THE BEST OF 2022 Resorts & Hotels【Flip Flop Favorites Awards】Which Property TAKES THE GOLD?!
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- Check out the first ever Flip Flop Favorites Awards where I hand out some virtual gilded flip flops to my favorite hotels and resorts from the past year!
Hi there! My name is Kevin and normally I make unbiased trip reports and hotel reviews, but today is a bit different. Join me as we explore, in detail, my absolute favorite properties from my 2022 videos, broken down by category.
To see any original videos, search on my channel and the video will easily come up!
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📽 Next 5 Videos
⇢ 07 Jan: Ethiopian Airlines Business Class 777 Addis Ababa to Johannesburg
⇢ 12 Jan: South African Airways A320 Economy Class Johannesburg to Cape Town
⇢ 14 Jan: Gorgeous George Hotel (a Design Hotel) Cape Town, South Africa
⇢ 19 Jan: The Taj Hotel Cape Town, South Africa
⇢ 21 Jan: Singapore Airlines Business Class A350 Cape Town - Johannesburg - Singapore
⏰ Videos posted at:
8:00 (New York), 14:00 (London), 20:00 (VN), 23:00 (Sydney)
--Video Chapters--
0:00 Intro & Award Categories
00:41 My Favorite Lobbies
01:47 My Favorite Rooms
03:16 My Favorite In Room Products
04:02 My Favorite Pools
05:15 My Favorite Beaches
06:43 My Favorite Settings
08:16 My Favorite Views
09:33 My Favorite Meals
12:00 My Favorite Breakfast Services
13:59 My Favorite Landscaping
14:32 My Favorite Unique Focal Point
15:10 My Favorite Welcome Amenity
15:23 My Favorite Bed
15:44 My Favorite Immersion Experience
16:32 My Favorite Hotel Designs
19:00 My Favorite New (to me) Brands
22:04 My Favorite Overall Value
22:36 My All Time Under Viewed Video
23:30 My All Time Best Hotel of 2022
24:24 2022 Recap
24:50 2023 Preview
Music featured in this video is licensed under an Artlist Unlimited License.
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldn’t otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that's the way I like it!
#flipflopfavorites #besthotels #travelawards
The fact that you've only got 25k subscribers is a crime! The level this content is at is insane. Keep up the good work, my man 👍
Thanks very much for that! It’ll come in due time… (tomorrow would be great though too 😅) Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for the fantastic hotel reviews. There are numerous airline review channels out there, but relatively few hotel reviews, particularly at the quality that you deliver. So many people just take footage of a room, without accompanying it with actual critique, or very obviously are paid to do so by the hotel. What's worse is when they make the review about themselves and film themselves jumping on the bed etc - cringe. Your reviews on the other hand provide thoughtful consideration of the product - that's why they're so good!
Yes, you will never see me jumping on the bed, that is for damn sure 😅 Thanks very much for the kind words & Happy New Year 🎉
After seeing all the work you put into your videos with the editing and scripts, I can confirm that this channel is very underrated.
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
Hi Kevin, I've tipped three times in the past few years on YT, and twice on your channel. I hope that speaks volume about the quality of your videos. Happy new year to you as well. Cheers!
Thanks very much, all support is genuinely appreciated and frankly, helpful in determining the value the video is putting out there. Hope you had a great New Years 🎉
impressive report. This is your calling. Big fan.
Thanks very much for the kind words 🙏🏻
Outstandingly good content. I'm happy to see your subscribers numbers are heading in a worthy upward trajectory.
