- Introduction: An Open-Ended Journey To Oman
- Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-MAD)
- Our COVID-19 Testing Mess At Madrid Airport
- Review: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
- Review: Iberia Lounge Madrid Airport (MAD)
- Review: Iberia Business Class A320neo (MAD-MXP)
- Review: Sala Montale Lounge Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Review: Qatar Airways Business Class Boeing 787-9 (MXP-DOH)
- Review: Qatar Airways A320 Business Class (DOH-SLL)
- Oman Entry Requirements: My Experience
- Traveling As A Gay, Married Couple: My Philosophy
- Review: Alila Hinu Bay, Oman
- Review: Oman Air Lounge Salalah Airport
- Review: Oman Air A330 Business Class (SLL-MCT)
- Review: W Hotel Muscat, Oman
- Review: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman
- Review: The Chedi Muscat, Oman
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Muscat Airport (MCT)
- Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class (MCT-IST)
- Review: Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class (IST-CPH)
- Review: AC Hotel By Marriott Copenhagen Bella Sky
- Copenhagen Airport’s Awesome COVID-19 Testing Center
- Review: SAS Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: Eventyr Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: SAS Business Class Airbus A350-900 (CPH-MIA)
Want to take advantage of Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
The first stop on our trip to Oman was in Spain, where we spent two nights at the 200-room Four Seasons Madrid, which opened in September 2020. This is a really special property, and instantly became one of my five favorite city hotels I’ve ever stayed at.
Personally my favorite kinds of hotels are those that are historic and have a sense of place, yet are updated in a way that they’re contemporary and have all the modern amenities you’d hope for from a luxury hotel. That’s exactly what the Four Seasons Madrid delivers. Let me also say upfront that this is the only non-points property we’re planning on staying at during this trip, so if this review doesn’t interest some OMAAT regulars, I totally understand.
In this post:
Booking the Four Seasons Madrid
For our dates in February, the nightly rate for a base room at the Four Seasons Madrid was ~900 EUR. This pricing is roughly in line with what you’ll find at Madrid’s other top hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood Villa Magna. The hotel does have some offers to get a better deal, like a fourth night free.
The best way to book any Four Seasons hotel is through a Preferred Partner travel advisor. When booking through Preferred Partner you pay the same rate you’ll find directly on Four Seasons’ website, but you’ll receive extra perks, including the following:
- A room upgrade, subject to availability
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- A hotel credit to use during your stay
Four Seasons Preferred Partner is generally combinable with promotions being offered directly through Four Seasons, including advance purchase rates, free night offers, and more. Note that booking Four Seasons properties through Preferred Partner is better than booking through programs like Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. Why?
- With Preferred Partner you have the option of room service breakfast in place of restaurant breakfast
- Upgrades are prioritized for Preferred Partner bookings, given that it’s Four Seasons’ own proprietary program (and the value of an upgrade can be significant)
- You can combine Preferred Partner perks with virtually any rate on Four Seasons’ website (other programs don’t allow you to stack promotions in the same way)
You can’t beat getting all of these extra perks just for booking through an eligible travel advisor. Ford is more than happy to help anyone book Four Seasons properties through Preferred Partner, and can be reached at [email protected]. He and his team don’t charge any booking fees for Four Seasons properties.
Full disclosure — Ford got a travel agent rate for our stay. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Four Seasons Madrid location & history
The Four Seasons Madrid has a central location in Madrid, between Puerta del Sol and Barrio de las Letras. Ford is a big stepper (and I’m married to him, so…), and we managed to see most of Madrid’s sights on foot. The hotel is a roughly 20 minute drive from Madrid Airport (MAD), and a taxi costs a flat fee of 30 EUR.
The Four Seasons Madrid has a ridiculously cool exterior, which feels both historic and well maintained. And that’s for good reason. The hotel is actually a combination of seven historic buildings, which were built between 1887 and 1891.
This used to be the headquarters of Spanish bank Banesto. Banco Santander purchased Banesto, so in 2004 the building was vacated, and stood empty for years. In 2012 the building was declared a cultural heritage monument and was sold, with plans to turn the building into a luxury hotel. Then from 2013 until 2020, the building was transformed into the hotel it is today.
So yeah, €530 million and eight years later, the Four Seasons Madrid opened. That’s a pretty time consuming and costly investment, eh?
Four Seasons Madrid check-in & lobby
The Four Seasons Madrid has a grand lobby, which spans two floors and has maintained most of the elements of the space from back when it was a bank headquarters. There’s plenty of seating in the lobby area, which belongs to the El Patio bar, serving drinks all day, plus afternoon tea and snacks.
In particular, you’ve gotta love the decorative skylight above the entire lobby.
