http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2008-11-22T09:28:53Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/amanresorts http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/8/05057/43910 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/AmanwellaInfinityPool.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>Yesterday's British <i>Telegraph</i> newspaper gave us some very handy tips on the best places to stay in Sri Lanka, but the most interesting one was a very positive write-up of the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Amanwella/ian/232848"><b>Amanwella</b></a> resort near Tangalle on the south coast. Amanwella consists of thirty suites each with their own plunge pool, several different locations to eat, sea views galore, and best of all, a magnificent infinity pool.</p><p>Yes, maybe in ten or twenty years we'll look back sentimentally on the days when the infinity pool was all the rage, but right now this pool just helps us think Amanwella is a spectacular place. &nbsp;As the reviewer said:</p><blockquote><p>I also liked the infinity pool overlooking the sea - the setting amandak 2008-01-08T11:00:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/9/12/95531/6906 <![CDATA[<p><p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/whoboken_sign.jpg" class="imgborder"><p><i>Could Hoboken be the next luxury travel hotspot?</i><p>An intriguing August article from the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> is now online: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118739057150101435.html">The Search for the Next Hot Spot</a>. It's a profile on several powerful travel industry executives who get to decide where their company will build their next luxury hotel. <p>Since they're looking years into the future in terms of completion, they are essentially making a big bet on whether a place will become the hot place to go in five years or not. They don't just sit back and wait for the crowds to decide for themselves of course. "Building a 200-room luxury property can cost $100 million" so the stakes are high. A little PR goosing is Tim L. 2007-09-12T12:46:16-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/7/27/95757/5845 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/amanresorts_site.png" class="imgborder"><p>It's amazing where a little online bargain-hunting can lead. We were pursuing a tip that Aman Resorts' two Sri Lanka properties were offering 50% discounts on select rooms into next year, excluding the peak holiday season. <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/AMANWELLA/ian/232848"><b>Amanwella</b></a>, near the village of Tangalle on the Indian Ocean, is minimalist contemporary; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/AMANGALLA+RESORT/ian/231948"><b>Amangalla</b></a>, in a former residence in Galle, is more traditional. Think Michael Ondaatije's <em>Running In The Family</em>. <p>Our first stop, the <a href="http://www.amanresorts.com/"><b>Aman Resorts</b></a> website, blew us away. We didn't remember it looking that intoxicating the last time we'd had a look. As it turns out, Amanresorts launched a new website earlier this week. It's stunning, with eye-poppingly vibrant photographs spanning the homepage. <p>But looks aren't everything. barbarab 2007-07-27T11:24:38-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/5/2/23398/48421 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/singita.jpg" class="imgborder"/><p><p>A few days ago Zagat, publisher of handy restaurant and hotel guides, released the results of a <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&amp;STORY=/www/story/05-01-2007/0004577360&amp;EDATE=">new hotel survey</a>. Amanresorts, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Raffles were the top four chains, showing those Asians know a thing or two about providing good service. It didn't stop there though: Asian chains Oberoi and Shangri-La made the top-10 as well.<p> <p>Seven of the top-10 in the Small Hotels, Resorts &amp; Inns category were in Asia, but the top one was Singita in South Africa, pictured here, which was also cited as having the best rooms. The best large hotel was <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/FOUR+SEASONS+GEORGE+V+PARIS/ian/172368">Four Seasons George V in Paris</a>, while the best resort was the Four Seasons in Hualalai, Hawaii.<p> Tim L. 2007-05-03T09:02:55-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/