How To Maximize Value At Aman Resorts (2024)

How To Maximize Value At Aman Resorts (2024)

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Want to receive extra benefits for stays at Aman properties, including a room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more, all at no extra cost to you? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.

One question I’m often asked if what my favorite hotel or hotel group is. Since most of my travel is funded through miles & points, I have my favorite brands that are bookable with points (St. Regis and Park Hyatt), though those aren’t true favorite brands if you take points out of the equation. Rather, Aman Resorts are by far my favorite resorts in the world.

I’ve been fortunate enough to stay at about a dozen of their properties over the years, and in the back of my mind I’m always dreaming of my next Aman stay. They’re that special. Unfortunately Aman doesn’t have a loyalty program, so in this post I wanted to talk about how to maximize value at Aman Resorts, and more.

What are Aman Resorts?

Aman Resorts was founded in 1988, and operates 33 hotels in 21 countries. “Aman” means “peace, security, safety, shelter, protection” in the Sanskrit, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu and Persian languages, which should give you a sense of what they’re going for.

While the company is headquartered in Singapore, in 2014 the company was (rather controversially) sold to a Russian businessman. The reason I say this was controversial is because it left a lot of people wondering if Aman would maintain the same quality, though best I can tell it seems to mostly be “business as usual” for now.

What makes Aman Resorts so special?

When most people think of luxury hotels, the first brands that come to mind are probably Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, etc. Personally it kills me to drop a lot of money and stay at a mega resort where you don’t get amazing service and you just feel like you’re part of an assembly line. I’m not saying that’s the case at all Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton properties, though I have shared my experience at a few properties, especially in North America.

Aman Resorts are also quite expensive, but they’re so different than any other cookie-cutter mega resort you’ll find. What makes Aman special?

  • Aman has a huge focus on unique destinations, and you’ll find that most Amans are in the middle of nowhere and are all about nature (they do have some city hotels, though)
  • Most Aman Resorts are tiny, and most that I’ve stayed at have 12-30 rooms; I believe the biggest Aman is the one in Tokyo, which has 84 rooms
  • Amans aren’t flashy, but rather one of the primary focuses is the insider access they give you at many destinations, as they’ve developed local partnerships to in many cases see things that you couldn’t if you weren’t staying at the resort
  • The service at Amans is simply unparalleled (I’ll talk more about that below)

I guess what it boils down to is that some people spend $1,000+ per night to stay at a hotel where they’re treated as a transaction, where you can’t even get a table at the hotel’s restaurant, where you get charged for everything under the sun, etc.

Amans are different. Yes, they’re largely still very expensive, but you feel like you’re getting an experience that’s special.

More often than not when I’ve stayed at Amans I’ve asked myself whether the hotels make any money, despite the high rates. I’ve been at an Aman where my room was the only one occupied, and I’ve been at a couple of Amans where there were at most a few other guests. Sometimes staying at an Aman is almost like having the most over-the-top vacation residence in the world.

There’s some indescribable level of peace you feel when staying at Amans. It’s difficult to describe, though in a way I think these ads of their individual hotels really sum that up, just to give a couple of examples:

Is service at Amans really that good?

I wanted to talk a little about service at Amans, because I think that’s what truly sets them apart. With the exception of the Fogo Island Inn, I’ve never received service that’s as warm and polished as I’ve gotten at Amans. Just a few things that come to mind when it comes to Aman service:

  • Somehow they manage to refresh your room several times per day (like, basically every time you leave), yet you never actually see them
  • You’ll never be asked for your room number or name; rather they always know exactly who you are, what you’ve been doing all day, etc.
  • In addition to extremely polished and sincere service from locals, the general managers at these hotels are always fascinating people, as they’ve largely spent their lives managing hotels in remote parts of the world, and are always fun to talk to


Amankora in Bhutan

I’m fortunate to have stayed at several Amans, but…

Let me acknowledge that I’m incredibly fortunate to have stayed at several Amans over the years. For example, last year when I proposed to Ford, I booked us at Aman Sveti Stefan, and we had an incredible stay. I’m lucky that I can afford to splurge on this sometimes. While Aman hotels are quite expensive, I would like to point out that many of the people I’ve come across at Amans aren’t super wealthy people.

Rather they’re upper middle class people who think that peak experiences in life are worth investing in. There’s a term for those who are fans of Amans — Amanjunkies — and these are people who largely plan their vacations around Aman locations.