In addition to thousands of original artifacts being restored, the hotel also has hundreds of pieces of art throughout, including two big KAWS figures in the lobby. There are also fresh flowers that are constantly refreshed.
Our check-in experience was efficient and friendly, which was particularly appreciated after our mess at the airport. 😉
Four Seasons Madrid One-Bedroom Suite
With keys in hand, we took the elevators up to the second floor, where our room was located (the hotel has seven floors).
In addition to the elevators, there’s also a cool spiral staircase.
The hotel hallways had a bit more charm than those at the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, that’s for sure. 😉
We were assigned room 219, a one bedroom suite.
The suite wasn’t at all what we were expecting, but in a good way. When you think of a one bedroom suite, you typically think of a suite with two separate rooms all on the same level. Well, the one bedroom suites at the Four Seasons Madrid are more like duplex suites, and this is probably one of the coolest hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in.
The room featured an entryway with a closet to the right, as well as a half bathroom.
Further down the hall was the upper level of the room, which had the bedroom area. This included a king size bed (Four Seasons has the most comfortable beds in the industry, bar none), a wall-mounted TV, a desk and vanity combo, and a seat with an ottoman.
The bathroom was behind the bedroom, and had double sinks, a soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet and bidet.
I’d say literally the only thing I can critique about the room is that there wasn’t a rain shower head, but rather just one shower head on the wall, and then a handheld one as well.
Toiletries were from Hermes, which is always a treat.
There was then a staircase leading down to the living area (so if you’re traveling with small children, you might want to consider one of their other suites). How cool to have a duplex suite like this, especially since it meant the ceilings in the room were really high.
The living area had a couch and two chairs and a dining table, along with a bunch of art and a cool chandelier.
At the far end of the living room was the minibar. This had a Lavazza espresso machine, plus tea.
There were also a couple of complimentary snacks and bottled water, plus a variety of drinks and snacks available for purchase.
There was a lovely welcome amenity consisting of vermouth (very popular in Spain), along with nuts, olives, cheese, and cold cuts. Since it was Valentine’s Day, there were also two heart-shaped chocolates.
The room also had two outdoor areas. On one side of the living room was an enclosed terrace, while on the other side of the room was a fully open terrace.
Wi-Fi in the room was fast and included, and housekeeping was provided twice daily. As usual at Four Seasons, there was an incredible amount of attention to detail. For example, a cleaning cloth with a picture of the hotel was left on top of my laptop — cute!
Four Seasons Madrid Premier Twin Room
Admittedly we got a great upgrade, though we also asked to see some other rooms. The Four Seasons has among the largest standard rooms in all of Madrid, as the smallest rooms are 484 square feet. For example, below are some pictures of a premier twin room — still very, very nice!
All rooms at the Four Seasons have double sinks, a bathtub, a walk-in shower, and a partitioned off toilet, so that sure is a nice feature, since it’s something you’ll otherwise often only find in suites.
Four Seasons Madrid Dani Restaurant (breakfast)
Dani Restaurant is the Four Seasons’ signature dining spot, and it’s located on the seventh floor. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s simply a gorgeous space, with both a bar area and a separate restaurant. Chef Dani Garcia (who had a restaurant that was awarded three Michelin stars) is behind the restaurant, which serves Spanish and Andalusian cuisine.
In addition to lots of indoor seating, the restaurant also has a beautiful outdoor terrace with great views (though admittedly winter isn’t the ideal time to enjoy this).
We had breakfast in the restaurant both mornings, and you can find the menu here. Both mornings we had Dani’s Breakfast, which includes a hot beverage, juice, the buffet, and one dish from the menu. While the buffet isn’t huge, it’s wonderfully presented, and almost everything is homemade and tastes amazing.
The drinks were delicious, including the green juice, carrot juice, and cappuccino.
I had the avocado toast on multi-grain bread both mornings, because it was that good.
Ford had the avocado benedict one morning, with avocado, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce.
In addition to the amazing breakfast, the hotel also has complimentary coffee, tea, and croissants in the lobby each morning.
Four Seasons Madrid Dani Restaurant (dinner)
We arrived in Spain on Valentine’s Day, and lucked out with being able to get a last minute reservation at Dani Restaurant. We started with some drinks in the bar area, and you can find the menu here.
I ordered the Austrias cocktail, with tequila, pineapple, and green chartreuse, while Ford had the Chueca cocktail, with pisco, purple corn, and coriander. Both were excellent, and were served with cashews and olives.
Then we moved over to the restaurant where we had dinner, and you can find the menu here. The restaurant has a rather eclectic menu, and everything is designed for sharing, so courses were brought out one-by-one. We enjoyed just about everything we tried.
