any comparisons to the golden triangle anantara? I'm looking to go Jan '14 and it's 3 nights for $10,500 at FS and $4600 at Anantara? Is the FS worth it at this price difference?

Totally, in every way. Anantara was refashioned from an old Meridien hotel. It has been done quite well, but the intention was never to be more than a good four-star. It is owned by the same person as FS Tented Camp, but is obviously aimed at a different market. Not a bad spa - prettily designed by Bill Bensley (same architect that did Tented Camp).

Food there is so-so and you have to take a top suite to get anything reasonable (then, they are not bad, with opium-bed balconies), but nothing too special. You can also see the Casino across the river, which rather spoils the effect.

FS Tented is, conversely, a unique and magical experience, from the boat arrival and the extraordinary tents with their outdoor showers overlooking Burma and Laos, to the alfresco spa and the sheer intimacy of such a small resort - more Aman than any other Four Seasons you will experience.

We had a lovely stay at Anantara a few years ago. The elephant experience was a highlight of our trip. We learned to ride bareback and climb onto the elephant without a ladder. Definitely not a graceful effort. I recall that the service was very good and equaled that at 5 star properties in Thailand, including MO in Chang Mai. I can't compare it to FS Tented Camp, and the rooms are not at Aman levels, but the spa was great and the food was fine.

I agree with with vuittons said above. I was at the Tented Camp a few years ago (before the GMs changed) and have nothing but stellar reviews of the entire place. The tents are just lovely, private (if you choose/request the right one), food was excellent, and the elephants (which I rode and hung out with every day, upon special request) were beyond compare. My mother was at Anatara not long after that and said it was a very nice place - no complaints at all, but not intended to be what the TC was.

I am a big fan of the Anantara. I had wonderful, personal service that far exceeded what I expected. I particularly enjoyed the Thai food, breakfasts and the service at the pool, not to mention the elephants of course.

Was at FSGT last year.

Elephant riding was a lot of fun for a day (or two at most).

Food was mediocre.

Service was OK but not great.

The tents are cool when you walk in but get old after about 5 minutes.

Pool B

Spa B+

Over-priced.

Worth doing once for a day or two but would not go back.

It is interesting to compare the different reactions to the Tented Camp experience both on this forum and with my fellow guests. I'm getting ready to leave tomorrow and it has been one of the best trips of my life and I'm mesmerized by the experience. Interestingly, I somewhat agree with the negative comments too. The service is below that of many Four Seasons resorts, the tents are gimmicky, it is hotter than the hinges of Hades, the prices are obscene and the air con can't keep up in the tents and is non-existent in the rest of the resort.

Despite that, I feel a sense of wonderment that I am far too jaded to experience in most of the rest of my life. The interactions with the elephants are entrancing and I'm trying to experience as many of them as I possibly can. The intimate size of the resort results in a complete different kind of service experience and philosophy than you usually find in a Four Seasons. Everyone knows me and everything on my schedule, they are teasing and playful in their interactions and, for me, the tone is perfect. There have been 7 or 8 tents occupied the entire time I've been here, so you get to know all of your fellow guests if you are that kind of person and I'm finding most of them people I'm interested in talking to. One group of four has been quite openly miffed that the experience is not up to their sense of Four Seasons resorts and that they really don't have much interest in any of the elephant interactions. I understand it, but if they just wanted to be pampered by the pool, they chose unwisely. To me, the whole point of the resort is the elephants.

could not agree more (although if you were there in Feb, the weather would be MUCH better for being outside and the a/c would keep up just fine)

Agree completely. I loved the whole experience, Mrs. SFO, not so much.
We were there in early February and the weather was perfect. Can't imagine going there or anywhere in Thailand in April, even March.

Yes, I knew going in that the weather was not optimal for a trip to Thailand in April. However, the combination of me having 2+ weeks that I can be away from work and the available of first class seats on *A carriers the entire way is something that doesn't come along very often. I had to take what I could get! I'm not unhappy about it -- I knew it would be hot and they give me cold towels every time I turn around. The current camp manager (Ali) doesn't seem that focused on guest interactions, but it hasn't been an issue for us.

My wife has been teasing me because every time I am presented with an upgraded option for something to do, I say "Its my birthday" and do it. Despite the fact that my birthday was already weeks ago. So at the Burma Bar, she said "Its your birthday" when we were discussing the sunrise elephant trek. One of the staff overheard her, and when we got back from dinner there was a signed birthday card and a gift-wrapped present on the bed.

I don't really "understand" it. We have this thing called the internet today...it doesn't take too much research to find out what the FSGT is about. Complaining about the elephant interactions at this resort that is essentially built around the elephants is just lazy research.

http://press.fourseasons.com/goldent...es-for-guests/

15 tents is smaller than all amanresorts except ikhas and 2 kora
any service problems show the difference between FS and aman
problems over time at golden triangle may be partially explained by gates/alwaleed
even prior to them (opened jan 2006) >
also, new asian/thai FS since opening include FS samui by same owner, so (good) staff might have moved
samui opened a year after golden triangle, again same owner, also same owner as FS BKK and many anantara
http://www.minorinternational.com/MBiz/Hotel.php

finances >
year / occ / ARR / sales (baht)
2006 42% 21,280 91mm
2007 48% 31,379 138mm
2008 38% 39,927 140mm
2009 30% 40,134

in Minor annual reports >
"four seasons tented camp chiang rai" ("Anantara Resort & Spa Golden Triangle")

(FS - "Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle")

They seem to move around a bit. When I checked in at the FS Bangkok the front desk clerk recognized me from the bar at the Tented Camp, where we chatted briefly during cocktail hour. He remembered what excursions I had planned at the Camp (we did a few optional ones) and chatted pleasantly with me about them while he checked me in.

Interesting considering the two hotels have different owners AFAIK.

Bill Heinecke owns all of the Four Seasons properties in Thailand, as well as the Anantara brand, Marriott Pattaya, St. Regis BKK, JW Marriott Phuket, and probably others...