Review: Le Meridien Thimphu

I'm glad you mentioned the lack of local design elements, because it was something I noticed almost immediately. It's weird that its not a super generic design in a typical Hilton/Marriott/Sheraton kind of way, its almost aggressively modern (although, I guess that is Le Meridien's brand to the extent that they have one), which seems very out of place for Bhutan. Also, based on the website, it looks like the LM Paro did make an effort to incorporate more Bhutanese design elements into the interior of the hotel, which is strange since I have to imagine both hotels are owned by the same operator.

isn't that genericness generally the price of staying in a western chain though?

I still think the more interesting part of Bhutan is Phobjikha and points east. But Thimphu and Paro are a good basic intro to the country.

@ raksiam -- Yes, you certainly give up some level of local "flair" when staying at a chain, but I think there are varying degrees to which that's done, as you'll see in the next review of the Le Meridien Thimphu, which incorporates more local elements.

Or for example take a look at the Le Meridien Tampa, which still has the basic brand standard items, but still manages to have a unique design:
https://onemileatatime.com/review-le-meridien-tampa/

So you make a big deal about going to a ridiculously expensive country that discourages tourism to maintain their traditional way of life - then stay in a Western chain hotel? No matter how much "local flair" they may add in Paro (that fact alone that you've erroneously said your next review is of Thimphu when you seem to mean Paro should display just how much of a local experience these hotels have given you!), it's still a chain hotel.

I understand this site has an audience of people obsessed with redeeming points all the time, but you say you're excited to stay in these properties as opposed to "doing it for work", so I think it's a fair comment!

(And yes, I'm jealous you're in Bhutan!)

@ callum -- I'm not sure I follow your logic. So would you have preferred I review an Aman or Belmond (which costs $1,000+ per night), or that I stayed at a "local" hotel, which wasn't as nice?

Part of what I was "excited" about with reviewing these properties is actually getting to see what the points options in a country like this are. After all, that's what I write about, and I find that stuff interesting.

@Lucky, "among the only ones" doesn't make sense grammatically. "Among very few" or "only ones". Which is it?

I think lucky is going to these exotic places more for his blog than that he really is curious to see other cultures.

To make a very uncharitable analogy, its like the people that are super generous and super friendly when the cameras are rolling and shut in when no one is watching aka republicans.

What a bunch of sour grapes. If you don't like his style of writing or the focus of his blog why read it? Go do something creative or interesting of your own. I'm sure it will be fascinating stuff.

And the stalker @Credit is at it once again... starting to get obvious... boring.

I don't overly care which specific hotels you review as it's unlikely I'll ever stay in any of them (we have very different tastes!).

If you're going to make a big deal about going to this special country to experience their special culture however then yes, I would expect you to stay in a local hotel/B&B that "isn't as nice" (that seems a tiny bit insulting to the local people though!). Perhaps you've never done it, but if you do then you'd realise you see a completely different aspect of local life than you would in a fancy Western hotel. Not that there's anything wrong if you just wanted to fly in, stay in your nice hotel and take a couple of short excursions - it's just that's hardly the cultural trip I imagined you'd be going on from your previews of this.

If spending points is interesting to you then fair enough, it just seems like a waste of time to do so on such a short trip to a country like Bhutan. Perhaps that's why the hotel was so empty?

Is there a glass partition separating on the wall between the shower and the tub? I can't tell from the picture. I can see the glass door in the front, but can't tell if there's one on the side?

@callum oh shut up seriously, I am not a blind support of lucky, I call him out all the time... BUT this not one of those times... I ONLY exclusively stay at chain hotels. For many many obvious reasons, if there is a problem it gets fixed, if not corporate would undoubtedly fix it. I do not get those protections at a local hotel. I can expect a more consistent experience at a chain hotel. And yes most chains are generic but some places they have lots of local flair i.e hotels in Thailand or Hotels in Indonesia... Cambodia... Myanmar etc Do I need to go on.... at these sort of "exotic" locations hotels often incorporate local elements...

In all fairness, Lucky states he is a TRAVEL consultant, not a CULTURAL consultant, I've started reading his blog recently and never anywhere does he express any interest in other cultures, rather, he writes about how you can maximize your travel, using points and miles. And he does it very well, I'm learning useful ideas. And so what if he or other readers only stay at international chain hotels? They are western, safe, and comfortable, I would expect the vast majority of western travelers to stay there.
My personal preference is to stay at locally owned hotels and chains precisely because I like immersing myself in the local culture, I crave to get out of my comfort zone, I am a cross-cultural buff, and I like adventure. If something doesn't go wrong or I don't get injured on my vacation then it's not an adventure lol. And since I've started reading his blog, I will be able to maximize my flight experience and travel more often.
As for experiences staying at local hotels, it varies. I've had really crappy service, and I've had world class service. In my experience, locally owned hotels seemed much more anxious to resolve issues especially when there were global name brand hotels in the area, probably because they are competing against hotels with deep pockets. But I've had the same range of experience with global chain hotels; some hotels the staff bent over backwards to help me, in others they blew my issue off totally.

People, this is the comment section, not kiss lucky's ass section.

We can disagree with his choices, but it doesn't mean we don't think lucky can or should do whatever he feels like doing, without regard to what we think.

Now go and wash your faces.

Great review and you are choosing to write about the hotels I'm interested in. I've been to India twice and while I live the culture, I can only handle the "real" India a few hours/day. That doesn't make me less of a person.

I prefer western style hotels. The local hotels in that part of the world tend to have rock hard beds.

I even find Le Meridien beds too hard in general. What did Ford think if the bed (I think his criteria for mattress comfort match mine a little better than yours do)

Lucky I am curious. Having been to Bhutan my understanding is the fee you paid beyond the room rate includes all meals. I know our stay at the uma hotels included all meals anywhere we ate in the country. Not just at the hotel.

So as a platinum member did you get a better breakfast or was that just marketing (and for Indian plats that aren't required to buy the all inclusive visa)?

Or perhaps things have changed since I was there.

Jay - You're pathetic, I'm not even going to bother reading beyond the first line of your post.

Emirates4ever - I completely agree, hence why I specifically stated several times that there's nothing wrong with travelling like that. I also agree he generally shows little interest in other cultures which is why I've made no comment on this matter on the dozens of other trip reports I've read. For this trip however he's mentioned many, many times across many articles how amazing the culture looks and that he can't wait to experience it. Tied in with the fact that the culture is one of the few reasons to visit this country, I thought it was a fair comment to make. Possibly not it seems, but I'm still not convinced.

And yet again, it was an observation - not an angry demand for change. Why that upsets people who don't even know Ben, or in fact anyone - Ben included (it didn't seem to but if so, it genuinely wasn't intended!), I have no idea.

@ Mark -- It's my understanding that you get free meals if you stay at one of the hotels that's included as part of the package. However, if you book your own hotels, I believe you're stuck paying for meals on your own. At least that was my impression. If that's not the case, I really got screwed.

@ Ang -- Yep, glass partition on all sides.

At end of the day, people travel for various reasons. Some just travel to check things off they want to see before they die. While others want to take the Rick Steves approach to travel and become less of tourists and more of temporary residents to said places they are visiting. Both are valid and each have their pros anf cons. What matters is what will be comfortable for you.

Le Meridien Paro & Le Meridien Thimphu remain in same category as today, looks like they were never downgraded!