We started with the tomato nitro & green gazpacho, which came highly recommended. This had dried tomato, green bell pepper, and baby shrimp tartar. That thing in the middle isn’t actually a tomato… cool, eh?
We then had the charcoaled avocado and red tuna belly.
We then had the red tuna “descargamento,” with yellow bell peppers, lime, and black olive.
Next we had the calamari “a la Andaluza,” with almonds, fried basil, and chili.
Lastly we had the rossini burger, with foie gras and french fries.
We way over-ordered, but the food was simply phenomenal, and we had an amazing dining experience.
Four Seasons Madrid El Patio (drinks)
In our effort to check out all the hotel has to offer (I know, tough life!), we checked out El Patio on our second afternoon, which is essentially the hotel’s lobby bar. It has everything from coffee, to cocktails, to afternoon tea, to snacks, and you can find the menu here.
I ordered a gin & tonic to drink, while Ford had vermouth (he chose one made specifically for the hotel).
We also tried a couple of snacks, including a crispy artichoke and tofu dish.
Four Seasons Madrid Isa Asian Tapas Bar (drinks)
In terms of food & beverage outlets, last but not least there’s Isa, which is an Asian tapas bar that’s located on the first floor. It’s open in the evenings from 7PM, and you can find the menu here. You might not expect a historic Four Seasons property to have a hip bar with a DJ and a ridiculously cool vibe, but that’s exactly what this is.
The bar has at least six distinct rooms, each with a different design.
The drinks were mostly Asian-inspired, and were top notch, in terms of taste and presentation. Even on a Tuesday night immediately after Valentine’s Day, this place had a fun vibe.
Four Seasons Madrid spa, gym, and pool
The Four Seasons Madrid has a massive four level spa that’s exceptional for a city hotel. This is also where the gym is located. While we didn’t get any spa treatments, you can find the menu here.
The hotel’s gym is one level up from the main spa reception, and has a good variety of both cardio and weight equipment. The only catch is that the whole spa complex is only open daily from 7AM until 9PM, so you can’t visit the gym outside of those hours (for those of us who are jetlagged and like to work out at 4AM).
There was also coffee, water, and fresh fruit in the gym.
Then up a level was the hotel’s indoor pool area. The centerpiece of this was a 14 meter pool.
There was also a vitality pool, with warmer water and jets.
Then there was both a steam room and sauna, plus showering facilities.
Four Seasons Madrid service
Four Seasons does a great job with service around the globe, even in markets that might not be known for the most attentive service. Employees at the Four Seasons were consistently fun, friendly, and perceptive.
While we’re talking about service, I have to say that Four Seasons’ chat feature is probably my favorite service feature of any major hotel group in the world. You don’t even need a booking at a Four Seasons to use the chat feature, and unlike some other hotel groups (which shall remain nameless), they respond quickly and competently.
A special shout out to the concierge team, as they were extremely helpful with securing us reservations and setting up our coronavirus tests with little advance notice after we had trouble getting tested at the airport.
The only service lapse was at Dani Restaurant, when we had drinks before dinner. We had ordered drinks, and after 15 minutes they hadn’t yet arrived. We had asked a different server about the status of our drinks, and they showed up a minute later. A few minutes later the manager showed up and apologized, and insisted on comping the drinks because of how long we had to wait (which really wasn’t necessary, but it’s impressive service recovery).
Bottom line
The Four Seasons Madrid is one of the most stunning city hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I love the fact that this is a hotel that is in a ~130 year old building, and it has been restored in a way that pays tribute to its history while still offering all the amenities you’d hope for in a modern luxury hotel.
The Four Seasons has exceptional food & beverage outlets, great rooms, a beautiful spa complex, and top notch service. If you visit Madrid and can swing the Four Seasons, you won’t be disappointed…
Want to take advantage of Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
Read Four Seasons reviews: Athens, Boston, Cap-Ferrat, Denver, Desroches Island, Florence, Fort Lauderdale, Hualalai, Kyoto, Lanai, Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Los Cabos, Madrid, Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Maui, Megeve, Miami, Napa Valley, Naviva, Nevis, Oahu at Ko Olina, Paris, Punta Mita, San Francisco at Embarcadero, Scottsdale, Seychelles, and Surfside
Learn about Four Seasons deals & offers: Anguilla, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Bahamas, Bora Bora, Boston, Cap-Ferrat, Costa Rica, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Hawaii, Jackson Hole, London, Los Cabos, Maldives, Minneapolis, Nashville, Naviva, New York, Napa Valley, New Orleans, Orlando, Palm Beach, Paris, Philadelphia, Punta Mita, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Sicily, Tamarindo, and Vail
Learn about Four Seasons basics: Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Four Seasons Private Retreats, Four Seasons Private Jet, Four Seasons travel agents, Four Seasons loyalty program, and maximizing value at Four Seasons
I'm lucky enough to live a couple of hours from Madrid and each time I go I try to either stay at or at least eat in one of the better hotels in the city (budget permitting!). Service is hit and miss in most of them, including the FS. I ate in the Patio, club sandwich and dessert. Or at least I tried to... There was a cheese I'd never heard of in the Club...
