I just covered how Amanvari opened in Mexico, as the newest property belonging to ultra-luxe hotel group Aman. Well, it seems things aren’t off to a very good start. A hotel reviewer known for being fair booked a stay at the $6,000 per night hotel.
When he arrived, he was told he didn’t have a reservation, management refused to talk to him, and they even called the cops on him. This story absolutely makes my blood boil, and I’m not even involved in this. It’s not often I say this, but someone needs to be fired over this incident.
In this post:
Amanvari claims guest has no reservation, calls cops on him
Ryan Walker publishes hotel reviews on YouTube, and he does a really professional and fair job. He doesn’t come in with any agenda, he seems to fund his own stays, etc., and he has a good, methodical system by which he judges hotels.
So Ryan booked Amanvari for earlier this week, on the second night that it was in operation. Unfortunately he didn’t exactly get to review the property, as he just uploaded an 11 minute video titled “Amanvari Called the Police on Me.”
In the video, Ryan can be seen pulling up to the gate at the resort. He informed the security guard he had a reservation, and the security guard responded “your name is Ryan Walker?” So clearly they knew his name, which seems like great, anticipatory service… right?
Well, not so fast. The security guard then informed the driver that they couldn’t enter. At that point Ryan was informed “we don’t have your reservation.” Ryan then asked how they knew who he was if they didn’t have his reservation, and the response was “I don’t know what happened, maybe you canceled?”
A security supervisor then got involved, and he said “you received another email,” and said “your reservation was not confirmed.” Ryan even showed the security guard an email from the Amanvari reservations team from that morning, confirming the anticipated arrival.
The supervisor just maintained the same position, claiming they didn’t have his information, and that there was nothing he could do. Ryan then understandably asked to speak to the resort manager, and the security guard responded that access can’t be permitted because they didn’t have a reservation, reminding him that this is private property.
He then again asked if a manager could come out of the property to speak to him, and they insisted that wasn’t possible, and the security guard then said “I need to talk to the police.” In other words, they were going to call the cops on him.
The security guards did indeed call the cops, and as he drove off, he searched his email inbox. He said he did find an email from the hotel from late the night before (while he was filming a video elsewhere), which read as follows:
“Having opened only days ago, we are still in the earliest phase of settling the resort into full operation, and we have taken the difficult decision to reduce arrivals over the coming days while we complete this work. Regrettably, this affects your stay, and we are unable to welcome you as planned.”
So literally the night before check-in the hotel canceled the reservation on him, because clearly they felt they weren’t ready for primetime. What’s even wilder is that after his reservation was canceled, they were still accepting reservations for that night, and several nights after that. So clearly that was a lie, and they just didn’t want him there reviewing the property, because they weren’t ready for what he’d say.
The person who claims to be the videographer also left the following comment on the video:
I am the videographer that shot this – this was truly a shocking experience. The security guard escalated the situation almost immediately and called the police on us for just trying to check in to the hotel. A mexican military police van stopped us on the way out of the area. Very scary situation that should have never happened in the first place.
I am in disbelief at the stupidity shown by this hotel
I’m furious on Ryan’s behalf here, and I’m in disbelief at how calmly he handled this. I’m someone who is good at maintaining my calm in bad customer service situations (I have a lot of experience!), but this is truly next level.
Let me once again emphasize that Ryan is a really honest reviewer. His reviews might not always be positive, but they reflect reality, so he’s not like a certain vlogger who tries to create drama out of every situation, regardless of the extent to which it reflects reality.
The level of absurdity here is just next level:
- He booked a $6K per night hotel
- The hotel informed him the night before of the cancelation
- Then when he showed up at the property they clearly knew who he was, then gaslit him, claiming he probably canceled his reservation
- No one from the hotel was willing to talk to him, and they even called the cops on him!
Guys, this is truly the most insane luxury hotel story I’ve ever heard. If the details are as presented, someone needs to be fired, both from a customer service and intelligence standpoint.
If you work at a hotel charging $6K per night, you have to be ready to deliver. And if you’re concerned about the review you’re going to get due to a hotel not being fully operational, what do you think the review is going to be like when you gaslight a customer and call the cops on him? Simply disgusting.
I really hope action is taken here, because this is inexcusable. And to travel advisors, I hope you think twice about booking clients here, with such a clear contempt for customers.
Bottom line
Amanvari just opened in Mexico, and it’s getting attention for all the wrong reasons. Hotel reviewer Ryan Walker booked a stay at the $6K per night hotel for the second night it was open. When he showed up, they claimed they didn’t have a reservation for him, and suggested he may have canceled it. They refused to let him speak to a manager, and then even called the cops on him when he didn’t leave the gate fast enough.
As it turns out, the hotel had emailed him the night before to indicate they were limiting the number of arrivals due to having just opened. Conveniently, though, they were still accepting reservations for the hotel, so clearly they just didn’t feel they were ready to be reviewed.
What horrendous customer service, and I’m in disbelief that they thought this approach is what would maximize a positive reaction.
What do you make of this Amanvari story?
Am I surprised? - Not so much. Aman has seen important growth over the past years - and staffing hasn’t caught up. Most of the old guard, trained and working under Zecha rule, has departed. The new GM’s are selected based on different criteria now. Writing corporate reports and selecting the breakfast menu covers from three corporate options needs different expertise than actually taking care of guests. Unheard of in older Aman times. The spirit...
Am I surprised? - Not so much. Aman has seen important growth over the past years - and staffing hasn’t caught up. Most of the old guard, trained and working under Zecha rule, has departed. The new GM’s are selected based on different criteria now. Writing corporate reports and selecting the breakfast menu covers from three corporate options needs different expertise than actually taking care of guests. Unheard of in older Aman times. The spirit of Aman is sadly fading in many of their properties.
On the same exact day that he was denied, Elle Magazine published a review of the property
Very disappointing to know how Amanvari treated Ryan. This is inexcusable, but what’s even more glaring is the fact that Aman themselves have remained silent on this whole issue. What Amanvari did was disgraceful and not acceptable at any level, and Aman should take responsibility for that. Sadly, I don’t know if I would support Aman, knowing that they lack integrity.
I think Aman is going to double down and go on the defensive and probably get their legal team involved. Look at what they're doing on all their social media channels by restricting comments/replies. Otherwise they would've come out with some statement by now.
Ben , Please explain how the Waldorf-Astoria Los Cabos , which is a luxury hotel , can charge between $ 1,500 to $ 1,800 per night ; whilst this story says an absurd rate of $ 6,000. ??