Thanks very much for the kind words 🙏
Wow…just wow. Absolutely LOVED watching this. So good to have some reminders of some of your memorable reviews. Funny you started this video with calling this overview the one stop shop and me commenting on your last video, that your channel is becoming the allround one stop hub for all your travel needs! So much travelling ahead, I envy your itinerary, but fully recognise how much work goes into each and every video…. Therefore, thank you for your time and hard work, so we all get to enjoy these wonderful New Year! Here’s to 100.000 subs in 2023 🙏🏼💫🙌🏼 and safe travels 🍀
I finished my bookings for next December last week… had a sigh of relief after I got the exact flights I wanted and thought “will be nice to not have to book anything for a while…” like 5 mins later it occurred to me 2024 is coming after 2023 and next month I’ll be booking next January 😅 Keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure haha. Thanks as always for the support 🙏🏻
Wow .. great video!!! Dude, I so wish I had your vacation budget 🤣😎 Looking forward to all the 2023 vids 👍👍
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Excellent list! Can't wait for your 2023 Bali hotel reviews.
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Hi Kevin, i visited Apurva Kempinski after watching your video. This hotel’s view and lobby was magnificent, thank you for introducing such a tremendous place to your viewers ! Look forward to more of your videos 🎉
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Your video convinced me to stay at Kimpton Bangkok for the upcoming Feb trip. Thanks for high quality content as always.
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Me too :)
When I hear all these hotels booked for 2023….absolutely amazing. I couldn’t even afford one of them but this is just great content. Thank you. Keep up the good work this year!
I gotta say it feels so nice to have the whole year booked and I don’t need to worry about which trips will be cancelled due to pandemics 🙃 Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Amazing video summing up all your beautiful trips last year. Can’t wait for the 2023 videos.
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Hi Kelvin, Thanks for the wrap up! Honestly, you deserve way more views and I thoroughly enjoy all your trip reports! Thanks for being so committed and looking forward to more reviews in 2023. Pop by Singapore again sometime and coffee is on me for all the times you entertained me! Cheers and Safe Travels.
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Your videos and reviews are truely awesome! Please keep up this special and excellent work!
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Quite and simply The Best Channel in this fabulous category: Travel Industr!!
Bravo Kevin!!!
Peace and I
GG
Thanks as always for the support 🙏
Really can't wait to enjoy your next adventure! Bon voyage!
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Love all of your videos, keep it coming !
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Thanks for the great review. Look forward to your upcoming ones. Happy New Year.
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
Amazing video as always Kevin. Keep it up. 😄
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Great video, have been really enjoying your channel recently. Keep it up!
Thanks very much and Happy New Year 🎉
Just discovered this channel Bravo
.
Thanks for watching 🩴
I started watching your videos when you reviewed the Kimpton Maa Lai. I have to agree with your assessment about Kimpton. We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, and my daughter felt we weren't wearing fancy enough clothes for the hotel. But when we got to the Kimpton, no matter who you are you just fit in!
I'll have to test out my Flip Flops at the WA this year 😅 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Love your reviews. Respect the grind. If your channel was a stock, I would have already invested in it. One day, you will be wanted like a phantom. Can't wait for this year. Keep grinding Kevin
Thoroughly appreciate this comment, thanks for that. It certainly is a grind, but one that will surely be worth it in the end. Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Intercontinental Jimbaran is labeled in video as Phuket instead of Bali.
Was just seeing if you were paying attention 😉
Kidding, can’t win ‘em all I guess! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
🙏😉
Some interesting choices, very envious of your travels !
I'm doing a stay at the Hilton Resort Bali in June, and some low cost stays on Gili T, Canggu and Pattaya.
Safe travels !
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
Magical video report Kev👍🏻👏🏻
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Hi kevin, If you have a Bali 2023 flight schedule I would highly recommend you :
1. Four Season Jimbaran Bay
2. Como Uma Canggu
3. Como Uma Shambala Ubud
4. Buahan Tree Banyan Resort Ubud which just opened in 2022 yesterday
5. Padma Resort Ubud.
6. k club resort ubud.. a resort that is currently popular and much talked about by local tourists who are vacationing in Bali and this resort was opened last year it seems
7. Tanah Gajah resort ubud
8. and maybe hoshinoya ubud bali if you want to see a mix of cultures Bali and Japan become one... or maybe you will try new resorts that will open in Bali in 2023 such as Kimpton Naranta Bali,
Regent Resort Canggu,
Patina Ubud Resort, or
Anantara Ubud Resort??