I'm lucky enough to live a couple of hours from Madrid and each time I go I try to either stay at or at least eat in one of the better hotels in the city (budget permitting!). Service is hit and miss in most of them, including the FS. I ate in the Patio, club sandwich and dessert. Or at least I tried to... There was a cheese I'd never heard of in the Club Sandwich. I asked the waiter what type of cheese it was... His response: ' Well, it's just a type of cheese'. Thanks. I had an even worse experience in the MO: I was travelling with someone allergic to milk. She asked the waiter if the burger bun had milk in, and the waiter said no, she could order it. When it arrived, the burger had a slice of cheese. When my friend complained, the waiter said, in all seriousness, 'But that's cheese, not milk'. Oh, and the chips were inedible. Stayed one night in the LC Santo Mauro. That was the worst of the lot, shower flooded, no apologies, no help, and no response from the manager at any time, even after a personal email sent. Oh, and we got laughed at by a waiter at breakfast for arriving half an hour before breakfast closed. For the moment, much better service at the Rosewood, the main restaurant Brasas de Castellana is wonderful. Another good hotel in Madrid is the Villa Real, service is on a par with the Rosewood. Anyway, that's my opinion, for what it's worth!
Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy that hotels charging $900+ a night then charge you for the minibar? Like really, my $900 isn't enough to give me a complimentary vodka shooter and some pretzels? :-)
Thank you for the amazing write up, Ben. This looks fabulous. My wife and I are in Madrid in July and I'll drop Ford a note to inquire about availability and rates.
I for one appreciate these reviews even if they're not points related.
The hotel looks amazing and you captured some great photos. Looks like your breakfast was nearly all avocado and no toast though!
Did they film some of 'Money Heist' in that lobby before it became a Four Seasons?
Had a similar issue at Dani, except when we half-jokingly said the drinks should be comped the waiter replied, "you wish." That definitely left a bad taste.
Service at bfast was very slow as well though well-intentioned.
Ben,
Great review (as always). If you don't mind answering,what kind of rate does the hotel give to travel agents?
As a former Travel Agent , I can tell you it is unethical to reveal the Travel Agent rate. We were always taught to be discreet.
Unethical to reveal you got the rate, as in here in Ben’s post? Or unethical to reveal what the rate is?
@ Richard -- There's not generally one consistent travel agent rate. It all depends on what kind of volume of business a travel advisor does with that hotel or hotel group. As Tina noted, unfortunately it's generally frowned down upon to reveal that (and I'm sorry, I know that's complicated, and you're asking a fair question).
If it's not a tomato...then what is it? lol
@ Michael -- If I understood it correctly, it's basically tomato paste made to look like a tomato, or something. So it's a decomposed, recomposed tomato.
Damn...
I'm not sure why my genuinely honest question was removed? I've enjoyed the fact that your team doesn't seem to filter comments on this site, but seems that might no longer be the case?
I still see your comment below. I do hope Ben answers your question though.
@ hotintx -- Comment shows below, and I responded to it. :-)
Thanks. Sorry about that. It was missing for a few hours as I kept checking back to see if you responded.
@ hotintx -- Sorry, sometimes some posts get stuck in the moderation queue for whatever reason, though I always try to approve them as soon as possible.
This is a very nice hotel. It’s this and then the Ritz Madrid and then Westin Palace. The only negative is the marble in your suite bath was the wrong color scheme for a elegant hotel like this. It doesn’t work. The bathroom in the other room you showed us looks good. The wallpaper in the half bath in your room was too dark. Little things. Otherwise, something to look forward to.
@Lucky, just a curious question, truly mean no rude intent. I wonder how or if your reviews (not this one necessarily) are unconsciously biased by the fact you have seemingly been using Ford's TA rate. TBH, I don't know how much that means it is actually discounted. My thought is, if you had to pay full rate, would it alter things? Even slightly? Depending on the discount, it might easily amount to one of those...