The premium is clearly defined by being able to reside without travelfluencers imposing upon your peace
Alert, better to use a FNC there (at the WA) anyway.
Why do you keep posting the same thing over and over? Just Google the hotel room rates
Waldorf-Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal , which is luxury , posts room rates around $ 1,500. up to $ 1,800 . Ben , how many hotel rooms have you stayed for USD $6,000 ? Ben may wish to double-check this rate with the "influencer" ? This narrative is laughably-absurd or ludicrous . It can be an error or an exaggeration that a room rate for 1 night in a desolate Mexico desert could be USD$ 6,000.,...
Waldorf-Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal , which is luxury , posts room rates around $ 1,500. up to $ 1,800 . Ben , how many hotel rooms have you stayed for USD $6,000 ? Ben may wish to double-check this rate with the "influencer" ? This narrative is laughably-absurd or ludicrous . It can be an error or an exaggeration that a room rate for 1 night in a desolate Mexico desert could be USD$ 6,000., when the Waldorf-Astoria in the same Mexico desert is around $ 1,500 up to $ 1,800 . Ben , how many hotel rooms have you stayed for USD$ 6,000 ?
You are so stupid at this point. You can easily go on Aman's website and search one night for yourself and see that it's $6,000. You aren't paying for luxury that makes sense, you are paying to be separated from the regular luxury plebs.
Have you never heard of the ultra-luxury Aman brand? They are VERY expensive properties. As someone else said, just go to their site and see the rates for yourself. You posting this over and over is just getting ridiculous at this point.
Apparently the full email from the General Manager he received from the hotel the night before is available on reddit, but I can't find it. If somebody can find it and post it, would be good to see it. I'm curious what Aman said in that email and if they offered any compensation for the cancellation.
Even if they reimbursed him $1 or $1 million, it doesn't excuse any of the events that transpired during this entire exchange. There's no reason to not let him on property to discuss the cancellation. Nor does it excuse the fact that nobody in management came out to discuss the issue either. On top of that, they called the military police pretty much immediately.
It doesn't matter if an email/private courier/pigeon was sent out to explain the issue.
Someone at the hotel made a (rash? Time will tell) gametime decision to rescind his reservation.
They viewed 'rich trustfunder with a camera (and audience)' as more of a reputational risk, allowing them to peak behind the curtain, than the crass, ¡vamos! and setting the hounds on them.
What magnitude of a dumpster fire would make them see that as the least worse option.
Cancelling the night before and give no alternative is bad enough. Imagine flying from another country. Then the way it escalated to calling a police, when you are calmly ask for the manager to discuss the issue is unforgivable.
This situation is absolutely unacceptable and falls far below the standards expected from any reputable hospitality establishment.
Firstly, to those commenting that the amount is 6,000 pesos and therefore approximately $300, please take the time to verify the information directly on the hotel’s website. The rate is clearly quoted in USD, not pesos, so the comparison being made is simply incorrect.
Secondly, even if the hotel had genuine last-minute concerns regarding filming, reviews, or content...
This situation is absolutely unacceptable and falls far below the standards expected from any reputable hospitality establishment.
Firstly, to those commenting that the amount is 6,000 pesos and therefore approximately $300, please take the time to verify the information directly on the hotel’s website. The rate is clearly quoted in USD, not pesos, so the comparison being made is simply incorrect.
Secondly, even if the hotel had genuine last-minute concerns regarding filming, reviews, or content creation, there were many professional ways this could have been handled. The management should have communicated this clearly and respectfully with the guest, explained any restrictions, and offered practical alternatives — such as allowing the stay without filming or arranging a future date if necessary.
However, refusing access upon arrival, after the guest has completed a long international journey followed by a two-hour transfer from the airport, is completely unacceptable. The arrival experience is one of the most critical moments in hospitality, and this was handled with a serious lack of empathy, communication, and professionalism.
This is a clear reminder that luxury hospitality is not only about beautiful properties and high rates — it is about service, understanding, and how guests are treated when unexpected situations arise. The management team would benefit greatly from reviewing their guest relations procedures and investing in further training on basic hospitality principles.
The fact that Ryan's video has gathered over 133,000 views in less than 24 hours with no response whatsoever from Aman Resorts or from Amanvari speaks louder than anything else.
It’s becoming quite clear that travel related industries: hotels, airlines, and cruises are tiring of “influencers.” Can you blame them? This guy may be fine and balanced, but the difficult and entitled ones cast a poor light on the review industry. You almost wonder if the future of hotel stays in some countries include a statement that reviews for monetization must be pre-approved and by formal invitation to the property. That any reviews done outside...
It’s becoming quite clear that travel related industries: hotels, airlines, and cruises are tiring of “influencers.” Can you blame them? This guy may be fine and balanced, but the difficult and entitled ones cast a poor light on the review industry. You almost wonder if the future of hotel stays in some countries include a statement that reviews for monetization must be pre-approved and by formal invitation to the property. That any reviews done outside of these arrangements will result in some sort of action. Honestly, while I’m sure I’ll be condemned here for this, and is not a reflection on Ben at all who I think is mostly balanced, the reality comes to be that the bad apples create the narrative far more than the good ones. Influencing is a poison.
I don't mean to insult, but this reads as a very boomer take. While I'm sure everyone here shares the hatred of over-entitled bratty "Insta-celebrities", influencers and social media personalities are here to stay, and the hospitality industry will simply have to adapt to that reality. Hotels don't get to just cancel the reservations of people in professions they dislike, and they certainly don't get to dish out the kind of treatment Ryan has received.
In fact Gen X. Why does that matter to you? Because we actually recognize what civility is from previous times?
Hablas de valores y principios y sensibilidad. No puedes llamar a la policía a un huésped por más que sea un youtuber que hace reseñas. Tratarlo de una forma tan arrogante en una empresa que se caracteriza por el lujo, por tratar bien a las personas. Le dices, no te vamos a recibir, o lo tratas bien y le das otro lugar. Pero no llamas a la policía en un lugar como México, por favor....
Hablas de valores y principios y sensibilidad. No puedes llamar a la policía a un huésped por más que sea un youtuber que hace reseñas. Tratarlo de una forma tan arrogante en una empresa que se caracteriza por el lujo, por tratar bien a las personas. Le dices, no te vamos a recibir, o lo tratas bien y le das otro lugar. Pero no llamas a la policía en un lugar como México, por favor. Es absolutamente insultante. No para la industria hotelera, sino como humanos que creamos que, porque una empresa tiene un servicio de lujo, puede tratar a alguien que viene a hacer su profesión y su libre disponibilidad de dinero de esta manera, que fue abusiva. No solo fue, no poco profesional, fue enteramente arrogante y prepotente con una persona que pudiera haber sido cualquiera.