btw, Como Uma Canggu and Ubud in 2022 have been named one of the best resorts in the world according to CNtravellers, which is in 4th and 6th place for each of the Como resorts..😉
Thanks very much for the detailed selection. I’m all booked up for my trip already but Regent, Kimpton and Buahan were all on my radar… but I thought the Kimpton was far overpriced for what it is (and for a Kimpton in general), the Regent won’t be open in time (but I do have 2 other Regents booked) and the Buahan was just a bit too big of a risk for the channel at this moment- but I certainly do look forward to literally everything on your list at some point in the future. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
This is incredible! Thank you for all the hard work you put into these. I did notice though, under landscaping you have Intercontinental Jimbaran labelled as being in Phuket Thailand! Thought you would probably want to know 🙂 Love your videos.
Just checking if everyone was paying attention 😉 Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
Great idea, great video. 👏
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
You should go to Forest Hills, Ciwidey, West Java ❤️
Thanks for the suggestion!
Fantastic! Thank you for your effort!👏👏👏👏
Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
Outstanding, Kevin! I really liked all the detailed info that you share with us in every place you show. Your videos are a must see before traveling to a destination!
Maybe you can categorize them if they are family oriented, adults only, pet friendly, gay friendly, etc if you also have access to that info.
Great videos to come in 2023! Thank you!
It's a great idea for next year's awards! Thanks for watching and Happy New Year 🎉
Hi Kevin, have you been to Regent Phu Quoc? I loved that experience immensely. Even the kid club was cool!
Soon 😉
Raffles jkt is one of the best for me
Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
I like this! Maybe consider doing a "top" every month or something of the sort. Keep it up! 🧳🧳🚂✈️🛎️
These videos take soooooo much longer than I was expecting to put together hahaha. I think my mental sanity can only handle an annual edition :)
Thanks
Wonderful content and very helpful commentary. It's refreshing to get considered opinions without the spin factor from some social media influencer in exchange for a free nights stay.
Appreciate that!
the intercontinental jimburan phuket thailand looks just like the intercontinental jimburan in bali !!
I was just making sure you were paying attention 😉 Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
@@tfft haha love your videos and how particular you are on everything, it’s great. quick question, if you were only allowed to use one hotel loyalty group for the rest of your life world wide, which one would you choose?
That’s the easiest question I’ve gotten all day. With 100% certainty my answer is: NONE of them. I’ve done the calculations every which way and rather than be loyal to one program I have my own booking trifecta which is a lot more valuable than any of the loyalty programs and let’s me be free to travel to which ever hotel I’d like to. I use a combination of Hotels.com, AMEX and Capital One to earn the most points and free nights.
Unique Features Landscaping, InterContinental Jimbaran Phuket Thailand ??? Min 14:06😁
I was just checking if you were paying attention (and apparently you and a few others were!) haha. Can't win them all, no way to fix it now. Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Great video. I am certain that one of the Kimptons planned for this year is the upcoming Nusa Dua resort which was formerly an Aman. Looking forward.
It's actually not haha. I also would have made your guess, but I just felt the Bali property was thoroughly over priced. The Kimpton in Bangkok and Samui (there's a hint haha) are routinely under $300- but Bali was in the $800+ range, it just doesn't fit the brand in my opinion. The only players in that range on Bali are of the Raffles/Jumerirah/FS realm and as much as I love Kimption, it is not in that category. And, personally if I wanted a villa that wasn't on the beach, I'd choose one of the Kayumanis properties. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft 100% agree with you that Kimpton Bali is being over ambitious with their pricing and trying to play with the big boys. I didn’t know that there was a Kimpton in Samui. Hoping to see that soon through your review.