While Aman doesn’t have a loyalty program, I also know plenty of miles & points people who frequently stay at these hotels. The way they view it, they’re saving a ton of money by redeeming miles for flights to their destination, and then they spend more for their vacation once on the ground.


Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro

Where are Aman Resorts?

Aman has resorts in the US, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia, though as you can see below, a majority of their properties are in Asia. Here are their 31 existing properties, as well as their two that are under construction:

Americas & Caribbean


Amangiri in Utah

Europe & Africa


Amanzoe in Greece

Asia


Aman-i-Khas in India

How expensive are Aman Resorts?

There’s a huge variance in terms of the cost of staying at Aman Resorts. As you might expect, the cost varies based on the time of year you’re traveling, the specific hotel, how long you’re staying, and if there are promotions.

What I love about Aman’s website is that you can use a calendar to search rates at a particular hotel for months at a time, so it’s really easy to look up rates.

In terms of price, on one end of the spectrum you have Amanyara (in the Turks & Caicos), which in peak season will cost $1,800+ per night.

But not all Aman Resorts are that expensive. Generally speaking you’ll find that the Aman Resorts in China, Indonesia, Morocco, and Sri Lanka are more reasonably priced.

For example, Amanjiwo in Indonesia starts at $700 per night.

Amangalla in Sri Lanka starts at $550 per night.

Aman Summer Palace in Beijing starts at 3,300CNY (~520USD) per night.

Note that these are the “base” prices, though as I’ll note below, you can potentially do much better than that.

How can you maximize value at Aman Resorts?

Aman doesn’t have any sort of a loyalty program, so you’re not going to earn free nights directly with Aman. With that in mind, what are the best options for scoring a deal on an Aman stay?

Hotel package deals

In addition to the calendar rates you usually see, individual Amans often publish special rates. The best place to find the details of these is to go to the individual hotel’s webpage, and then click on “Exclusives” tab along the top. Lets use Amanjena, the property in Morocco, as an example.

If the calendar is to be believed, the lowest nightly rate is 570EUR.

When you go to the Amanjena Exclusives page, you’ll see the various options. For example, there’s both the “Undiscovered Marrakech” package and the “Amanjena Wellness Retreat,” both of which are valid for stays of at least three nights, and offer significant value over the usual 570EUR per night standard rate.

So, what do these packages get you? The “Undiscovered Marrakech” package lowers the nightly rate from 570EUR to 430EUR per night, and that still includes breakfast and roundtrip airport transfers.

Or for 100EUR more than the original 570EUR rate, you can get a package that includes a daily massage for two people, a daily activity, and one Moroccan hammam treatment and oil head massage per person per stay. Given how much they’d otherwise charge for spa treatments, that has the potential to be an excellent deal.

Similar packages are available at other properties.

Multi-hotel package deals

In addition to there being value-add packages available at individual Aman hotels, Aman also has the benefit of having several properties in close proximity to one another. In these instances they usually offer special package deals where you can visit multiple properties and they offer you a discount, transfers between hotels, and more.

Here’s the page showing the multi-destination journeys that Aman offers. As you can see, there are packages for Indonesia, China, and India, among others.

Probably the single most popular package is the Aman Bali Break, where you can stay at multiple Aman properties in Bali, given that they have some properties on the coast, and also have a property in Ubud (which is the interior). By booking a package that includes two nights at one property and three nights at the other, you get transfers from the airport, between resorts, and back to the airport, as well as activities at each resort. This can add significant value.

Use a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor

Almost all Aman properties belong to Virtuoso, which is an invitation-only alliance that some travel advisors have access to. If a hotel belongs to Virtuoso, guests can receive daily breakfast, complimentary room upgrades, and free internet, as well a property specific amenity, which could include a food & beverage credit, a free massage, or something else.

Generally speaking Virtuoso benefits aren’t combinable with packages, meaning that they need to be booked at the standard rate (though there may be some exceptions). One of the huge perks of booking through Virtuoso is the potential upgrade, especially since many Aman hotels only have a few categories of rooms. So if you book a base room, there’s a lot of value to be had by getting an upgrade to a room one category higher, since it may retail for hundreds of dollars more per night.

