These are subjective to a certain degree, but that can’t serve as a pass that anything they possibly print is reasonable. This one is just far too silly to chalk it up to different people with different perspectives.

But I’m surprised you’re so harsh on the Oriental Bangkok. So far that’s the possibly best hotel I’ve ever stayed in, in the world. At least I thought so, was upgraded to a nice corner/balcony room and the service was utterly extraordinary, beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. Granted there’s no possible way I have stayed in enough hotels to speak with authority. But I have stayed at several dozen that routinely contend for best in the world lists (Broadmoor, Imperial in Delhi, Pen in HKG, probably 40-50 R&C properties, etc.) and I consider it exceptional, certainly enough that it doesn’t seem out of place on a subjective list like this.

I don’t disagree with the premise of the post, but these things are subjective.

But how in the world they list Le Meridien Phuket as the best property on the list from Phuket as opposed to, I don’t know, say Amanpuri…?

The Amboseli Lodge in Kenya was on either the Travel & Leisure or Conde Naste Traveler list of top hotels in Africa four years ago. I had stayed there two to three months before the list came out. It made my list of places to avoid. Rooms were tiny, outdated, wouthout AC – in hot Kenya.

It’s unfortunate that these lists are of so little value. I’d love to get some fresh ideas. I find the Luxury Hotel forum and other hotel forums on FlyerTalk to be much more credible.

And I was mistaken, they did note one Maldives property.

My point was simply when the Sheraton Port Douglas makes the list, something is terribly terribly wrong. That’s not a hotel that exhibits much of anything — it’s an option for using points when visiting the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, etc.