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.
| The Welcome Outside the front of the hotel is a Lalique fountain, which gives an indication of the money spent on the refurbishment. My luggage was taken off me as I was getting out of my taxi and I did not see any luggage again until after I got to my suite. Fabiona greeted me in the elegant lobby and checked me in sitting at a desk in a separate room. She was warm, chatty and friendly. She said my room was almost ready and gave me no indication that I was being given Dame Nellie Melba's favourite suite. In the late 1880s August Escoffier created Melba toast, and the Peach Melba, at The Savoy for this Australian operatic soprano who enchanted him. Waiting for The Suite While waiting for my suite I paid to use the WiFi only to find it did not work and the Concierges gave me a code and said I did not need to pay. I also went to look at the small hotel 'museum' near the entrance to the American Bar. My One Bedroom River View Suite Alison took me up to my suite and it, and its views of Thames, blew my mind. It was so elegant and classy and had clearly had a huge amount of money lavished on it. The bathroom was also beautiful but the wardrobe a bit of an awkward space for such a spacious suite. The 3rd Floor Pool Then it was off for a swim. The staff in the Fitness Suite were cheerful and welcoming. The pool was shallow but the impressing jet stream means you can swimming against a current in the 9 meter pool with natural light from the atrium above. An Incredible Gift Back in my suite a thoughtful gift of a map of the world, made of sugar, and been left with chocolates from heaven. Late Lunch I had a late lunch of a bacon cheeseburger and worked on www.sifrew.com. My Butler That evening I got ready for a 50th birthday party at The East India Club by putting on black tie and meeting my butler. The 50th Birthday Party Then I went out to the 50th birthday party in St James's Square. It was an incredible evening of champagne and laughs. Breakfast in the Suite The next morning I ordered a Full English breakfast. It was delivered to my suite and I ate this talking to my mum and looking at the beautiful Spitalfields Candles we were given as gifts the night before. Check Out I had to wait to be checked out but this gave me a chance to chat to Ian (Director of Rooms). The WiFi charge had already been removed and it was another cheerful and chatty experience. 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - my River View Suite, the sugar map and the incredible staff of The Savoy gained it the extra 'teddy'. My tip:- do not pay for the WiFi, despite what the Fairmount website tells you. |  The stunning fresh orchids by the entrance to the Thames Foyer.  The luggage free lobby. You have to watch 'The Savoy' - the TV show about the refurbishment, reopening & Fairmontisation of the hotel to understand why I found this amusing.  The Lobby is far from an unpleasant place to wait for your suite.  While waiting for my suite I took another look at the small 'museum' by the entrance to the American Bar. I loved Josephine Baker's checking in card with the reference to her new husband also being a Savoy client.  The stunning view of the London Eye from the sitting room of my suite.  Kaspar the cat, the latest member of the 'gang' in the elegant sitting room.  The beautiful bedroom with its Savoy hotel bed.  The view from the bedroom was just as breathtaking.  The portrait of Dame Nellie Melba by the bed.  The elegant bathroom with separate shower & toilet.  The Le Labo bath products.  The shallow 3rd floor pool, with impressive jet stream to enable you to swim again a current.  The incredible thoughtful sugary gift I found when I returned to my suite.  My delicious late bacon cheeseburger lunch.  The 50th birthday party at The East India Club.  Breakfast with a view. |
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