@Lucky, just a curious question, truly mean no rude intent. I wonder how or if your reviews (not this one necessarily) are unconsciously biased by the fact you have seemingly been using Ford's TA rate. TBH, I don't know how much that means it is actually discounted. My thought is, if you had to pay full rate, would it alter things? Even slightly? Depending on the discount, it might easily amount to one of those dinners or lunch being essentially "free." I get that most people staying at this hotel probably aren't too worried about $200-$300 here and there, so it might not matter. Again, enjoy your work, just something I've pondered.
@ hotintx -- I hear you, and it's a fair question. Realistically speaking, I'm never going to approach a review about a hotel like this from a value perspective, because it goes without saying that there are cheaper places to stay, and many people just view a hotel as a place to sleep while exploring a city.
Rather my intent is to review how good of an experience is delivered, largely forgetting cost.
The pandemic...
@ hotintx -- I hear you, and it's a fair question. Realistically speaking, I'm never going to approach a review about a hotel like this from a value perspective, because it goes without saying that there are cheaper places to stay, and many people just view a hotel as a place to sleep while exploring a city.
Rather my intent is to review how good of an experience is delivered, largely forgetting cost.
The pandemic has been really weird when it comes to hotel rates. In some places we've seen hotel rates basically double (just look at many outdoor-oriented destinations, including in Hawaii, the Caribbean, etc.). Are people suddenly getting twice as good of an experience? No way! But that's just how supply and demand is shaking out right now.
So I try to be objective in terms of the quality being delivered. Is the Four Seasons Paris charging 30 EUR per cocktail? Yes. Are people paying 30 EUR per cocktail? Yes. Does the hotel at least deliver an amazing experience serving you that 30 EUR cocktail? To me that's the big question with these kinds of reviews.
Though speaking of cost, I will say that the Four Seasons Madrid had much more reasonable on-property pricing than some other Four Seasons properties I've stayed at.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Very much appreciated.
Not have a rain shower head is a huge plus for me. I hate being water boarded while showering!
I hope the Gazpacho Police didn't show up and bother you during your Valentine's Day dinner.
Not to sound critical, but I'm disappointed to see another one of these "thousand dollar a night" aspirational hotels that you stay at on Ford's travel agency privileges, something that few of us have access to or means to enjoy frequently.
Madrid has a lot of great hotel options when it comes to redeeming points and staying within branded loyalty programs, and I was really hoping you would choose to review something accessible to the...
Not to sound critical, but I'm disappointed to see another one of these "thousand dollar a night" aspirational hotels that you stay at on Ford's travel agency privileges, something that few of us have access to or means to enjoy frequently.
Madrid has a lot of great hotel options when it comes to redeeming points and staying within branded loyalty programs, and I was really hoping you would choose to review something accessible to the vast majority of your readers than another ultra-luxury, ultra-exclusive hotel most of us will have little more than a drink at. The iconic Westin Palace, a brand new Luxury Collection hotel, two Autograph Collection properties, a Hyatt Centric, a new Tapestry property, a new Canopy Hotel, amongst others....
Don't get me wrong, I'd be choosing the same hotels if money were no means or if I had similar access to travel agency rates, but I think that this is an alarming new trend since it seems to be all you are covering anymore, especially on international travels.
@ Echo -- I hear you, and I appreciate your feedback. A couple of things to note. First of all, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, this is the only non-points hotel I'm planning on reviewing this trip. So I hope you can at least appreciate that I'm trying to balance things here, and the primary focus on this trip will be points hotels.
Furthermore, this isn't at all about trying to...
@ Echo -- I hear you, and I appreciate your feedback. A couple of things to note. First of all, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, this is the only non-points hotel I'm planning on reviewing this trip. So I hope you can at least appreciate that I'm trying to balance things here, and the primary focus on this trip will be points hotels.
Furthermore, this isn't at all about trying to get a discount at a luxury hotel thanks to Ford being a travel agent. Rather Ford books a lot of people at Four Seasons properties (he books more people at Four Seasons than any other brand), and seeing these hotels firsthand is valuable for when he books people at them.
I totally understand these reviews won't appeal to everyone, that's totally fair. I just want you know that I hear your feedback, and I promise there are lots of points hotel reviews coming as well (that's the primary focus this trip).
It is fun to stay at places such as this every so often and appreciate it. The reviews really show the YIN YANG from a typical corporate chain experience . Surely enough, I am more than fine "slumming" with a Hampton Inn. Like living on a beach, the luster would disappear if the 4S was all I stayed at/experienced.
Echo - the same goes for reviewing points hotels when many readers, particularly those outside the USA, don't have easy access to schemes to earn the number of points needed to stay at such hotels. Instead, I much prefer the review of hotels that are not just stayed at because you can redeem points there.
They seem to charge a significant premium for a city view rather than a courtyard view. From the pictures here, it doesn't seem worth it to pay for a view. Am I missing something?