Well said, Antwerp.
Any opinions differing from the "AI/"influencers"/rap "music"/any other puerile tasteless crap is awesome and here to stay!" idiocracy zeitgeist hive mind-set always elicits a stupid "boomer dur hur" response. It's inane and predictable.
Aman is the most overrated brand in luxury travel with the worst payoff for price vs value. The architecture has no sense of place and the blancmange minimalist-gone-wild villas often look like "med spas" (another ludicrous concept of the...
Well said, Antwerp.
Any opinions differing from the "AI/"influencers"/rap "music"/any other puerile tasteless crap is awesome and here to stay!" idiocracy zeitgeist hive mind-set always elicits a stupid "boomer dur hur" response. It's inane and predictable.
Aman is the most overrated brand in luxury travel with the worst payoff for price vs value. The architecture has no sense of place and the blancmange minimalist-gone-wild villas often look like "med spas" (another ludicrous concept of the era, combining the narcissistic buzzword phrase "self care" with its denizens' odd love of medicalizing themselves). Add that to the bizarre confluence of "top tier luxury" with "never having to see another guest at dinner" and it's easy to see why the wealthy members of the Sh!tstagram Generation were so taken with it. Wonder what they'll do now?
They don't care for civility. Their life is dependent upon influencing, being influenced, subscribing, following, and gazing too long into their black mirrors. They are the abyss.
That may be true but there are good ways to handle influencers and bad ways to handle influencers.
I've seen hotels come out quite positively from influencer situations that went south (influencers demanding free things, blackmailing hotels, etc.) if they approach it right.
The way Amanvari handled this situation is completely unacceptable - influencer or not. This is not how a hotel at this price point and luxury tier should operate. There's really no justification...
That may be true but there are good ways to handle influencers and bad ways to handle influencers.
I've seen hotels come out quite positively from influencer situations that went south (influencers demanding free things, blackmailing hotels, etc.) if they approach it right.
The way Amanvari handled this situation is completely unacceptable - influencer or not. This is not how a hotel at this price point and luxury tier should operate. There's really no justification so yes, yes we can blame them. Influencer fatigue? Fair enough. Cancelling a reservation last minute, not providing alternate arrangements, not calling the individual or meeting with them (even off camera), calling police, etc. etc. - that is all unjustified and together does represent a completely unwarranted response that is right to be pilloried online.
I agree with all you say. But the tide is turning in that bad influencers are creating murky water for all of them. Even for those who approach things in a decent manner. One approach may be to form a proper organization that lays out guidelines and ethics codes and for which you have to agree to in order to carry that certification or banner. This will help hotels understand what they are dealing with...
I agree with all you say. But the tide is turning in that bad influencers are creating murky water for all of them. Even for those who approach things in a decent manner. One approach may be to form a proper organization that lays out guidelines and ethics codes and for which you have to agree to in order to carry that certification or banner. This will help hotels understand what they are dealing with in reviewers - and consumers to have better trust as to guidelines for reviews being followed. Win/Win. Otherwise it’s the Wild West and there are going to be more of these incidents occurring. Or in places like Thailand..actual real issues beyond your reservation being canceled.
At $6,000 a night, there’s no excuse for treating anyone from any demographic as a monolith.
Like…you’re literally paying for individuation. You’re paying for something highly personalized, such that management should reasonably be expected to do the boring work of vetting themselves on the suitability of a guest *before* exchanging emails confirming specific details of their visit.
THANK you for this post. With all the recent hype, we were *this close* to booking three nights here at the height of the busy season. I cannot tell you how creeped out I am by this property and by the company’s response.
This is only going to get this hotel a bad reputation. The fact that they knew this person was likely going to post about the police being called shows no thought. And surprising for an Aman. I have stayed at multiple of their properties and would have never thought that this would happen.
It would be ludicrous to pay $ 6,000. per night at a hotel in Mexico . Perhaps the article converts 6,000. Mexican Pesos ( actually $ 300. ) by using AI inflation AI multiplier ? This is the problem with AI articles and AI assuming that 6,000. Mexican Pesos = $ 6,000 .
300$/night is less than what most Cancun properties cost at peak periods, let alone an 18-key ultra luxury hotel.
Why do you keep posting this everywhere? Yes, it is $6000 USD and not 6000 MXN. It's getting annoying.
This displays not just clear contempt for customers, but a disregard for their personal safety, throwing them into the way of potential harm at the hands of police force known for its corruption. Disgusting doesn't begin to describe it.
Yet , travelers unbelievably voluntarily go to places such as Mexico , Laos , or Iran . But paying USD $ 6,000. a night ? Impossible .
Mexico and SE Asia in general are legendary for their hospitality.
Last time I checked, there wasn’t an Aman in Tehran, habibi.
Ben wrote ‘ And to travel advisors, I hope you think twice about booking clients here, with such a clear contempt for customers’.
Ben, I am surprised by Ryan’s treatment as well. So, would you at any point in the future book a review stay at this hotel and would you ask Ford to avoid this hotel for his clients and you and Ford as well for any future holiday plans. I would tend to...
Ben wrote ‘ And to travel advisors, I hope you think twice about booking clients here, with such a clear contempt for customers’.
Ben, I am surprised by Ryan’s treatment as well. So, would you at any point in the future book a review stay at this hotel and would you ask Ford to avoid this hotel for his clients and you and Ford as well for any future holiday plans. I would tend to take your side because throughout the years you have shown us your honesty, integrity and professionalism so you are totally hip to me.
Ryan is Amanvari unlikely allowed to stay here tonight.
Just saw this post from a TA that's critical of the property, but also of the YouTuber. https://www.clements.travel/travel-guide/amanvaris-disastrous-opening-and-the-problem-with-youtube-hotel-reviews
"If I stay somewhere I do not like, I will often just leave it alone. I do not see much value in spending my time attacking hotels online." Yeah, most people don't bother, but if you have a really bad experience, wouldn't you share it? IMHO, really strange take.
Definitely a strange take, and his criticism of Ryan’s nitpick of FS yacht and Ritz Carlton is really weak.
I have only watched a few of Ryan’s video (I think I watched the FS one), and he came across as pretty levelheaded, just like Ben.
