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Using the 'Early Morning Arrivals Suites' at Four Seasons Park Lane - London, UK - May 2016

27/5/2016

The latest member of the 'gang' John & the stunning views of London from the spa on the 10th floor of Four Seasons Park Lane.

When I said I was travelling through London after my GCC Tour, John (GM of Four Seasons Park Lane) generously offered use of their 'Early Morning Arrivals Suites', so I could have a shower.

In the end I had a shower; got a delicious light breakfast; rested for a few hours while admiring the views of London from the spa at the top of the Park Lane Four Seasons; got my iPhone6 recharged; and gained a new member of the 'gang'.

I cannot thank John, & his brilliant staff, enough for all they did for me that morning.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - John Stauss is definitely another 7 'teddy' Four Seasons GM and his opulent London hotel, with its friendly & helpful staff, fully deserve this top rating too.

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Four Seasons Bahrain Bay's 'First Customer' returns for a Third Stay in a State Suite - Manama, Bahrain - May 2016

24/5/2016

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On the last day of the GCC Tour there had to be a 'group' photo & the Bahrain World Trade Center was the perfect backdrop.

I first stayed in Four Seasons Bahrain Bay before it was open to the public & officially became their 'first customer'. I have stayed there again since and decided a third stay had to end my GCC Tour.

Greg (the General Manager) & Bob (the Manager) feel like old friends now and the hotel has gone from strength to strength over the 15 months since it opened.

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay now exemplifies the best of Four Seasons in terms of service, F&B & facilities and I am so proud to be known as its 'first customer'.

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Stay at the 'very new' Abu Dhabi Four Seasons - Abu Dhabi, UAE - May 2016

23/5/2016

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The remote controlled jeep containing Issy, Abu & the camels, with GM Sam & me in the background.

Having known GM Sam from my stays at Four Seasons New York and Baku, I had to stay at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, despite it only opening around the time when my GCC Tour started.

I arrived for a one night stay only 10 days after the hotel had opened, with less than 1/2 the rooms/suites ready for occupancy. I have, therefore, decided it is unfair to 'teddy rate' this hotel at this time, despite my memorably brilliant stay.

Sam is a 7 'teddy' GM, with an excellent management team in Abu Dhabi & I know this hotel will reach the 7 'teddy' score in time.

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Stay at the 'new' DIFC Four Seasons in Dubai in a corner Studio Suite - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

22/5/2016

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www.sifrew.com underwater in the 'Glassware' pool at the DIFC Four Seasons.

Having adored my stays in the Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, one before it was open to the public, after my coffee at Mr Sharp's Toronto home, I decided I must stay at Four Seasons' second Dubai hotel.

Friends in Qatar had said this boutique-style 106 room/suite hotel was "too small". However, I agree with their GM Carlo that it is a jewel. It reminds me of Four Seasons' Berlin hotel (now a Regent). The DIFC hotel has some of the same smaller Four Seasons magic that this Berlin hotel had.

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Stay at Raffles - Dubai in a Landmark Suite - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

20/5/2016

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My Landmark Suite, with butler, Moet champagne & gifts for Issy.

After my incredible stay at Raffles Le Royal in Phnon Penh in Cambodia, I decided I must try Raffles, Dubai, during my GCC Tour.

This pyramid-shaped hotel, from a Singapore hotel group, sounds bizarre but I ended up finding first class service and a vast tasteful suite that blew my mind.

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Veuve Clicquot @ Four Seasons, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach with Mr Casson - what www.sifrew.com's dreams are made of - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

16/5/2016

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Our smiles say it all.

I know Simon Casson from when he was General Manager of the Doha Four Seasons & have stayed at his Jumeirah Beach Four Seasons hotel in Dubai twice already. Once before it was open to the public, after my coffee with Mr Sharp at his home in Toronto.

I was thrilled when Mr Casson said he had time for a drink with me and rushed straight from Dubai airport for this. I was so glad I did. He is one of my favourite Four Seasons GMs and is always so much fun to catch up with.

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Stay at Four Seasons, Doha in a 'Deluxe Executive Suite' - Doha, Qatar - May 2016

15/5/2016

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The brunch at this hotel is regarded as one of the best in Qatar & was even better on this stay.

I lived in Qatar for more than 9 years & was a 'founding' member of the Doha Four Seasons' spa. I, therefore, had to make this hotel, & seeing my incredible Qatar based friends, part of my GCC Tour.

I was so glad I did. It was a perfect way to 'close my relationship with Qatar'.

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Emirates (airline) Business Class flight from London, Heathrow to Dubai on a A380 & from Dubai to Doha in Business Class - May 2016

14/5/2016

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Priority tags clearly mean something different at Emirates.