@ Richard_ -- Personally I generally don't think views are worth paying a significant premium for, especially at a city hotel, and especially if there's not some specific landmark you want a view of (like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, for example). I'd rather spend that money enjoying the hotel's amenities, so I agree with you. But of course everyone has a different budget and preferences.
What's a "rainforest shower head"?
I think he meant a rain shower head, I've never seen the "forest" part added. It's the ones that are mounted on the ceiling and drop vertically down instead of at an angle.
Indeed. My comment was a sarcastic way of suggesting an edit.
Agreed. I have seen it called that multiple times but it's incorrect as far as what it means insomuch as how the water falls. I think rainfall shower head is the more appropriate name. But, colloquially, we know what it means.
@ tda1986 -- Fair feedback, thanks!
Very impressive property. Love the room layout, Isa bar and the pool. Great job, Lucky.
Am I the only one got turned off by KAWS? Seems more suitable for a W, less for an Andaz, let alone a Four Seasons.
Was thinking the exact same thing
I didn’t think anything could match the depressed and depressing yellow teddy bear at Hamad International, but alas, I think this has done the trick!
No so much out of place as depressingly predictable. I can’t stand the appeal of KAWS, jeff Koons, Takeshita Murakami, Damien Hirst and other who just churn out the same boring crap. It’s not art it’s branding.
A hotel like this with such a great building and sense of place should be giving over the space to a Mardileno contemporary artist. Hell with whatever they paid for that boring hunk of KAWS they could...
No so much out of place as depressingly predictable. I can’t stand the appeal of KAWS, jeff Koons, Takeshita Murakami, Damien Hirst and other who just churn out the same boring crap. It’s not art it’s branding.
A hotel like this with such a great building and sense of place should be giving over the space to a Mardileno contemporary artist. Hell with whatever they paid for that boring hunk of KAWS they could probably commission a series of up and coming artists to do something unique one after another for years to come.
How can they call it a "one bedroom suite" if the bedroom is still open to the living area???
@ anon -- It's definitely not a conventional one bedroom suite, you're right. Personally I think a duplex suite, or something, might be a better description.
Would be interesting to get an analysis of whether it makes sense to be “loyal” to Four Seasons (unpublished loyalty benefits, local property benefits for being repeat customer, deals or promotions offered to frequent travelers) compared to the larger brands. With Preferred Partner, FHR, etc, people can also get elite-like benefits fairly easily. Clearly their portfolio of luxury hotels is growing quickly.
Anthony, I have had an FS Elite card for some years now. It used to be more just recognition and upgrades but they have added on a few benefits that make it very nice. Breakfast (including room service for two) and $100 credit ($200 for suites) per stay. While essentially the same perks as you get booking through people like Ford via Preferred Partner, I have been personally told by two GM's that Elite members...
Anthony, I have had an FS Elite card for some years now. It used to be more just recognition and upgrades but they have added on a few benefits that make it very nice. Breakfast (including room service for two) and $100 credit ($200 for suites) per stay. While essentially the same perks as you get booking through people like Ford via Preferred Partner, I have been personally told by two GM's that Elite members are highly prioritized for upgrades, especially to Suites, over those booking via agents. Also, I have noticed a few bonus things thrown my way over the years including Complimentary Valet parking, bottles of Champagne, and once even letting me leave my car for free at the Dallas property for a week when I had to last minute fly to Germany.
But, tbh, the most valued program I have is Globalist with Hyatt. And when given a choice will always choose a high end Hyatt (PH etc) over Four Seasons in the same market.
As a former FS employee, one of the rules is “elite guests do not get discounts.” The program is entirely about recognition and other than getting the comp breakfast and stay credit, it’s actually almost harder to get discounts (unless a service glitch or something) because the assumption is that money means nothing to an elite.
@Sam As a Four Seasons Elite I think that might be slightly skewed to your particular property. While I do get priority for upgrades over Preferred bookings, more importantly, and on point to your statement, I have often been given comped Valet Parking, drinks at the bar, and special unique courtesies towards particular situations. For example, parking a car for free for a week at the Dallas FS when I had to last minute fly...
@Sam As a Four Seasons Elite I think that might be slightly skewed to your particular property. While I do get priority for upgrades over Preferred bookings, more importantly, and on point to your statement, I have often been given comped Valet Parking, drinks at the bar, and special unique courtesies towards particular situations. For example, parking a car for free for a week at the Dallas FS when I had to last minute fly to Europe. There is no doubt that I have been treated very well with special courtesies that often make FS a decent value for me at many properties (and no, I don't spend $1K a night to stay at FS London or Paris). Yes, Elite has hidden perks, no...it's not breathtaking and I will often choose Hyatt as a Globalist for PH and similar so as to have the added points accrual.