Definitely another TA on the avoid list.
lol saw that one. Even Ben roasted the Ritz Carlton Reserve Nikko and that loser TA is like "its actually not that bad" lol yeah sure buddy. book amex FHR and lose these luxury mirage salesmen alone
A somewhat similar thing happened to me with the newly opened Airelles.
The property canceled my stay without any explanations (the difference being that it happened around one month before arrival, and I'm not a youtuber), while continuing to accept reservations for the same dates. No alternative accommodations were offered. I even contacted Ben with details of this pathetic story...
Wow. I truly can't believe how calm he was and how truly terrible this situation sounds. Aman is definitely off the list for me.
It's hard to imagine any version of any hotel being worth $6K in 2026 USD for single's night's accomodations, especially in a cheaper-labor country like Mexico.
At that point the pricing is merely meant to be exclusionary, which is fine. But if it also excludes good sense and basic manners, then the luxury branding devalues immediately. No matter how much they charge...
Something does not add up here. I wonder the hotel side of the story. How could even the security guard know who he was and why was the police called? If they really sent the email to not confirm at the last minute, the property had only been open for literally a couple of days and in that kind of situation it is the risk you take. So he received the email and went anyway. Perhaps they're both at fault.
They have something to hide, doing something shady, do not want cameras in, knowing that dude is a vlogger, so make up some excuses wanting him to back off as seen in the email, and the GM prolly let the security know how he looks and hires some local mafia as fake cops to deter him from entering or filming in the premises. Nothing new.
they didn't want him to video what that 6k per night really includes... if you catch my drift.
when a man pays thousands of dollars to go yatching in Cannes, he's doing more than just riding a boat
He clearly didn’t deserve to be treated that way, and Aman should have handled the situation much better.
That said, I also don’t think this type of hotel review should be filmed on the very first day a property opens, especially since it will live on the internet forever. It’s possible Aman decided it was better to cancel his stay than have a video documenting a hotel that simply wasn’t ready yet.
Aman has also...
He clearly didn’t deserve to be treated that way, and Aman should have handled the situation much better.
That said, I also don’t think this type of hotel review should be filmed on the very first day a property opens, especially since it will live on the internet forever. It’s possible Aman decided it was better to cancel his stay than have a video documenting a hotel that simply wasn’t ready yet.
Aman has also traditionally been a very private, exclusive brand, which isn’t always the best fit for influencer marketing in the first place.
Personally, I would never stay at a hotel during its first few months of operation. There are almost always operational issues to work through.
On the other hand, if you’re charging $6,000+ per night, guests have every right to expect a flawless experience and a hotel that is fully ready to welcome them.
It’s a hot mess all the way around.
Definitely unjustified by the hotel but I do agree it is odd and honestly not helpful to review a hotel just after opening. If your intent is to give your audience an unbiased review of whether it is worth the money, even waiting 2-3 months is more reasonable. No intelligent human being should think a hotel is worth a full rate right after opening so there doesn't need to be a review of that experience...
...Definitely unjustified by the hotel but I do agree it is odd and honestly not helpful to review a hotel just after opening. If your intent is to give your audience an unbiased review of whether it is worth the money, even waiting 2-3 months is more reasonable. No intelligent human being should think a hotel is worth a full rate right after opening so there doesn't need to be a review of that experience...
Now a couple months in, it won't be great yet (necessarily) but some hotels will have gotten to a good service level and some won't. That is a fair enough perspective to present.
The resolution of that seems to do a soft opening with lower rates?
As an Amanjunkie who had stayed well over 10 Amans easily, this is very concerning to me to say the least. I will hold out on staying at future Amans until I read a satisfactory resolution from this Aman. I hope their PR doesn’t come out with word salad and attorney speaks. That’s the last thing I want to hear from a professional luxury resort at this caliber. I expect genuine apologies and great service recovery.
As someone who likes to write hotel reviews for fun (rather than as a business) and occasionally waxes a bit cheeky, I'm concerned I might need to pipe down lest I run afoul of the military authorities. Or maybe just stay home! Yikes.
Surely one of the most enraging things I've read about a hotel in a while. Ben, this is definitely a story that deserves a follow-up. I would really like to see how Aman reacts to this.
On a sidenote, this adds to my rather unfavorable perception of Aman vs. other ultra luxury brands, such as Capella. Maybe it's just me, but I can't shake the feeling that Aman is nothing but a money grab primarily...
Surely one of the most enraging things I've read about a hotel in a while. Ben, this is definitely a story that deserves a follow-up. I would really like to see how Aman reacts to this.
On a sidenote, this adds to my rather unfavorable perception of Aman vs. other ultra luxury brands, such as Capella. Maybe it's just me, but I can't shake the feeling that Aman is nothing but a money grab primarily catering to pretentious people rather than actually delivering true guest experience.
Long gone are Mr Zecha’s Golden days
Capella is not even in the slightest bit in the same league as Aman.
That sounds really bad. Aman is usually pretty good at ‘making things right’ in the end, so I’m very curious what their resolution here may be. Like, I don’t think this is the end of the story. At least I hope not. Looking forward to any follow-ups if/when there are any.
They already did.
They are ‘making things right’ when they called the cops.
Gaslighting guests to go away isn't enough. They had to make it right by making sure the cops get them out.
Yikes, Eskimo. If I could "!! Yowzers!" I might... bah!
Head of House is getting settled into his new role, after running Cairo airport in his past job.
This was truly wild to watch - I sent this to all of my travel friends. What an embarrassment for Aman.
They are getting spammed HARD on Google Reviews. Currently showing a 2.5. As someone who's been in hotels for 40 years now this is shocking. Have I had to call police in people in the past? yes, but never for someone showing up for a reservation and being polite. I follow Ryan and watched this review. What I saw was shocking.
It's down to 1.3 on 77 reviews (and I think at least 25 are in the last few hours, dragging it down from 1.4 last I'd checked).
serves them right for their unwarranted response. and the more they try to push back, the more the Streisand effect will do its job.
The elephant in the room is whether he was compensated immediately for his reservation or did they keep his prepaid $6000.
Will be interesting to see how this develops as I hope Ben keeps up with any changes to the situation. Compensating for the expense of the hotel, the drive and all the other costs would be the very minimum though the hotel might refuse because compensation would confirm that they were in the wrong.
