What's Hot, What's Not ...

This regular column summarizes the observations of readers and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of your editor. Based on the hundreds of letters, emails, critique cards and forum posts we review each month, the following hotels and resorts received the most revealing positive and/or negative comments.

This regular column summarizes the observations of readers and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of your editor. Based on the hundreds of letters, emails, critique cards and forum posts we review each month, the following hotels and resorts received the most revealing positive and/or negative comments.

BUCKLAND MANOR, England — The “ambience is very English” at this “beautiful manor house,” with grounds “manicured like a golf course.” The “superlative” staff draws plaudits, as does the general manager, who “could not have been more attentive.” In fact, he “double upgraded” at least one subscriber. The chef, too, is “beyond reproach.”

PARK HYATT, Sydney, Australia — This “great hotel” has a “stunning location,” and more than one early arrival was “in the room by 8:30 a.m.” “All the rooms have views of the harbor,” and the “friendly, courteous, attentive, helpful” staff includes an “excellent” concierge. All in all, this “newly renovated” property is “one of the two or three best urban hotels” correspondents have experienced.

LAS VENTANAS AL PARAISO, San José del Cabo, Mexico — A “self-contained Baja property” with “lovely pools,” Las Ventanas gets a grade of “A+++.” The “restaurant is improved” and bedrooms are “spacious,” but perhaps most important, the service is “truly exceptional.” Although the “ocean was too rough to swim in,” this “fresh” resort is simply “#1.”

ARENAS DEL MAR, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica — The food at this “very charming” resort received mixed reviews, ranging from “delicious” to “not gourmet,” but otherwise, Arenas del Mar drew only praise. “A perfect place for families,” it boasts a “friendly and efficient” staff and a “great beach.” It’s “really true that you are in the rainforest” here, and might find monkeys “swinging just off the balcony.”

SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda — Although this “wonderful” property is “certainly not in the luxury category,” the managers are “awesome” and at least one guest “made great friends” with them. Cuisine veers from “great” to “good” to just “okay,” but as another subscriber succinctly notes, this lodge is “all about the gorillas.”

HOTEL BEL-AIR, Los Angeles, CA — While some subscribers say that they “loved everything about it,” reporting that post-renovation “food service is the best it has ever been,” others complain of an “inexperienced front desk,” a small fitness center with “mediocre equipment” and feeling “gouged a little bit every meal or drink” they had.

JUMBY BAY, Antigua — A number of corres- pondents were “happy and pampered” and “never felt the need to venture to” mainland Antigua. But for some, this “completely overrated” resort “was not a ‘wow’ experience,” thanks to a “tired” villa and “not outstanding” dining options.

MAUNA KEA BEACH HOTEL, Kohala Coast, HI — All agree that this resort has a “gorgeous setting and beach” and “great golf,” but many criticized the “mediocre and costly” food and “satisfactory but not great” service. Nevertheless, accommodations are “spacious and well-maintained,” and most people “would stay at Mauna Kea again.”