But really I’d say the main benefit of working with a Virtuoso affiliated travel advisor is that they can help you navigate what the best option is, whether it’s a Virtuoso rate, one of the package deals, or one of the multi-hotel packages. They can also arrange your transfers to/from the airport and between hotels, if applicable. Booking through them typically won’t cost anything extra, regardless of which option you go with. Furthermore, many advisors have relationships with the hotels, so can help make your stay special.

Ford is affiliated with Virtuoso and books a lot of Aman reservations, so is more than happy to help, and can be reached at [email protected] with any Aman questions. Other travel advisors are also welcome to leave their contact info below.


Amandari in Bali

American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts

As an alternative to Virtuoso, you can also book through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which is available to those with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. This offers similar perks to what you get through Virtuoso and you can book directly online, though the flip side is that you won’t get someone with expertise on the property. Alternatively, a Virtuoso advisor can also typically make a Fine Hotels & Resorts booking for you, if you decide that’s the best option.

Use a travel cash back card

Since Aman doesn’t directly have a loyalty program, the only way you’re going to be able to redeem points for a stay at an Aman property is if you have a credit card that offers cash back rewards that can be redeemed towards travel.

For example, if you have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees) you can redeem miles for one cent each to offset the cost of a travel purchase. The same is true for the Capital One Spark Cash Plus (Rates & Fees), which offers similar returns. So that’s not going to help get you outsized value of those rewards, though at least if will help you offset the cost of a “splurge” stay.

Bottom line

To me Aman Resorts are incredibly special. So much thought has been put into every property, and between the incredible and intimate settings, the insider access they offer, and the unparalleled service, I’m always dreaming of my next stay at an Aman.

If you’re someone who wants to really splurge on hotels every once in a while, I can’t recommend a stay at an Aman enough. I know a lot of people will say “a hotel is just about a place to sleep, and I don’t like to pay more than $____ per night,” and I totally respect that. However, for those who are in a position to spend more for hotels and see the value for such properties, I think you’ll find an Aman hotel to be a great option. In my opinion it’s money much better spent than staying at an overpriced mega-resort.

To those who have stayed at Aman properties, what was your experience like?

Want to receive extra benefits for stays at Aman properties, including a room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more, all at no extra cost to you? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
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  1. Kristin Guest

    Just returned from Amanyara in Turks for a birthday celebration. I hesitate to make any comments at all regarding service during a pandemic.
    Will just say that my husband and I concluded the same thing we have always thought and others have said here...Aman properties truly offer unmatchable natural settings. We felt like we were on top of the world on the beach in the Northwestern tip of the Island. The staff was all...

    Just returned from Amanyara in Turks for a birthday celebration. I hesitate to make any comments at all regarding service during a pandemic.
    Will just say that my husband and I concluded the same thing we have always thought and others have said here...Aman properties truly offer unmatchable natural settings. We felt like we were on top of the world on the beach in the Northwestern tip of the Island. The staff was all quite friendly although it would have been nice to have seen some presence of a manager channeling so many capable associates wanting to do well.
    We took advantage of the ‘Seasons’ package which offered incorporated meals and a complimentary night at a rate of $1800.00 not including fees and taxes which jumped the daily rate to about $2400.00. All we paid for was cocktails (so 2 drinks were on average $60.00).
    It would have taken a lot more trivial inconveniences to have occurred before we spoke badly of Aman. So many beautiful memories of Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, Philippines but I really hope that the current owner realizes what a gift they have in these properties and carefully nurture them. Time will tell.

  2. Marilyn Guest

    Thanks for this article. You’re right about the exceptional service they provide. I’ve only stayed at the one in Bhutan and in Siem Reap. They blow everyone out of the water.

  3. Aman Junkie Guest

    Aman recognized Amanjunkie here. Been to 7 of them and to the Tokyo one four times. I must say that service is definitely NOT something that stands out at these resorts. Upper House in HKG offers far superior service. Food is mediocre as well. We pay for the heavenly, unparalleled settings they offer. Nothing more.

  4. Chinmoy Lad Guest

    Pretty good summary of the Amans I think. Even the 'worst' Amans I've stayed at have a special something about them, whether it is its location or excursions/activities.

    For example, the two worst Amans I've experienced so far in terms of service are Amanfayun and Amanbagh where service wasn't quite as good as it could have been for a hotel of Aman's standard (still pretty good, though). At Amanfayun, the rooms were beautiful and...