@Stuart interesting I did not know that. It was my gm in fact who said elites should never get discount so seems to be a culture that varies property to property.
@ Anthony -- I think it's a great question, and the insights from Stuart and Sam are useful. Personally I think Preferred Partner offers you most of the basic valuable elite benefits you'd get with other hotel groups.
Four Seasons does have an unpublished loyalty program, but you need to stay with the brand a lot to earn it. So I don't think it's worth being "loyal" to Four Seasons in terms of the rewards,...
@ Anthony -- I think it's a great question, and the insights from Stuart and Sam are useful. Personally I think Preferred Partner offers you most of the basic valuable elite benefits you'd get with other hotel groups.
Four Seasons does have an unpublished loyalty program, but you need to stay with the brand a lot to earn it. So I don't think it's worth being "loyal" to Four Seasons in terms of the rewards, but rather it's worth staying at Four Seasons properties (if it's within your budget) because the brand consistently does an exceptional job with treating guests well.
There used to be a truly grand staircase in the main space. Pity they chose not to preserve it.
It looks very very nice overall, but yeesh..theh shiny brass and glass in the room looks like something I'd expect to see in Trump Tower ca 1986.
I came here to say "Sheboygan Ramada ca. 1984," but you've otherwise captured my sentiments exactly.
What a beautiful building.
No crazy on the layout of that one bedroom apartment - it looks like a cramped Manhattan apartment.
Agreed. I don't really understand why they would set up a room like this. Between the stairs and the open area above the first floor, you just lose so much floor space that you have little room to move.
@ John T -- For what it's worth, there are several different one bedroom suite layouts. Personally I loved this one, though also know it's not necessarily practical for everyone. The Four Seasons also has more traditional, single level suites, with properly separated rooms.
Stunning hotel, nothing to say, really. Only thing is that with the Ritz that recently re-opened... there is real competition. Having stayed at the Ritz I think the Four Season has now to offer something 'new' to stay ahead of the game, or at par..
It looks absolutely stunning! I'm always in awe at how Four Seasons nails down design in their new properties, and how literally every single little thing seems thought out. It will be tough for me to pay that kind of rates especially on a city stay, but I would love to visit that one for sure.
Also I'm 100% with you on the chat feature! It is hands down my favorite feature, the relief...
It looks absolutely stunning! I'm always in awe at how Four Seasons nails down design in their new properties, and how literally every single little thing seems thought out. It will be tough for me to pay that kind of rates especially on a city stay, but I would love to visit that one for sure.
Also I'm 100% with you on the chat feature! It is hands down my favorite feature, the relief of not having to talk to someone on the phone is real - and they execute it flawlessly. FYI, you don't need to have a booked stay to chat. I recently chatted with a property I just wanted to visit to have cocktails at the bar, and I was able to do that through the FS app. Amazingly they also responded immediately :) .
@ Clem -- Didn't realize the chat works even if you don't have a stay booked, that's awesome! Yeah, it really is a ridiculously awesome feature that no other hotel group seems to execute well.
It looks beautiful and like a great hotel. I visit Madrid often and the location is good - I remember seeing it under construction for several years, as you've noted here.
That said, I'd have a hard time paying that much for a city stay. Madrid has tons of hotels, most of them are very good, and cost a fraction of what's here.
When I'm in Madrid I'm mostly out walking around, going...
It looks beautiful and like a great hotel. I visit Madrid often and the location is good - I remember seeing it under construction for several years, as you've noted here.
That said, I'd have a hard time paying that much for a city stay. Madrid has tons of hotels, most of them are very good, and cost a fraction of what's here.
When I'm in Madrid I'm mostly out walking around, going to the museums, and hanging out at tapas bars, etc. I'd have trouble justifying this much. But that's me.
I would maybe pop into one of the bars for a drink to check things out.
I do appreciate the review, though - good to see it. Thank you.
Looks solid and great review. Will absolutely give this a try at some point when they do some offers down the road.
My only issue with duplex suites tends to be in the winter, all the heat typically rises to the bedroom and the lower floor is cooler. Otherwise they can be fun.
Am I right in that there are no furnishings in the enclosed terrace? What's the point?
@ Stuart -- Indeed, there were no furnishings on the terrace. Since this is a historic building and not a new build, the terrace (both the outdoor and enclosed one) aren't really ideal for spending much time. I suppose in winter the enclosed terrace is too cold, while in summer it might be too warm. Fortunately the door leading to the terrace provides great soundproofing.
