Best hotels you have stayed at

[Guest SilverDollar]

My criteria for a "nice" hotel is: 1) it's safe; 2) it's clean (no bugs); 3) good location; 4) value - not too expensive; 5) staff is friendly; 6) parking is free (if I am driving there); 7) free and good Wi-Fi; 8) my escort can get in-and-out without hassle; 9) tv and AC work; 10) good value - not too expensive (yeah, I know, I already said that). I don't give two hoots if the hotel is 5* or 2.5* - if it saves me money and suits my purposes, I'm staying there.

Standards have collapsed in many spheres of American life. If "no bedbugs" is on a list rather than merely a given, we are in deep trouble

 

+1

[spider]

I submit the Fullerton (in a terrace suite) in Singapore.

[+ not2rowdy]

The main building of the Grand Hotel Taipei in the mid-70’s. Overnight courtesy of the airline that had a mechanical issue that delayed my flight 24 hours. My first bathroom experience that had a telephone by the throne.

 

http://www.grand-hotel.org/en/

[GBoi]

I submit the Fullerton (in a terrace suite) in Singapore.

 

Gorgeous hotel!

[+ Summerson]

The original Nomad in NYC and the Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield, England.

[JohnGerman]

The main building of the Grand Hotel Taipei in the mid-70’s. Overnight courtesy of the airline that had a mechanical issue that delayed my flight 24 hours. My first bathroom experience that had a telephone by the throne.

 

http://www.grand-hotel.org/en/

 

Never got a chance to stay at the Grand Hotel (or Yuanshan Hotel) when I visited Taipei. It would be a worthwhile stay, as the hotel was effectively the national guest house in Taiwan. The nationalist government built it as a show piece and a cultural counter attack against the mainland Chinese government after they lost the civil war and retreated to the Taiwan island. So the hotel was built to exemplify the best of Chinese cultural heritage to "prove" that the nationalist government in Taiwan should be the "real" government representing all Chinese people. Of course that was, what, 30-40 years ago. With the new separatist government in Taiwan now, the hotel is probably viewed by some Taiwanese as more of a white elephant and cultural nuisance.

[Kenny]

So the hotel was built to exemplify the best of Chinese cultural heritage to "prove" that the nationalist government in Taiwan should be the "real" government representing all Chinese people. Of course that was, what, 30-40 years ago.

Actually it was 65+ years ago, but time flies when you’re having fun!

[JohnGerman]

Actually it was 65+ years ago, but time flies when you’re having fun!

 

Just looked it up, it was built in 1973.

[Kenny]

Just looked it up, it was built in 1973.

Wow, I thought it was built in the ‘50s!

 

Edit — Just found this: The hotel was established in May 1952, but it was expanded several times before it became the landmark it is known as today. The swimming pool, tennis court, and the membership lounge were constructed in 1953, and the Golden Dragon Pavilion and Golden Dragon Restaurant opened in 1956. The Jade Phoenix Pavilion and Chi-Lin Pavilion opened in 1958 and 1963, respectively. In 1968 the hotel was rated as one of the world's top ten hotels by the US Fortune magazine. Finally, on the Double Tenth Day of 1973, the main Grand Hotel building was completed and became an instant Taipei icon.

 

A 21-year building program. So maybe we’re both sort of right!

[JohnGerman]

Wow, I thought it was built in the ‘50s!

 

It took a while for the government to decide and build the whole thing. I think the project was overseen by Madame Chiang herself.

[gallahadesquire]

The Drake in chicago ... not memorable.

Ritz-Carlton Boston, very nice, but it has slipped since RC sold it to Taj. The restaurant was also closed ... amazing food while it was the Ritz.

 

The Grand Hyatt Resort in Kauai (Popui) was lovely, but the superbowl downlink was rained out.

 

Can you check on the Grand Hyatt while you're on Kauai, @tristanbaldwin ?

[JohnGerman]

Wow, I thought it was built in the ‘50s!

 

Edit — Just found this: The hotel was established in May 1952, but it was expanded several times before it became the landmark it is known as today. The swimming pool, tennis court, and the membership lounge were constructed in 1953, and the Golden Dragon Pavilion and Golden Dragon Restaurant opened in 1956. The Jade Phoenix Pavilion and Chi-Lin Pavilion opened in 1958 and 1963, respectively. In 1968 the hotel was rated as one of the world's top ten hotels by the US Fortune magazine. Finally, on the Double Tenth Day of 1973, the main Grand Hotel building was completed and became an instant Taipei icon.

 

A 21-year building program. So maybe we’re both sort of right!

 

Wow, now I am learning something new. I didn't know there was already some facility established in the early 50s. Thanks for the information Kenny!

[+ glutes]

Mandarin Oriental Columbus Circle.

[MartyB]

There is a 3 way tie for me:

 

Ca Sagredo Hotel in Venice Italy

Alfons0 XIII Seville Spain

Agave Hotel in Positano Italy

 

I would give the edge to the Sagredo because nothing quite compares to arriving off a gondola into your gorgeous hotel into that palazzo. Heaven. Great food and staff as well as the rooms.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Various Aman properties.

