What’s your favorite hotel?

They’re our homes away from home. No matter how much time you spend outside your hotel in a foreign country, coming back to a great one after a day of shopping, sightseeing or business meetings spells the difference between an enjoyable trip and an excruciating one. We’ve all heard of horror stories about hotels from hell, but this time let’s hear about those created in heaven – the ones where the staff anticipates your every move, where they know you by name, where the food is outstanding, where the pillows are fluffy and the beds are turned down in the evening, and where they truly make you feel at home with thoughtful service and warm hospitality.

In short, these are hotels that have earned every star in their ratings.

So let’s read about the favorite hotels of this week’s well-traveled personalities.

Ambassador AMABLE R. AGUILUZ V, Special Envoy of the President to the Gulf Cooperation Council: In Manila my favorite hotels are the Makati Shangri-La Hotel and Shangri-La Edsa Plaza Hotel because of their very efficient business centers. In Dubai it’s the Burj Al Arab Hotel. In the US it’s the Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton Hotels in San Francisco. In Paris it’s the Marriott and Hilton. In Hong Kong it’s Island Shangri-La for the amenities.

MANNY PADILLA, businessman: Fridays Hotel in Boracay. It’s small, out of the way and private. Abroad, my favorite hotel is Mt. Washington in the northern East Coast in the US. It’s a very old hotel and where all the US Presidents stay. It has a golf course and horseback riding facilities. It’s beautiful and it’s a legacy.

JOHNNY SANTOS, chairman, Nestlé Philippines: It’s in Mandarin Oriental Manila because it’s clean and quiet. Abroad it’s Raffles in Sin Beau Rivage in Switzerland because it’s elegant and comfortable.

TINA MARISTELA OCAMPO, businesswoman: My favorite hotel in Tokyo is Park Hyatt for it’s the closest to heaven. Imagine drinking coffee overlooking the clouds. In Hong Kong it’s the Peninsula Hotel for they know your quirks, from hard pillows to your usual out-of-the-menu breakfast. Pen HK is all about service. In New York it’s Mercer Hotel, the coolest hotel in the coolest place in NY.

Architect RAMON ANTONIO: My favorite hotel in Manila is Mandarin Oriental and in Paris it’s Hotel de la Tremoille.

LUCILLE CARLOS, businesswoman: It’s hard to have just one favorite hotel so here goes: in Asia it’s the Ritz Carlton in Bali; in Europe it’s Hotel de Paris; in the US it’s the Peninsula Beverly Hills. These hotels have excellent service, good food and of course, excellent bathroom facilities!

DONNIE TANTOCO, EVP and general manager, Shopwise: The Shangri-La Hotels have great, consistent service. You always know what to expect. The layout is the same all over the world, it’s like coming home each time. They have great food outlets. I also like Four Seasons in Bali, the best honeymoon hotel. It has one of the most beautiful rooms and breathtaking gardens, and it’s very romantic and private. It has great lobby shops, food outlets and a wonderful library with amazing books.

JAMBY MADRIGAL, civic leader: My favorite hotel in Manila is the Mandarin Oriental. The rooms are well decorated, not too flashy, and the hotel is discreet. It has a small lobby, good service and security, food outlets, and an air of understated elegance.

In London my favorite is Claridges. I love the art deco style of the hotel. It brings one back to the times of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. No artifice here, just elegance, discretion and superb service. It’s like living in somebody else’s house. You don’t sign anything when you order room service and eat in the restaurants. Pure English understatement and class.