Nicest Hotel You Ever Stayed At

[Lumpy1106]

La Quinta - no not the chain, the resort in La Quinta (Palm Springs). DW and I went out there a couple of times to celebrate out AUGUST anniversary. Yes, it was hot, but it was also made the resort even nicer as the price was really low and the crowds were non-existent. We had whole pools to ourselves.
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ps...ZQ==&msockid=134d4b562e3e6aa91c5a5ff22fac6b5b

 

[Deb1993]

Cap Juluca, Anguilla in 2001. Grand Wailea, Maui in 2000.

 

[AustinTink]

The rooms at Palazzo are wonderful, but Wynn/Encore is where it's at. They just do everything right. True luxury.

Yes, I’ve heard that. It’s on our list to try.

 

[China Expat]

Rayavadee Resort in Krabi, Thailand; THe Peninsula in Beijing

 

[Snowysmom]

Fairmont in Banff and Fairmont at Lake Louise. Both were beautiful hotels. The scenery at Lake Louise was amazing.

 

[fly girl]

Ooooh! Tell us more!

Where to start ...

Booked ocean view and paid a hefty price for it. Our flight was delayed so we got in around 11pm and during check in receptionist reiterated that we have booked an ocean view room. When we got to the room, it was pitch black out so we couldn't see our view (which makes sense if it is a view of the ocean!) Only to wake up, look out, and see we really had partial ocean view that matched exactly their partial view on the website (90% golf course, 10% ocean if you looked far off to the left.) I took my photo and website picture down when speaking with manager to show the bait and switch. They had no leg to stand on. And no actual ocean view for us to switch to.

This was my pic:


This was the pic for partial ocean view on their website:



Room was dirty and not cleaned properly, especially after covid. Mold in shower. Dust caked on the vents. Carpet stained. Holes in sheets. Towels were old and needed refreshed. Balcony furniture so dirty that I had to clean it so we could sit down. I understand it was closed for covid, but that would have been time to make repairs or at least order new linens. They clearly didn't.

No towels at the pool. 2 days in a row. No apology. No explanation. Just a shrug from the staff. (that's not 5 star service)

Restaurants were high priced, which I understand. Brown's Beach House which is supposed to be one of the best fine dining on the island was abysmal. Service was slow, and unfortunately my appetizer was overcooked (prawn) and main course was inedible (ahi that tasted off. WAY OFF). The ahi was taken off my bill. I left hungry and disappointed. Everyone else said their meal was just ok. For fine dining you shouldn't be leaving with a just ok.

Had 3 people in room (myself, dh, and dd) booked as 3. Only 2 water bottles for room. Asked if I could get a third, would be charged $13 for a cheap thin metal water bottle. Pass. Seriously, all these issues and you can't even throw in a freebie water bottle?

I can see the ball dropping from time to time. But for what we paid and the service we received? Absolutely unacceptable. Management knew it too. I went down with a cool head and presented my evidence. Received compensation. Apology was lacking, management was rather blasé about all of our issues.

Fairmont Orchid is dead to me.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Best lobby?
Hard to say or even quantify but most endearing for me was (hopefully still is) the Waldorf≈Astoria in NYC. It’s being turned into a condo so not sure how much of the lobby was landmarked.
I worked there for a time and pinched myself daily that I was in the same locale as so many luminaries of the 20th century. Huge space with masses of mostly dark colored marble and gilt, fine wool carpeting (never forgot the days I saw a needle artisan repairing the carpet in place, oblivious to the people milling around her. She helped foster a lifelong appreciation of needlework) and Art Deco lighting yet it still retained a feeling of intimate privacy. Wondrous space!

As an aside, the Mark Cross shop caused me to buck up my courage and inquire if they still sold the bag Grace Kelly had in “Rearview Window”. They didn’t, they never had, it was just a movie fiction but the sales lady kindly directed me to another store that sold a similar design. Which moved my aspirations from Coach to Loewe; a grrl can dream, yanno .

The lobby of the Willard in DC is a great space to get a snapshot of historical American expansionism. The state emblems decorating the ceiling and allegorical paintings must’ve provided an instructive diorama for touring school children and visiting state legislators.
Definitely a different type of lobby; very hustle and bustle.

Hay-Adams has a tiny but well appointed lobby and is my absolute favorite hotel in DC. Much nicer rooms than the Willard and the staff are considerate and long remembering. True dining room as well. Should the occasion arise the Lafayette suite has a great view of the park and White House.

Georges V, Paris- Great for impressing others but not my cup of tea.
I would spend the rest of my life living in L’Hotel in Paris given obscene amounts of money.

Baur au Lac, Zurich- Yes, for any reason asked. Stayed there once and it was not enough.

 

[first*toright]

Hard to pick, but the Belmond Hotel das Cataracas near Iguazu Falls in Brazil is high on my list (you can see the cupola of the hotel in the wide shot of Iguazu Falls in Soarin' Around the World). Great service, really good food, nice rooms and an unbeatable location.