Reminds me of a similar experience with QR. Arrived at MLE check-in 3 hours ahead with wife and had my boarding refused because my Q-suite new seat ticket was cancelled though email confirmed it on day. Turns out QR screwed up my AA award J ticket when they switched in old CX 777 with missing seat. Wife flew in J and I paid full last minute cash price for last row Y.
Never refunded...
Reminds me of a similar experience with QR. Arrived at MLE check-in 3 hours ahead with wife and had my boarding refused because my Q-suite new seat ticket was cancelled though email confirmed it on day. Turns out QR screwed up my AA award J ticket when they switched in old CX 777 with missing seat. Wife flew in J and I paid full last minute cash price for last row Y.
Never refunded the $3K fare by QR - so never flew them again. Keep posting as warning about QR customer relations lack of compensation.
Woah, that’s pretty bad for QR. It’s an amazing airline…when everything works out. But, to finish a trip to the Maldives expecting Q-Suite, then experience a last-minute swap and end up in Y…yikes, even before a refund dispute. Were you at MLE recently, like, since the new terminal opened? They’ve been flying those old CX 773 for a while now on DOH-MLE.
I keep warning people about ME3 trash customer service.
They are great until something goes wrong. When it does I'd take US customer service any day than to deal with ME3 trash.
How could they possibly have turned away such a good looking guest?
Yes, just turn away the ugly ones only?
So happy they added this Yowzer react option because this is such a strange comment. Are we turning away the ugly people only?
The "Yowzers" word is too confusing. It should simply be labeled "unhelpful"
I cannot understand how 6,000 Mexican pesos becomes $ 6,000 ? It is actually about $ 300. That is like going to Bangladesh and paying $ 6,000. for (6,000 taka , worth about $ 50 .) Next the bloggers will be going to Bangladesh and paying $ 6.000. for a $ 50. "luxury" hotel room and a swim in a river .
The rates I'm seeing are a lot nearer 6000 USD than 6000 MXN.
USD, sunshine, not pesos.
You clearly don’t understand a lot of things. What an absolutely embarrassing comment.
In Mexicali , do what the Mexicalis do . In the Cabo desert , do what the Cabos denizens do . If one is a visitor , don't overpay and overcomplain . The place is in a desert . The law of the desert applies ; not the law of the jungle . I mean , come on . $300 = 6,000 Mexican pesos .
What a terrible thing to do to a guy who comes across as very calm and likeable. I’ll follow him….but this story is completely outrageous….How incredibly dumb of the the Aman group and shame on the manager. Go to the Aman in NYC (you can only go in if you’re a guest or guest of a guest) and see their “private club” on the 13th floor. Full of quite old (mostly Asian) men….accompanied by VERY young girls…truly disgusting. I’d avoid them.
No hotel is worth $6k a night.
please stop showing your ignorance. we don't care what you've been spamming.
I have only stayed at one Aman. It was simply incredible in 2012. Amanpulo. But after seeing this and reading Ben’s blog about how Aman has devalued from what is was, I’ll never spend my money at them again. It is sad to see pinnacle of luxury and private turn into something else.
Amanpulo is still awesome, as are many of the iconic properties, like those designed by Kerry Hill (much of which are in SE Asia). That said, I have no idea what’s going on in Mexico. No bueno, apparently.
Yes @ 1990. Sad on Aman. My amanpulo experience was amazing.
Mine, as well. Those Casitas with the view of the ocean. And so many sea turtles. Best lechon I've ever had, too. Long flights to get to MNL, and then the little propeller plane to the island, yet all still worth it.
I couldn’t agree more with ur take.
I will never stay at an Aman again after a disaster way back in 2007. We stayed first at the Aman in Thimphu which was the only place we dined, breakfast, lunch and dinner. From there we went to the Aman in Paro intending to visit the Tiger's nest Monastery the next day. On leaving Thimphu my stomach was a little upset but the next morning in Paro I was deathly ill. I told my...
I will never stay at an Aman again after a disaster way back in 2007. We stayed first at the Aman in Thimphu which was the only place we dined, breakfast, lunch and dinner. From there we went to the Aman in Paro intending to visit the Tiger's nest Monastery the next day. On leaving Thimphu my stomach was a little upset but the next morning in Paro I was deathly ill. I told my wife that she should still make the trek but to ask at reception that they come check on me a couple of times and bring some dry toast and tea. Nobody ever came. We complained to the manager who didn't seem to care. On arrival back home in America I wrote a hard copy letter to the CEO of Aman telling him I got food poisoning and the neglect in Paro but never even had the courtesy of a reply. We do three international trips a year and always stay in the best properties and take suites but will never stay at an Aman again.
"Deadly ill"? You should have gone to the ER instead of asking for dry toast and tea.
Currently 1.5 rating on Google Maps. If they wanted to avoid a bad review, great job. Next time try to hire Barbara Streisand for some consultations on marketing.
They would comp her
Unfortunately those negative reviews never stick. Google always sides with the establishment and removes them.
Surely the logical thing to do is to then have someone else book a room for the following night for two ppl and then check in as the guest.
Then they'll be inside the hotel before the manager has the chance to throw them out.
For a hotel owned by Russians, located in Baja California, likely owned by cartel interests, with a security all too happy to call the Mexican military police on you, and in the best case scenario set fire to $6000 usd per night? Why?
If they did want him not to do a review then there should have been more of an effort than a late night email, especially when he still got the auto confirmation the morning of. There needed to be a phone call. And they could have turned this into a positive experience by rebooking him for the future, getting him accommodation elsewhere for the night and covering transportation for his next visit. Even if he...
If they did want him not to do a review then there should have been more of an effort than a late night email, especially when he still got the auto confirmation the morning of. There needed to be a phone call. And they could have turned this into a positive experience by rebooking him for the future, getting him accommodation elsewhere for the night and covering transportation for his next visit. Even if he doesn’t want to accept that, I would assume, at $6k a night, that is what a good GM would do. Who ever made this decision and handled communication should look for a job at a motel 8. Yikes!
Let's take a look at FrozenKiwi's opening comment (If they did want him not to do a review...) here a little further, because everyone is taking the side of the blogger who is trying to get the first "review" of a brand new property without the awareness of the management. Clearly, they figured out who he was at the last minute and did not want publicity yet.
While the actions of the hotel and management...
Let's take a look at FrozenKiwi's opening comment (If they did want him not to do a review...) here a little further, because everyone is taking the side of the blogger who is trying to get the first "review" of a brand new property without the awareness of the management. Clearly, they figured out who he was at the last minute and did not want publicity yet.