    Pretty good summary of the Amans I think. Even the 'worst' Amans I've stayed at have a special something about them, whether it is its location or excursions/activities.

    For example, the two worst Amans I've experienced so far in terms of service are Amanfayun and Amanbagh where service wasn't quite as good as it could have been for a hotel of Aman's standard (still pretty good, though). At Amanfayun, the rooms were beautiful and authentic but definitely more could have been done (lighting, upkeep etc).

    However, both are so incredibly unique due to their location and the history behind Amanfayun. As a result, despite the (relatively) sub-par experience, I still take back wonderful memories from both.

    I still recommend them both to guests despite my experience there, because I trust the guests will find something fascinating and unique about both and will still enjoy them.
    (Amanfayun has improved its service standards by all accounts, and my Amanbagh stay was a bit of an off-week/blip for them).

    Generally speaking, you don't get that with other resorts/hotels where if it's a bad experience, it's just a bad experience.

    We're Virtuoso too - check us out at www.thesuitelife.com.hk or email me at [email protected]

  5. LMH Matt Guest

    I was fortunate to have visited a few Aman Resorts in their early years (mid 90s). Those include the ones in Indonesia and Thailand. I haven't visited the newer ones, nor have I tried the city locations. I'm a bit disappointed to hear from others that service has slipped a bit these days. I must say that my experience with Aman Resorts was life changing and extraordinary. I still remember every little detail 20 years...

    I was fortunate to have visited a few Aman Resorts in their early years (mid 90s). Those include the ones in Indonesia and Thailand. I haven't visited the newer ones, nor have I tried the city locations. I'm a bit disappointed to hear from others that service has slipped a bit these days. I must say that my experience with Aman Resorts was life changing and extraordinary. I still remember every little detail 20 years later!

    The places were beautiful, coming in close contact with nature. Food was delicious, though not particularly memorable. The service was outstanding. We were so well taken care of. Experiences and local adventures were fun and eye opening. The hospitality was on another level. And being immersed in their respective local cultures, the scenery, scents, tastes, music, etc. was really unforgettable.

    PS. I think children will enjoy themselves just as much as adults.

  6. Justin Guest

    Interesting to read some of the comments re: Aman Tokyo. On my last visit to the city I came close to booking the Aman, but then I read a bunch of reviews akin to what the posters here are saying. Namely, that the property is stunning but it isn't worth the 2x price premium in a city filled with new, skyscraper, 5-star hotels that also emphasize beautiful modernist Japanese design (ie. Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons,...

    Interesting to read some of the comments re: Aman Tokyo. On my last visit to the city I came close to booking the Aman, but then I read a bunch of reviews akin to what the posters here are saying. Namely, that the property is stunning but it isn't worth the 2x price premium in a city filled with new, skyscraper, 5-star hotels that also emphasize beautiful modernist Japanese design (ie. Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Capitol Tokyu, The Prince Gallery, Conrad, Palace Hotel etc.). Others also noted that the Aman Tokyo service wasn't as spectacular as the reputation would suggest.

  7. Mark Guest

    Dull and full of fat Europeans.
    I have stayed at 6.
    Food to expensive for the shipped in quality.
    While you continue to plug Virtuoso, and we know why, agents affiliated with Signature Travel Network have the same offers.

  8. tda Guest

    “Rather they’re upper middle class people who think that peak experiences in life are worth investing in.”

    The term “middle class” seems to be stretched these days (under the guise of a supposed “upper middle class”) to include anyone who’s not fabulously wealthy.

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ tda -- I think most people got the intent of what I'm saying, though I realize it's not perfect. Not sure what term you prefer, and what income bracket that covers?

  9. RC Guest

    I had always dreamed that the Aman's would change my life and they did for a bit. A few years ago I did 3 Indonesian ones and I still find they are the best. Jiwo, Kila and Nusa are stunning as is the service. The beauty of the Aman's is that you feel special -not a typical hotel experience. I was at the Aman Party a couple of years ago in NYC and it was...

    I had always dreamed that the Aman's would change my life and they did for a bit. A few years ago I did 3 Indonesian ones and I still find they are the best. Jiwo, Kila and Nusa are stunning as is the service. The beauty of the Aman's is that you feel special -not a typical hotel experience. I was at the Aman Party a couple of years ago in NYC and it was truly a wonderful night.
    I was disappointed with Summer Palace, no "extras" for free and it was outrageously expensive. I was at Jena in November and liked it ok. The Amans are an investment, on average I spend 1500 nightly wherever I stay if you add in the excursions and meals. Bhutan is on my list. In speaking to a few managers they mentioned that it is the one to do.
    The clientele (in my experience) is split between the very rich, the merely well off and gay couples.

