from Chairman Mao's era, with dozens of chairs ranged around the walls, as though waiting for an audience with the great one. Food was inedible, so I starved for 2 days, apart from dinner at the next-door Oriental, which restored my sanity for a while.

Then there was the Shangri-La in Abu Dhabi......but honestly, I am still so distressed by this experience that I can barely talk about it, and although I filled in their on-line questionnaire after our stay, I never heard a thing back. Why? Because they don't CARE!

Originally Posted by zedthedeadpoet

Cleveland Ritz Carlton - I'd rather stay at a Hampton Inn.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

I agree about everything you say, Revolution. The decor here gives me nightmares. Isn't it interesting what happens to certain designers when they are sans their gurus (Adrian Zecha). Tuttle is a magician when he works with Zecha, but much less so with Hyatt, and no, I do not believe it is all about budget.

Originally Posted by Pickles

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...ml#post1254135

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...you-think.html

To their credit, Hyatt dropped the "Park" designation of these two piles, and the Carmel one has recently gotten very good reviews, so it sounds like somebody fixed it up....

Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

I would urge you to consider the FS Hualalai instead. But make sure to check the construction schedule. Every time we've stayed at the FS Hualalai there has been construction and management lies about the extent. I just tolerate it. The place is that good. �Light Painting in adjoining units� MEANS �Jackhammers, metal ladders, nail guns, saws, and LoudCussingConstructionWorkers.� But this FS doesn�t have the resource issue that FS Maui has. I would note that FS Maui might be OK if not at 70-100% capacity, but I�m never gonna bother to give them another chance. At >70% occupancy FS Maui is a complete disaster, and that number could be as low as 50%. I remember being told at the bar that the �resource trick� was to send your nanny down to the pool at 4am to reserve the lounges before the FS pool personal arrived to demand tips and hold chairs. That�s tough since I don�t travel with my nanny (we�re childless) and I don�t appreciate competing with people that do. Let me clarify my FS Maui problem: At >$1000/night, I get upset that I cannot get two lounges at the pool or beach without a fight.

If I get drunk enough tonight, I�ll spew my REAL opinion about Caneel Bay. Blecck! I�m getting angry just reminiscing. If that post appears, make sure to duck �

Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

This is an interesting thread. Thanks to the moderators for turning it back on. My list:

- FS Maui during Thanksgiving. A truly disastrous stay at >$1000/night. I will never return. Dark, cave-like, ocean view room with no ocean view. Resort overcrowded: no chairs at pool and no chairs at beach unless waving $100 bills. No parking unless valet at $50 day(?). 2-hour wait for bar seat at restaurant. Puck�s restaurant, Spago, leaves much to be desired and should be turned into an Applebee�s (or Denny�s or In & Out).

Originally Posted by hh1

Guadalpin in Marbella.

We were at the pool at 10am one morning, and it was deserted. Our kids were just playing in the pool, as kids do, not really shouting just splashing around, when the manager came out and asked if we would be quieter as some of the guests were trying to sleep.

Large dish of candy at the front desk, the kids would take one whenever they walked past, maybe 2-3 times a day, eventually they were told not to take any more!

This was during school holidays, and was supposedly a family friendly resort.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

I agree about everything you say, Revolution. The decor here gives me nightmares. Isn't it interesting what happens to certain designers when they are sans their gurus (Adrian Zecha). Tuttle is a magician when he works with Zecha, but much less so with Hyatt, and no, I do not believe it is all about budget.

Originally Posted by bsdstone

I'm not familiar with his work, with the exception of the PH Vendome, whata else has he done that is noteworthy?