While the actions of the hotel and management are terrible and the situation could have, AND SHOULD HAVE, been handled in a more reasonable manner, I don't think we should be giving Ryan and the videographer a "pass" for their attempt to break the unwritten rules of the industry by jumping in early.
And to you haters who say reviewers shouldn't, or don't, need "approval", I completely agree with you. But restaurant and hotel "journalists" should respect properties and give them a chance to iron things out a little before pouncing in for an early "exclusive".
Maybe Ryan Walker (whose blog I've never seen) didn't want to get in on the "press junket" that was probably scheduled for writers in a few days or weeks. I understand that; he wanted to get a true "Guest Experience". That's totally legitimate and if he wants to pay $6000 for a night to review a new hotel, its his right.
But he jumped the shark on the venue and that's not a good business practice either. You can't get a clear view of any business on its first day, or its second. They have to have a chance to iron out the unforeseen anomolies before the "press" writes about the experience.
Restaurant reviewers wait a few weeks before visiting a new establishment whether announced or "undercover". And they rarely ever write a review based on one visit. Hotel reviewers have similar practices.
Again, I am not here trying to justify the hotel management's actions. They handled this as poorly as could be imagined and it signals a questionable commitment to customers, at the least.
I am not willing, however, to give Walker a free pass on his methods of operation. And I don't see anyone else here questioning his efforts to circumvent general (and reasonable) industry practices.
This is insane. Reviewer or not, spending $6000+ on ONE NIGHT at one of the most luxurious hotel brands in the world, to be given zero notice or sufficient communication of a cancelation AND to be treated like this... Almost unthinkable.
$300 = Mexican pesos 6,000 .
Why do you keep saying this? It’s $6,000 USD. There is no Aman in the world priced anywhere near $300.
i just cancelled two one week long clients stays for next month. Not possibly worth the risk ... to my clients, to my relationship with my clients etc. Ryan unknowingly did many of us a huge favor. I think the right word is AVOID
I’m not the target demographic for an Aman property but I can’t s
The GM at this place needs to be replaced immediately.
Like, they actively ignored his phone number, but answered the videographer's phone?
I'm embarrassed for this property, and for the Aman brand.
That was the management at the gate . If he had waited he would have gotten the "welcome drink and snack" .
It was not hotel management; it was a security supervisor/manager.
Sorry, somebody should get fired because a *blogger* was *walked* as a regular guest? Suddenly *bloggers* should be treated differently because he was too busy to read his emails? Is it a new royalty? I am applauding Aman on this one; they clearly don't care about Ryan and his followers opinions, as any sane person should.
Well I guess that is one way of looking at it….?
The blogger wasn't walked, "walking" a guest includes arranging alternate accommodations at a minimum, and usually a refund of the first night fee. This was a last minute cancellation, being completely unwilling to help the customer find an alternate arrangement, and refusing to even discuss it with him.
This would be embarrassing for a Hampton Inn, let alone a hotel that costs about 40x the median rent of a Manhattan apartment.
No, that he was specifically preventing from entering the property without adequate communications despite having coordinated his plans to film. That rooms were available at the time of his "walking" confirms that he was denied entry because he was a reviewer. Of course, you knew that but I'll spell it out for you.
No he should be fired because anyone threatening arrest on a hotel guest because a customer asked to speak to a manager for a cancelation that the hotel did less than 24 hours ago via email. He's still a customer first since it's on his own dime. AND he went through filming approval from them. So why the threat. Is this a hotel or a prison compound. So yes definitely fired because they're is no...
No he should be fired because anyone threatening arrest on a hotel guest because a customer asked to speak to a manager for a cancelation that the hotel did less than 24 hours ago via email. He's still a customer first since it's on his own dime. AND he went through filming approval from them. So why the threat. Is this a hotel or a prison compound. So yes definitely fired because they're is no better example of bad hospitality. IF they had said up front he's not allowed to film or review And he didn't comply it would be a very different conversation.
When I get walked at a dirt cheap roadside Fairfield Inn, they book me alternative accomodations, provide a refund, and (very important) do not call the police on me.
Woah. Not like my opinion matters. But WOWWWWWWWWW OMG. I just cancelled a week stay after reading this. Going to FS INSTEAD.
Pretty sure he saw the email the night before cancelling his stay and came in hoping to get the content he got. The “okay let’s leave” to his driver is the dead giveaway. Clearly he had discussed this high probability outcome with the driver beforehand. Obviously what Aman did was awful, but need to point this out also.
Yep, totally agree. It seems clear that BOTH the resort did not handle this well at all... and that he made a performance out of the whole thing. His right to do so, but I'm not buying that he was surprised to not be accommodated. It really feels like he was ready for it, and the hotel was ready for it (but the hotel made some really bad choices in how to handle it).
If the resort pulled this at the last minute knowing he's a reviewer, this feels like even more of a self-inflicted wound. They couldn't reasonably expect him NOT to do something like this, if only to make up for the loss of the planned review.
Sure, but it would’ve been so easy for them to just let him get to the lobby and have the manager go “sorry we are not ready, we will cover a night for you at the Four Seasons next door”.
Not that hard and I’m not sure why the team there thought whatever this is was a better idea.
Totally. All I'm saying is that both sides were engaged in a performance here. Ryan played it well: feigned shock and dismay, milked it for all it was worth, and got great viral content out of it. Anyone notice that he references an email he read from the hotel that was sent after the email he supposedly didn't read?
Aman played right into his hands for viral content: calling the police, rejecting his calls,...
Totally. All I'm saying is that both sides were engaged in a performance here. Ryan played it well: feigned shock and dismay, milked it for all it was worth, and got great viral content out of it. Anyone notice that he references an email he read from the hotel that was sent after the email he supposedly didn't read?
Aman played right into his hands for viral content: calling the police, rejecting his calls, etc. Couldn't have handled it worse. They likely deserve what they're getting, as long as we're hearing all sides of the story.
But this was all staged outrage even if they may have really messed up here.
Wow. You’re a terrible person.
Agreed. Don't get me wrong, the hotel mismanaged this. But there's no way he magically didn't see an email from the day before that it was cancelled. He wanted a reaction. That said, the hotel was wrong and should have put him up elsewhere or called him to talk it through ahead of time, etc.
I doubt it because you can tell his heart was racing based on his speech pattern. BUT even if that's the case he flew all the way there, drove there only to have them say we cancel your stay, the end full stop. No explanation, no other arrangements no actual apology but the po po is coming guns a blazing. You think that's fine behavior for a hotel? You get better hospitality from a holiday inn express. Think about those optics.
