Conde Nast Traveler Magazine 2005 list
Feb 15th, 2005, 06:57 AM
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Conde Nast Traveler Magazine 2005 list
Yesterday while at the laundromat, I noticed among the stack of complimentary magazines,Conde Nast's Jan 2005 Traveler magazine with a list of its reader's choices for the best hotels...with 100 points being a perfect score.I found that the categories were interesting. The list goes as follows...BEST BY ROOMS-1.Amankila/Manggis,Bali/100 points...2.Banyan Tree/Bangkok/100...3.The Fullerton/Singapore/100...4.Moorea Pearl/French Polynesia 100... BEST BY LOCATION...1)Amankila/Manggis,Bali/100...2.Ana Mandara/Nha Trang,Vietnam/100...3.Intercontinental Moana Beach/Bora Bora/100...4.Four Seasons/ at Sayan,Bali/100...5.Moorea Pearl/Moorea/100...6.Raffles The Plaza/Singapore/100....BEST BY DESIGN...1.Amankila/Munggis,Bali/100...2.The Peninsula/Bangkok/100...3.The Four Seasons/Bangkok/97.3...BEST BY FOOD...1.Four Seasons/at Sayan,Bali/100...2.Moorea Pearl/Moorea/100/...3.Shangri-La Hotel/Kuala Lumpur/96.2....BEST BY SERVICE...1.Amankila/Manggis,Bali/100...2.Ana Mandara/Nha Trang,Vietnam/100...Four Seasons/at Sayan,Bali/100...BEST BY ACTIVITIES...1.Ritz Carlton/Jimbaran Bay,Bali/96.4...2.Ana Mandara/Nha Trang,Vietnam/94.7...3.Intercontinental/Moana Beach/Bora Bora/94.4 And there's the complete list folks. Excuse the bad typing, but I'm in a hurry. Happy Travels!
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Feb 15th, 2005, 09:31 AM
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Kuranosuke...I, like, copied the information down...I'd never run off with the laundromat's magazine...don't want to end up behind bars...which would take away from my travel time!Plus, they probably have Low-Jack on those magazines! Ha...Ha...Ha... Happy Travels!
Feb 15th, 2005, 09:36 AM
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Jim...Only National Enquirer...what a pity.The place I go to has tons of different choices. Plus, it has two large TVs, a VCR and TV combo to use...so one can either check out a video from the Fluff and Fold Dept(the department where folks who don't want to do their own laundry leave it to be done for them)or one can bring his/her own videos...like I take in my travel videos and watch them while doing the laundry. It's almost like Club Med up in the laundromat. Happy Travels!
Feb 15th, 2005, 11:27 AM
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Another one for the Penn. The hotel feels "small" in its own way---but huge on nice service (I forgot to buy a book at one of the museum stores---forever away by boat) and they sent a runner for it (the book, by the way, way, was $5.00 US) Not stuffy, either. Every time I visit the Oriental, I think someone's gonna throw me out based on my appearance alone!!!
Feb 15th, 2005, 01:38 PM
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I find these kinds of rankings interesting. I love wonderful hotel rooms and wondered who has stayed at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok or the Fullerton in Singapore and whether they have some comments.
I did eat at the Shangri-La in KL (Nov, 2004) and thought their food was good, but not exceptional.
I did eat at the Shangri-La in KL (Nov, 2004) and thought their food was good, but not exceptional.
Feb 16th, 2005, 04:48 AM
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Often I find these rankings a bit of what's "in" this year.So often the "new" hotels have their couple of years of glory and then fade away when the next new one comes on the scene. I've never paid much attention to them -- not for any continent.
Feb 16th, 2005, 05:50 AM
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I find laundrymat's with a bunch of TV's interesing.. I wish they that in bangkok.. I'd then cancell my gym contract where I just go too look at a wall of tv's
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those conde Nast folk seem too belong too a whole diffrent click.. the hotels they mentions are rarely posted by fodies.
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those conde Nast folk seem too belong too a whole diffrent click.. the hotels they mentions are rarely posted by fodies.
Feb 16th, 2005, 06:36 AM
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Kathie-I plan to try out the Fullerton when I get to Singapore in August. Last year, on the way to the Asian Civilization Museum, I noticed it and it really struck my interest.Great location...near the Raffles MRT and the Boat Quay and right across the Cavenegh Bridge from the Museum. Plus there's an Indochine restaurant right at Boat Quay and I could eat at that one if I stayed at the Fullerton. I usually eat at the one on Club Street. So, I'll post about the hotel if (as planned) I'm fortunate enough to get back to Singapore this coming August.Happy Travels!
Feb 16th, 2005, 06:41 AM
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Glorialf-I understand what you mean. I read the lists for fun, but sometimes they get my interest up. As for the new hotels being on the list, the above list has quite a few hotels that have been around for some time. "New" to me would be, for example, the Metropolitan Hotel in Bangkok which I stayed at last August when it hadn't been open for a year yet. Happy Travels!
Feb 16th, 2005, 06:51 AM
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While I certainly agree that these lists tend to emphasize the new over the long-established, I do read them to see if I get any ideas about new places to stay. I, too, noted the Fullerton (and looked at the public spaces) when I was in Singapore in December. So I'll be interested in hearing some reviews of the rooms.
Feb 16th, 2005, 04:18 PM
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As someone who participates in the CNT Gold List reviews, I can tell you that the hotels on the list really aren't that new. In fact, truly new hotels don't have a chance of making it.
The January issue you are reading is based on reviews assembled in the summer of 2004, and if I remember correctly, the reviewers had to have stayed at the property between 2002-2004. There are also a minimum number of reviews necessary in order to qualify for the list so it takes a year or so just to get enough reviews together. Given all that, I don't think you'll find a property on the list that is less than 2-3 years old.
As for the older properties not making the list - that's usually for a good reason.
The January issue you are reading is based on reviews assembled in the summer of 2004, and if I remember correctly, the reviewers had to have stayed at the property between 2002-2004. There are also a minimum number of reviews necessary in order to qualify for the list so it takes a year or so just to get enough reviews together. Given all that, I don't think you'll find a property on the list that is less than 2-3 years old.
As for the older properties not making the list - that's usually for a good reason.
Feb 17th, 2005, 06:51 AM
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Neil Oz- I've never personally owned a washing machine. Of course I grew up with a washer/dryer, my whole life, due to my parents having them.But even when I lived under my parents' roof, I used to take my clothes to the laundromat. You just don't know what you're missing without the laundromat experience.Some interesting characters/creatures are there. It's like a sociology experiment.All they need to throw in is Thai massage and a Jamba Juice and hey...you'll have to pull people out of there! Ha...HA..HA...Happy Travels!
Apr 25th, 2005, 02:33 PM
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I have stayed in the Banyan Tree in Bkk and it was brilliant. We were upgraded to an exec room and it was out of this world.
Breakfasts were excellent - everything from sushi to you name it!
The hotels smelt great and service was second to none.
If you get a chance to go there - jump at it!
M
x
Breakfasts were excellent - everything from sushi to you name it!
The hotels smelt great and service was second to none.
If you get a chance to go there - jump at it!
M
x
Apr 25th, 2005, 03:30 PM
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Marie, can you be specific about the rooms at the Banyan Tree? What was your room like? How were the bathrooms? If you've stayed at any other Bangkok Hotels can you offer a comparison? Is the Exec room one that has Club privileges?