 

Any Rosewood property.

 

Mandarin Oriental flagship in Hong Kong.

 

St Regis Maldives at Vommuli.

 

The Carlyle, NYC.

 

Copacabana Palace, Rio

 

Raffles, Singapore and Dubai.

 

A ton more, but these are definitely my favorites of the bunch.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

A few years ago The Connaught in London would have been on the short list but alas it has been thoroughly tarted up by its new owners.

 

Agreed.

 

The same goes for what they did to The Savoy... All that money and it still looks so dumpy.

[MikeBiDude]

Milestone in London

Alvear Palace Buenos Aires

I’ll second @MartyB ’s Alfons0 XIII Seville Spain

[Kenny]

Bellevue Palace, Bern, Switzerland

Amandari, Bali, Indonesia

[+ FreshFluff]

I loved Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. I was upgraded from a standard room to a three bedroom ocean view villa. I probably should have felt lonely and in need of someone to share it, but I loved having the place to myself! The villa comes with a handsome butler who chauffeurs you around the grounds in a Mercedes SUV.

http://ah.sized.images.s3.amazonaws.com/original/luxury-villas-resort-pelican-hill-villas-banner.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

Planter's Inn in Charleston, SC (Relais and Châteaux).

[+ nycman]

Best ever.....Amankila Bali.

 

Runners up......

 

Either of the two Four Seasons in Istanbul

The one on the Bosporus is better for the view....the one in Sultanahmet

is more convenient for tourism.

 

The Baccarat in NYC.

Flawless and style for days.

 

The Mandarin in NYC.

Go for the Hudson River view rooms. They’re cheaper, have a better layout

and a better view. The “Central Park” view rooms look at the butt of the

Trump Hotel....which is about as nice as it sounds.

 

Las Ventanas in Cabo.

Splendid isolation when I needed it most.

 

The Adlon in Berlin.

A modern recreation of an old school gem.

 

The Peninsula in Hong Kong.

Peaceful perfection in a chaotic city that I never liked.

 

The Four Seasons at the Surf Club, Miami.

The old parts of the building remind you that Miami was once “cool” and the

new parts by Richard Meier are stunning.

 

The Four Seasons Florence.

An amazingly beautiful and peaceful hotel in my favorite city in the world.

 

Overrated “5 stars”....

Any Ritz Carlton.....ever

The Muerice Paris

The Four Seasons Prague, Palm Beach, Denver, and Jackson Hole.

La Mamounia Marrakech

[+ WilliamM]

Overrated “5 stars”....

Any Ritz Carlton.....ever

The Muerice Paris

The Four Seasons Prague, Palm Beach, Denver, and Jackson Hole.

La Mamounia Marrakech

 

Agree about the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole. I rented an apartment in Prague. Great choices for favorite hotels.

[Kenny]

Best ever.....Amankila Bali.

 

Runners up......

 

Either of the two Four Seasons in Istanbul

The one on the Bosporus is better for the view....the one in Sultanahmet

is more convenient for tourism.

 

The Baccarat in NYC.

Flawless and style for days.

 

The Mandarin in NYC.

Go for the Hudson River view rooms. They’re cheaper, have a better layout

and a better view. The “Central Park” view rooms look at the butt of the

Trump Hotel....which is about as nice as it sounds.

 

Las Ventanas in Cabo.

Splendid isolation when I needed it most.

 

The Adlon in Berlin.

A modern recreation of an old school gem.

 

The Peninsula in Hong Kong.

Peaceful perfection in a chaotic city that I never liked.

 

The Four Seasons at the Surf Club, Miami.

The old parts of the building remind you that Miami was once “cool” and the

new parts by Richard Meier are stunning.

 

The Four Seasons Florence.

An amazingly beautiful and peaceful hotel in my favorite city in the world.

 

Overrated “5 stars”....

Any Ritz Carlton.....ever

The Muerice Paris

The Four Seasons Prague, Palm Beach, Denver, and Jackson Hole.

La Mamounia Marrakech

Yes on the Peninsula Hong Kong, graceful style, no on the Baccarat New York — overblown kitsch for days!

[JohnGerman]

I thought the Ritz Carlton Pudong in Shanghai was quite good. My room had a somewhat angled view looking out to almost the entire stretch of the Bund across the river. At night when all the street lights were on, it was spectacular.

 

Another hotel that made an impression on me was the Sanderson in London. I was there 15 years ago and I was quite impressed. But now as I look back, I feel it was basically a W hotel on steroids. Too much glass, to much glam and not enough "down to earthness."

[MikeBiDude]

I loved Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. I was upgraded from a standard room to a three bedroom ocean view villa. I probably should have felt lonely and in need of someone to share it, but I loved having the place to myself! The villa comes with a handsome butler who chauffeurs you around the grounds in a Mercedes SUV.

http://ah.sized.images.s3.amazonaws.com/original/luxury-villas-resort-pelican-hill-villas-banner.jpg

+1 I stayed in one of those at Pelican once, superb