  10. Alex Guest

    Don’t forget GHA Discovery. They status match too....

  11. travlermb Member

    BTW.....visiting Amanoi in early June

  12. travlermb Member

    I have been to 6-7 Aman properties over the years. Phuket, my 1st (you always remember your 1st) was fantastic and got me hooked. My favorite overall was Siem Reap; the private tours of Angkor Wat were incredible and the food was the best of any Aman. Which brings me to my fav and worst aspects of Aman. In general, the private tours and activities offered are superb and not available elsewhere. The food......well, this...

    I have been to 6-7 Aman properties over the years. Phuket, my 1st (you always remember your 1st) was fantastic and got me hooked. My favorite overall was Siem Reap; the private tours of Angkor Wat were incredible and the food was the best of any Aman. Which brings me to my fav and worst aspects of Aman. In general, the private tours and activities offered are superb and not available elsewhere. The food......well, this where I found over the course of 6-7 visits is an area in need of great improvement.

    But the service is definitely a stand out. Ben has it spot on. Never had a problem that wasn’t fixed to my satisfaction, they were always flexible and helpful. In Bali, they acted as travel agent and got me Komodo Island tour and hotel room at the last minute without blinking an eye. Fantastic.

  13. BrooklynBoy Gold

    Many guests on FlyerTalk have experienced a slippage in service standards at Amanpuri (the original Aman, in Phuket). In particular, they were asked for their room number every time!

  14. Kevin Guest

    If you go to an Aman, pick the ones that were open before Doronin bought it. Those ones are tried and true. Stay away from city Amans... it is the rural ones that excels. The main difference between Four Seasons/ Mandarin vs Aman is the activity menu. With Aman, you get an extensive menu to choose from that are only catered to Aman guests. What’s so special about those activities? How about private tour of...

    If you go to an Aman, pick the ones that were open before Doronin bought it. Those ones are tried and true. Stay away from city Amans... it is the rural ones that excels. The main difference between Four Seasons/ Mandarin vs Aman is the activity menu. With Aman, you get an extensive menu to choose from that are only catered to Aman guests. What’s so special about those activities? How about private tour of the Doge Palace in Venice to avoid mountains of tourists? Or going to a night chant/ meditate session with local Buddhist monks on island of Java in a temple where you are the only person who isn’t a monk in the room. Or be one of the few people enter Summer Palace before hoards of crowd join you in Beijing. The lists go on and on. There’s a reason why people like Zuckerberg or Gates go to Amans. If the experience does not commensurate with the cost, I’m pretty sure those two are smart enough not to return to another Aman.

  15. 747always Guest

    Been a while since a plug for Fords business came in. :)

  16. pacifico Guest

    Ben you haven't try COMO Resorts, don't you? Highly recommend it

  17. John Guest

    I have four Amans left to visit, excluding their new resorts, and spend a week in my favourite one every year. It's a truly remarkable group of hotels. But to be fair, some of the smaller Four Seasons resorts (LG in The Maldives) aren't far behind. As Lucky points out there are a few independent gems, but Ritz Carlton (where I'm writing this tonight) and other luxury chains are nowhere close.

  18. PAS Guest

    My wife and I actually had a disappointing experience with Aman. We stayed at two properties in Bali. The locations and properties were stunning, of course, and the service was good, but we had several problems. The a/c in our room broke our first night and we had to have it serviced at 2am. We had a 1 year old with us, and the childcare equipment they provided was really subpar...the cribs and high chairs...

    My wife and I actually had a disappointing experience with Aman. We stayed at two properties in Bali. The locations and properties were stunning, of course, and the service was good, but we had several problems. The a/c in our room broke our first night and we had to have it serviced at 2am. We had a 1 year old with us, and the childcare equipment they provided was really subpar...the cribs and high chairs looked great and fit the overall aesthetic, but were very impractical, almost dangerous...I would imagine they violated current US/EU safety standards as they were very easy to fall out of, etc.