Having flown on the Qatar Airways & Etihad Airways A380s I decided it was time to fly on an Emirates A380 and my Four Seasons GCC 'Tour' was the perfect chance to do this.

However, my A380 plane from London was delayed and so we were late arriving in Dubai. I was told I could only board my 8am flight if I agreed to my luggage going on the 2pm flight. I replied this was OK.

I spent the afternoon at Four Seasons Doha waiting for the luggage only to eventually be told the luggage was coming on the 7pm plane.

I expected to get back to my suite at the Doha Four Seasons to find the luggage that night but it had still not arrived by midnight. I am now dreading my next four Business Class flights with Emirates in the next 10 days.

All this is such a shame as the crews on my planes were excellent. Now writing my complain, and request for compensation, to Emirates.

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Stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park - London, UK - May 2016

11/5/2016

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The welcome gifts that were, almost, too beautiful to eat.

When I worked in Bermuda the 'great & the good' used to stay in the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. Thanks to Peter in their Digital Marketing Department my dream to stay there came true.

This Edwardian-style hotel opened in 1902 as the Hyde Park hotel. It was originally built as Gentleman's Club but there was a fire there.

It was acquired by Mandarin Oriental in 1996 and reopened in May 2000 after a major (GBP57MN) renovation and redesign of the restaurants & bars. The hotel hosted Margaret Thatcher's 80th birthday party and, in 2011, it also hosted the UK Royal Family's pre-Royal Wedding party for the Crowned Heads of State attending Prince William's wedding the next day. I have eaten in 'Dinner by Heston' (Blumenthal) in the hotel, Foliage (when it was in the same space) and Bar Boulud in the basement.

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Afternoon Tea in The Rosebery Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park - London, UK - May 2016

11/5/2016

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Koko from the Oriental in Bangkok joined us at the start of afternoon tea. People were thrilled to see this Mandarin Oriental 'celebrity'. Note the glass 'mandarin' on the metal 'tree'.

As part of my stay at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, I invited one of my best friends, the mother of my godson, to afternoon tea there.

I have had coffee in The Rosebery Lounge at the hotel before and always wanted to try afternoon tea in this indulgent room.

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Stay in a One Bedroom River View Suite at The Savoy Hotel - London, UK - May 2016

8/5/2016

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The map of the world, made of sugar, sent to me by The Savoy, with some of the most delicious chocolates I have tasted.

I used to stay at The Savoy in London regularly when I worked in Bermuda and before its purchase by Prince Al-Waleed and GBP220MN December 2007 to October 2010 refurbishment.

My parents and I came for a drink, just after it reopened in 2010, and were unimpressed by the haphazard service. Almost all of the staff had been made redundant while the hotel was closed and the new staff recruited were clearly still finding their feet.

On this stay it was a different hotel with cheerful staff who clearly knew exactly what they were doing and a breathtaking One Bedroom River View Suite that blew my mind.

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Stay at Hotel Threadneedles, part of the Marriott's Autograph Collection - London, UK - May 2016

1/5/2016

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The discreet entrance to the hotel, a short walk from the Bank of England in the heart of The City of London.

With my plans to move back to my place in The Barbican in EC2, and the fact I formerly worked for the Bank of England, I decided it would be fun to stay in Hotel Threadneedles.

This 74 room/suite boutique hotel was the first luxury hotel in The Square Mile, London's traditional financial district. It is in the building that was the former Head Office of the London City and Midland Bank (now part of HSBC).

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the luxury travel blog

Using the 'Early Morning Arrivals Suites' at Four Seasons Park Lane - London, UK - May 2016

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay's 'First Customer' returns for a Third Stay in a State Suite - Manama, Bahrain - May 2016

Stay at the 'very new' Abu Dhabi Four Seasons - Abu Dhabi, UAE - May 2016

Stay at the 'new' DIFC Four Seasons in Dubai in a corner Studio Suite - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

Stay at Raffles - Dubai in a Landmark Suite - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

Veuve Clicquot @ Four Seasons, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach with Mr Casson - what www.sifrew.com's dreams are made of - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

Stay at Four Seasons, Doha in a 'Deluxe Executive Suite' - Doha, Qatar - May 2016

Emirates (airline) Business Class flight from London, Heathrow to Dubai on a A380 & from Dubai to Doha in Business Class - May 2016

Stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park - London, UK - May 2016

Afternoon Tea in The Rosebery Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park - London, UK - May 2016

Stay in a One Bedroom River View Suite at The Savoy Hotel - London, UK - May 2016

Stay at Hotel Threadneedles, part of the Marriott's Autograph Collection - London, UK - May 2016

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