Found the first non professional photo's of amanyara on www.webshots.com
as there have been no trip reports on the resort in its first weeks here. Just type in Amanyara in the search and it will pop up. I like that they had to sneek in and then were asked to leave. Lobby and pool look nice but I like that the picture of the bedroom as its has someones things in the room. Hope to go soon and hear some reports.

Has any of you been to Amanbagh and Aman-i-kh�s?
I did some Aman-hopping in Indonesia and the Komodo expedition on the Silolona (amazing experience) last summer and everithing has been just perfect, hope I can find the same in India.
Ciao
Hub

Hub,

I'm sorry that I don't have experience with the two properties you mention (6 Amans, but not those!) but I'm dying to know more about your Komodo expedition and the Silolona.

Mr. Ericka and I have looked into this ourselves but I was concerned I may get seasick. The ship looks BEAUTIFUL, but did you or anyone onboard experience any sickness? Were there any Aman representatives on board - they don't actually own the boat, do they? How was it when you got to Komodo? Please share!

We may opt for the Maldives instead and combine a stay at one of the Four Seasons with their ship the Island Explorer. It has a twin hull and extensive stabilizers. The water should also be calm in the Maldives if we time our trip right.

I will be in Delhi and will travel to Bhutan first and then for three days to Amanbagh in May. Aman-i-kas will be closed in May so will not be visiting the resort. I will give a full report on my return. I'm not sure how smooth it will be in India-Bhutan as Aman has not been there that long. We will spend our first night at the Trident Hilton and not use the Manor that Aman uses as their base in Delhi. I have very good advise that the Trident is a better choice. We will also spend one night with Oberoi in Agra to see the Taj. I think if I did'nt have such great experiences with Amanresorts that I would use Oberoi in India and not rush to get to Bhutan, but I really like how things run when I stay with Aman. I also hope that when I get to Bhutan I don't wish I stayed at Uma Paro as I only hear great things about the hotel, and that Amankora looks like a prison.
I met some of the owners of Amanbagh two years ago at Amankila and since Ed Tuttle is the same architect as these two(also amanjiwo, amanjena,and amangani) resorts the place should be great. Travel and Leisure gave the resort a nice report also, best design award 2005.
I also would like any advise anyone has before I take off in May.

Ericka,
We started our trip from Amanwana (sometimes they start from Labuanbajo) we sailed the afternoon and the whole night to get to the first island in the strait between Flores and Sumbawa (where Komodo and Rinja are located).
The sea was quite rough, I did not get seasick (I experienced something close to a rollercoaster in the mediterranean so this made me laugh) but some friends did.
From day 2 you sail in this amazing sea with dolphins, huge corals, millions of fishes. There are dozens of islets so there are virtually no waves, just an incredible stream (it's where the sea of Flores merges into the Indian ocean) but the sea was flat as a lake so we felt ok the whole time.
On the way back to Amanwana we decided (by paying an extra fee) to stay some more time on the boat and take a seaplane from Labuanbajo to Moyo and avoided the rough part of sailing back to Amanwana.
The Silolona was Beautiful indeed, but I understand from the website that from 2006 the trip will be done with another boat.
The service was outstanding (17 staff vs. 7 travellers). All indonesians except one english guy from Amanwana. They were all incredibly nice. At the end of the trip we did an amazing dinner with the crew singing local songs with guitars and percussions. The sea is beautiful, the landscape is dry and prehistoric (not only because of the dragons) and not comparable with anything I have ever seen. Last, but not least, the weather is completely different than other places in Indonesia (e.g. Bali). It's very dry so no rain no clouds, if you are tan addicted...

Zigzag,
I was in Bhutan in 2002 (I saw Amankora under construction). That is another absolutely fantastic trip. You will enjoy it for sure. I slept in very simple (so to say...) accommodation, but I can tell you the places and people are so unspoilt that it has been time travelling.

Thanks for the detailed reply, Hubertus. It sounds like something we may want to do someday.

By the way, I changed my plan and I am heading to Amansara and Amanpuri starting from next weekend. Any suggestions about places where to dine/have an aperitivo/mingle with some nice crowd after dinner?
I will spend one night in Bangkok, should I book @ Sukothai or Metropolitan?
Thank you
Hub

Hubertus, please write a trip report about your visit to Amansara. The Amansara is noted very high on my wish list! I'd love to go there next year! In Bangkok, I love both the Sukhotai and Met. but I do prefer the Metropolitan because it's really a buzzing place. The Sukhotai is more quiet, IMO.

Sukothai would be my pick as Ed Tuttle does a great job with the resorts he designs for Amanresorts and Park Hyatt's. Great big bathrooms!

the sukhothai has gone thro an extensive renovatio over the last few years and it wasnt done by Ed tuttle .....not that i am a big fan of ed tuttle.....find him too indulgent and repetitive and imposing....

metropolitan is awful and should be avoided.......try the hyatt and if you are splurging then try Isawan villas at the Hyatt.......a far better choiice and a better location by far...imo

Sorry to hear the Met is awful (in deed?) and happy to understand it's buzzing, since I booked there eventually.
We will be there just for one night so we are planning to dine and party all night!
Thanks for the suggestions.
Sqskybed, I will report you on Amansara. I am pretty excited as well about the place.
Ciao
Hub

I like the Met a lot, and often stay there when in Bangkok. I stayed at Amansara last year, and had a wonderful time. Of course Siem Reap is a magical place, and we really enjoyed staying in Amansara whilst there. I wrote a brief review of it on this forum, but if you have any specific questions, do let me know.

I came back from the island which The Talaei resort will be built on.... it's amazing! I hope they don't build it too soon as I plan to visit the island next yr and i won't be able to stay there if it's The Talaei.

I am in Amansara. Can't find an English word more explaining than the italian "fighissimo". The management and staff are unbeatable.
There is a new section of the hotel with pool villas and a new pool. The archaeological sites are outstanding and we saw them with practically zero tourists around (trips are done early morning or late afternoon). This morning we saw Angkor Wat entering through the east gate (which I am not sure is open to tourists) and saw the dawn from top of the temple (we were just 6 people!). Besides trips to the ruins, Amansara organizes other cultural events such as d'essai movies, dance and music shows. Dont't miss it

PS Amanpuri's management told me that the next Aman to come will be in Japan and Turkey.