    One property (amankila) did have an amazing guide who really immersed us in Balinese culture and found experiences for us we wouldn't have found otherwise. But the other property was simply standard in that regard. No complaints, but certainly nothing special that we couldn't have found through any of the other luxury resorts in Bali.

    Lastly, they design most of their standard rooms as a large open plan. It's beautiful, but not ideal if you get up early or go to bed late and your partner is a light sleeper. It seems like a strange choice to me if you're spending that kind of money.

    As far as I could tell, the price is really for the exclusivity. If I were a professional athlete, movie star, etc. and wanted to hide away without getting bothered, it would be worth it. Otherwise, for the same amount of money, I'd much rather get a suite or a pool villa at another high end property. And in fact the next time we went back to Bali, we did just that...a pool villa with multiple rooms and great service. I hate to say it, but it was a much better choice than returning to Aman.

  19. Miramar New Member

    I'm also super fortunate to have stayed at a bunch of these. They recognize regulars. Ben, here's my Aman value-maximizing tip, I was at Amanoi last month and was given Villa 3, the Amanoi ocean pool villa, best on the property--it's not the villa shown in the pictures, for some reason they don't have public pictures of it--but request Villa 3. Most spectacular views I can remember from a coastal residence for just a little...

    I'm also super fortunate to have stayed at a bunch of these. They recognize regulars. Ben, here's my Aman value-maximizing tip, I was at Amanoi last month and was given Villa 3, the Amanoi ocean pool villa, best on the property--it's not the villa shown in the pictures, for some reason they don't have public pictures of it--but request Villa 3. Most spectacular views I can remember from a coastal residence for just a little more than the price you pay for a basic pad at amanera/amanyara. Amazing value compared to other great digs, North Island, Miavana, etc.

    And don't forget Aman Costa Rica! I'm excited about that one.

  20. Matt Member

    Are these resorts pretty much only geared to couples or singles?
    Would it be weird to take a parent there as a "thank you for everything" trip? What about kids?

    Thanks in advance.

  21. Hong Konger Guest

    We were devastated to find out Amanemu (rural Japan one) is on the map of the newly rich Chinese farmers and as a result it went to the shitter.
    We ended up leaving the hotel one night pre original departure.

    At times the Public areas felt like a waiting hall in Shenzhen railway station.
    Sad.

    The combination of nouveau riche *first time overseas travelers *language barrier (no Eng' or Jap' on...

    We were devastated to find out Amanemu (rural Japan one) is on the map of the newly rich Chinese farmers and as a result it went to the shitter.
    We ended up leaving the hotel one night pre original departure.

    At times the Public areas felt like a waiting hall in Shenzhen railway station.
    Sad.

    The combination of nouveau riche *first time overseas travelers *language barrier (no Eng' or Jap' on guest side) * large groups equals a disastrous recipe for the other guests.

  22. schar Guest

    anyone stay at Amanpuri in Phuket? Is it worth it?

    Im conflicted in booking that, The Surin, or Mom's Tri Villa!

  23. EthFlyer Guest

    Aman Tokyo isn’t worth it. Service is decent, but there are so many alternatives in Tokyo that offer superior service. It’s not that expansive though so I think they understand that.

  24. JP Guest

    Hey Lucky!

    I just stayed a two AMAN Tokyo. Stunning, stunning hotel and it was wonderful BUT the service was good next exceptional. I had better service and recognition at the Mandarin oriental.

    I’m hoping this was due to the larger size of the hotel and am still eager to visit the resorts. I’d love more reviews of AMAN properties from you!!

  25. M2 New Member

    Thanks for the post! Just discovered Aman and am looking to take advantage of the multi-hotel package at Amankila and Amandari. Good to know others have used the Citi 4th night free to book this package.

  26. Quentin Guest

    Great article! I have stayed at 26 Amans (27 if you count the currently closed Hotel Bora Bora), and fit the profile of the non-wealthy who is willing to splurge to experience something close to heaven.
    Locations, rooms and grounds are superlative. Service we have always found immaculate, except for Amangani, which was nonetheless pretty good. Will be interesting to see if Aman New York can provide excellent service!
    Food is 4-5 stars...

