Amangani

I'm a very lucky guy as I've stayed in lots of fantastic hotels around the world. However, it's not often that I question my own values and feel bad about myself after such a stay, i was so looking forward to this hotel, as I've had fantastic experiences at other Aman hotels. I left the Amangani ashamed at myself for spending so much money, and having ignored the warning signs on this website. This hotel is massively overhyped and overpriced: it's tired and simply not good enough. The views are good, but the service is average, and the restaurant is very poor. I won't go in to why I believe the restaurant is poor, except that the chef is out of touch with international standards and the prices way too high. His idea of dealing with allergies is simply to ignore them, and any request for a simple change, far too much bother.Being positive, the Concierge was helpful, the in hotel shop is well curated, and the hotel entertainment excellent. The suites are pretty, but also dysfunctional, as opening blinds required climbing over the bath and hanging precariously whilst pulling on drawstrings, and cupboards don't open as they get stuck on carpets. The final insult has to be the 10% service charge added to the room rate!!! Go figure, as they say. I'd say, don't waste your money.

And stay at a place like this. At a comfortable remove from the town centre and with an astonishing setting overlooking a plain blocked by a mountain range. Stunning pool for summertime. Do take advantage of the on-site tour guides and their most comfortable vehicles: our early morning wildlife-spotting trip with Gerard was a highlight taking in some wonderful view points along the way.

We have stayed in many Aman's. This is by far the worst. The service is below average, and the food is just ok. The views are great and at one time the resort was probably amazing. It is tired and needs to be updated. The carpet is bad. It is too bad, as it could be a special place.

This is a tough one because the three rating is not across the board. There are fives and there are ones and twos. Aman resorts is, or was, one of the top ten resort companies in the world but seems like they have rested on their laurels. The Amangani in Jackson is in an unparalleled location with awesome views a pool for summer and incredible architecture (5). However, the hotel is overdue for a refreshening. The carpets need to be replaced, paint touched up and rooms freshened a bit. Maybe picky but when you are paying ultra premium rates, it matters. It almost seems like Aman is waiting to get out of a lease or something and is not reinvesting in this property. The staff is always attentive l and go out of their way to provide you the services you would like. Especially with the concierge group(5). We did do the Wildlife Viewing through the Amangani staff, the guide was knowledgeable and personable but it was little more than a ride around the park hoping to catch a glimpse of animals. It could have been memorable if we had stopped in a great spot at sunset and had sundowners (cocktails) and snacks like in Africa. Would have made a ho hum experience memorable. The AMANGANI is a restful resort and while kids are welcomed, parents will find themselves shushing their children often. Good or bad depending on perspective. That being said, it seems the amazing spaces in the hotel are woefully underutilized and void of any level of services. There is a main level bar with stunning deck for evenings that is never open. There is a bar at the dining level but no ambient music so a bit stifled for open conversation. There are also two common rooms that are beautiful but not used. It seems management is missing an opportunity to create communal opportunities that would generate some esprit decor amongst the guests. Again, memorable experiences that make you want to come back are being missed. The dining room is beautiful and the menu is varied but not too extensive. Overall the food was good but not wow factor good. Like everywhere it is probably tough to find service workers in resort towns. The pool staff was great but food service staff needed more training. Again prices warrant an excellent experience while dining and it wasn't. F&B management needs to step up their game in this area. This was our second stay at Amangani and the years between are showing on the property. The above review might sound harsh but to be sure, the staff at Amangani are great. They want to provide great service and are always accommodating and friendly. My real disappointment lies with the environment and experience...for letting a stunning property fade and for not investing is guest experiences that Aman should be able to deliver. The 1-5 scale is limiting, so the 3. If it was 1-10, I would have been at a 7.

As an Aman junkie, I have organised the journey to the US based on bookings of Amangani & Amangiri. The ressort's setting is beautiful and the staff is friendly. However, this ressort is not the ideal place to refill the batteries as the common area is very noisy (children included). Ps. I have shared a separate review in regard to the ressort restaurant.