Wow. This post is so "flyer talk" where it appears everyone jumps all over the victim making a similar post.
No - it is no probable that he did this to create a scene. If the manager was at all innocent in this booking fiasco then the discussion would have been in his office.
Victim? He was wronged by Aman, played his hand like a genius, and came out on top. He wasn’t assaulted. Influencers *dream* of these situations. I believe he’s being dishonest, so what? I’m not defending Aman, at all.
The real giveaway is the fact that the videographer was already filming with his phone the arrival at the hotel, even before things started going wrong, why would he do that? Do you film yourself at security check-ins? You can see that's low quality non stabilized footage, so that's not something he would use in a final review YouTube video, which is usually shot with a higher quality. This of course does not take away...
The real giveaway is the fact that the videographer was already filming with his phone the arrival at the hotel, even before things started going wrong, why would he do that? Do you film yourself at security check-ins? You can see that's low quality non stabilized footage, so that's not something he would use in a final review YouTube video, which is usually shot with a higher quality. This of course does not take away the fact that the fault lies with the hotel, he just tried to capitalize the situation to create some viral content.
This reinforces my decision not to stay at any Aman anymore. I know of a lot of former Aman loyalists and even Amanjunkies that have the same opinion.
Count me in. Aman hasn't been the same ever since their new owner took over, and it's losing more of its 'magic' each year he stays at the helm.
You sure it was not 6,000 pesos? That seems more likely.
Do you know any Aman property to be $300 US a night?
As much as Ryan was treated dismally, let’s feel sorry too for the guests who stayed there, paying not through their noses, but through the nose hair. That rate is extortionate
With silly management like that… there will be more tales to tell.
Betcha their staff are seeing “competitive local salaries “. I am curious where the money really goes!
Those who stay elsewhere win this game by not playing.
Easy.
Well, we're about to learn what Aman does for service recovery....
"law of the mexico desert" - the "policia" ; is not the "law of the jungle" . When the management team called the "policia" , there was no misunderstanding , and the subject was closed . "adios , manana" . Never have any misunderstanding in mexico because unimportant .
Fish rottens from head.
The current Russian owner of Aman was(or still is) owner the Russian construction company, which built Moscow OKO city, the biggest city center development, in cooperation with Moscow City Hall. A statement that was removed from the company website in 2022.
As usually during the process of obtaining the land, building permissions etc.
NO "motivation" packages or bribes were provided :-)
Major achievement but needs to be hidden.
That would be pretty amusing if it wasn't tragic- all those 'cool' wealthy Westerners actively funding the deaths of innocent civilians in Ukraine.
I'd like to hear if Aman had anything else to say about this first before getting all up in arms and trying to cancel a hotel brand. He should be upset for sure. But people saying they're going to cancel their upcoming stays there and to boycott the brand need to settle down and let's see if anything else comes of this. Aman as a brand is not dumb, hopefully this was just someone going rogue who shouldn't be in their position.
Finally, a rational comment. What the hotel did seems completely insane, unprofessional, moronic, insert-negative-adjective... but 2 sides to every story. It will be interesting to hear their side.
Either way, how they handled it seems shockingly bad and targeted (they easily could have walked him to FS if there was a real issue, especially this time of year), but also let's see all the facts before "cancelling" a brand (literally and figuratively).
What's really insane is paying $6000 a night for a hotel in Mexico, that's completely laughable.
Aman Tokyo is as low as $1300/night, averaging $2k/night for much of the year.
Yep , but in fairness to the hotel , the greeters out front at the entrance was the management team . Also , he failed to wear a coat and tie to the Baja desert , and took a taxi .
There's a reason why Vlad Doronin is a billionaire, and selling massively overhyped and overpriced hotel rooms is the main reason.
I agree. In Mexico!!! We are not talking of a safari style setting with guided Range Rover exploration included! Money laundering comes to mind as it seems impossible people will actually pay this much for nothing special. Unless we win the lottery, we don't get rich by being stupid. Even Amangari Utah is quite a bit less expensive.
Joke of a property and team but he probably should have checked his email the night before. The property should have also cancelled sooner than the night before, but probably was just looking at who was paying $6k and saw it was a hotel reviewer and decided they weren't ready (still, they should have put him up somewhere else and invited him back when it was ready). Doesn't make it any different but I wonder...
Joke of a property and team but he probably should have checked his email the night before. The property should have also cancelled sooner than the night before, but probably was just looking at who was paying $6k and saw it was a hotel reviewer and decided they weren't ready (still, they should have put him up somewhere else and invited him back when it was ready). Doesn't make it any different but I wonder if he kind of knew what was happening going in and tried to play dumb just like the hotel clearly was playing dumb. Either way, Aman unfortunately seems to have sold out vs the care of the brand years ago and this hotel seems to be a prime example of it. Not quite the service you expect for 6-7k. For a price like that you'd expect perfection and this will rightly tarnish that brand for some time until the leadership is replaced.
No, you are under no obligation to check your email the bight before check in on the off chance the hotel has canceled your reservation (something that has never happened to me in hundreds of hotels though I am lucky to have never stayed in Aman properties, mostly places with far better service like Ritz, FS, MO). That is absurd, I could not disagree with you more strongly. The idea he was playing dumb and...
No, you are under no obligation to check your email the bight before check in on the off chance the hotel has canceled your reservation (something that has never happened to me in hundreds of hotels though I am lucky to have never stayed in Aman properties, mostly places with far better service like Ritz, FS, MO). That is absurd, I could not disagree with you more strongly. The idea he was playing dumb and is expected to frequently check his email late at night on a vacation in Mexico... what planet do you live on?
In this day in age you'd have a smart phone with email on it. You think he would have checked his email (and even says he saw the email about confirming his stay) unless he had some weird email account or it went to spam. Again, I'm not placing the blame on him (the hotel is clearly at fault) but that does seem like a bit of an overlooked aspect to the story.
How many of us check out emails 12 hours before check in to make sure they're was no cancelation. Some people(like me) at times get hundreds of emails daily especially when I travel and I forward work emails to my inbox. (people can die if there is an urgency and I don't handle it quickly. They pay me the big bucks)
If a property is not remotely ready to open, then Do Not Open just yet. Let alone charging us$6250++ a night
This needed to be managed by someone from the Hotel - senior management or not - never ever the project’s security team
AMANVARI & AMAN have a serious explanation and recovery to do
Moreso, you don't charge 6000, or even 1000, mid-summer in Mexico for a hotel whose entrance looks like a quarry!