    Great article! I have stayed at 26 Amans (27 if you count the currently closed Hotel Bora Bora), and fit the profile of the non-wealthy who is willing to splurge to experience something close to heaven.
    Locations, rooms and grounds are superlative. Service we have always found immaculate, except for Amangani, which was nonetheless pretty good. Will be interesting to see if Aman New York can provide excellent service!
    Food is 4-5 stars generally, almost always very pricey (eg branzino in Greece was >$200 at Amanzoe compared to $13 the night before in Nafplio!)
    We find Amex FHR and Andrew Harper offer useful benefits (eg breakfast for 2, possible upgrade), sometimes excellent (eg free dinner for 2 at Amangiri). With upgrades on check-in a lottery, we find the Citi 4th night free benefit generally by far the best value.
    There's no Aman program as such, therefore nothing you can plan on, but as Amanjunkies for years we often find we get an extra treat, eg dinner in special location, best room available (including once the Amangiri Suite). I like the fact these are never expected, and therefore come as a wonderful surprise.

  27. ssss Guest

    I have stayed multiple Aman properties. They vary dramatically. The Aman owned properties are markedly better than the places they manage. Sveti Stefan was stunning but the service was horrible. At another location, no one ever visited the beach nor served anything beyond a glass of water. Even the Ritz Carlton offered me sorbet.

    The other issue at the Aman hotels is the food is costly but merely mediocre.

    In my opinion, they...

    I have stayed multiple Aman properties. They vary dramatically. The Aman owned properties are markedly better than the places they manage. Sveti Stefan was stunning but the service was horrible. At another location, no one ever visited the beach nor served anything beyond a glass of water. Even the Ritz Carlton offered me sorbet.

    The other issue at the Aman hotels is the food is costly but merely mediocre.

    In my opinion, they have expanded their footprint too quickly and can't maintain their level of service they became known for around the world. Aman needs to stop managing properties for oligarchs who think the hotel is a cash cow and are financially starving the brand.

  28. Evan Guest

    This is a rather long advertisement.

    *Rather they’re upper middle class people who think that peak experiences in life are worth investing in*

    LOL.

  29. Hao Guest

    Great article, Lucky!!! One of our favorites as well. One thing to consider is that while the price of entry for Aman is high, their entry rooms are often as large as most luxury brands' jr. Suite or Suites. So if you're used to booking suites at the Four Seasons, Aman may be a cheaper option and much better value.

    Would also be happy to help anyone looking for Aman assistance. Especially regarding upgrades...

    Great article, Lucky!!! One of our favorites as well. One thing to consider is that while the price of entry for Aman is high, their entry rooms are often as large as most luxury brands' jr. Suite or Suites. So if you're used to booking suites at the Four Seasons, Aman may be a cheaper option and much better value.

    Would also be happy to help anyone looking for Aman assistance. Especially regarding upgrades + Virtuoso amenities. 70% of my clients are upgraded at booking and almost 100% are (between at booking and on arrival). www.besvisor.com or [email protected]

    Aman is interesting in the sense that you want to tell everyone about it but it's also a hideaway you want to keep to yourself :)

  30. Geoffrey Guest

    You are so right about Aman. I hope Ford and you stay at Amankora in Bhutan and Aman Summer Palace Beijing. Indescribable. Cheers!

  31. TravelinWilly Diamond

    @Mike - Couldn't you have disputed that with your credit card issuer had they not agreed to the terms of the deal and removed the entire fourth night?

  32. Mike OMAAT

    I had luck making a 4th Night Free booking using the Bali Break with 2 nights at Amandari and 4 nights at Amankila. They didn't credit the full amount at Amankila -- just the amount it would have been for the basic rate 4th night. But, being persistent paid off. Definitely YMMV, tho.

  33. PGH Guest

    The only Aman property I’ve experienced is Tokyo and while it is undeniably STUNNING physically and amazingly located, the service is NOTHING like you describe in this article. So I’d be very curious for you to review it. I paid over £1000 GBP/night for an entry level suite and in terms of service I found: they don’t know who their guests are (e.g. was given the worst table in the bar until the hostess caught...