 

[tvguy]

I stayed in a MOTEL instead of a HOTEL this year in a small town in Illinois. I had forgotten how much Hotels offer now that they never used to. But even this Super 8 offered free breakfast, but a very basic one. Biscuits and gravy, cook your own waffles, cereal and coffee. But the room had a jacuzzi in it! All for $80 a night.
I would say the Grand Californian would be near the top of my list. The Grand Floridian was nice, but the basic room there was tiny compared to the Grand Californian. We tend to stay now at a Marriott Residence Inn or Holiday Inn Express where the rooms are much bigger.
I think the most disappointing hotel I ever stay at was the Hilton in London. This was in 1976. First, you had to go through a metal detector and security search before entering the lobby. Someone allegedly from the IRA had set off a bomb in the lobby a year or two before. Second, London was in the middle of a heatwave and the Hilton did not have ac or a pool. I expect both in a Hilton.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Second, London was in the middle of a heatwave and the Hilton did not have ac or a pool. I expect both in a Hilton.

You made me giggle.
My first year of school, a professor defined the different categories of American hotels. He predicted identity problems for the Hilton corporation which had recently split into two companies with the same name. Outside the US, the Hilton name was owned by a European based consortium; Domestically, it was still Conrad and sons.

The professor stated that Americans would mistrust (and be confused) by Hiltons in other parts of the world; apparently he was right.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The professor stated that Americans would mistrust (and be confused) by Hiltons in other parts of the world; apparently he was right.

I don't think it's a brand issue, people just forget what is more normal for other parts of the world. Some locations are not as conducive to needing a/c or the citizens don't frequently use it to the same extent elsewhere.

In Luxembourg we had a/c but it was not strong in the least. However, it's not something you'd find as big, meaning strong a/c, due to its climate even though in recent years they've been getting warmer in overall temps. Almost all the hotels had some complaint regarding their a/c despite being all different brands.

In general those of us in the U.S. that rely on a/c because of where we live probably are going to struggle in hotels that don't have the same strength as we're used to. If you know about it ahead of time you can temper your expectations though.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Best hotels:
1. Polynesian Village Resort, WDW 1972
2. Kona Village, Kaua'i, Hawaii 1985
3. CoCo Palms, Kaua'i, Hawaii 1985

 

[AlohaNow]

We stayed at the Waldorf in NYC before it went condo. We ate breakfast next to Cole Porter’s piano and I always thought that was cool.

I never stayed at The Mayflower in DC but I would cut through the lobby on my way to work on cold, rainy days as a treat. That place takes up an entire city block and is gorgeous.

We stayed at The Plaza in NYC twice, both times paid for by work, before it went condo. The first time we just had a standard room on a hallway, but the second time we were treated to a 3-room corner suite. So we lived our best Kevin McCallister lives and I will never forget eating room service breakfast looking out over Central Park.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

The only 'good' hotel I've ever stayed in was the Marriot Marquis in New York City. Some friends treated me to stay with them in a suite that overlooked Times Square for a weekend sightseeing trip. I'm more of a Jersey shore motel or All-Star Resort kind of gal.

I'm sorry, but I don't remember much about the Marquis. In fact, I'm wracking my brain and all I can remember is being freaked out by the glass elevators that we had to take up to our suite.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Marriott Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale Arizona. Best view by far was at the hotel called "The View" at Monument Valley.
Otherwise, like a few others said, we're Best Western, Hampton Inn kinda people outside WDW.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Not me, but my mom stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in Signapore for a business trip and she told me that she felt extremely under dressed walking around that hotel.

DH preferred the Shangrila hotel in Singapore. Great when the company's picking up the tab.

 

[Philsfan77]

Nayara Springs in Costa Rica was awesome...loved everything about that stay and trip!

 

[DisneyHardin]

We don't travel a whole lot, so The Grand Floridian would be the fanciest I've ever stayed at.

Funny story though - when I was a little kids, we especially didn't stay at fancy hotels. One year, when I was in 6th grade, my family all met for the weekend and stayed at The Embassy Suites in (I think), Mason, OH to celebrate my cousins birthday. It had an indoor pool and a nice restaurant - I remember my cousin and I thinking that it had to be the fanciest hotel in the entire world!!!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I got bumped one night from Hyatt Regency in Chicago to the Swiss Hotel and thought I died and went to heaven !!! Best most comfortable bed ever !!! Wished I could have stayed the whole weekend there I felt like a queen !
My second would be Fairmont in Vancouver we got upgraded there to a 1 bedroom and it was amazing !!! Loved staying there !!

 

[neverlandsky]

Haven’t traveled much. As the kids are flying the nest we want to soon.

Best View & Most Relaxing: Hallmark Inn Canon Beach, OR & Newport, OR. All rooms have balconies and face the endless ocean. Sunsets are to die for.

Best Family: Wilderness Lodge Boulder Ridge Villas 2 Bedrooms. The split floorplan and the secluded feeling was everything.

Best Couples: Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, Las Vegas, NV.