You do if it's not so much a hotel, but more of a money laundering operation.
Hilarious! What an admission that you shouldn’t be operating yet.
So, of course what the hotel did is completely unacceptable.
But, separate point, as a hotel reviewer, it isn't very helpful to review a hotel just days after they open. Even the best hotels take some time to work out the kinks, and it isn't very representative of the real experience. Wish he had just waited a few months.
Third point, Ryan's videos are nicely produced, and he himself is very easy on the eyes,...
So, of course what the hotel did is completely unacceptable.
But, separate point, as a hotel reviewer, it isn't very helpful to review a hotel just days after they open. Even the best hotels take some time to work out the kinks, and it isn't very representative of the real experience. Wish he had just waited a few months.
Third point, Ryan's videos are nicely produced, and he himself is very easy on the eyes, which makes watching them more pleasant (although I wish he threw in a few more gratuitous pool/hot-tub/gym thirst traps than he does). BUT they are not at all helpful. His scoring rubric has a bit of misplaced emphasis (shower ease of use?), and he is so rigidly focused on it that he never steps back to discuss his overall impressions and vibes. For instance he loved the Rosewood Mayakoba because it ticked all the boxes in his rubric. But having stayed there, I can tell you it is totally mid and is in desperate need of a refresh. Vibes there are giving 2010 Westin.
@ 747-400 -- I actually agree with you on all points. I respect how he tries to make the reviews very objective by using specific criteria, but I agree it sometimes misses the big picture, as a result. That's one of the reasons I try to keep my reviews more subjective and based on "vibes," which I know some people don't necessarily like.
The thing is, if they had reached out and sorted an accommodation ("We're not ready for a review, but you know what? We're going to comp you a night elsewhere tonight - on us - and reimburse you for your transfers, and guarantee your rate for another date" would be reasonable)? Fine.
It's the gaslighting and outright lying that is the sin.
Or, as the saying goes...it's not the crime, it's the cover up.
Actually it is critically helpful to see how a hotel is during their opening week. Because that shows the deltas over time, where they continue lacking or improve in, how they handle service recovery and slip ups.
Ironically, this entire fiasco proves the point of why it is useful to see how hotels operate early on.
I just don't agree. The best hotels in the world are going to have epic service failures in their first few days. Also facilities might not be fully operational yet. Assuming they work it all out in short order, then I don't think it's really indicative of anything. For a guest coming a year later once the teething issues are worked out, it's not relevant.
When one goes to Baja desert in casual clothes , without speaking the native lingo , in a taxi , it will be "adios manana" . When one goes in a coat and tie , with Perrier sparkling water and Grey Poupon mustard , in a Bentley , it will be "welcome amigo" .
Not true at all…NO ONE shows up in Cabo or anywhere nearby in jacket and tie…how stupid.
They own him a HUGE gift.
Hot take - he should have re-booked and returned, probably throwing shade on their incompetent IT folks.
[I know, not a great idea in Mexico, but it would sure make for an even more fun video...]
or had the videographer book under their name
Most of the best hotel reviews are from people who are visually unknown publicly or who use pseudonyms in their reviews
There could be something much more sinister going on as they don't even let him on premises.
Maybe they are hiding drugs or dead bodies. Cartels could have laundering money ops set up. Maybe they're installing hidden cameras. Maybe they're aliens. Maybe that's the vault for Epstein files or Bush claims of WMDs. Maybe it's Aman Fyre festival. Maybe DB Cooper was their first guest. Maybe Elvis was there too.
Maybe.......
Last thing they...
There could be something much more sinister going on as they don't even let him on premises.
Maybe they are hiding drugs or dead bodies. Cartels could have laundering money ops set up. Maybe they're installing hidden cameras. Maybe they're aliens. Maybe that's the vault for Epstein files or Bush claims of WMDs. Maybe it's Aman Fyre festival. Maybe DB Cooper was their first guest. Maybe Elvis was there too.
Maybe.......
Last thing they want is a vlogger caught footage online.
Not worth losing your life in a Mexican Aman.
I’ve stayed at many Amans and am seriously rethinking my future with them. They need to fire the GM, issue a public apology, and invite him back. Most absurd public affairs fiasco.
Unless I read there were many people fired over this incident, I will consider Aman hotels as money making machines who care little about the guests, except for the money they can get out them. I'm so glad the whole experience was filmed or I would have been very skeptical as to Mr. Walker's recollection. Aman is a brand that has been a constant on my list of hotels I consider to go to but...
Unless I read there were many people fired over this incident, I will consider Aman hotels as money making machines who care little about the guests, except for the money they can get out them. I'm so glad the whole experience was filmed or I would have been very skeptical as to Mr. Walker's recollection. Aman is a brand that has been a constant on my list of hotels I consider to go to but the high prices makes it hard not to find a similar experience at a same or lower price (for ex. we chose Bulgari Resort and Buahan Banyan Tree in Bali instead, no regrets, they were both fabulous).
"... money-making machines ..." Good summary of all airlines , hotels , and Las Vegas .
Lots of airlines are in fact money-losing machines!
The hotel has a right to refuse service to anyone, subject to Mexican law.
@ Dom -- Nobody is saying the hotel did anything illegal. Of course they had the "right" to refuse service to anyone. However, when you're charging these kinds of rates (well, or any rates, in the hospitality industry), that's not the service level people expect.
A second hot take: The reviewer community should brigade Aman over this until they sort themselves out. Like, this gets mentioned at the top of every story about Aman.
#streisandeffect
The "reviewer community"...? Really? "Hotel reviewer" is a profession now, even a "community"?
And there's enough people making their livings by paying $6K cash for hotels they're only visiting just so they can "review" it...this is considered a job?
What has gone wrong with our society when this has become "normal", routine, an accepted practice?
Johnnie, what do you want to be when you grow up? A hotel reviewer!!!
I mean, you have movie critics, theater critics...but I guess today, everyone's a critic!
And yet.... Here you are reading and commenting...
Found the Mexican.
Irrelevant.
I saw this video earlier and it was just painful to watch. The GM at Amanvari needs to be fired pronto.
I think Ryan is usually very levelheaded.
What was the big deal ? Who went to Mexico in the first place ? Who paid a very high room rate in the first place ? Who didn't wear a coat and tie ? Who cares ?
Coat and tie in August in Baja California???
Also, Alert, it *IS* $6,000 USD. Not pesos.
LOL. Trolling hard.