We wanted this to be the highlight of our trip but unfortunately it fell short of expectations.
Our family saved up for what we considered a once in a lifetime experience. After all the hype around the so called “7 star” reputation, we were very excited. We decided to splurge and go all in, including the Rolls Royce Phantom transfer, which was a nice touch and a strong start.
The views from the hotel were absolutely spectacular and truly unforgettable. That said, despite the grandeur, a lot of attention to detail felt missed.
Upon arrival, I was genuinely shocked by how rude the welcome staff felt. We were rushed in, and when I excitedly took a photo of my toddler in the lobby, I was scolded for using a “professional” camera. I was simply taking a family photo, and the unfriendly tone felt completely unnecessary.
At check in, the first thing the receptionist focused on was questioning how many guests were in our party. We had three guests, which was clearly stated in the booking and confirmed by email with guest names provided. Despite this, they sounded annoyed and immediately mentioned an additional charge for the third guest, which felt awkward and unwelcoming.
The overall check in process felt demanding rather than warm. I did not feel welcomed. Perhaps guests staying in the highest tier suites receive different treatment, but for over $3,000 per night, I expected a much more respectful and personable experience.
Small details also stood out in a negative way. For example, during the welcome drink service, only two drinks were brought even though there were three of us, and we had to wait quite a while before the third arrived. We were also told that luggage unpacking service was available, which we accepted, but no one ever came.
Once in the room, several things were not working, including the TV. The staff member explaining the room said it would be taken care of, but this resulted in multiple technicians coming back and forth, which disrupted the experience.
The so called butler service was a major disappointment. It is essentially a WhatsApp messaging system connected to an agent. Simple requests like restaurant recommendations, family photo locations, or room cleaning took hours to receive responses, and in most cases, the tasks were not completed at all.
That said, the property itself is undeniably beautiful. Pool service and attendants were excellent. We enjoyed the breakfast, the sauna experience/service was great, and despite reading comments about the hotel’s age, everything appeared to be in very good condition.
Overall, the stay was enjoyable, but several moments left a bad taste. It did not feel personal, warm, or special in the way we expected from a hotel with this reputation. Instead, it felt like an in and out experience rather than something truly memorable. Perhaps our stay was too short, or we were not considered VIP guests, but that should not affect the level of service at a property of this caliber.