Incredible video to wrap up this past year! I know I can always turn to you for a well-thought out and stunning cinemographic video. On a side note- would be curious to hear the feedback or reception (good or bad) you've received from any of the properties you've stayed at after you uploaded a review.
Thanks very much for your kind words. As for responses, I’ve gotten a few here and there but you’d be surprised at how out of touch most Hotel brands are with content media. On the airline side of things they’re very in tune with UA-cam content because there are so many creators but the hotels are much less interested simply because there are so few all-in hotel content creators. I have no problem letting to stay that way though haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Impressive! You re the best!
Thanks very much & Happy New Year 🎉
Great list and many categories that I wasn't expecting. My all time favorite property is a Belmond aswell - the Caruso in Ravello, Italy. I would also love to do the Belmond Andean Explorer in Peru, but first my next trip is going to be in May for two weeks at the Four Seaons Koh Samui. Your video also convinced me to check out the L’Alya Ninh Van Bay as the Six Senses is there atleast tripple the price. Maybe I´ll go for both. Thanks for inspiration though :D
I would actually recommend going to both (L'alya and SS). I won't sit here and say L'alya is BETTER than SS, but for the price it certainly is. L'alya's biggest weakness is its food program. It's not to say its bad (it's actually pretty good), but considering you have to eat at the resort, I'd sure like a bit more variety. If I had to price them myself I'd say L'alya's value is in the $425 range, where as SS is around $700. As you know, neither is actually selling for that price haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft actually both hotels got pretty good early booking deals for Summer 2023.L'alya runs under 300€ a night and Six Senses for little over 800€ even though I would aim for the Water villas at the SS which look stunning. It seems that there are world wide a lot of amazing deals for 2023.
Yes, those are actually the standard prices for those properties though. For the past many years L’alya starts in the $260 range and Six Senses in the $880 range.
I’d actually have to disagree about deals world wide though. Some destinations are just in fantasy land price territory at the moment- Thailand being a major stand out. In general prices I see (everywhere) for 2023 are at or well above their pre-Covid rates.
@@tfft when I checked SS last year it was always above 1k, thats why it sounded more reasonable to me.
Thailand prices definitly exploded in 2022, but that was to be exspected. Ofc prices won't return to pre covid, but for the FS in Koh Samui, I got a 8000€ discount for my stay compared to 2022. The new Regent in Phu Quoc also got like over 300€ a night cheaper than when I checked like 3-4 months ago. For maldives I also saw huge packaged deals which are up to 50% cheaper than 2022.
Bangkok on the other hand is stupidly expensive.
14:12 a small mistake there. Cant wait for 2023.
I was just checking if you were paying attention (and apparently you and a few others were!) haha. Can't win them all, no way to fix it now. Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
@@tfft we need this year version :D
Hi Kevin, I love your videos! I would like to point out I think you made an error for Intercontinental Jimbaran, isn’t it located in Bali, Indonesia not Phuket, Thailand?
Yes, it's been pointed out a few times lol. Nothing that can be done about it after it's published. Thanks for watching 🩴
Thank you for great videos. A quick question. Where do you get the info about when the hotel was built or who was an architect or landscape designer?
I WISH I could tell you that there was a one stop shop website where all of the info could be found about every hotel, ever. Unfortunately it just doesn't exist (without massive commercial memberships and $$$$$). I generally search for the announcements that were published during the grand opening phase of the hotel. Some small bits like number of rooms or year build you can find on aggregate websites, some smaller chains publish fact sheets about each of their properties and some of the more historic places have tons of content written about their history. The research for a 'major' new hotel that I'm reviewing generally takes a couple of hours, at least. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hi Kevin. I recently found your channel while researching the Andaz Delhi for a trip in April. I've been watching a lot of videos and noticed not a lot of Hilton properties, specifically Conrad. Is there a reason why? Can we suggest hotels for you...if so, the Conrad Osaka is probably my favorite hotel in the world. Keep up the good work!
