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Best Design Hotel in the world -- what are your favorites?

Old Mar 30, 2019, 11:08 am
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- Le Mridien: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/1874601-favorite-le-meridien-property-worldwide.html
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- Sheraton: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/1874860-best-sheraton-world-what-your-favorites.html
- Design Hotels: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/1874863-best-design-hotel-world-what-your-favorites.html
- Aloft: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-starwood-preferred-guest/1874918-best-aloft-world-what-your-favorites.html
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Best Design Hotel in the world -- what are your favorites?

Old Oct 30, 2017, 12:54 pm
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Best Design 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

--

This is starting to get fun again, because I love brands which have a chance to bring a unique flair and create a wide variety of different experiences.

But, for me, one clear winner emerges from the Design Hotels portfolio:

Mira Moon, Hong Kong - a lovely boutique hotel in Wan Chai, with a wonderful happy hour for guests to enjoy 2-for-1 drinks and free tapas. And the room rates are usually about half that of the W HK, my previous go-to in HK.

I'm quite partial to The Mira, too, especially knowing the history that the Snowden revelations came out in one of their rooms earlier this decade.

Last edited by helvetic; Dec 17, 2018 at 1:57 pm
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 12:58 pm
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Admittedly only stayed at I think 5, but the Ten Bompas in Johannesburg, South Africa was very nice. Small certainly, but the staff was so eager to please. Rooms were suites and very spacious.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 4:43 pm
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Rotterdam is interesting, especially if you get a room with a huge bathtub and water views.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 6:20 pm
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I like Ovolo Southside in Hong Kong when the rate is ~HK$1100 a night but not for more. They give all guests free drinks in the evening and breakfast if you book direct (you'll still get SPG points and credit but can't book through SPG).

The worst has to be Wanderlust in Singapore for its total absence of SPG recognition and many service and room issues.
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Old Oct 31, 2017, 11:12 pm
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We loved our stay at the Gramercy last December.

We had drinks at Palazzina G yesterday and it looks amazing. Our son stayed there in January and loved his room.
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Old Nov 14, 2017, 9:38 pm
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Originally Posted by ftrichard

The worst has to be Wanderlust in Singapore for its total absence of SPG recognition and many service and room issues.
Thank you for the heads-up. I was considering the Wanderlust for a quick stay in Singapore next week. Off to find alternate options now.
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Old Nov 15, 2017, 3:28 am
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Originally Posted by ftrichard
I like Ovolo Southside in Hong Kong when the rate is ~HK$1100 a night but not for more. They give all guests free drinks in the evening and breakfast if you book direct (you'll still get SPG points and credit but can't book through SPG).

The worst has to be Wanderlust in Singapore for its total absence of SPG recognition and many service and room issues.
Wow i would never pay 1100 HKD for Ovolo Southside. Stayed there several times and can easily brg it for 500 HKD ++ plus 2K points
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Old Nov 15, 2017, 3:30 am
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My absolute favorite Design Hotels experience so far has to be The Guesthouse Vienna, which has since left SPG. Stunning hotel, excellent location by the Albertina and Wiener Staatsoper, friendly staff, lovely room upgrade to an opera-view room with window seat, four (!) complimentary full-sized bottles of Austrian wine, excellent food at the restaurant... you get the gist. A real shame it's no longer part of the portfolio.

That aside, the Rooms Hotels in Tbilisi and Stepantsminda/Kazbegi were both fabulous properties and real gems to have in the SPG portfolio with their characterful buildings, quirky idiosyncracies and zesty staff.

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Old Nov 15, 2017, 6:18 pm
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So far I've stayed at: The Robey, Le Roch, Vertigo Hotel Dijon, C-Hotel & Spa. All great places, but my favorite of those 4 would be Le Roch.

They absolutely spoiled me last January with an upgrade to the largest St Roch Suite for my birthday. Suite had a private in-room hammam.... balcony, front sitting area, large walk-in closet, and large bathroom. Service was fantastic as well, and I like that they are on top of their Instagram/ Social Media feed.
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Old Jan 1, 2018, 2:33 pm
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The two Design Hotels at which I most yearn to stay are unquestionably:

Gramercy Park Hotel, NYC
Kenoa Beach Resort, Brazil

The first two Design Hotels at which I will stay are:

La Bandita Townhouse, Pienza, Italy (Oct 2018)
Atlantis by Giardino, Zurich, Switzerland (Oct 2018)


They both look quite impressive, too. Anyone been to either?

Last edited by bhrubin; Jan 1, 2018 at 2:41 pm
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Old Dec 17, 2018, 1:58 pm
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Having stayed at the Sir Adams Design Hotel in Amsterdam I have to say it's a new favorite in the city. The rooms are small, but so well executed, the price is good, the Ambiance is top notch, and the location is super convenient a quick 24h 3min ferry ride across the main train station.
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Old Dec 17, 2018, 2:46 pm
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Originally Posted by bhrubin
The two Design Hotels at which I most yearn to stay are unquestionably:

Gramercy Park Hotel, NYC
Kenoa Beach Resort, Brazil

The first two Design Hotels at which I will stay are:

La Bandita Townhouse, Pienza, Italy (Oct 2018)
Atlantis by Giardino, Zurich, Switzerland (Oct 2018)


They both look quite impressive, too. Anyone been to either?
La Bandita Townhouse was spectacular. Highly recommended. Wed return in a second.

Atlantis by Giardino has a spectacular hard product. One of the best, if not the very best, conversions Ive ever seen from an old Sheraton hotel. The service could use some work, though, but it will be a great hotel option for many.
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Old Dec 17, 2018, 3:06 pm
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Us Swiss are not known for having the best service… ��
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Old Dec 17, 2018, 3:07 pm
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I stayed at the Gramercy Park before it was renovated and became a design hotel. It was interesting and the key to the park was fun, but my room was horrible and I did not appreciate having to carry luggage down the fire stairs when all elevators were out of order and it was time to leave for the airport.
Even with the changes, I'm not sure I want to go back, although I did have some good meals during that weekend in NYC.

For an interesting design (a semicircle standing on the curved end), So Paulo Design Hotel (that's its name) is potentially fun. It seems to have some lively bars and a rooftop place with good views as its located on the top of a hill or ridge overlooking the park with the art museum and the university campus.
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Old Dec 17, 2018, 3:14 pm
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Originally Posted by bhrubin


La Bandita Townhouse was spectacular. Highly recommended. Wed return in a second.

Atlantis by Giardino has a spectacular hard product. One of the best, if not the very best, conversions Ive ever seen from an old Sheraton hotel. The service could use some work, though, but it will be a great hotel option for many.

We really want to visit La Bandita. We really loved our stay at Gramercy Park but it's because of the beautiful hotel/room/location/bar and not the service. Nothing went wrong, but there was zero Platinum recognition (which was true for our son at another Design Hotel- Palazzina G)

When SPG (Marriott) says "Limited Benefits" I think they mean it
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