HAh! the swiming pool looks like the one at the hotel La Florida in Barcelona!
Thanks for the review.
Wow, this was an amazing review, makes me want to stay here immediately
Given the seasonal Newark non-stop flights from United, a Kimpton and Hilton opening up this year, and the second Four Season of Spain in 2023, are you planning on visiting Mallorca then? Seems like they are trying to move away from being Germany's unofficial 17th state, and try to cater towards Americans more.
@ HChris -- LOL about Mallorca being Germany's unofficial 17th state. I haven't been since I was a kid, but I think I should put a visit back on my list. Thanks for the idea.
Ben, there is no such thing as a “Michelin-starred chef.” (Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants, not chefs.) I’ve seen this phrase pop up in a few articles recently — and while I think using the Michelin guide as an analog for restaurant quality is silly, it’s a distinction to be aware of if you’re going to do so.
Cheers.
Glad you mentioned that!
Ben, I know I've commented this before--you really should try a proper 2-3 Michelin star restaurant with a tasting menu and pairings. I think you'd absolutely love it.
Miami is getting a Michelin guide this year (as are Orlando and Tampa), and I'm very curious to see what gets starred. I'd be surprised if Elcielo and The Surf Club don't get stars.
@ Motion to Dismiss -- I'm definitely getting more into it, after our amazing dining in Paris in late 2021:
https://onemileatatime.com/reviews/four-seasons-paris-george-v/
I'm very curious to see how the list looks for Miami, Orlando, and Tampa...
That’s not an uncommon thing to see. You’re correct that the restaurant wins and not the staff, but it’s good marketing.
While this is technically correct, chefs whose restaurants that have been awarded Michelin stars are commonly referred to as "Michelin-starred chefs." This is something that even Michelin itself does (just check their website, they have an article titled "Ten Michelin-Starred Chefs You Should Follow on Instagram"). While more than just the chef are responsible for the Michelin star rating, which takes into account service and other factors in addition to the food, I think most...
While this is technically correct, chefs whose restaurants that have been awarded Michelin stars are commonly referred to as "Michelin-starred chefs." This is something that even Michelin itself does (just check their website, they have an article titled "Ten Michelin-Starred Chefs You Should Follow on Instagram"). While more than just the chef are responsible for the Michelin star rating, which takes into account service and other factors in addition to the food, I think most would argue the chef is the main contributing factor, so they often get the bulk of the credit.
@ Justin -- Totally fair feedback, thanks. Updated the post to reflect that.
Looks like one of the better four seasons properties for sure.
We're heading to Madrid later this year but chose to try Rosewood's Villa Magna instead.
Rosewood is way more better than FS when it comes to interior design! FS is going down and this property is a really bad design, just look at that marble in the bathroom, it's 2022! The room is too shabby, as I have to admit the same brands in Europe and North America are way worse than them in Asia. Not to mention FS is going down. Take a look at Rosewood Hongkong, Guangzhou, Bangkok;...
Rosewood is way more better than FS when it comes to interior design! FS is going down and this property is a really bad design, just look at that marble in the bathroom, it's 2022! The room is too shabby, as I have to admit the same brands in Europe and North America are way worse than them in Asia. Not to mention FS is going down. Take a look at Rosewood Hongkong, Guangzhou, Bangkok; Park Hyatt Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Kyoto, Suzhou; The Ritz Carlton Nanjing, Xi'an, Kyoto, Nikko; Waldorf Beijing, Xiamen, Bangkok and many many more, honestly speaking, even many Hilton and Marriott are better than so-called luxury brand in Europe and North America. For Four Seasons, I think Kuwait, Bangkok and new fs in Tokyo would be better when it comes to design.
It was funny to read all the comments related to the test covid in Madrid, honestly a MAD airport experience with its lovely salmón & beef cheeks in the Lounge , a proper security experience compared with the TSA thugs that get their fingers on ir axx, peanuts packs at Lounges and fat dxxkheads fighting in all boarding queues I choose MAD to any one of the 12 US airports i know
Great review. Curious though what made you choose this over Villa Magna or the MO? I'm guessing Ford wanted to see it since it's brand new, but any other reason in particular?
I asked re: the MO and he said:
“ We had heard amazing things about the Four Seasons and it's also a new property with a lot of history. I'm sure the Mandarin Oriental is great as well, so maybe I can check that out next time.”
@ pstm91 -- The Four Seasons is a new property and there aren't many reviews out there about it yet. Furthermore, for Ford's business, he most enjoys working with Four Seasons and booking clients there. They consistently treat his guests well, and the Preferred Partner program offers compelling value. So when we do review non-points hotels, we try to do Four Seasons properties.