Honestly, just not that many noteworthy Hilton's (relatively speaking) in the regions I've been covering. I have around five of them coming up this year though.
@@tfft check out the Conrad Osaka!
Do a same one for all the airlines that you have flew with for Economy , Premium Economy, Business and First Class , all the different airports and lounges too
Yupp, that’s what I said is coming in the video 😉 It’ll be out in the next week or two. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hey Kevin! We visited the Intercontinental Phuket a 2 months ago because of your video. We now plan to mostly go to resorts based on your reviews since they are so spot on and exactly what we're looking for. Also I think at 14:18 there's a mistake saying Intercontinental Jimbaran is in Phuket, Thailand and not in Bali.
Yah, I was just making sure that everyone was paying attention 😉 Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🙏
@@tfft🤣🤣
If you haven’t done it already, you should really pay a visit to Rayavadee resort in Krabi, Thailand. It has 3 beaches: the ugly one that is used for boats arriving and departing from the area, the mid one with the large and beautiful pool and the overall beautiful Phranang beach that has best scenery, water quality and amenities. It also has three restaurants and is spread over 2 dozen acres of vegetation that contains some interesting wildlife. Overall would reccomend.
Thanks for the recommendation 🙏🏻
@@tfft no problem, just been there and since i didn’t see a video about on your channel i thought i’d reccomend it!
Hey Kevin, fantastic video as always and I always enjoy your reviews. I was wondering why you never visit Aman priorities (since they are my favorite). Is it simply because they don’t offer points programs and they’re too expensive?
I don’t accrue points with hotel programs generally, nothing to do with that. I do have two reasons though.
First for expensive properties (let’s say $1000+/night), I don’t debate that some of them may be worth it, but I struggle to see how I’d be able to effectively differentiate a $1200 property from a $600 property visually, in under 30 mins. At these price points, most of the differences are in service details or just chalked up to high operating expenses. Since all of my scores are relative to the price paid, I want to make sure it’s a really spectacular property that will look like $1200 on camera also.
Secondly is about Aman specifically. I don’t agree with their pricing and I see it as far over priced in some markets. Vietnam is always my example when someone asks me about Aman. I’ve lived in and done business in VN for years. I simply think $1200-$1500/night for a property in Vietnam (nearly any theoretical property as well) is a straight rip off. I know what wages are at this property and things just don’t add up to me. I believe hotels should be priced relative to where they are- nearly every other brand on earth does this to some level, except Aman.
Both of those said, I am testing the waters with this category this year and have my first comparable property booked for April- and am still open to Aman when I cross paths with one that I think stands out.
Thanks for the question and thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft thanks for the answer! It’s a reasonable motive. May I ask what’s the comparable property?
Excellent video again, have you ever done Aman Resorts? I was thinking of a couple nights to see and that will be my last splurge and back to reality.Or would you suggest another group. I do not know how you keep going just the stuffing around at airports is enough. I did about 150 nights in hotels 2022 and still don't know what I want but I do follow your info and this year will be trying a different group as a bit let down by the loyalty program I am a member of now. Look forward to more reviews on hotels and the airlines. 🙏👍
I will do properties like Aman eventually, but I am not doing them yet for two reasons:
1. I don’t like their pricing structure. If you have 20 resorts in 20 countries with 20 different operating costs, then there is no reason that every property should be $1200+ per night. I’m sure there are some that are worth it, but without flux in their pricing, I can’t help but feel I’m just blatantly over paying. Amanoi in VN pricing from $1200-$1800/night is the perfect example of this. I know what their staff are paid, I know what their expenses are- it doesn’t add up.
2. The things that make a $1200/night hotel worth it are hard to capture on camera. It is impossible to SHOW the difference between $600 service and $1200 service. Similar goes with quality of finishing, etc. In the future, if I start producing 40+ minute videos, then it might be something to consider, but in my current format it would just be a waste of money.