    The only Aman property I’ve experienced is Tokyo and while it is undeniably STUNNING physically and amazingly located, the service is NOTHING like you describe in this article. So I’d be very curious for you to review it. I paid over £1000 GBP/night for an entry level suite and in terms of service I found: they don’t know who their guests are (e.g. was given the worst table in the bar until the hostess caught sight of my room key when i sat down and put it on the table, at which point a much better table near the window suddenly became available); had to sign for all bar/restaurant spend and show room key; room hadn’t been serviced by 1pm one day so had to call and chase housekeeping; walking into the hotel was blanked by the doormen half the time, greeted fairly warmly the other half; breakfast in the restaurant was a total cluster (staff focused all efforts on a demanding party with lots of young children, to the extent that had to walk up to the reception to ask why it was taking over 10mins to get a coffee, let alone a menu - repeatedly explained to staff that was in a hurry due to a business meeting soon, but they seemingly couldn’t deviate from doing things in their slow, set way - no concept of adapting to different guest needs; weridly only two breakfast choices, Japanese or Western, that could only be served at a snail’s pace with a ton of tiny plates all being brought out s l o w l y); during peak times the hotel had no way of summoning a taxi quickly (the sort of trick that accomplished 5* city hotels can pull off) and the hotel car seemingly only availavle to V-VIP guests (appreciate the £1,000/night I was paying may be tiny in comparison to others in £5,000/night suites, but it was galling to sit in lower lobby waiting for taxi when some subsequent guests who came down and asked for taxi too were immediately offered a ride courtesty of the hotel). Etc.

  34. Bernardo Mackissack New Member

    I’m a Virtuoso affiliated agent based in Mexico and can surely help with any of the properties or products within the portfolio
    @bmackissack
    [email protected]

  35. Clem Diamond

    I've booked my first Aman stay at Aman Tokyo in 2 months from now using FHR, I'm SO excited about it but thank god for Amex payment plans :D ....

  36. TravelinWilly Diamond

    I've always used Virtuoso (David O.) for my Aman bookings, and both David and the Amans have been great.

    Question: If booking through Amex, can one prepay a fine hotels and resorts stay, thereby getting the 5x MR points?

  37. Joey Diamond

    You're right about the Aman experience. I have 3 friends (all urban professionals in their 30s/40s) who aim to visit every Aman hotel in their lifetime. They're hooked and normally visit 2 Amans a year.
    I've only been to two Aman hotels (Amanjiwo and Hotel Bora Bora) and I agree with you that it's a different kind of experience. Somehow Aman hotels put a lot of thought in its architecture and design to assimilate...

    You're right about the Aman experience. I have 3 friends (all urban professionals in their 30s/40s) who aim to visit every Aman hotel in their lifetime. They're hooked and normally visit 2 Amans a year.
    I've only been to two Aman hotels (Amanjiwo and Hotel Bora Bora) and I agree with you that it's a different kind of experience. Somehow Aman hotels put a lot of thought in its architecture and design to assimilate and represent the local culture well.
    One hotel I really hope Aman will reopen and restore is the Hotel Bora Bora. When we went there several years ago, we met other guests who told us they go there every year (or every other year) as the service is unparalleled and the experience amazing.
    To me, it seems like staying at an Aman hotel is like flying in EY Residence or AF La Premiere or SQ Suites or EK Suites where it's all about the experience and topnotch service in addition to the usual luxury/comfort found in flying business class.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

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Kristin Guest

Just returned from Amanyara in Turks for a birthday celebration. I hesitate to make any comments at all regarding service during a pandemic. Will just say that my husband and I concluded the same thing we have always thought and others have said here...Aman properties truly offer unmatchable natural settings. We felt like we were on top of the world on the beach in the Northwestern tip of the Island. The staff was all quite friendly although it would have been nice to have seen some presence of a manager channeling so many capable associates wanting to do well. We took advantage of the ‘Seasons’ package which offered incorporated meals and a complimentary night at a rate of $1800.00 not including fees and taxes which jumped the daily rate to about $2400.00. All we paid for was cocktails (so 2 drinks were on average $60.00). It would have taken a lot more trivial inconveniences to have occurred before we spoke badly of Aman. So many beautiful memories of Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, Philippines but I really hope that the current owner realizes what a gift they have in these properties and carefully nurture them. Time will tell.

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Marilyn Guest

Thanks for this article. You’re right about the exceptional service they provide. I’ve only stayed at the one in Bhutan and in Siem Reap. They blow everyone out of the water.

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Aman Junkie Guest

Aman recognized Amanjunkie here. Been to 7 of them and to the Tokyo one four times. I must say that service is definitely NOT something that stands out at these resorts. Upper House in HKG offers far superior service. Food is mediocre as well. We pay for the heavenly, unparalleled settings they offer. Nothing more.

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