@@tfft it will be very interesting to see some focus video on the service of hotels, there are no channels that focus on guest experience in terms of service (pre booking - stay - post stay). It will be very interesting for particular luxury properties. Your videos are great
Curious why you don't touch Hilton at all, when you otherwise have a fairly large footprint across all 3 of Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt?
Well I do have six on the channel… but generally in SE Asia, where I do a lot of my content, their offerings are few and far in between compared to the other 4 majors… and the ones that are here are often overpriced or dated.
I do have 2 Hilton’s in the Americas booked for later this year though.
At 14:06 does Intercontinental Jimbaran located in Phuket Thailand ?
It was a test... (you passed!) Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Please kindly recheck the note in landscaping category, Intercontinental Jimbaran should be in Bali, not Phuket. 😊
Yup, many others have pointed it out- no way to change it. Thanks.
so 90% is for south america and southeast asia...agree on milan and the twa hotel
As I said in the video it’s based on the content I created last year… so… yeah lol.
Which hotels in Bali would recommended for family of 4 adults for 6-7 nights - Ubud & the beach at Bali . Thanks in advance
My 9 Bali videos + this one didn't make that clear yet? hahaha- I don't see why Belmond Jimbaran Puri couldn't fit the bill. Depends on what vibe you're looking for. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Thanks Kevin, Belmond Bali gets the gong for 2023
Thank you for sharing. You certainly love Bali. Lol. I have to say for product (Hermes) and service our favourite hotel is The Burj Al Arab Dubai. Hotel for warmth and friendliness. One and Only Cape town. For a more affordable hotel where you can always get a deck chair and lovely staff The Anvaya Bali. Our favourite beach holiday. Kefalonia Greece. Shame it takes so long to get their from Aus and you have to sell a kidney to fly BC to get there. Most over rated tourist trap. Dubrovnik Croatia. We just didn't get it. Favourite country to holiday in. Turkey or Japan. Most picturesque. New Zealand. Most head spinning. India.
Well this video is based on the hotels I visited in the year prior… nine of them were in Bali haha. Hard to argue with The Burj Al Arab… but in this day and age I think Hermes products are the lazy choice. There are so so sooo many ultra premium brands on the market these days that are as good as or better than Hermes (and their super cheap bottles that they insist on using) that I think they have fallen far behind. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
14:20 intercontinental jimbaran in phuket??😅
Can’t win ‘em all 🤷🏼♂️
You labelled intercontinental Jimbaran wrongly in Phuket Thailand. Jimbaran is in Bali Indonesia, isn’t it? 14:06
I was just checking if you were paying attention (and apparently you and a few others were!) haha. Can't win them all, no way to fix it now. Thanks for watching & Happy New Year 🎉
Lemme guess.. Six Senses Fort Barwara?
Sounds like a good guess ;)
@@tfft I guess the guess will be revealed soon!
You should visit Aman-I-Khas and The Oberoi Vanyavilas, as they are close to Six Sense Fort Barwara… if the guess is right that is ;)
For your audience to have a better understanding of the awards breakdown, it would be useful to know the number of visited hotels/resorts and no. of nights per region, i.e. Asia (North / South), Americas (North / South), Europe, Middle East and rest of the World. Thank you.
I gave the full stats for the year in the video already 😉
Absolutely FANTASTIC work, Big thumps up. My Number 1 channel on UA-cam. I hit always the like button before i watch - and never gets disappointed. Please review: Regent Phu Quoc. My best Hotel in 2022.
I have it booked already 😉 Thanks very much for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft I cant wait. I highly recommend the Terrace Pool Villa.
Another superb video.
Demerits for saying plan-tain, which is to be said like captain, mountain, and fountain. SMH.
I’ve been eating them all of my life and have literally never once heard plantain pronounced like that in English lol (in French/Creole, then yes). Must be a regional thing. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